Cancer Remains Dormant Still

Cancer Remains Dormant Still is a boring but good headline to have.  Barbara and I met with my oncologist, Dr Lisa Horvath this afternoon.  She explained that I am one of a handful of her patients who are at the end of the Bell Curve where things are really good.  She advised that if/when the cancer starts to grow again it will likely be gradual – another round of chemotherapy will then be used.

It is two years this month since the diagnosis was made.  It is one year at the end of April that I ceased chemotherapy treatment – wonderful not to have it and be well.  Please remember the cancer remains in my liver.  I remind myself this is the reality so that I do not take my state of good health for granted.  My next appointment with Dr Lisa is at the end of May and will include a CT scan.

Family

Two of our sons and their wives are awaiting the birth of their first children.  Our family is well and we see them regularly with most living nearby.  They are working or studying.

Uganda

I facilitated the financial modules of the International Company Directors Course in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates at the end of February and then took a side trip to Uganda in the beginning of March.  Our friends of nearly forty years, Allan and Pam are living in Kamuli.  They are the only Caucasians in their town.  It was wonderful being with them for a week, including three days in Kamuli.  I was deeply touched by the experience.  They have made many Ugandan friends whom I was privileged to meet.

Uganda’s needs are insatiable but if Pam and Allan had to leave tomorrow, they have made a lasting difference to a number of people’s lives.  This has been achieved through their own efforts and through funds provided by family and friends for sponsoring children and assisting projects, particularly at the Bezallel School across the road.  I am hoping to be further involved and am looking at spending a few weeks with them in June as the next step.

Words cannot describe what my Ugandan experience means.  It gives me a sense of greater purpose.  It will be interesting to see how things unfold.

Pam, David (just arrived) and Allan relaxing at
Banana Village near Entebbe Airport

Local friends rapping their own
songs in Pam and Allan's front yard

David enjoying dinner at the Bezallel Children's Home

Children at new bore at Bezallel School
Barbara and I sponsored

Boy boarders at their beds in Bezallel School

Primary 7 students doing school work on Saturday

David speaking at school assembly ....

...... while children look on

Pam with head teacher Beatrice in her office

World's best fruit juices from friend
Esther's shop in downtown Kamuli 

Western café latte in Jinja

Nile flowing from Lake Victoria, Jinja

Canberra

Canberra is celebrating its centenary this year.  A city of about half a million people now exists where there were a few sheep farms 100 years ago.  Lesley and Stephen and Barbara and I stayed in an apartment last weekend and joined in the celebrations.  We went on a hot air balloon ride, Sunday morning, as the big event.  Three of us also enjoyed the Toulouse Lautrec exhibit at the National Gallery.  Barbara and Lesley saw the Dream of a Century exhibit at the National Library.  Barbara and I saw the Canberra design exhibition at the National Archives.  Barbara and I also enjoyed a Sunday night dinner with friends Graham and Pip, catching up after a number of years.

David aboard

Our companion balloons over the Lake

Stephen, Lesley and Barbara enjoying the view

Coming Events

Our coming granddaughters are the number one events!  Our third oldest turns 30 on 28 March and celebrates with family and friends the next day.  From April 3 to 21, my brother and I will be cruising in the Kimberley on the North Star.  We are also having work done on Club 55 to repair our parapet wall and paint the outside.  I have been catching up with colleagues and have several more engagements in May.  I have also been busy on work matters, which continues in late April and May.

Cancer Remains Dormant

Monday, 4 February, my brother and I met with registrar Dr Sarah and then Dr Lisa.  My liver continues to function normally and the CT scan shows one lesion reduced from 36mm to 30mm and the other being monitored increased by 2mm to 56mm.  They regard this along with other information as showing the cancer remains dormant.  My next appointment is March 27 and will be a blood test and discussion with Dr Lisa.  It is now nine months since my last chemotherapy.

As each appointment approaches I endeavour not to think about it much.  And after I find out the result I feel a bit down.  It seems an anticlimax.  I am very grateful that the cancer remains dormant.  Logically, I want each appointment discussion to be about the cancer remaining dormant.  However, emotion sits in the background.  Another thing I notice is that I am more niggly and touchy as the appointment approaches.

