2011 has been the worst year of my life. In March, I didn't know whether I would be around to see christmas. I was diagnosed with a terminal illness, I no longer could work, we didn't know how we would survive financially and I really didn't think I would ever see my house finnished! It's now been 9 months since my diagnosis (14 months if you count the time from misdiagnosis) and how things have changed!
The RAF benevolent fund made sure we had our mortgage paid until we sorted out our life insurance. The life insurance paid up and subsequently we could get our house finnished. Nursing charities also helped us out financially. Best of all I am responding well to the chemo and by the looks of things I could be around for a while yet!
Earlier on in the year I couldn't see or plan any further ahead than a couple of weeks, now, I'm planning things well into next year. 2012 is going to be a very busy year for me, just aswell I no longer go out to work! Believe it or not I am really looking forward to 2012 and can't wait to really get stuck into my hobbies, going to the gym and the charity work.
I would like to thank my wonderful family, friends and the charities who have helped and supported us throughout this year, I love you all and wish you all a 'very merry christmas and a prosperous new year' xxxxx
Friday 23 December 2011
Friday 2 December 2011
Scan results time again!!!
It's scan results time again!
Well for me, the second one since starting Iressa. The first one after 6 weeks showed a 20% shrinkage from 11cms to 8.5cms. From the reading I've done on tartgeted therapies this seems to be the norm. This time I was expecting (and would have been more than happy with) 'stable'.
I thought the minute I walked into the room I would be able to tell if it was good news or not by their faces, this time no, I couldn't tell a thing.
The oncologist was busy looking at the scan on the screen then glancing at me. "Please tell me, I said" Well I couldn't belive it.....he said the tumour has 'collapsed' and is unmeasurable! he showed me the screen, where the tumour was was a black irregular shaped area. He showed me the pre treatment scan which showed the tumour to be white and cloudy looking, that scan showed white bits all over the lung too. On the new scan the lungs look clear! I asked him what it means, I think he was rather puzzled and said "stable is good, this is better that stable!" He did say there is a lymph node that has enlarged slightly but they would just keep an eye on it and there were no mets anywhere! I only need to see him every 2 months now and get another scan in 6 months! In that alone I have outdone the stats!
It seems to me that Iressa is a miracle drug, I thought it was just supposed to stop the tumour from growing and hence spreading, for me it seems to be much much more. I feel so lucky! Were now off to the Carribean in January with oncology blessing
This shows why it is so important for the research to come up with more innovative treatments like this, us 'patients' with an advanced form of the disease should not be written off!
Well for me, the second one since starting Iressa. The first one after 6 weeks showed a 20% shrinkage from 11cms to 8.5cms. From the reading I've done on tartgeted therapies this seems to be the norm. This time I was expecting (and would have been more than happy with) 'stable'.
I thought the minute I walked into the room I would be able to tell if it was good news or not by their faces, this time no, I couldn't tell a thing.
The oncologist was busy looking at the scan on the screen then glancing at me. "Please tell me, I said" Well I couldn't belive it.....he said the tumour has 'collapsed' and is unmeasurable! he showed me the screen, where the tumour was was a black irregular shaped area. He showed me the pre treatment scan which showed the tumour to be white and cloudy looking, that scan showed white bits all over the lung too. On the new scan the lungs look clear! I asked him what it means, I think he was rather puzzled and said "stable is good, this is better that stable!" He did say there is a lymph node that has enlarged slightly but they would just keep an eye on it and there were no mets anywhere! I only need to see him every 2 months now and get another scan in 6 months! In that alone I have outdone the stats!
It seems to me that Iressa is a miracle drug, I thought it was just supposed to stop the tumour from growing and hence spreading, for me it seems to be much much more. I feel so lucky! Were now off to the Carribean in January with oncology blessing
This shows why it is so important for the research to come up with more innovative treatments like this, us 'patients' with an advanced form of the disease should not be written off!
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