Update: September 2025
2025 09 05
Hi everyone –
A few of you know where I’ve been, yesterday and today ...
My blood counts were found to be very low during the routine pre-chemo check done on Wednesday (chemo was expected to be yesterday). These low counts helped me understand why I had had such particularly low energy recently, and had still been feeling very down.
I was admitted to my favourite ward (haematology) at Constantiaberg for a blood transfusion yesterday. I received three units of blood (once again, thanks to all of you who donate blood!) plus an injection to decrease my susceptibility to infection. They took it all slowly and carefully, so the transfusion went right overnight until after breakfast this morning. (I managed to sleep through it for part of the night.)
There had been talk of my having chemo today, and my counts were found to be excellent after the treatment, but by then it was rather late and they thought it a good idea for me to recover a bit over the weekend, so chemo (Day 1 of Cycle 2) will be on Monday morning (for four hours).
Just before being admitted yesterday, I had a scheduled consultation with Garth, who decided that Cycle 2 will be a lower dose than Cycle 1 was, as I had found some of the side effects extremely difficult to cope with – especially what it does to the inside of one’s mouth. One side effect that I am rather sad about (although it doesn’t involve physical pain) is that my hair is falling out in handfuls. With this chemo, one usually only gets thinning hair, but I have somehow landed up being an exception. So I’ll be wearing hats again for the next few months.
As always, thanks for all your love and support. It continues to mean the world to me.
(Photo: the furry support system to Gail and me at home.)
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2025 09 06
Thanks for all the messages and love!
A quick note about a rare sparkle in this often difficult time:
I’ve always known that Karen, hairdresser to Gail and me, is wonderful. But today she outdid herself: she worked with whatever hair really is still attached, and did this!
So, even with the fraction of my hair that I have left, I can feel relatively normal and choose when and where I wear hats.
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2025 09 11
Hi everyone –
Thanks for your ongoing support about this past Monday’s chemo and my hair (which is still falling out, yet also still manageable for now).
The chemo went well (it was uneventful, which is always good), and between the steroids in the drip and the blood that I’d received last week, I had some actual energy until yesterday, including for a lovely visit by three family members on Sunday and then yesterday being able to welcome our dear friend Anne from Durban, who is staying here for a few days.
Today my energy has started dropping, and I’m taking things gently. The other chemo session of this cycle will be next Monday.
Side effects (other than energy loss) haven’t kicked in (although there are signs that they may be coming), and I’m waiting to see if the lower dose is going to help keep them less than they were in the previous cycle. Please hold thumbs!
Huge love and appreciation to all of you, always 🌹❤️