Our daughters-in-law continue to progress fit and healthy through their pregnancies.  We now know there will be two granddaughters.  While two moved out, four of us remain in the home, however, my brother arrived last Wednesday for a two week visit – so our home remains ‘packed to the rafters’.

Barbara is flying to the US for two weeks with her family from 9 February.  Before she returns I fly to Dubai and am working in Abu Dhabi for a day and visiting friends Pam and Allan in Uganda during the first week of March.  At the end of March Barbara and I, with our friends Steve and Lesley are spending a weekend in Canberra including taking a hot air balloon ride.

Three major items over the last two months I would like to report upon are Christmas, backyard work and Country Music Festival in Tamworth.

Christmas

Our family Christmas celebration was on Sunday December 23 to allow for family members doing other things on Christmas.  The Club 55 Heyco Christmas was very enjoyable: entrée of scallops, roast shoulder of pork and vegetables main course and trifle dessert prepared, as usual by the Heyco siblings.  A raucous and fun time was had opening the presents.  In a very civilised manner our celebrations ran from late morning to early evening.

On Christmas Day the Heycos were invited to a daughter-in-law's family home for Christmas dinner.  Twenty-eight people gathered together.

Backyard Blitz

From before Christmas and into the new year the major project was removal of the old shed and replacement with a new 3.75 x 3 x 2 metres shed.  The new Easy-Shed has a sliding door and two louver windows.  It was not that easy to assemble and took many hours and reading of instructions.  The walls and roof parts were separately assembled and then erected.  I could not do this on my own.  Barbara, our three sons and our friends from Kuala Lumpur assisted.

After the shed was erected I built a workbench and set of 3 by 2.1 by 0.9 metre shelves and a vertical unit for holding garden tools and a portable bench.  Working with various tools and using bolts and screws I thought of my Dad as many of the items were his.  I laid bricks for garden edging, mixed concrete, laid pavers and sifted dirt.  Pete and I fixed the fence post beside the back gate by digging out the bottom section of the broken post, cementing in a new post base and bolting the top part of the old post to it.

The shed this afternoon

The shelving already filling up

The workbench with gear to be repacked

The vertical storage unit

I did not expect to be doing so much building and other activities again in my lifetime.  I was pleasantly surprised and how well I did things and my methodical approach.  I felt good usually working several hours in a day and sometimes quite long days. 

Country Music Festival Tamworth

I made my fourth trip to Tamworth for the Country Music Festival from Wednesday 23 to Sunday 27 January.  I stayed with friends John and Alison and met up with lots of people.  Meeting up with our neighbour Graeme and his friend Trevor we visited with his cousin Mandy and her husband Ken 'Chainsaw' Lindsay seeing him perform.  I also visited friends and relatives and on the way home visited a cousin and her family.

I saw a number of great acts.  One of these was the Hillbilly Goats who specialise in hillbilly and blue grass music.  Another was Bill Chambers at his sessions at The Pub where he fosters young Country Music musicians.  His famous daughter, Kasey and her husband Shane Nicholson made a guest appearance.

As always, my favourite time was at the Supper Club run by the amazing Andrew Clermont.  I particularly enjoyed the Connor sisters, Siskin River.  You can see their performance of their own song Walking Dead on U-Tube which was filmed at the Supper Club.  These girls are stunning – the U-Tube does not do them justice – eerie, magnetic, erotic, ethereal, awesome terms do.  I also enjoyed Salvation Jane and Totally Gourdgeous a group of four amazing musicians including Andrew Clermont.

Tamworth holds the world’s second largest country music festival and it is the world’s tenth largest music festival.  The whole event is a great credit to the NSW regional country city of about 35000 people.

Good News Galore!

Monday, 26 November, Barbara and I met with Dr Lisa Horvath, my oncologist.  The good news is that my liver continues to function normally.  So, my next appointment is February 4 with a CT scan scheduled in the prior week.  It is now seven months since my last chemotherapy and it is wonderful to remain chemo free.

In the last two weeks or so I have wondered about my liver and my last two nights of sleep were not as good as usual.  When I heard the news, I was relieved and surprised.  With the cancer still there, it is amazing that it remains dormant.  Thank you for all your good wishes, positive thoughts and prayers.

