Rectal Cancer Decrease – Liver Cancer Increase

Over the last few days my cancer has been investigated through:

• CT scan on Friday 26 June
• Flexi sigmoidoscopy on Tuesday 30 June
• Oncologist consultation on Wednesday 1 July

The result of Dr Chris’s flexi sigmoidoscopy inspection of my rectum area shows that the radiation and accompanying chemotherapy significantly reduced the two tumours.

The CT scan shows that there are multiple new microscopic cancers in the liver with three large new cancers of 1.5, 1.7 and 2.4 cms.  Today’s (1 July) blood test shows my liver is functioning normally.  Dr Kate will be seeing me next on Monday 3 August and I will start at least six months of chemotherapy, (probably) three days a fortnight shortly after that.  Before that appointment, a tissue sample is being examined to see if it will be possible to try a new chemotherapy that might give better results.  As is normal for a cancer of my type, I now need to return to chemotherapy more quickly.

Naturally, Barbara and I are feeling a bit down after today’s trip to the oncologist.  It means being tied into regular rounds of chemotherapy from August until at least February.  Planned holidays now have to be cancelled or rearranged in shortened bursts.

Please remember that I am experiencing a much healthier life than normal for someone with the extent of liver cancer detected in March 2011.  At that time the statistical life timeframe was one to five years.  More than four years later I am still enjoying a good quality of life.

I confess I felt a bit invincible lately, thinking that I had many more years to live.  Today is a sobering reminder that this might not be so.

Barbara and I are still departing for Uganda this Sunday: Barbara will be with me for ten days and I will be in Uganda for over three weeks.  I am glad that I have been planning what needs to be done during this visit.  I was aiming to return to Uganda from late October to mid November.  This is now very unlikely.  So, I am faced with a bigger challenge of how well matters can be addressed face-to-face and then successfully proceed.

This is blacker blog entry.  I want to finish by celebrating the privilege of being alive and enjoying several events recently:

• The BezCan Project Governance Group meeting
• a family birthday
• friends 18th birthday and silver wedding anniversary
• annual Christmas in July (this year in late June)
• watching our two granddaughters and grandson growing up – the girls are now two years old – both love their parents, each other and wider family – they love learning and are so full of life – our grandson is full of smiles, happy and contented – can it get much better than this!