Perfecto!

The cooking instructions stated:

1. Slowly marinate in a variety of spices for three months, topping up frequently.


2. Check that all areas have been effected by scanning from various angles.


3. Cook at 1,000,000 oC (See instruction manual for gas) for three weeks, turning frequently, watching not to burn outer skin.

Result - Cancer free living?

That's it, today I walked out of Christies Hospital in Manchester knowing that I will not go back in for any further treatment, finished, fenitoed, gone, no more! A great feeling for Vicky and myself after 5 months. Another chapter of this tale completed and a new one begins, hopefully with a very happy ending. Feel good, skin on shoulder burnt and red in color, but other than that all OK.

My next appointment is on August 13th with Prof Radford and the next scan is in October. These will give negative results (i.e. no cancer) and my time in remission begins. In the meantime, I need to slowly build myself up and get fit for the future, including work, after 7 months off! I have to admit that I look forward to getting a normal life back again and interacting with friends and colleagues.

Off to put my feet up and watch Tim Henman for the next 3 hours (oh he's just lost) and loose some weight!

Cheers

Home Run

This is it, the home run. Only three more visits to the radiotherapy department and then I am cooked! Really looking forward to the weekend as I travel to Amsterdam on Saturday to see Genesis in concert, and the reviews are good. It was supposed to be a treat after some rest, but at least I am going, even if it is only two days after my last blast.
I can't get the next issue out of my head. I am not a religious man, but Vicky placed the following poem on Wullies Blog and the words are just fantastic and very relevant to myself and lots of other people we know or who we have got to know.

One night I had a dream--I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord and across the sky flashed scenes from my life. For each scene I noticed two sets of footprints, one belonged to me and the other to the Lord. When the last scene of my life flashed before me, I looked back at the footprints in the sand. I noticed that many times along the path of my life,there was only one set of footprints. I also noticed that it happened at the very lowest and saddest times in my life. This really bothered me and I questioned the Lord about it. "Lord, you said that once I decided to follow you, you would walk with me all the way, but I have noticed that during the most troublesome times in my life there is only one set of footprints. "I don't understand why in times when I needed you most, you should leave me." The Lord replied, "My precious, precious child, I love you and I would never, never leave you during your times of trial and suffering. "When you saw only one set of footprints, it was then that I carried you."

It leaves a lump in my throat I can relate so much of my recent experience to it. Maybe, in my case, the Lord has been replaced by others close to me, but the message is just the same. I can't thank everyone enough for the messages, cards, help and thoughts.
Humbled...
Thanks

Nearly there....

A lot can happen in a week, but for me this is one I have been looking forward to for a long time. This time next week I will have finished my treatment for Hodgkin's Lymphoma after five months. It all started in December with a lump under my arm which was surgically removed and confirmed as HL. Three months of Chemo and three weeks of Radiotherapy seem to have done the trick and its fingers crossed until my next CT scan in October.

I have four hits of radiotherapy to go and on Thursday the 28th I walk out of hospital knowing that I do not have to go back for any more treatment, and I can't wait!

Hope everyone else is having a good week. Will update on Thursday.

KYPU.....

Radiotherapy side effects starting

I am starting to see two side effects from radiotherapy, the first is baby smooth skin on the target area with all hair fried to extinction, the second is massive tiredness and lethargy. Mix this in with not sleeping too well and the answer is KNACKERED.......

Not got too much planned for the next two weeks so its feet up and relax. Seven down and eight to go, half way to the end of treatment.

Other than the above, all quiet on the western front so it off to the duvet for me.

One final thing, the comments are great and all read. Anon, thanks for taking the time to read my story and I hope that one day we will meet and I can stop thinking!!!

Cheers and KYPU.

