A normal sort of life despite the drugs
I am having a fine time despite the continuing treatment, drugs, infusions and injections. Hair has gone curly (like a dark merino lamb according to one charming young man) I've started to look more like my father and brother.
Luckily, despite the drug cocktail, I am only very tired in the mornings (after effects of nightly thalidomide, i think) As I approach the end of the 2nd cycle of 5, we have decided to cram activity (physical exercise and social events) into February and March to make the most of my good health, relatively high energy levels and the good weather. Saying that, we have just had the first full day of torrential rain since October. Great for the garden and making time to write.
We have spent most of January in Sarah's boot camp, training for a 180km cycle adventure and Great walk on Stewart Island, both planned later in Feb.
Sarah has included swimming in Lake Wakatipu without a wet suit in her exercise routine, whilst i've just enjoyed taking photos of the surroundings.
Sadly the workouts have done nothing for my weight (mainly because i'm watching Sarah do most of them), but what i have done has just made me stronger.
Probably something to do with enjoying weight training, walking and lots of blueberry jam and scones and rhubarb and blueberry crumble and compote.
Cycle rides have been varied and interesting.
We started off with Beverley and Meridee in Wanaka along an old water race to Hawea then alongside the Lake to St Johns reserve and back.
Its looks a bit like the South Downs in parts but notice how dry and brown everything is now.
Sarah, Robbie, Marti and Jeremy and I stayed in Hawea on holiday in 2008.
A fine morning was had by all, including the compulsory coffee and cake stop. Isn't that what cycling is really about?
There was an interesting visitor to our courtyard garden last week. We heard this scuttling of tiny feet as it did laps of the stonework, and finally stopped under the woodstore, leaving only a twitching nose poking out to bask in the sun.
Herbie the hedgehog or is it a Kiwi version of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. It must have rolled down the hill or bounced down the steps.
Sarah scooped him/her up (no chance to find out the sex as it curled up into a ball immediately) into a bucket and gently placed it under the bushes at the top of the garden. Not seen since.
I've found that I can cheat my Charge 2 Fitbitwatch. Any vigorous activity with your arm, e.g. hoovering, ironing, painting, hammering nails, washing the floor, rubbing cream on your face, vigorous typing (I've just added 7 steps writing this sentence) adds steps. On the other hand, it does not count the steps you actually take e.g. when you walk without swinging your arm carrying a shopping bag. I've got a bit obsessed by it and I've even tried swinging the shopping bag to make sure it counts the steps. Mad! When cycling it sometimes counts steps and sometimes not; but, when I was at my weakest, it got me out of the house to go for a walk even on days when I do not feel like doing anything, so some physical and mental good has come of it. Then I read a BBC article yesterday that tells us all to forget 10,000 steps a day completely. A Japanese inspired fad. Check out:
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-42864061
I will definitely retire my Fit bit watch at the end of this chemo regime and just do what I feel like, whenever.
Thanks to all who have sent interesting articles about cancer treatments.
The most encouraging one was sent by a friend in Australia about unlocking genetic weapons to treat cancer..
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-miles-prince/9359494
Quick summary if you do not have 50 minutes to listen to it.
Myeloma is caused by a spontaneous mutation of the white blood cells, which control the immune system, in the bone marrow.
Basically, a bad lottery ticket. Triggered by ? no idea..
The cancer feeds itself and replicates and suppresses the immune system which then cannot attack the cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy kills all white blood cells irrespective - it is a blunt instrument.
A bone marrow transplant puts in a new immune system that kills the cancer.
Pre-transplant high dose chemo (as nasty as it is) gives it room to grow in there.
This research on genetics looks at mapping peoples' mutations (genomic testing) to find cancer genes /chemical abnormalities, studies the immune system and looks produce new drugs to attack specific cancer genes. Currently this new technology is being used to get better diagnosis but it might be used in future to avoid the nasty chemotherapy treatment.
Specific drugs (that use the immune system to target and attack the mutated cells) can be developed to target specific cancer cells. The result is that you are immunised against that cancer in future.
There are caveats.
Hopefully, by the time I get Myeloma again, this treatment will be fully available. Fingers crossed.
Finally, whilst Sarah has been busy with her chain saw, turning bowls in her woodwork lessons and is about to start her pottery classes again, I have started making new things out of pallets. This week's construction is a compost area at the top of the garden.
Unfortunately, I forgot to position it in the bushes instead of in front of the bushes so my mistake I made it fully visible from the house. Impressive as it is (straight, upright, secure and functional) it is still a bit ugly. Next job is to buy some plants to screen it. If anyone has any bright ideas on what is best to screen a pallet compost bin, please let us know. Thinking about Jasmine plants...
A couple of days ago we had a fabulous bike ride to Gibbston Valley. The heat was intense but the views along the Kawarau river gorge were magnificent.
Happy days!
