Monday 30 June 2008

CT scan today

Kieran was sick again last night so that is another 48 hours off school.
I am sure I am coming down with it as well as I wasn't all that good yesterday and am feeling yukky today.
I am back to work tomorrow.
I went for my CT scan and got through it very well. I am absolutely brimming with confidence and happiness at the moment and I don't want it spoilt.
I will be seeing my oncologist on 4th July.
I hope he is positive, I need him to be. I am under no illusions with what is happening to me but I need to keep my head clear.

Monday 23 June 2008

I am adding some pictures that Jeanette took of the Germany trip.
Her memory card woudn't work on my laptop so she sent them insteadThis is me after getting stuck in the toilet and waiting for my procedure to be done.
As you can see the fashion in Theatre has not changed,the shoes are great aren't they!!
And here is the main man, The man who has given me so much hope, Professor Vogl. He is so wonderful and very down to earth.
This picture was taken after he had told Jeanette and I about the 10% change in the tumour.
He was getting ready to jet off to Los Angeles for a meeting and a well earned break I hope.
I will be off work for a week and then back to work on 1st July.
I will then be off to Germany 20th July and will have the third procedure on 21st July and back home on 22nd.
It will be wonderful to have another reduction but if it is still 10% I am happy with that.
Later on I went out with Siobhan and her boyfriend. It has been a wonderful day, If anyone is listening.....I want a lot more of these please!

Sunday 22 June 2008

Back home

Jeanette and I got up at 5:30am and were shattered.
We both felt it was too early but knew we had to get up.
We got packed and left the room and went down for a taxi.
I realised on the way that I had left my coat in the room. I rang the hotel to let them know and to ask them to keep it for when we return.
Everything went really well with the journey and we got to Bristol at around 11:45am (10:45am UK time)
When I got home, Siobhan was there, Richard came home about an hour later.
I went out to see Kieran as I had missed him too, he is staying with his dad until Wednesday.
It was good to be home.
I will make an appointment with my GP tomorrow to get a sick note as I will need one for work.
I can feel the sickness and am feeling very tired but, appart from that,
I feel good.I keep looking at the CD Professor Vogl gave me as I can't quite believe that 10% has gone, It is like a dream come true.
I really hope more has gone next month.
My next expedition ios to Derriford hospital on 30th June for another CT scan for my oncologist. I think he will be suprised when he sees the results!

Friday 20 June 2008

Good news from Germany!

Well....it has happened....It's official, Theo Loves Germany!!!
I went to see Professor Vogl this morning and first of all, decided to go to the toilet as I was feeling very nervous, and then it happened.....I got stuck in the loo!!!
I was banging on the door and shouting for Jeanette and thought "oh no....will anyone miss me" , Jeanette came to the rescue and got a nurse/doctor.
I eventually managed to unlock the door, the lock had got stuck....phew!!!!I then went into the theatre and Professor Vogl asked me how I was feeling and I told him I was feeling very well.
I also told him that I felt my breathing was much better and was not sure if it was the tumour shrinking or if it was psychological thinking.
He said there had been, in his words, "a significant change" and my breathing getting better was what he had seen.
We were very excited and after around 6-7 hours, we went to see him.
He told us it had shrunk 10%!!!!
we were exstatic, he was so wonderful and even let Jeanette take a picture of him!
The second treatment went very well. This is the best day I have had for a long time, it is up there beside having my 3 beautiful babies.

Thank you Professor Vogl, your brilliant!

Professor Vogl has told me that there are Drs in the UK who will do the dendritic cells vaccine and to ask Dr Callebout for some names. I will do that when I get back. I am glad really as it will be more expensive with flights and hotels included in every treatment.

Thursday 19 June 2008

We have arrived.

Jeanette and I arrived in Germany at 2:30pm uk time.
It is quite warm hear. I bought a newspaper before I went on the plane as the headline was about the new immune therapy that has been sucessful in America.
A man, who isn't name, has been clear of Melanoma for 2 years after having his cells cloned in a laboratory and returned to his immune system.
Sounds a lot like Dendritic cell vaccine to me or very similar.The uk is so behind in these treaments and it is so expensive for anyone wanting to try it as for most of us cancer sufferers, there is nothing else left.More about the story is in the link below.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/7460743.stm

Wednesday 18 June 2008

Back to Germany

I am off to Germany tomorrow for the second chemoembolization treatment, I am not going to expect any change but if there is any shrinkage, it will be a bonus. I feel very well in myself and am hoping that the reatent has had some affect on he tumour.
I had a restless night last night and am sure it is all tied into the stress of the illness.
I will be travelling to Bristol with my friend, Jeanette, and will add the blogs again as it happens.
The biggest issue with all of this is the money as it is all so expensive. I wish that something was available in the UK for this treatment.