Sunset on the balcony as consolidation chemo starts

A big thank you to everyone who has sent best wishes and messages of encouragement, as I start the next stage of the myeloma treatment. It has been much appreciated and I have been touched.

I count myself lucky to have such good friends around the world.

I do have a cancer that is, at least treatable, although it is not yet curable. Others I know of, are not so fortunate. For me, there is still hope, and as long as I can, I will try to fight off the bad side effects and keep on smiling.
Two new additions to the sculptures in our garden make me smile every day when I see them.

Esme (Esmeralda) the black sheep of the family and a cute metal kiwi.





On a very positive note, my skin has begun to regenerate. It has been a bit sensitive to temperature and irritation; my eyes have often streamed and my skin has been very itchy, but this has passed. All hair has started to grow back in a soft, fine, straight, baby like consistency. Sarah thinks I look like a puppy. Not sure that is a good thing as she continues to want to take me out for even more exercise.



We have had such a great time whilst I have been well.  Lots of laughs, fun and frantic activity, cramming into every conceivable hour in the day. Almost a normal lifestyle except for the imminent return to treatment looming over us both.

Golf has been varied and challenging.

We managed to dress up in yellow for a cancer charity golf day along with Sue (who looked better than Sarah and I) Wigs neither of us wanted to keep.

We won a few prizes at Queenstown golf club. More golf!

Played at the scenic but exclusive Jacks Point GC (you have to own a house on the resort to join)

Sarah has finally given up pushing her trundler (or cart/trolley/buggy – whatever you want to call it in your part of the world) but has just bought a MiG remote control version and had loads of fun test driving it (fast). Other golfers beware!

We managed some great cycle rides including a dry and dusty 30km MTB cycle over the mountain between Bannockburn and Clyde.

Look what happens to baby hair when combined with helmet head!

 Sarah looks relaxed and ready to go again, even after a big uphill.

We have hiked a little, but not as much as I expected as it has been over 30C some days and too hot to do very much but hide in the shade. There has been late evening watering of the garden to try to keep the tomato plants and roses alive.

Queenstown Hill is always a good stroll for funny faces and photos of broom;

Lily came to visit for a quick whizz around Lake Hayes (thanks to boyfriend Sam for the photo)

As soft fruit is in season, I have made more jam (strawberry and raspberry). I love making pickles and jam.

Sarah made lamb burgers and a gorgeous but runny strawberry and rhubarb tart.

I have been able to taste almost everything. It has been a wonderful 6 weeks or so.

We even managed a kayak in the monster double on the Lake

But all good things come to an end eventually.

Consolidation chemo has begun and consists of 5 cycles of 5 weeks.
There are more pills and injections but instead of high dose on day 1 of the week with the rest of the week for the body to recover (mobilization stage) it’s a 28 day stretch with a week at the end to recover. By day 28 I will be whacked out.

My medication is as follows:
Two days of 5x dexamethasone (steroids)
A weekly bortezomib injection
Daily thalidomide tablets and pills to keep the symptoms under control (for nausea, vomiting, indigestion, shingles, constipation)
Weekly blood tests
Monthly bone strengthener (Zometa) and Pnuemonia injections (pentamodine).

It is also complicated by different doses at different times of day; I have had to a write a schedule of what to take when.

It is now the 4th day of new drug regime. Thalidomide pills have already made me very lethargic. I am worried that I am about to go steadily downhill and backwards not forwards. It is a struggle mentally as well as physically.
There are a couple of dark certainties:
1. The myeloma will come back.
2. Most people find this session of chemo, harder than the first.

I know that the myeloma will come back because there is precedent. My twin beacons of hope, (brave women in Christchurch and Arrowtown who just ended the treatment / bone marrow infusions as I started mine) have both had the myeloma return in less than 2 years after their bone marrow transplant. Such bad news for 2 wonderful people. It does not seen fair. I know we are all different and this may not happen to me, but the probability of a return for everyone is 70% within 2-5 years. It is a sobering thought.

What I am not convinced of is, that this chemo stage will be worse than the first. At least I can breathe now and my lungs are clear. I am a lot stronger and fitter than when I started the chemo treatment at the end of March. Maybe, just maybe, I will cope ok.
The roses are cut back every year but bounce back more glorious than before.

My consultant and the cancer nurses are all very positive. They have begun by encouraging me to try to go the whole 25 weeks (all 5 cycles). I have been approved to have this treatment therefore I should do it all. It has been proven as a consolidating step which extends the time I should get afterwards, cancer free. Some patients only manage 3 cycles because they have had enough of the side effects and cannot take it. Maybe I will be strong and brave enough to manage it all.

This is my next challenge, my next target for 2018. Whatever the result, I aim to stay positive, to be strong, to smile and laugh, and to deal with whatever ridiculous thing is thrown at me next, for as long as I can.

Christmas Greetings from Queenstown to all and may you have a very happy and healthy New Year in 2018.

Love to all
xxx