AOB

The end of another week and my first full week of Radiotherapy which has gone better than I expected. Not too many side effects, a bit of tiredness and headaches if I don't drink enough water! My shoulder tingles for about 2 - 3 hours after treatment but there is not too much discomfort - yet!
We have no plans for the weekend apart from the usual kids parties and shopping for Anna's school trip to the Isle of Man next week.
I must mention a few people, Kelly Kane in the US who had her final chemo yesterday following 6 months of treatment, Wullie Currie in Scotland who starts his Stem Cell transfer next week and will be in total isolation for 4 - 5 weeks and Daz of Arran (well Aberdeen) who visits his company doctor next week to get the all clear to return to work. All of the above are recovering from Hodgkin's Lymphoma and have been a great support to Vicky and myself during the past few months. I wish them well during the next few weeks and will be thinking of you. Visit their blogs, very different but with the same story, if that makes sense.
Finally, thanks to my taxi drivers this week. I have not chanced driving after radiotherapy and have managed with the help of my Mum, Dad and Alan, Father in law who have all driven and waited patiently for the machines to be fixed. It was funny sitting in the waiting room for my turn as you could see people's surprise when I got up to go for treatment and they remained seated. Most patients are much older than I and it dauned on me that it must be a strain on them seeing me in this position. I can't say sorry, that's the way it is, but I can say thank you again for all the support for Vicky, the children and myself.
Off to get the DNA results from Gezza Kyle!
KYPU
C

Frank!!!!!!!!

Three down, Twelve to go!
So far not alot to report on the radiotherapy side (picture shows 'Frank') although they have changed my dose from 12 seconds each side to....wait for it.....ten seconds each side! My only complaint is the delay in treatments, the first day 20 minutes, day 2, 1hr 10 mins and today 1hr due to 'Frank' breaking down whilst I was on the table? Try lying still for 30 minutes on a glass table with your head cocked to the right and your arm at right angles! I was told that if I had an itch then the student radiotherapist would do it for me to keep me in position, I took one look at Phillip and decided to struggle! In the end they had to re position me which took an additional 5 minutes. I have had no obvious side effects although tonight I did feel really tired.
Other than the inconvenience of having to take 3 hours out of my day for treatment all else is good. If I continue to feel the same in a weeks time I am planning to start slow physical work to re build my strength, something I am looking forward to starting. Maybe I will get that new bike that Santa forgot to drop off last year?
Nothing else so I'm signing off, will update at the end of the week.
Cheers and KYPU.

Frank!

Well, that's 1 Radiotherapy session down, 14 to go!

No problems encountered during my first 'ZAP'. After a short consultation with the Radiotherapists I was taken into the room and introduced to 'Frank', the Radiotherapy machine...(think about it....)

Most of the time in to room is taken up getting you in position and lining your four small tattoos up with the machine. Once complete its evacuate the area for all others and off we go. I get 2 'ZAPS', one from the back and one from the front. Each one lasts for a massive 12 seconds - it takes longer to get dressed after! I have been warned that side effects may include burning of the skin, tiredness, nausea and sore throat and it will get worse with more visits. Glad to say that after my first experience, I did not have any side effects and hope that this continues.

Besides the above, I feel great, possibly the best for six months. I need to re build my strength gradually and look forward to not having further treatment, the light is getting bigger?

Right off for another frying, speak soon!

KYPU..

Radiotherapy

Attended my pre Radiotherapy appointment today at Christies to get measured and marked up. A really nice appointment during which I was shown the procedures. Had to lie in the required position so that the radiologists and clinical oncologist could make sure they zap the right area and mark me up with four permanent guide spots. In all I was at the hospital for 90 minutes, one of my shorter appointments, and I have my schedule for the next three weeks.

Other than that it has been a nice week so far, the sun is shining and I feel a bit stronger. I am paying a visit to work tomorrow to catch up and begin the return process. I have to say that they have been fantastic during my Hodgkin's experience and for that I thank them. It is nice to know that at times of need they back you up and take away any un-necessary pressures. I am sure that there are a lot of companies that would not be as understanding!

Roll on Friday when the frying begins!

KYPU