Update: June 2026

2026 06 10

Hi everyone –

Yesterday’s blood test gave the go-ahead for the injection I had this morning (the sixth in the series of I-don’t-know-how-many). All going well, my next injection will be in four weeks’ time as usual.

Tomorrow is the next session of my Thursday morning circle dancing group. Dancing always energises me and I love the time we spend together there, so I’m greatly looking forward to it. 

A couple of my messages have included one of my ‘fun art’ pictures that I started doing in January (it’s a mixture of mindful art, neurographic art and Zentangle). Here’s the link to my blog about it, in case you want to see more – and please note that the bit about sending me the cost of a cup of tea, if you use one of the pieces as a greeting or similar, most definitely does not apply to my “Updates” people! (Please simply acknowledge me as the source.) I appreciate all the support you already give me.

https://yvonne-bulelwa-just-for-fun.blogspot.com/2026/04/yvonne-bulelwa-fun-art.html

Lots of love 🌹❤️

2026 06 17

Hi everyone –

(Apologies for sending this message at what is a rather late time of night in South Africa. It’s taken me a while to write it.)

Today, I had my latest CT scan in the long procession of regular scans.

I’ve been feeling well recently, and hoped that the scan would reflect this. Well, it both did and did not. (No comments about Schrödinger’s cat-scan from the peanut gallery, please! 😝 If you want to know what that means, there’s a lot of info if you google it.)

We can take today’s scan result as a score of “two-all”, which I’ll summarise in a moment.

For background, last week’s blood test showed that my tumour markers had increased quite a lot since last month, although they were still within the normal range. Garth had said that this could simply be a ‘blip’, or it could be an early indication of a change brewing, and the CT scan would give us more information and help to decide what – if anything – we needed to change.

Garth phoned me this evening with today’s results:

The two positives are that the injections have continued to help my bones to be stable and keep the pleural effusion right down.

The two components that are “escaping control – although not galloping away” (Garth’s words) are that the nodules in my lungs have increased in size and that two lesions in my liver have increased in size since the last scan, but at the same time the lesions are about 40% smaller than they were in August last year, just before we did the Capeloda chemo series of mid-August 2025 to early January 2026.

So, although Garth is not yet concerned, he does not want to arrive at a point where he would suddenly be concerned. In the light of all this, he has recommended that my “holiday” from chemo should now be over. So in July, instead of the next injection, and because Capeloda worked so well for me last time, we’ll start a new series of this chemo (all going well, and once the medical aid has authorised it). I’ll let you know the date, as soon as I know it.

What is encouraging is that this time round, I’m entering the chemo process in a much healthier state than last time, where pleural taps, salmonella, and the oral chemo that I couldn’t tolerate had all taken their toll. I’m hoping to be able to continue to dance fairly regularly (and to keep my morning group going if possible!), to go for walks, to drive myself around, to finish my “Funky Hats” sequel, and to spend time with people who mean a lot to me.

At the same time, I haven’t simply forgotten the low blood counts, skin rashes (although I get these with the injections as well), under-tongue ulcer (but now I know the natural remedy to take for it), neuropathy (which has just worked its way out of my feet 🙄), hair loss (I still have my favourite hats, though, plus a new one with sparkles and lights since my book launch), and cycles of low immunity.

I don’t yet know what treatment we’ll do when we finish the chemo series – we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.

Special appreciation to Garth for ensuring that I had the scan and the results by today, because …

Gail is flying to the UK tomorrow, for a brief visit to our family there! This is the trip that was delayed for more than a year, due to all the weird stuff that was happening with me last year. Tomorrow’s trip was almost derailed again, when Gail fell outside our house on Monday evening, and we spent more than four hours in the emergency unit at the hospital. Most of the time was spent waiting – for X-rays; doctor feedback; cleaning of grazes. (We got home just before midnight.) There was a possibility that her left hand had a fractured bone, but today the hand surgeon she consulted said this wasn’t the case and she could remove the (rather expensive) hand brace she’d had to buy that night. She’s doing much, much better now.

I’m so glad that Gail is going on this visit at last, and I hope that she and the family will have the most fantastic time together!

Lots of love 🌹❤️

So that you can see that I’m truly feeling fine, here’s a video that Gail took at circle dancing on Saturday, of us doing a dance choreographed and taught by Bernard, age 100, of the Fernhill House Care Home in Worcester, UK. It’s not specifically a circle dance, but it works well as one!

https://photos.app.goo.gl/yGeukooLeJYM4PSJ7

 

2026 06 18

 

Thanks for all your wonderful messages to both of us!

