July update

Sorry about the lack of photos....I know I keep promising!!

PSA is down significantly, from 1380 to 970....a drop of nearly a third!! That's very encouraging, but occasionaly other components of my blood cells can't take the chemo, especially the 'blood builders' in my marrow, and the count gets so low that treatment has to be suspended for a week. That's about it...I'm in no pain, and am losing weight...but given the heat, I might just be melting!!

See you soon,

George

June 15, update

As those who read this blog will know, my PSA rose rather dramatically two weeks ago, while I was resting from a non-chemo treatment, that was working well, but, unfortunately, damaging my liver, and hurting some of my blood counts.

I have been put back on chemo, but only on very low doses, until some of these numbers improve. It means my PSA is unlikely to fall, but it is being held in check, and the numbers are indeed improving, albeit slowly. The plan is to get them up, so that I (my body) can tolerate a higher dose of chemo. So not great news, but not bad either. That is, things could be both worse...and better!!

I PROMISE photos next time!!

May update

Hi All....no photos this time, i'm afraid, but two visits to the docs to report. Both showed a fall in PSA...the first a small one, the second quite significant (surprisingly).

It now stands at 780, about a third of what it was when I started this latest (non-chemo) therapy. Two months ago I was at 2360. This success is tempered by some unwanted reaction from my liver, and the continuing anaemia. Treatment has been suspended while they check my liver out.
Whicever way you look at it, it's good news...

Love to All (called away by my wife...)

xx

Garden and Health Update

The structure holding up the wysteria collapsed under the weight of winter rains, so i had to chop the bush right back and re-build. Hasn't prevented some pretty impressive blooms.... The 'copse' as I fancifully call it, looks a little brighter now than when I last posted it in Feb...Sadly, or otherwise, all the blossoms don't come at the same time....

'Lea's garden' goes from strength to strength in beauty and freshness....just like she does....

April 5th was my last consulta with the doc....the bone scan showed little change (ie little advance of metastasis in my tumour-infested skeleton) since last September....good news. Even better is that my PSA has halved in the last month!!! (from 2000 to 1000)....a remarkable result by any standards. Needless to say, i shall be staying on the present treatment while I'm responsive to it.

Not all was rosy, and my blood count was low, so I've had another blood transfusion. That's beginning to take effect, and I feel much better. I need to....Michael and I start our 'building project' next week.....

Richard's 2nd Birthday...

Blow out the candles....and you get a Ferrarri!

Have another go!!

Engine sounds a bit rough....is there a mechanic in the house? Michael has a quick check...."I think you'll find she's OK now Richard, let's get her on the track....

Fancy a spin in my new car?

Flower Power...

Lyndy took the family photo when she came over with Rob, for a highly successful flying visit.


Michael seems to be perfectly at home in his hippy garb...

He even faced the camera, and managed a smile!

Thirteen magnolia blossoms the first year we planted it....none last...seven this. The rain has slightly battered them, so they don'y have the perfect form of the first years'...nonetheless, they are still a triumph of nature.

No updates from last week....thank God, I don't enjoy writing them. I'd much rather post photos of my Loved Ones....

The spring has sprung...

Hi All...so nice to be writing without having to put on the lights!! It's a beautiful spring day, warm and sunny; one of the first of the year.

The health report is equally sunny. I'm off chemo for a while, giving my body a chance to recover from its toxicity...which was what made me so ill in february. The temporary treatment is doing better that expected, and actually lowered my PSA...not by much, but every little helps! I feel a good deal better and am regaining strength, though I'm still a bit anaemic. Still there's no doubt that it's good news.

Sorry there are no photos this time round...i'll try to post some early next week.

Greetings...George

Back in the A & E....

Lea didn't like the way my temperature was shaping up last weekend, so on Monday morning she bundled into the car and took me to hospital. I was sweating and shaking and felt like death warmed up.

They got me into bed, and whisked me off to a room, and the needles started, carrying my blood off to the faceless analysts. The doc was outstanding, and diagnosed that the main trouble was my latest round of chemo, which had knocked out all my white cells...and left me unable to fight whatever virus it was I had picked up. They kept me in, on antibiotics, a drip and hideous hospital food for four days,. Marvellous Lea came to see me twice a day, but otherwise it was pretty lonely. I'm back at home now, recovering some strength and some self-confidence. But I think I shall be changing my oncologist....too many slips-ups.

On a more cheerful note, the first blossom has appeared in the garden....but it's too miserable to photograph it....I will, if the sun comes out later....

Winter Garden

Don't let the daffs fool you....this is a clump of foolhardy types who don't know how cruel February can be in the foothills of the Sierras...

I post this photo not so as to reveal my state of mind....but literally the state of the 'tree triangle'...a series of plantings that replaced my twin ponds, when the children were born, and old enough to move around the garden themselves, and Lea made me remove the ponds....

All trees in view are budding, and the next blog, in a month or so's time , should show some bloom. For we garden lovers, it's the most exciting time....

Update:

The doc got it wrong....the new medicine is not available yet (typical)...fortunately I had persuaded him not only to continue with the present treatment, but to alter the delivery speed...ie a 3-week dose, rather than three weekly doses.

"It won't make much difference," he said.

"Not to you," said I, " But it will to me..."

Little did I know (and he) for apart from being more convenient, the result has been that the PSA has dropped, (690 to 640), and I also feel much better in myself. It may be a 'blip'...but a happy one (hats in the air), and perhaps I can get to stay on these meds a bit longer....always good. I was expecting the PSA to hit the 1K mark this time round...

Just goes to show what doctors know, and why it's good to over-rule them (sometimes!!)...most of the time, he's pretty good, and keeps me cheerful.

Love to All,

George

January Health update

No photos this time round, I'm afraid....just the rather worrying news that the previous rise in my PSA turns out not to have been a blip, but a significant upward surge. It means that the present treatment is no longer effective, and i shall be moving on to an alternative chemotherapy treatment at the beginning of february.

In myself, i feel fine, and with the sun having replaced the continual downpours, it has been a pleasant surprise at how strong and well i have felt, getting back out into the garden and heaving few things around. Next news early in Feb....with photos!!

Meanwhile, the boys are thriving...they are really beginning to play with each other, and richard is very close to coherent speech...it's a delight to watch them together.

xx

George