Update: March 2025
2025 03 11

Hi everyone –
At the start of this
journey of mine in 2017 I wrote, “Life is what happens when you’re busy making
other plans.” (By the way, that quote from 1957 is the same age as me – it’s by
writer Allen Saunders.)
When I sent out my
update after my consultation with Garth, I didn’t mention something else I was
dealing with, although many of you know it by now – due to its comprehensive
interference with all my plans ever since!
Sciatica. Ouch!
The pain had started
that very morning, after my push-me-pull-you swim in rough waves at Muizenberg
the evening before.
After four Body Stress
Release sessions, it’s improving but by no means gone. I can sit or lie flat
without any pain, but walking, driving and dancing aggravate it, which is
maddening! I’ve had to cancel one circle dancing session and miss three others.
I’m missing the dancing hugely! (Confession, though: during the first week, I
went ahead with two long-standing special circle dancing commitments, which I
absolutely loved but which left me in agony. A hard lesson.)
So by the time I
started the Letrozole it was almost a non-event! (Appreciation to the people
who asked how it was going, even before I started.) I am feeling quite daunted
at the moment, but my guess is that – even if there is some “eish” – it’s more
about the sciatica than caused by the Letrozole. Especially as I’m fine when
good things are happening – and they do!
This past weekend was
one leg of my Class of 1975 reunion, at the school for Founders Day where they
especially honour the 50-year cohort, and then a dinner on Saturday evening.
Most (but not all) of it organised by me. (Some of you reading this know all
about it, either through being there or through being part of the plans for
September – thank you!) Also our dear friends Jimmy and Alec from the UK have
just arrived for a brief visit, and it’s wonderful to see them.
Last but not least, I’m
able to sit at the computer with no issues, so have been able to work and do
various other things, including making a start on finalising my book – it’s
back from my wonderful editor, Liz M. Should we add a chapter on sciatica? Nah
... don’t think so. But perhaps we should emphasise the lesson of patience a
bit more: it seems that this hasn’t yet been thorough enough.🙄 Not much fun for Gail, either.
This book-writing
process is so much more than I’d expected. I had believed it was ready to roll
until Liz pointed out – sensitively, perceptively and kindly – how it could be
improved. So that’s what I’ve started on, now. Next comes taking the plunge to
publish it.
I hope you’re
navigating your way through wild seas more successfully than I did – I’d love
to know how you are!
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2025 03 20
Hi
everyone –
Thanks for all the support after my previous message!
It had not occurred to me that the sciatica could be linked
to cancer-related spinal issues, but two doctors I’m close to (thank you – you
know who you are!) recommended that I should let Garth know what was happening.
He immediately requested an MRI of my full spine, which I had yesterday. He has
just phoned me with the results (yes, way after hours – that's how he makes
sure he gets round to everyone). Even though it’s a mixed bag, as I've come to
expect, I'm also feeling reassured. Here we go:
A lot is going on in my spine (bones and discs), to do with
degeneration related to my age and, especially, to metastases (even the ones
that have been successfully dealt with can also be part of general weakening).
It’s extremely likely that there’s an undisplaced fracture (which means that
the parts of the bone aren’t misaligned) in my left sacrum, as there’s
inflammation in that area and the symptoms are the same as the pain I have.
A “normal” fracture of a healthy bone would be left to
self-heal, and the Letrozole might possibly also help with healing over the
next while, but radiotherapy will help more quickly and will be able to target
the bone deposit that’s causing the problem. We are going to go ahead with
this. It’s complicated by the fact that I have already had radiotherapy on my
left hip (the ileac blade) and Garth must be cautious about cumulative
treatment in the same area, so he has to calculate a reduced radiotherapy dose
and target the placement very finely. I’ll have a preparatory scan in a week to
10 days’ time (we have to wait for the medical aid authorisation), then Garth
will calculate the dose, and then – all going well – I’ll have about 8 to 10
treatments, starting in two or three weeks’ time.
At present, I must continue to do very little exercise: no
going for walks; no dancing (other than minimal teaching when standing, or some
seated dancing); no driving for now; no swimming in rough seas!
So why am I reassured?
Because I no longer feel doomed by this.
I no longer have the fear that my next step is into a
wheelchair. I can look forward to dancing again. These are worth a great deal!
Wishing everyone a Happy Equinox (here in Cape Town it was at
11:01 today), and the South Africans a Happy Human Rights Day tomorrow.
(Photo: my patchwork trousers – a favourite. They remind me
of me: we keep putting new patches on the bits of me that have worn out.)
Lots of love 🌹❤️