Here’s an update from Gail:

Believe it or not, this text arrived from British Airways at 01h00, just as I’d at last got to sleep!:

 

We’re sorry the BA56 on 18 Jun 2026 (19h30) JNB-LHR is cancelled. You are rebooked on BA54 19 Jun 2026 JNB 21h15 LHR 07h30. Please accept flight on {link} or call {phone number}.

 

I got back to sleep at about 02h30!

 

Have just managed to change today’s Safair flight to JHB to leaving CT tomorrow, to catch revised BA booking tomorrow night. 😅

Oh, the havoc caused by global events! And the domino effect on the family arrangements!

Anyway, I get to have a little more time with Gail before she leaves.

Much, much love and deep appreciation to all of you 🌹❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

Update: May 2026

2026 05 13

Hi everyone –

After the hectic storms that buffeted the southern and western Cape over recent days, Gail and I were relieved that our home came through it all so well, but saddened by the devastation and losses suffered by so many.

What I saw yesterday afternoon summed it up well: the road to the parking area of Sunrise Beach was under water (that little “island” on the left is actually the middle of the smaller traffic circle at the beach). So I couldn’t drive to the edge of the beach to photograph the rainbow I had spotted from Prince George’s Drive, but there it still was, over the sea. One of my main symbols of hope.

Yesterday’s blood test gave the go-ahead for today’s injection (the fifth in the series of I-don’t-know-how-many). My tumour markers were a little higher than they’ve been recently, but still well within the good range. All going well, my next injection will be in four weeks’ time as usual.

If you want to, please let me know how you are!

Lots of love 🌹❤️

2026 05 26

Hi everyone - I hope that all you are doing and being is treating you well.

Today I'm sharing with you the podcast that our journalist friend, Mariette Snyman, has recorded with me. I hope that you find it (and possibly some of her other podcasts) interesting.

(Photo: the most recent time that Gail and I saw Mariette, in 2024 in Joburg)

https://www.mariettesnyman.co.za/blog/cancer-journey-surviving-by-outgrowing-old-opinions

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

Update: April 2026

2026 04 02

Hi everyone –

The books arrived in the printer’s colourful van yesterday!

Gail and I had three people from Sydney with us, to share in the excitement: my sister Rosemary and cousins Martin and Jenny Jaffe. Thanks, Rosemary, for the photos, and Martin for taking a video (from which I used a still).

Wishing those who are celebrating, Chag Pesach Sameach and Happy Easter.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

2026 04 15

Hi everyone –

After yesterday’s blood tests gave us the go-ahead, with good blood counts, I had my fourth monthly injection today.

The one missing part of the blood test report was the section on my tumour markers (which had vanished overnight, after briefly being included late yesterday afternoon). 

When it has been reinstated, Garth will let me know what it says.

In other news:

It was good to have Rosemary visit us, her Cape Town family, briefly from Sydney – on her way to a solo trip in Europe. She landed up staying in Cape Town longer than intended, as she wasn’t well (I guess I can best describe what she had as gastric flu) for much of her time here. She rallied in time to be on her postponed flight. Bon voyage, Rosebud!

I’m currently busy with “all things book and launch”, and feeling so appreciative that I’m able to do this! If you haven’t received a confirmation of the launch from “the world of funky hats” yesterday or today, this means that – as far as I know – you’re not intending to be at the launch. If I have missed a written or verbal confirmation from you that you do intend to be there, please put me right ASAP!

Thank you.

For the people who intend to watch from afar: I’m waiting for the Zoom link to send you, hopefully very soon.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

2026 04 20

Greetings from cold and wet Cape Town (after a phase of glorious weather)!

I’m thrilled to let you know that the report on my tumour markers was eventually reinstated. The result is really good – even lower than last month! (For those who like numbers, the level is now 12.)

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

2026 04 21

Hi everyone – I’ve just sent out the link to see my launch online. 

If anyone wants it and hasn’t received it (via email or WhatsApp), please let me know. 🌹❤️

 

 

2026 04 26

Launched my book! 

2026 04 27

Wow.

I think I used up all my words yesterday – I’m not yet finding the words that are needed to express my appreciation of all that happened yesterday. But I’m going to give it a try.

It was fantastic to see everyone arriving yesterday, to greet as many people as possible (apologies to anyone I didn’t greet!), to experience the festive clothes and a few notably funky hats, to know that people had driven through pouring rain from near and far (including Somerset West) – and were still smiling – and to have our friend Anne from Durban with us for the weekend, specifically for my book launch.