My Brother's 60th Birthday

My brother hosted 38 family and friends at Wilpena Pound Resort where he has worked for almost three years.  Most of our family attended.  It was wonderful being with him in his own environment.  Thursday 18 October, Barbara and I and six others celebrated dinner at the Prairie Hotel, Parachilna.

Friday almost everyone travelled through geological time in a seven-car cavalcade with my brother's commentary informing us all the way.  Saturday was the main event at lunch where he led us through several activities to learn more about him and each other and how we know him, ate lunch and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ as he blew out his candles.  That evening we went to Stokes Hill lookout and watched the sun setting over Wilpena Pound.  Sunday breakfast was the final official activity.  That afternoon 15 of us in three scenic flights flew over the Pound and beyond.

Entering Wilpena Pound where a local version of the
Beatles' Abbey Road cover took place before our eyes!

The Hey-Cunninghams at Stokes Hill Lookout

Barbara took this delightful picture at sunset

Looking north at Wilpena Pound on our scenic flight

Energy Levels

I have felt pretty normal over the last two months.  My busiest schedule was in the two weeks after my brother’s 60th birthday.  Barbara and I drove from Sydney via the Great Ocean Road in Victoria and the Limestone Coast in South Australia to Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges. 

The famous Twelve Apostles on the Great Ocean Road

My travelling from Sunday 21 October to Sunday 4 November was:

• flying in a light plane over Wilpena Pound and surrounding area
• driving on Monday to Mildura, spending the night and driving 850 kilometres to Bathurst on Tuesday and staying with friends, Wednesday morning home, Thursday morning breakfast with neighbours
• Friday facilitating the financial modules of the Company Directors Course in the city and Friday night going to ESFNG (Every Second Friday Night Group)
• Saturday flying to Kuala Lumpur and staying with friends, Monday to Wednesday facilitating a three-day finance for non-financial managers seminar
• Thursday flying to Bangkok and meeting with the client in the afternoon, Friday facilitating a one day financial seminar, Saturday flying back to Sydney
• Sunday attending a friend’s 18th birthday party at Dawes Point under the Harbour Bridge

And I felt good!

The 18 year old

The guests

Becoming Grandparents

We are thrilled to share this good news: two of our sons and their wives are each expecting their first child in 2013.  We celebrated a daughter-in-law's 30th birthday.

We also celebrated Thanksgiving here at Club 55 with wider family and a friend.

Truly, the last two months have been filled with good things and in 2013 we will welcome two new people into the family – good news galore!

Dormant State Continues

Last Thursday I had a CT scan.  Monday morning I had a blood test.  Midday Monday, Barbara and I saw Dr Lisa Horvath.  Good news!  The cancer remains dormant.  The two cancerous lesions measured in the liver remain the same – one exactly, one reducing 2mm.  There is no sign of cancer in the lymph nodes or other parts of my torso.

Apologies for taking a couple of days to write this but Barbara and I have had a virus.  We blame Will.  With six of us living at Club 55, we finally fell victim to one of the several viruses that have infected one or more of the household at a time.

Additionally, I have hurt my right shoulder digging in the backyard.  So, though the news is so good, I did not feel overly great.  Now that I am on the mend and seeing a physiotherapist, I am starting to feel physically better.

My response to awaiting news on what is happening with the cancer has been interesting.  I have felt like I am ‘hanging around’ waiting for the news the cancer is on the move again.  I know this is a pretty useless approach.  I know it is very good that the cancer is dormant and that the blood tests show my liver is functioning normally.  So, I need to talk to my mind to concentrate on the positive – I am able to live normally – enjoy it while you can.  So, this is my aim going forward.

From time to time some of you forward me cancer ‘cures’ suggested on the internet.  A friend forwarded an internet article about the benefits of lemon juice in attacking cancer cells.  I have decided that it is OK to have a tablespoon of concentrated lemon juice in some water once a day.  At a minimum there is the vitamin C benefit.

Turning Sixty – Part 1

We have taken several opportunities to celebrate Barbara’s 60th.  The first weekend in August Lesley and Steve hosted us at the Audrey Wilkinson Winery in the Hunter Valley – luxury, scenery, delicious food and fine wine!

