What a mixed month this is proving to be. Our niece gave birth to little baby boy on 5th, I celebrated my Hrumph birthday on 18th and then a young friend gave birth to a beautiful little girl on 19th. She wasn’t actually due then but no doubt I scare he into it by telling her what would happen if it wasn’t born before 20th and the start of Aquaries.We need all the Capricorns we can get. ( My daughter, amongst other things calls me the Crapicorn).
Today was the important day though 26th. This was the day we returned to see the dishy (not my description-but true nontheless) Oncologist Dr. Garcia to find out if Julia can restart her chemotherapy treatments which you may remember were suspended early December because of the toxicity in her lungs as a rare side effect of the chemo drug.
As her breathing has much improved, I was fully expecting to hear a new start date on a reduced dosage of the drug (Gemcitobine) but that didn’t happen. Ju’s weight has increased to eight and a half stone, she’s as cheerful as usual and breathing well. Dr Garcia told her ‘You’ll live longer without the chemo than with it’ meaning the lung problem will prove fatal faster than the cancer if we carry on. So he’s not starting a treatment at a reduced dose and not going for an alternative. At the moment he’s happy with her as she is and will review it again in another 6 weeks with perhaps a new scan in 2 months.
I suppose this news hits you dependent upon whether you’re a Cup Half Full Man or a Cup Half Empty Man. With Julia it’s left her more positive. With me I’m not sure as I have no idea what the tumor itself can do in 3 months of no treatment and can it be corrected if that’s bad. I’m writing to the US when a Doctor at the University of Pennsylvania has been getting great results with this particular cancer with a new treatment involving something called CD40 which can be used to fight the cancer cells. They have trials in America and also Ireland now. I want to see if they intend any in the UK. I don’t want to sit back and do nothing. Someone has even offered to raise funds to send Julia to the US by way of an auction if a suitable venue can be found…so if you have a Stately Pile anywhere in Europe or America do please let me know.
barsetshirediaries 