People from all the overlapping parts of my life were there, in person or on Zoom. Family and ‘adoptive’ family; friends – from school, university, work, various organisations, circle dancing, other dancing; neighbours; doctors; also friends and family of friends!

To backtrack a little: when we started planning the launch, several people offered to help with various aspects of the logistics of the day. And help they did – above and beyond! Each person did so much to prepare before the day, and/or set up, and/or clear up afterwards, that it would take an essay just to describe their contributions, so I’m simply going to list them in alphabetical order: Anne, Gail, Gail B, Jonno, Nina, Odette, Tevya, Toni and Tricia. Thank you to all of you, from the bottom of my heart!

Anne, thank you for flying from Durban to stay with Gail and me, to help us, and to be part of it all. It was wonderful to have you here.

Odette, thank you for your thoughtful planning of our conversation and the way you facilitated it. I could not have asked for better!

How amazing to have Garth Davids, my mensch oncologist, at the launch! He was on call for the weekend, but we were blessed with nobody calling on him! He joined in some of the dancing and also managed to speak with several people. My integrative doctor, David Nye, was there with his wife, Sandi. They also joined in the dancing. It’s great to have doctors who are prepared to experience the things that give their patients joy!

Backtracking even further, the person who helped me birth the book, my editor Liz Mackenzie, was there. Liz and I have been friends since we met at high school, 55 years ago, and she has supported me throughout my cancer journey. I have always known her to be an excellent editor, and she was the only person I was prepared to have edit the book. She exceeded all my expectations – surfacing and helping me examine every layer of meaning, impact, thought and emotion. Thank you, Liz, for all of it.

We’ll soon have a link to the recording to send out, as well as an album of photos to access.

Thank you, thank you, thank you, to all of you!

Lots of love  🌹❤️

PS: About two hours after starting to write this, I think we can now say that I found some words!

 

 Update: March 2026

2026 03 16

Hi everyone –

Here’s my book!

This is the proof copy, so it’s the only one in existence thus far – I fetched it on Friday, and today we sorted out a small printing problem so that it can finally be printed! An exciting moment ...

In other news, I’ve been at 10 of the 11 Saturday circle dancing sessions since the beginning of the year, and also taught a reunion session of my Thursday morning group on 5 March. Some of us hadn’t seen each other since June last year! It was wonderful to dance with everyone again.

I’m having my next CT scan tomorrow (it’s the routine three-monthly one), and will get the results from Garth on Wednesday – will send out an update after that. I’m generally feeling fine, and hope the scan will reflect that! When I went for the pre-scan blood test this afternoon, I realised that this was the first time in a whole year that I had been away from Constantiaberg  hospital for this long! (Two days short of four weeks.)

I hope whatever scanning of aspects of your life that you’re doing, is giving you the results you’re hoping for.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

2026 03 18

(Collage: the first iceberg rose of the new season, in our garden today; a rose with a bee at Chart Farm; the centrepiece at our recent circle dancing reunion; my current work-in-progress fun art.)

Hi everyone – I’m thrilled to tell you that yesterday’s CT scan brought all good news at today’s consultation with Garth!

The current treatment is still holding strong, and everything is stable, with all nodules either the same size or slightly decreased, and nothing new.

The pleural effusion has decreased even further – to almost nothing. (Yay – no pleural taps!)

My blood counts are good, which meant that I could have my planned monthly injection after seeing Garth, and my tumour markers are the lowest they’ve been in two years.

I’m so glad that the scan results reflect how I’ve been feeling. (It doesn’t always happen this way, which is why I do get a bit nervous in the days leading up to scans – phew!) Your fantastic support plays a huge part in my well-being – thank you, thank you, thank you!

Lots of love 🌹❤️

Update: February 2026

2026 02 04

Hi everyone!

Thanks to good blood test results from yesterday, I was able to have my second anti-oestrogen injection today. (Actually, it’s a pair of injections, as the substance is so viscous that they split the dose in half. It’s quite something, having two nursing sisters approaching one from behind with needles, like that! 😄) All going well, my next injection(s) is in two weeks’ time. After that, they will be monthly.

I went to all five Saturday circle dancing sessions in January! I’m still pinching myself to see if this is actually happening! Thank you for egging me on, every step of the way!

Lots of love 🌹❤️

(Appreciation to Gail for the photo)

 

2026 02 10

Save the date!