On the first weekend in September we enjoyed a wonderful celebration of Barbara’s 60th birthday at the old Quarantine Station, North Head, Sydney.  All the Hey-Cunninghams and their partners including my brother from Wilpena Pound were there.  We stayed in two of the old staff cottages, walked into and dined in Manly admiring the prevalent wild flowers along the way, indulged in an elegant afternoon tea with superb birthday cake, enjoyed birthday dinner at the Boiler House Restaurant and a Father’s Day breakfast in Manly.

one type of wild flower

the spectacular birthday cake

Barbara trying on her new watch

At the Boiler House Restaurant

At Father's Day breakfast admiring my delicious chocolates

A Worthwhile Week on the Gold Coast

My week on the Gold Coast staying with Matthew (16) and Jacob (13) while their parents, Lynn and John enjoyed a week’s holiday on the Sunshine Coast was one of the most worthwhile things I have done for a while.  All went well.  I had the middle of Monday to Thursday to myself while the boys were at the school.  This helped me maintain my energy as I was arising earlier and retiring later than usual.  Did about four hours of driving practice with Matthew.  On the Tuesday we drove in to Brisbane to have dinner with their sister Rebecca and Pete and Camilla at a Mexican restaurant.  Enjoyed catching up with Lynn and John before and after their week away.

Cairns Week

At the same time, Barbara continued to celebrate her birthday by spending a week with fellow 60th birthday celebrant, Pat.  Their present from the Heyco siblings and partners was skydiving.  They did this early in their week so that the anxious anticipation was over and they could relax.  This means six members of our have jumped jumped.

44th KHS Anniversary

Saturday night I attended the 44th anniversary of finishing at Katoomba High School in 1968.  Our year’s anniversary is combined with 1967 year.  Just as well, because they are the ones who organise it.  The previous reunion was held five years ago but I was overseas and before that, in 1985.  The dinner was held at the Fairmont Resort Leura with about 60 people attending, most of them 1967 graduates.  I enjoyed catching up with people I had not seen for up to 44 years.  I did notice that we all look old – being 62 instead of 18!

Turning Sixty – Part 2

My brother turns sixty in October.  Our entire family are joining about forty others to celebrate with him at Wilpena Pound, The Flinders Ranges in South Australia on Saturday 20 October (actual day is Thursday 18).  This is our big event between now and Christmas.

My next blood test is at the end of November.  If it shows all is well, then next CT scan will be late January.  So, the next update is due at end of November.  But if I get excited about anything else along the way, you will hear from me sooner.

Pristine

Today, Monday 30 July I had a blood test in the morning.  At 12.30 Barbara and I met with Dr Lisa Horvath.  She reported and showed us on the computer that the blood test results show that my blood remains ‘pristine’.  My liver is functioning normally – yippee!  So, I continue without chemotherapy.  Thursday, 20 September I am booked for a CT scan.  Monday 24 September is when I will next see Dr Lisa.  Naturally, I am hoping that the scan will show the cancer continues to be dormant.  At this stage my next blog entry will be a report on the meeting with Dr Lisa.

Meanwhile in this blog entry I will tell you a little about activities since our North American trip – Singapore, Cairns and Bathurst.

In response to some requests to know what I am planning to do, between now and the next blog entry:

• Barbara and I are driving next weekend to the Hunter Valley with Lesley and Steve who have arranged this weekend to begin celebrating Barbara’s 60th birthday
• then Barbara and I are driving on to stay at Golden Beach on the Sunshine Coast Queensland for eleven days
• most of my work will be in Sydney but I will be working in Perth in the last week of August
• the first weekend in September our family celebrates Barbara’s 60th, which she has arranged at the old Quarantine Centre, North Head, Sydney
• second week of September I will be staying with Matthew and Jacob on the Gold Coast while their parents John and Lynne have a holiday and Barbara will be holidaying in Cairns with our friend Pat, jointly celebrating their 60ths!

I think these are enough activities for the next couple of months – now to Singapore, Cairns and Bathurst.

I was home less than two weeks from the US when I travelled to Singapore to facilitate a three-day seminar, which was well received.  I arrived home Thursday morning 12 July and Friday afternoon 13 July, family and I flew to Cairns where most of the family spent a week together.  These photos show some of the highlights of a holiday we all greatly enjoyed.

