Monday 31 August Barbara and I met with Dr Kate Mahon, my
oncologist. During our discussion, Kate
mentioned that I am an outlier. In March
2011, when I was diagnosed, my statistical life expectancy was one to five
years. Four and a half years later I am
likely to live for many more years. I am
fortunate that I have continued in relatively very good health for someone in
my situation. This makes me an ‘outlier’,
in that I am a person beyond the normal statistical situation.
This second round of chemotherapy from Monday to Wednesday was
more comfortable than the first round. I
think this was at least partially due to it being more time since a stent was
inserted between my left kidney and bladder.
However, I have had some problems with my colostomy bag. I seemed to have some allergic reaction in my
skin from this second chemo round. There
were some spots on my stomach and chest, a couple of which were in the area of
where the colostomy bag covers my skin.
I had a red rash around the perimeter of where the colostomy bag
attaches. Thursday afternoon I met with
Lesley, the senior stoma nurse at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She examined the colostomy bag area. I will be trying a couple of other types of
colostomy bags over the next few weeks.
Thankfully, the rash has settled down and I am now more comfortable.
2015 is the year of a multiplying of issues relating to my
cancer and my treatment for the cancer.
Hence it has been good to enjoy catching up with some family and friends
– diversion therapy helps. Tuesday night
Barbara and I met Pam and Allan at Sydney Airport on their return from
Uganda. Wednesday night our daughter
joined Barbara and I for dinner out at a Thai restaurant to celebrate Barbara’s
birthday. Thursday, Maureen and Glenn
came for morning tea. Friday, second
cousins Tim, Kylie and Simon came for afternoon tea. Saturday friends Hugh and Barbie came for a
late lunch and late afternoon Barbara and I went to
Balmoral Beach. There our children and grandchildren met us
to for our family celebration of Barbara’s birthday and Fathers’ Day. Though a cool and cloudy afternoon, the
granddaughters loved playing on the beach.
A wedding group had photos taken nearby.
We enjoyed an early dinner of fish and chips.
Today, Sunday, in the evening, Barbara and I are speaking about
The BezCan
Project at Holy Trinity, Pam and Allan’s Church.
They will be there too.
I hope you enjoy these Balmoral Beach family photos.
