Sorry for the long delay between posts.
It feels like the pilot has just announced that we are making our descent and will be landing in a few minutes so we need to fasten our seat belts for any last minute jolts.
Remarkably, Richard had his last chemo session in hospital this past Tuesday and now only has pills to take until June 14 when the treatment is finished. He is over the moon with the knowledge that this whole experience which began last Sept 25th, 2010 will draw to a close very, very soon and old freedoms to enjoy travel, restaurants, crowds, exersize, etc., will resume.
Since the last post there have been some rapids to ride through. After having a low red cell count which delayed his first post-op chemo session, the chemo treatment caused him to develop a dangerously low white cell count. Correcting this delayed his second chemo session and also altered the strength of the second chemo which was reduced by 25%. This meant that the side-effects were greatly reduced. Richard ate and slept well after the reduced strength second chemo even though he said the second day after he felt bloody awful! I couldn't tell. And then three days afater the second chemo session and after taking the prescribed self-administered shots to boost his white cell count he had his blood work done to see how things were and the results landed us up in the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital for the weekend! His white cell count which I think ranges between 7 to 12 was up to 127! Blood thickens during chemo anyway so this raised white cell count increased the risk of a blood clot and stroke quit significntly. The treatment was just having iv hydrating fluids and blood thinning injections for two days. We watched his white cell level drop to a safe point. The doctors felt comfortable discharging him on Sunday afternoon having dropped everything in the country and rushing into London the previous Friday evening.
Richard's weight loss has stabilised and I think he is gaining a bit now. His eating is certainly good though I still can't get him to have the required two desserts every day! I imagine after the chemo is finished his loss of interest in wine will change. Maybe not. He's lost alot of his hair again but it will return in a few weeks and maybe in some wonderfully bizarre way as people say it often does.
There is a new spring in Richard's step which coincides with the blossoming and full leafing out of the plants and trees around us. All is well for the moment and though we're prepared for last minute turbulence, we're countiing on a safe landing.
