Bit of Half News..

Afternoon Campers,

Have just seen Prof, worried that Chelsea will get knocked out of whatever the Cup thing is against Cluj Romania tonight and only just off a flight from San Fran, looking a bit less than Prof-like in a slightly dodgy slept-in tracksuit top.

But he did have some 'half news' – the magic protein level has gone up for the first time since I've been treated, from 7 last week to 8 today, which is sort of good news and sort of bad. The good news is that it probably means the stem cell transplant may go ahead in Jan, which helps in some ways to feel like I'm less stuck in an endless chemo rut and that we can get that done and dusted and see what happens as a result of it, sooner rather than later. The downside is that it also means that the Velcade chemo treatment no longer appears to be able to bring the protein level down any further, and of course, low numbers are good numbers.

Anyway – there are 2 more chemo doses in this cycle of treatment, so we have to wait another week (the frustrating waiting game continues) till next Tues to see what the protein score is by then and make decisions at that point.

There are two options:

i) If it stays at 8, drops to 7 only or goes up higher than 8, then I will have my stem cells harvested (lots of blood taken and they see how many stem cells they can collect. Hopefully enough in one session to 'feed' two potential transplants – the one in Jan and one further down the line as and when it might be needed. But there might only be enough for one transplant, or I might have to go several times to get either enough for one or two transplants – we'll have to see what my blood has to offer). Never having seen a stem cell, I'm buggered if I know.

ii) If it does drop below 7 (so to 6 or 5) then maybe I do another round – or two – of chemo, to see if it can be forced to go lower. With the same upsides and downsides as above, life feeling 'on hold' until its done and I know whether I've got remission vs knowing the chemo is doing its job and bringing the magic protein number down as far as possible.

So tune in, pop pickers in a week's time, and get ready to book your visiting slots in the land of lavender curtains and wallpaper, sunny Parkside Hpospital, third floor Oncology, some time in Jan or Feb.

PS Will be on major diet trying to shed the steroid lard - so no chocs!!! Although Hawksey says he still wants some – but will of course be supporting me on my diet by going on one too!!! x x x