Luckily, despite the drug cocktail, I am only very tired in the mornings (after effects of nightly thalidomide, i think) As I approach the end of the 2nd cycle of 5, we have decided to cram activity (physical exercise and social events) into February and March to make the most of my good health, relatively high energy levels and the good weather. Saying that, we have just had the first full day of torrential rain since October. Great for the garden and making time to write.
We have spent most of January in Sarah's boot camp, training for a 180km cycle adventure and Great walk on Stewart Island, both planned later in Feb.
Sarah has included swimming in Lake Wakatipu without a wet suit in her exercise routine, whilst i've just enjoyed taking photos of the surroundings.
Sadly the workouts have done nothing for my weight (mainly because i'm watching Sarah do most of them), but what i have done has just made me stronger.
Cycle rides have been varied and interesting.
We started off with Beverley and Meridee in Wanaka along an old water race to Hawea then alongside the Lake to St Johns reserve and back.
Its looks a bit like the South Downs in parts but notice how dry and brown everything is now.
Sarah, Robbie, Marti and Jeremy and I stayed in Hawea on holiday in 2008.
A fine morning was had by all, including the compulsory coffee and cake stop. Isn't that what cycling is really about?
There was an interesting visitor to our courtyard garden last week. We heard this scuttling of tiny feet as it did laps of the stonework, and finally stopped under the woodstore, leaving only a twitching nose poking out to bask in the sun.
Herbie the hedgehog or is it a Kiwi version of Mrs Tiggy-Winkle. It must have rolled down the hill or bounced down the steps.
Sarah scooped him/her up (no chance to find out the sex as it curled up into a ball immediately) into a bucket and gently placed it under the bushes at the top of the garden. Not seen since.I've found that I can cheat my Charge 2 Fitbitwatch. Any vigorous activity with your arm, e.g. hoovering, ironing, painting, hammering nails, washing the floor, rubbing cream on your face, vigorous typing (I've just added 7 steps writing this sentence) adds steps. On the other hand, it does not count the steps you actually take e.g. when you walk without swinging your arm carrying a shopping bag. I've got a bit obsessed by it and I've even tried swinging the shopping bag to make sure it counts the steps. Mad! When cycling it sometimes counts steps and sometimes not; but, when I was at my weakest, it got me out of the house to go for a walk even on days when I do not feel like doing anything, so some physical and mental good has come of it. Then I read a BBC article yesterday that tells us all to forget 10,000 steps a day completely. A Japanese inspired fad. Check out:
http://www.bbc.com/news/health-42864061
I will definitely retire my Fit bit watch at the end of this chemo regime and just do what I feel like, whenever.
Thanks to all who have sent interesting articles about cancer treatments.
The most encouraging one was sent by a friend in Australia about unlocking genetic weapons to treat cancer..
http://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/conversations/conversations-miles-prince/9359494
Quick summary if you do not have 50 minutes to listen to it.
Myeloma is caused by a spontaneous mutation of the white blood cells, which control the immune system, in the bone marrow.
Basically, a bad lottery ticket. Triggered by ? no idea..
The cancer feeds itself and replicates and suppresses the immune system which then cannot attack the cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy kills all white blood cells irrespective - it is a blunt instrument.
A bone marrow transplant puts in a new immune system that kills the cancer.
Pre-transplant high dose chemo (as nasty as it is) gives it room to grow in there.
This research on genetics looks at mapping peoples' mutations (genomic testing) to find cancer genes /chemical abnormalities, studies the immune system and looks produce new drugs to attack specific cancer genes. Currently this new technology is being used to get better diagnosis but it might be used in future to avoid the nasty chemotherapy treatment.
Specific drugs (that use the immune system to target and attack the mutated cells) can be developed to target specific cancer cells. The result is that you are immunised against that cancer in future.
There are caveats.
- Not every cancer disease has targeted genes that you can treat. Fortunately, genomics can be used on myeloma.
- There is a challenge in how to get genomics into standard medical treatment. In US now, but not in Australia or NZ yet.
- You can't tweak it perfectly in everybody- a side effect is triggering an auto immune system disease e.g. rheumatoid arthritis.
- You can develop other non treatable cancers as a side effect of the treatable cancer you already have.
- More clinical trials are required
Hopefully, by the time I get Myeloma again, this treatment will be fully available. Fingers crossed.
Finally, whilst Sarah has been busy with her chain saw, turning bowls in her woodwork lessons and is about to start her pottery classes again, I have started making new things out of pallets. This week's construction is a compost area at the top of the garden.
Unfortunately, I forgot to position it in the bushes instead of in front of the bushes so my mistake I made it fully visible from the house. Impressive as it is (straight, upright, secure and functional) it is still a bit ugly. Next job is to buy some plants to screen it. If anyone has any bright ideas on what is best to screen a pallet compost bin, please let us know. Thinking about Jasmine plants...
A couple of days ago we had a fabulous bike ride to Gibbston Valley. The heat was intense but the views along the Kawarau river gorge were magnificent.
Happy days!
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