A very quick update. Just got off the phone to my Oncologist. He told me my latest blood tests had shown that the 'cancer marker' (an enzyme), which was showing 6 last year, has reduced to 2!! I asked what this meant and 6 is high, 2 or below is very very good! That's made my day!
Saw the oncologist this morning. It's pretty much as expected. The good news is that the cancer cells have responded to the chemo, and so I will have the 8th cycle, which is 2 doses over the next 2 weeks.
After that, I will have an immunerotheraphy infusion every 4 weeks, which I told is less invasive. In addition, I will have a scan quarterly and see the oncologist 6 weekly. We have to be realistic in that the cancer is likely to grow. This is likely to mean chemo in the future, maybe even in 6 months' time, but not before. I did ask about life expectancy, and he did say it is impossible to say as everyone is different. However, he did say typically, with people with my symptoms, it could be 1-2 years. I'm not totally surprised but had hoped he may have said longer.
Need to make the most of it Will I ever see Charlton in the championship again?
Hi Redman Good to hear the cancer cells are responding to the chemo.
You mention having to be realistic and it reminded me of when I was doing health psychology a while back. There were studies looking at various different illnesses to find factors that increased length of life. A key one was to have an ‘unrealistic expectations’ (they called the factor unrealistic optimism). One such person was a friend of mine with cancer that had spread. She was told she would live 6 months. That was 10 years ago.
Quick update from me, finished my Radiotherapy couple of weeks ago, had update with my Consultant, PSA cancer level has now reduced from 39 this time last year to 0.04, everything seemingly moving in the right direction, hoping it continues that way, wish everyone the best of health.
Thats great news wish you all the best moving forward.. Unfortunately it's been a tough few months for us as my mum as cancer of the blood its a form of leukaemia, we basically been told with her age and general health we are looking at 6 months and thats generous.
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That's made my day!
Good to hear the cancer cells are responding to the chemo.
Sorry to hear about your mum, Ronnie, thinking of you all