We have a date for my book launch! It will be on Sunday 26 April, 14:30 to about 17h00, at the Fish Hoek Civic Hall, and you (plus whoever you wish to bring along) are invited!

There will be some talking about the book and my cancer journey, plus circle dancing and light refreshments.

If you already wish to reserve your place(s) at the launch, please email funkyhats.hope.love@gmail.com, with your name and the names of the people you’re bringing (or forward this message to them and they can reply for themselves). You are welcome at the launch, whether or not you buy a copy of the book.

For those who do want to buy the book, it will become available some time in March, in three formats: print, PDF, and epub (for use on Kindle etc). I’m happy to say that all formats will be in full colour, at reasonable prices (soon to be finalised).

Nearer the time, I’ll send out the final invitation with a last date for RSVPs.

To the people who won’t be in Cape Town at the time: we’re going to try to do a live stream. If that doesn’t work out, we’ll do a recording.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

 

 

2026 02 18

Hi everyone – thanks, as always, for all your support, and thanks to the people who have already reserved their places at my book launch!

Today I had my scheduled injection, which is now monthly. It followed a consultation with Garth, where he told Gail and me that yesterday's blood test showed further improvements for everything, as my levels continue to stabilise after the chemo.

I had been concerned that the pleural effusion might be coming back, so Garth referred me for a chest X-ray after the injection. His medical officer phoned a couple of hours later, to say that there is actually less effusion than the last time it was checked! This means that the slight congestion I’d wondered about was probably just a result of a side effect of this treatment, which sometimes generates mucous.

So I continue to seize the day, dancing, playing with art, and being more available to see people. And I had my first "swim" of the season yesterday – actually a short dunk at St James beach, where the tidal pool was freezing!

Garth told us that it’s usual for people to respond well to the chemo I've just had, so it turns out I’m not quite the unicorn I thought I was! But it still feels like a miracle to me!

Lots of love and appreciation 🌹❤️

 

 

 

 

Update: January 2026

 

2026 01 02

Hi everyone –

I hope your year is off to a good start.

Mine is, as this course of chemo is now completed!

Today’s blood test showed high enough counts for me to have chemo, although a reduced dose because my platelet count was still lower than optimal.

I rang the bell!

And I can be part of gatherings of people again!

In about two weeks’ time, we start a further hormone treatment.

 

Lots of love 🌹❤️

2026 01 13

Hi everyone!

I hope you’re doing well, as you ease into 2026 and return to various activities – work and others.

I had a consultation with Garth this morning, to hear whether I would have the first of a series of anti-oestrogen injections. Yesterday’s blood tests showed: not yet. This confirmed my intuition that today would be a bit soon – it’s less than two weeks since I finished chemo. Also, I’ve been feeling so normal, during the past few days, that I was a bit nervous about ‘upsetting the apple cart’.

The chemo has had a major cumulative effect on all my blood levels. The most important measurement for my forthcoming treatment is my platelet count, which is too low right now. The other counts are on the border of ok and not ok – good enough to let me feel normal. Two other levels are lower than they should be: sodium (which explains my slightly swollen ankles) and protein (together with some of the other counts, this explains why I take long to get started each day). These will eventually correct themselves, and I’ll also eat things that help.

The best news is that my tumour markers are the lowest they’ve been since Garth started tracking them!

And my good news to tell Garth was that I’ve been to circle dancing the past two Saturdays and have also started doing a bit of fun art. This all feels like a new lease on life for me – a miraculous surprise! (Noting, at the same time, that this not remission but rather a good phase.) My heartfelt appreciation to all of you for walking alongside me on this journey.

I’ll have a blood test again next Tuesday. If my counts show we can go ahead, then we’ll start the treatment the next day.

I look forward to hearing how 2026 is treating you, thus far.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

Photo: The first time I’ve seen flowers on this particular spekboom in our garden

 

2026 01 22

Hi everyone –

I was able to have my first injection of the new treatment this morning! It’s called Fulvestrant. All going well, my next one will be in two weeks’ time, and we’ll soon move onto monthly injections. So far, so good ... I hope that lasts.

Today’s photo is of my latest fun art. (It’s A5 size.) The wing in the middle is my rendition of a cicada wing, which Gail, Tricia and I found on the table last week when we were having lunch outdoors. I took the little wing (an inch long) home and used Google Lens to find out what kind of wing it is. Then I looked up the symbolism of cicadas and found that their transformative life cycle means that they represent change, rebirth and renewal (setting up clear new pathways). They also represent joy, hope and creativity. All of this feels really encouraging!