At water filled volcanic plug hole, Atherton Table Lands

Feeding rock wallabies, Granite Gorge, Atherton Tablelands

Dinner at Blue Moon Restaurant, Trinity Beach,
the Cairns suburb in which we stayed

A Hey-Cunningham landing

Celebrating their tandem parachute skydives with Coke

Watching crocodile on our Daintree River cruise

Accessing coconuts on Cape Tribulation Beach
in the Daintree National Park

Aboard the Seastar at the beginning of 
our day trip to the outer Barrier Reef

We saw whales once on the way out 
and thrice on the return trip

This last weekend, Christmas in July was celebrated in Bathurst.  We had a fantastic time enjoying superb cooking and learning about our friends' trip with other members of their Church to a sister church in Tonga.

Displaying our Kris Kringle presents after Christmas dinner

How am I feeling – well – with reducing chemo side affects.  It seems that a level of numbness will permanently remain in my fingers and toes.  It is strange having numbness and having feeling together.  I am very grateful for the continuing dormancy of the cancer.  I think about this from time to time but do not dwell on it.  I have no idea how long it will continue but hope the cancer remains dormant for a long time.  Meanwhile, I enjoy each day I live.  I am enjoying a great mix of rewarding work, time away, time at home.  I have deliberately planned to be in warmer places for about half of the Sydney winter.  It has been great to be warmer.

You might think we are too busy but, no, please contact us if you would like to arrange some time together.

Cancer Remains Dormant

Barbara and I landed in Sydney on our Qantas QF12 Airbus A380 (fabulous plane) from Los Angeles at 6.30 am, Tuesday June 26.  Within fifteen minutes we had deplaned, passed immigration and customs and met Alison.  Al brought the liquid I had to drink between one hour and half an hour before my CT Scan.  So, I drank it from 7 am to 7.30 am on our way to and at home.  7.45 am I walked from home to my 8.00 am appointment for the CT Scan, returning home by 8.30 am.  Amazing how much can be fitted into such a short time frame when you live close to the airport and the medical centre.

Tuesday morning was meant to be simpler as we were due home on Monday morning.  However, a severe storm in New York City on Friday night meant that we arrived Saturday morning at Buffalo Airport to find our flight cancelled   We were rescheduled to Sunday morning.  We spent a lazy and comfortable Saturday in a motel across the road from the airport.

Wednesday morning I went to the Royal Prince Albert Hospital for my blood test, bumping into a couple of the chemotherapy suite nurses who greeted me like a long lost friend. Early in the afternoon Alison and I met with my oncologist, Dr Lisa Horvath.  She gave us good news.  The CT scan showed that one liver lesion grew 2 millimetres and another shrank 2 mm – the cancer had remained stable even with no maintenance chemo for the last seven weeks.  My blood test showed everything is working well.  Lisa was happy for me to continue without chemotherapy – whoopee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will have another blood test on Monday 30 July and see Lisa.  She expects to take another CT Scan in about three months.  If the cancer continues to remain stable, I can continue without chemotherapy.  Lisa told me to keep up the busy lifestyle and travel schedule, which I will happily do.

Naturally, I, and all the Heyco’s, are thrilled that the cancer remains dormant.

I continue to have annoying side effects from the chemo being weaker fingernails that break, slight numbness in my fingers and toes, and bumpy skin on my forehead.  But this is a small price to pay for being alive with the quality of life I am enjoying.

Today, a friend emailed me to say I had been on his mind for the last few days and he had been praying for me.  He checked my last blog entry and realised we were due home from our US five week holiday.  It is fantastic to have caring friends and family who are wishing me well and praying.  Thank you all.

Travelling America

Barbara and I had a wonderful five and a half week holiday in North America.  Here are a few highlights and photographs.  We arrived May 18 in Vancouver, staying with our friends Brian and Bonnie.

We enjoyed walking in their local area of Richmond, travelling by public transport (train ferry and bus) to Grouse Mountain, a ski field on the north shore, sampling coffees and food, attending their church, visiting Bonnie’s research workplace, ICORD and more.

Brian, Barbara and Bonnie with Leon, her service dog at Minoru Park

Barbara testing a wheel chair at ICORD, under Bonnie's supervision

Tuesday we caught a bus to Seattle, picked up our Hertz hire car and began our two plus weeks of meandering to San Francisco.  In Seattle (only founded in 1853) we stayed in a restored log cabin at Lake Haller in the northern suburbs, visited Boeing production facility, Tillicum Indian Village , Underground City Tour, and Smith Tower (1914 at 30 floors was fourth tallest building in world after three New York buildings).

