Personal Blogs

Hi all,

Sorry for the long wait - I keep waiting for something to happen to update you with, but it's only just got round to happening!

They didn't manage to get any reply regarding the electro-chemotherapy, so they're going to proceed with the standard chemo. My oncologist thought there were two forms of chemo suitable for my thyroid cancer, but one of them was more risky to the heart, so with my 35% heart ejection fraction (50%+ being the norm), they discounted that one. However, they then found out that the alternative chemo hadn't been offered in my health authority and it would need a treatment plan created together with supporting evidence... but there is very little evidence available. 

Consequently, it was back to the riskier option, but they needed to give me more tests including an up-to-date echocardiogram and CT scan. This showed my my previous 6 or 7 months of Heart Failure Clinic medications had improved my ejection fraction to 40% - hurruh! This convinced an oncology-specialism cardiologist to give the go-ahead to my oncologist to proceed with the chemo. It's called Doxorubicin and nicknamed the 'Red Devil' due to its deep red colour and significant side-effects including heart toxicity, hair loss and fatigue! They'll start me on a reduced 80% dose for the first 3 cycles, then give me another echocardiogram to check how the heart's responding. If all okay, they'll up it to the full dose. There'll be 6 doses in total, each 3 weeks apart. 

I've already had my first bone-strengthening drip. This helps strengthen the bone where the lesions have eaten into my vertebrae to reduce the risk of fracture. This has delayed side-effects which I experienced of flu-like muscle/joint pain and chills. I'll put up with all the side-effects of these treatments if they offer a better prognosis; I coped with and benefitted from the Lenvatinib while I was on that.

A couple of days after the CT scan I got a call asking me to come in the next day for tests and an MRI scan since the report showed spinal canal stenosis (narrowing). As before, this turned out to be be okay - yes, the canal was narrowed, but no, it wasn't compressing my spinal cord, so I'm not suffering the dreaded MSCC (Malignant/Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression) they were concerned about. Phew!

In myself, I feel fine apart from the usual back pain, but I have had a physiotherapy session to find peripheral exercises for my back which don't risk invoking MSCC, and the painkillers cope with the rest. I've been fitting in more gallery visits, went to the Science Museum last week (annoyingly exited the museum straight into the meeting point for the anti-far-right demonstration that buggered-up my bus back to the underground station), and am planning a Natural History Museum visit soon. I'm still working a three-day week, although I'm squeezing in an extra day this week as we have our laboratory accreditation visit soon and there's lots still to get ready. However, I'm looking forwards to putting the extra money to another Piccadilly Waterstones spending spree (with a mocha and some carrot cake in the cafe, obviously 😋). I tried the Charring Cross Foyles: it has more technical books, but lacks the comfy seating areas, so Waterstones remains my favourite 😎.

I'll let you know the chemo goes once that starts.

That's all for now,
All the best,
Chris
x or [manly hug/handshake] as appropriate