Sunday, August 31, 2008

All going well...

Round #5 went absoultely fine on Friday (just gone). Yesterday I was chopping and stacking firewood and working away in the garage, and the went to Marg S's 6oth last night (happy birthday MSM!).

Again, the chemo seems to be having a pretty low impact on me in terms of how I feel and what I notice in terms of side effects, despite what it appears to be doing in terms of nuking the tumor cells. Continuing to try and keep up good fluid intake seems to help the kidneys purge the toxins quicker and seems to reduce the metalic taste phase of the cycle.

Went to church this morning and came home via Westhaven to pick up some marine fittings to rig up awning over garage side door, which I'm about to go and do now. There's also a couple of repairs I need to do on part of the picket fence.

If a deaf person has to go to court, is it still called a hearing?

If Jimmy cracks corn and no one cares, why is there a stupid song about him?

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Friday, August 29, 2008

Encouraging news...

The CT scan showed positive progress has been being made. Lymph nodes back down to usual size. Bone marrow biopsy results come in 2 stages. The bone sliver part checks out fine. The core sample will still be about a week away. The X-Ray on the leg bone wasn't loaded on the system yet so they couldn't compare it to early ones.

My white cell count was sufficient to go ahead today with round #5 (or 6) of the chemo, which went fine with no dramas or difficulties. Feeling fine.

We're not going away this weekend so will just be just doing stuff around home. Supposedly in for fine weather. Really?

A man takes his Rotteweiller to the vet. 'My dog's cross-eyed, is there anything you can do for him?' 'Well,' says the vet, 'let's have a look at him' So he picks the dog up and examines his eyes, then checks his teeth. Finally, he says, 'I'm going to have to put him down.' 'What? Because he's cross-eyed?''No, because he's really heavy'

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Monday, August 25, 2008

Monday Monday

Today I had my usual Monday morning blood tests. I also had another 'hit' of intravenous Vitamin C. All pretty routine now, really.

Things seem to be going well, despite Jeanette (Sunday morning) and I (Sunday night) both copping an infection with vomiting and diarrhoea after having Hannah stay over on Friday night. Both Hannah and Claire had both had it last week. All good fun!

Jeanette went into work on the bus this morning but was still feeling pretty dodgy, so I went in and picked her up and have confined her to bed.I haven't gone'' (either end) since last night and am hoping that will be 'ít'.

When in the supermarket this morning, I saw "Cured Ham" in the deli dept. Couldn't help wondering exactly what disease it had been cured from!

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Friday, August 22, 2008

Testing times???

The 'testing' involved a CT scan and a biopsy.

Had my bone marrow biopsy this morning. The main part of the proceedure is pretty 'uncomfortable' but it is all part of what has to be done. Despite the 'sedation' they give you (via IV) you still feel it quite keenly! They use a thick long needle to get a core sample of tissue and also take a sliver of bone for testing. As they were continuing to bore in, I nearly said "Are we there yet?" like a little kid on a long car trip. We'd had plenty of jokes earlier on during the general prep. Maybe I'll save that line for another time!

The CT scan on Tuesday went fine (they're always simple and unoffensive!). The stuff you have to drink beforehand always reminds me of the intro sequence to the Simpsons with Homer and the bit of radioactive stuff.

I had expected them to include the top of the tibia bone (just below the knee) to see if they could still pick up cancer cells there - as that was the 1st place we discovered anything originally. They pointed out that a standard X-Ray was better for that particular purpose, and chose to ignore the Haemotologist's request for that area. Today, after the biopsy, I went over to Radiology at the hosptial where they popped off a few X-Rays of the tibia - top, bottom, ankle and knee. I got my moneys worth!

My appointment with the Haemotologist next Friday morning gives time for all the test results and imaging etc to be complete and in her hands so all the data is there to make assessments etc. Depending on where my white blood cell count is up to by that stage, the next (#5) round of chemo may happen after that, if not, they'll probably let me 'cook' for a bit longer over the weekend. The white cells need to be over the required threshhold before bombing my body with the next toxic cocktail.

I'm still feeling very good and chirpy in general terms. Tonight, I've just found out, I will be home looking after Hannah. Claire has been very unwell, and was in hospital a couple of nights ago. Jeanette & I were both going to her sister Carolyn's 50th Birthday bash tonight, but now it will just be Jeanette. I've penned Carolyn one of my somewhat infamous birthday poems, which I'm reluctant to send and risk someone else making a mess of reading it, even though it would be appropriate for the occasion.

