Post 6 month scan, birthday weekend, post puppy arrival, moving to a new regime

 Yesterday I had treatment number 13. Moved into the second 1/4 of the entire treatment plan (all going well.....)

Point worth mentioning here: I did not check my travel route prior to setting off. Having stood patiently at the bus stop for a few minutes, I was puzzled to see that there was no electronic display telling me when the buses were coming. The dawning realisation came. TFL are doing essential maintenance work on the Addiscombe tram line over the easter holidays - therefore... no trams running, and the road is closed and the buses are all on diversion.  I thought about it - and realised that walking to a bus stop on the diversion route was approximately half way to the station . Therefore, I bit the bullet, and walked to the station.......

Consequently, the app on my phone told me that my round trip to the Marsden yesterday included  four miles of walking! This is suitably relevant actually, because in spring, last year I signed up to do the 15 mile Marsden March. This was cancelled due to the pandemic - and I forgot about it  - but was reminded .....when a chest number, T shirt and cap arrived in the post this week, reminding me that I am pledged to this venture. So - watch out for a just giving page for me and Denys - I hope that we'll manage to complete the challenge! Obviously, I hadn't had a cancer recurrence when I gaily signed up for the big walk!

On Tuesday, after my blood sampling, I discussed with my oncologist moving the regime to a double dose of Nivolumab every 4 weeks, instead of 240mg (infused over half an hour - for those who are interested) every two weeks. I had avoided this regime previously because I was worried about side effects - but to be honest, I need to stop thinking about side effects, because if one is too focussed on what side effects might be evident - then one starts to blame every little ache and pain on the drug - and quite frankly, when one is 65 (HOW THE HELL DID THAT HAPPEN?) there are bound to be a few little niggles here and there!

As I haven't suffered too much from the known side effects, I decided to move to the double dose. This will be much easier on my veins too. Long gone are the days when I had such great veins that I allowed my students to practise venepuncture on me! Yesterday, the poor MDU nurse had three goes at siting a cannula - and I have a bruise to testify! 

I have now calculated that instead of having 35 infusions remaining...... I now have ONLY 17 infusions left. Hopefully my veins will last out. And hopefully so will I! That is the rub. 

Doctor Taylor called me to update me on the PET scan that I had last week. The scan is read by a radiologist and the report is sent to the team. My consultant has looked at this report and told me that it reads much the same as the last scan two months ago, however - "there is an area of activity, that we're going to keep an eye on". When I pressed her on this sentence, she explained that there is a slightly active area, that doesn't seem to be responding in the same way to the immunotherapy.  She explained that it could be 'pseudo-progression' or it could be the disease breaking through the immuno. She reassured me that, if needs be, we could target that area with some radiotherapy, but in the meantime....we'll just watch it. This is, of course, causing me some level of anxiety, but there's nothing I can do about it, except look after myself, not do anything crazy, attend my monitoring and screening appointments, and just CARRY ON. Feeling very much as if I belong in a WWII encouragement poster. Anyway - that's what I shall do. KEEP CALM and CARRY ON.

Puppy Minstrel has now been with us for 11 days - not even a fortnight, although it seems to have been a lot longer! She settled in really well - hugely entertaining, and adversely,  hugely exhausting. Peter pointed out yesterday that she's like a little wind up toy - and this is a great analogy. She goes at everything at supersonic speed.  She's now managing to climb. She's mastered the stairs.

She's mastered climbing on the crate (sits on the top of it like an eagle)

and is trying very hard to climb up anyone who takes her fancy. I just attempted to weigh her in my baby scales - this was a very dangerous venture, and I wasn't terribly successful - but I reckon she now weighs about 3.6 kgs - sort of average baby size! And a great deal heavier than when she came to us!

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I have now had three puppies in my 65 years:- 

Bundle, my childhood playmate.

Tootsie, my children's playmate, who we bought when I was on maternity leave after having Ned. Josh was three and a bit, and Rupert was 18 months, and we had just moved to our house here in Addiscombe. 

and now Minstrel of course........

How I ever did this puppy lark when the boys were small, I have no idea! Tootsie was nine weeks when we got her, and so was Ned. I vaguely recall surviving a living hell before going back to work full time when the puppy and the baby were 6 months old...... But honestly? I think those few years when they were all small has receded in my memory as a confused blur. 

This time - I am lucky that there are no small children in the mix on a daily basis. The boys (well....principally, Jaye and Lou I think) organised a surprise party for me at the weekend, to celebrate my 65th birthday😊 , and Josh brought Zephy too, which was lovely. I haven't seen him since Christmas. He was thrilled to meet Minstrel, and told me that she was "awesome". I did recognise though, that the puppy's behaviour was different with an almost six year old, than it is with us grown ups. She got very hyper, and was quite nippy. I think she also became overtired, and possibly didn't nap as much as she needed.

It's a long slow road - this pup training lark. I was feeling rather overwhelmed the other day, but Lou pointed out to me that they hadn't heard me laugh quite as much in a day as they'd heard since Minstrel joined our clan. 

I have to keep reminding myself that the puppy sleeps far more than she is awake. 19 hours sleep in a 24 hour period I counted two days ago! 

But those 5 hours of wakefulness are hypersonic.

Can puppies take Ritolin?

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I can't finish writing this blog without thanking my lovely friends, family and colleagues for celebrating my birthday so wonderfully. I received FABULOUS presents - many of which were made by hand! Really touched and moved. 

We had a lovely birthday party as I've already mentioned, and also a wonderful garden party the day before. Far too much cake has been consumed - and the alcohol has been swapped for cups of tea and elderflower pressé. 

Feeling blessed. 😘