Friday morning, May 25 we left Seattle and drove around the Olympic Peninsula, visiting Olympic National Park from the north to see Hurricane Ridge and from the west to see forest areas and Ruby Beach – fabulous place.  We also stood on continental USA most north-westerly point, Cape Flattery (excluding Alaska).

On the Oregon Coast, we spent two nights in Webb’s Scenic Surf Motel (right on the beach, reasonable price, place to stay) at Cannon Beach walking three miles down the beach where we met a young Swedish American man who had begun walking the coastal trail in Alaska in February, visited art and craft shops, salivated over the seafood and had the world’s best coffee at the Sleepy Monk Café, established in 1989.

At the Sleepy Monk Café I was offered a wet, dry or traditional cappuccino.  I enquired what this meant.  Wet – means extra milk, dry – means extra froth and traditional is normal portions of coffee, milk and froth.  I asked for dry!

In Portland we spent a night and day with Drew, Barbara’s nephew who spent a year and a half in Australia a few years back, mostly staying with us.  He drove us east along the Columbia River where we walked the Eagle Creek trail, saw Multnomah Falls and other falls, the original Route 30 highway built during the WWI and the Rose Gardens.

We stayed in a number of interesting motels, among the most interesting being The Woodsman Country Lodge in Crescent on Route 97 where we stayed on our way to Crater Lake.  They are real bullets in the toilet seat!

Crater Lake is truly one of the World’s special places.  I am so glad we saw it.  When we arrived it was raining and cloudy.  Like, in 1978, when we visited the Grand Canyon in cloud, God rolled back the clouds and we saw the very blue lake and its magnificence.  This photo shows Wizard Island.

Then we entered Northern California, home of the Redwoods and Sequoia trees – truly majestic, these trees appear to stretch to heaven.  We adored the time we spent amongst them in a number of places – driving through and hiking some trails.  We started in the Redwood National and State Parks.  Further south we drove The Avenue of the Giants on which we saw the certified largest tree.  I also achieved the aim of driving through the three drive-thru trees, one at each of Klamath, Myers Flat and Leggett.

Driving down through the redwood country we discovered an historic Victorian era town of Ferndale where we stayed at the beautiful Victorian Inn. It is an old bank and office building converted to a hotel.  The owner and host greeted all the guests at breakfast and told us he had been to Sydney several years ago, with a strong memory of Hillsong Church at Baulkam Hills, which is Australia’s biggest church.

On our US west coast driving we visited a number of beautiful beaches of which McClures Beach in the Point Reyes National Seashore California was a standout.  We were the only people there for the two hours we stayed.  This area is an hour or two north of San Francisco.

In San Francisco we stayed in a two bedroom apartment on Van Ness Avenue and were joined by Jo Anne a friend from Barbara’s days in infants school in Fredonia.  We walked a lot and drove some seeing the Cable Car Museum, the Farmers’ Market, Ghirardelli’s, Golden Gate Park, Haight Ashbury and the Roman Catholic Cathedral Roman Catholic Cathedral a modern marvel of concrete construction.  A highlight was English High Tea lunch at the Secret Garden Tea House on the south of Golden Gate Park.  I have now had English High Tea in two US places, one in Canada, two in Australia, two in Malaysia and one in Zimbabwe but none in England!

Monday June 11 we flew to Las Vegas for one of my ‘bucket list’ items: Cirque du Soleil Beatles Love. Words cannot describe this one and a half hour show – perfect, superb, wonderful, exhilarating, glorious, uplifting, magnificent – the list of superlatives goes on.  The staging, performance, narrative, sound system, music and atmosphere were all perfect.  I cannot show you any photos as none are allowed.  The narrative started after WWII and moved through Liverpool to the 1960s love, drugs and revolution.

For the final part of our holiday on Tuesday June 12 we flew to Buffalo, NY and travelled to Fredonia, Barbara’s home town, for our time with the Lesch and wider family.

Barbara Mom with one of her many great grand children

The four Lesch sisters toasting their sisterhood with 4 Sisters Wine

David with Barbara's brother and partner

The Wild Women who gather every time Barbara comes