Why is it that people say they 'slept like a baby' when babies wake up like every two hours?

Cheers,
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Sunday, August 17, 2008

The week ahead...

Sorry for being so slack with the updates, folks! This week has gone fine.

I'm now coming up to the stage (week to 10 days from last chemo dose) where my immune system is at low point in the cycle. Tomorrow I'll start the intra veinous high-dose vitamin C again as I build up again for the next round of chemo in a couple of weeks time.

This Tuesday (19th), I have a full CT scan so they can see what has been happening internally. Then on Friday (22nd) I have another bone marrow biopsy (long needle in the back) to get further idea of the internal situation. Results of these two tests will be available in time for my next appointment at the Haemotology Dept, Friday 29th. This may well be date for next chemo round (#5) depending on white cell count at that point.

I seem to have been pretty busy with work stuff and various domestic tasks which all take time. Feeling in pretty good shape, though.

Why do people pay to go up tall buildings and then put money in binoculars to look at things on the ground?

What disease did cured ham actually have?

Thanks for your support and interest,

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Sunday, August 10, 2008

Sunday night ... back home

We had a nice time up at the beach and just enjoyed a good veg out. On Saturday we went to Matakana and made it rain there as we always seem to manage to do. Still, lots of activity around the Farmer's Market and all the cute shops etc. We saw Get Smart at one of the cute cinemas there.

This time around, I'm remembering to drink lots of fluids which helps the kidneys deal to the chemo residue and also has noticeably reduced the metalic taste in the mouth. By round #six, I should have this whole routine pretty much off pat! Things have gone well again with no nasty side effects other than a terminal personality disorder. However, I don't think they have got anything to sort that bit out, yet.

Hope all is well in your neck of the woods.

What do you call a fish with no eyes?
A fsh

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Friday, August 8, 2008

Round #4 of chemo went well today...

As the headline guy just said, round #4 of chemo went well today. My white cell count had rocketed up to 30 something from being 1.3 on Wednesday (they the GCSF is pretty effective!

Everything went smoothly with no complications or difficulties. I've not long got home, having been to the chemist for prescriptions and also to Foodtown for a shop. Feeling fine with no obvious problems that I can detect. Others may well disagree(?).

After tea, we're off up to Algies Bay for the weekend, which will be a nice welcome break from normal routines. We might also try and catch a movie at the cute boutique style Matakana Cinemas. We'll see.

Thanks for your support,

Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

Next chemo this Friday...

Went into Haemotology this morning. They are happy with everything so far. White blood cell count was .9 on Monday morning. It was 1.3 this morning, but still not a 2.0 or better as required. Again, not a problem - at least the old 'bod' is responding to the chemo!

They have sent me home with a couple of syringe-fulls of GCSF which stimulates the production of the white cells. They are confident I'll be fine for Friday morning at 9:00.

One patient today was heard to say to the Dr "Doc, I can't help singing 'The Green Green Grass of Home'. "Sounds like Tom Jones Syndrome" said the Dr.
"Is that common" asked the patient. "Its not unusual".

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz

Friday, August 1, 2008

Friday 1st August

Haven't updated this for a bit too long. There haven't any major developments one way or another and it has, frankly, slipped my mind at the times when I've been handy to a computer and been in a position to do anything about it. So, for those far afield (Sal) who had thought that lack of updates might have signalled problems, I'm sorry... no. I'm doing absolutely fine (with the possible exception of chemo-induced constipation 'difficulties'. I've now got some Movicol which, hopefully, will give me a good run for my money.

I'm due for more chemo (4th round) next week. I have an appointment with one of the senior consultant Drs at the Haemotology Dept next Wednesday morning. Depending on my white blood cell count on Monday, and again on Wednesday if too low on Monday, they'll do the chemo on Wednesday. If it is below the threshhold, I'll just have to 'cook' a few more days to let them build up some more (as happened with round #3).

I have had a couple more intra-venous vitamin C doses this week, and will have another on Monday afternoon (after blood test in the morning).

Life is surprisingly busy, with a few more work related things to be handling than before, but still a good arrangement working mostly from home.

A man was hospital recently and as he was coming around in the recovery room after his operation said "Doc, I can't feel my legs!"
"Of course you can't" replied the Dr "I cut off your arms this morning".

Have a good weekend.

Cheers
Bruce
bbremner@ihug.co.nz