Scan results

The scan shows new growths in both lungs: H has compared it with the planning scans for the radiotherapy she had on the existing lung legion: the new growths seem to be present there but smaller.  It's a plausible hypothesis that they've grown because of the break from chemotherapy, and will stop growing, or at least slow down a lot, now that she's back on it.  They'll be another scan in three weeks to find out.

There's some progression of the T12 lesion also: presumably that's responsible for the sacro-iliac pain, though it's not obvious from the scan that it would be.  At least there's no new growth to be seen causing the pain.  Which doesn't make it any less painful.

This is bad but not disastrous: H and her consultant discussed radiotherapy to the T12 lesion and decided against, fearing that the spinal cord there has already had all the radiation it can stand.  That means they think she'll be alive in six months for it to make a difference. I've told the consultant that the Olympics will be cancelled if H is unable to carry the torch.

H signed a form in support of an application for treatment with pazopanib, which is what she'll move on to if the next scan shows further progression.

Good news, bad news

We had a good holiday - H got out on the slopes every day.  She's lost some strength, but she makes up for it with enviable technique.

Her general health has improved a lot with the break from chemotherapy, but she's been getting worsening pain in and around her left sacroiliac joint.  It seems probable that there's a new growth causing it, but we don't know where exactly - the pain seems to be neuropathic.  She restarted chemotherapy yesterday, and will have a scan later today.

Time for a break

After nine months of chemotherapy with barely a pause, H is having a break for a couple of weeks.  She needs it, the stuff is poison and she was suffering, from weakness, fatigue, and a worsening skin reaction - she opted for the most conservative treatment for her lung lesion, radiotherapy, because she felt too ill for anything more.  She's perked up considerably already.

Tomorrow we're off to the alps for a week's skiing: H hasn't committed herself to getting out on the slopes, but she hasn't ruled it out either.

It was just after our last skiing holiday that the cancer was diagnosed, so we're coming up to a year (but half-term is a bit earlier this year).  When we get back, it will be more paclitaxel.

Talking to I&S

Two weeks or so ago H and I agreed that we shouldn't put it off any longer.  H didn't feel up to it, so I lay on the bed with I&S and told them that the doctors can't stop the cancer growing, and that eventually it will be too much for H to live with and she will die.  They took it very well - I don't think they were surprised.  I asked them if they had any questions and S asked if there would be a funeral - yes, and if we would have a new mummy - I don't know, but I will look after them whatever happens.  Then H joined us and we had a hug.

I told the "pastoral care" teachers at their schools what I'd told I&S.  S talked about it to her friends, and the school decided they should make the information official, so they sent a letter to parents - they let us edit it first - and the form teacher and the pastoral care teacher spoke to the class.  S was ok with all this, "so long as everyone doesn't crowd around me".

They both seem to have decided that the thing to do is to be extra good and helpful.  I told I that I'd talked to his pastoral care teacher in case he was upset, and he said no, he was all right.  Then he won the county under-9 chess championship at the weekend.

The children are brilliant.

I wish this wasn't happening.

Upper respiratory tract infection

Chemotherapy compromises the immune system, which means colds are bad.  Especially since if you've got a high temperature you have to go to hospital to make sure you're not suffering from neutropenic sepsis, which can be fatal.

H has had a cold for the last three weeks.  We went away to Yorkshire for a week over Christmas, and hence had a late evening visit to York General Hospital - H's consultant had kindly given us contact details there before we went.  And on Saturday she spent most of the day at the hospital here.

Colds are worse if you've got lytic lesions in your ribs and spine, because coughing and sneezing can  break weakened bones.  H was in agony yesterday (and she doesn't complain lightly) from rib pain, presumably due to a pathological fracture.  All the rest of us were shaken by it.

She's in bed today, in less distress.   She's hoping to be active again later in the week.

Torchbearer

A couple of months ago I nominated H to be a torch-bearer for the 2012 Olympics.  She's got an email today saying yes please carry our torch for us.  Now on the one hand the Olympics is a massive waste of money, the kowtowing to Olympic officials is grotesque, the logo (which appears on the torchbearers' official shirts) is obscene, the torch looks like a cheese-grater, and they wouldn't even sell me tickets for any of the events I wanted to see.   On the other hand I am well chuffed.

July looks rather distant from here.  Keep well H.

The wig is the biz

H had her wig fitted today.  There's a more hair at the front than I've seen on her before: the wig guy has been cautious about cutting it because it isn't going to grow, but otherwise it looks exactly like her own hair.

Meanwhile, she's been having two weeks of daily radiotherapy on the lump on the side of her head.  She chose electron beam therapy this time because the x-ray therapy she had on her other head lesion made her feel sick.  This should stop the lump growing, at the cost of another bald path.  She's lost most of her hair on Paclitaxel, so it doesn't make much difference - huzzah for the wig.  Her bald head is as pretty as she is, but I suppose it would be a bit much to go out in public with the tumours on show.

The wig guy chatted away as he cut about all the pop stars whose hair he's done.  Who knew that Adam Ant was always as bald as a coot?

ok, I admit I made that up.