May you also find things in nature that feel meaningful to you.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Update: December 2025

2025 12 01

Hi everyone – thanks, always, for your support and wishes!

In the past week, I’ve had the usual post-steroid energy surge, dip and then lesser resurgence. It was enough to complete the content of my book! Next steps: the editorial page, info for the back cover, and ensuring that all photos are high resolution. Then it will be ready for printing (probably only next year) and self-publishing.

In other good news, our wonderful friends Jimmy and Alec from England are in Cape Town for a brief visit, and Gail and I spent time with them over the weekend. We intend to see them (in safe environments) this week as well.

Frustrating news: my blood counts this morning were too low for Day 8 chemo, and we have to wait a whole week to try again. This also means that the earliest that Cycle 6 can start will be 22 December! When this chemo treatment began, I had thought that Cycle 6 might end round about now, but I had reckoned without the delays from low blood counts. I learned today that those injections don’t have a lasting effect, and also that my white count is not so dire that I need more injections. 😅

Love and appreciation to all of you 🌹❤️

Collage from our visit to Little Stream with Jimmy and Alec

2025 12 08 

Hi everyone –

Here we go again!

After this morning’s blood test and the usual wait for results, I found that my red blood count has dropped further and I now need three units of blood. My other counts have increased slightly, but I can’t have any treatment until they rise further and I’ve had the transfusion.

They needed to admit me early this afternoon, while a bed was still available, even though the blood for the transfusion will only arrive this evening. It will then be done overnight.

I’m in the Medical ward this time – getting to know yet another part of Constantiaberg hospital. The Haematology ward is still my favourite, even though my stay last time did have some challenges (in terms of other patients) – I didn’t write about those!

I have been low on energy for a few days, and am hoping that the transfusion will be as helpful as usual.

May you receive a transfusion of whatever you need – be it joy, energy, kindness, love ... my ongoing appreciation to the people who donate blood (and thereby joy, energy, kindness and love).

Much love to everyone reading this 🌹❤️

 

2025 12 09

Good morning, everyone! Thanks for the lovely wishes.

The transfusion is still going – it will only finish by about 9:30 or 10!

Then there’ll be a blood test to see what comes next.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

 

Afternoon:

Home!

With a much improved red blood cell count.

Thanks for all the support and the transfusions of good vibes.

This was quite a marathon: the transfusion only started quite late in the evening, and lasted until 11:40 this morning – almost 15 hours in total (the expected time had been 12 hours). Then came the blood test and the wait for results; then the news that the counts were good and I was being discharged and must go straight to the chemo room for an hour of chemo ... which became almost two hours (no idea why), ending at about 15:15!

But all is good, and it’s wonderful to be home – if somewhat tired.

Appreciation to Gail for all the fetching and carrying!

Lots of love 🌹❤️

Photo: red salvia “hotlips” this time!

 

2025 12 23

Hi everyone –

Really, really good news today!

I had a CT scan yesterday and received the results from Garth today:

Everything has either improved or stayed the same, and there is nothing new!

This mirrored how I’ve been feeling lately. I had been a little anxious in case the scan results might contradict that, so this news was wonderful to hear. Garth was amused when I said I’d wondered if he was having me on, when he’d told me – while I was really struggling a few months ago – that he was trying to get me back to the point that I’ve now actually reached. Back then, that felt unimaginable!

My blood counts are currently also excellent, so I’ve just had chemo session 1 of Cycle 6. All going well, I’ll be having my last session of this entire chemo treatment next week, and will get to ring the bell!

Today Garth, Gail and I also needed to decide on our next steps:

Two weeks after ringing the bell, I’m going to start a "holiday" from chemo (and low blood counts) – we’re switching over to an injectable anti-oestrogen hormone, for as long as that works. (It will be one every two weeks for a shortly while, and will then be monthly.) Then possibly back to chemo, depending – in Garth’s words – on my "appetite for treatment" at that stage.

In other news:

• Gail’s daughter Jessica, Jess’s husband Tim, and their sons Will and Ali are visiting Cape Town from London for a month. We’ve already had some great times with them, and are looking forward to many more.
• Gail and I had a wonderful time at circle dancing on Saturday. I danced 13 of the 18 dances that were done while I was there. Huge appreciation to all the dancers for the fantastic welcome!

In case Gail and I don’t get to send a further message before Christmas: we wish all who celebrate it, and those who don’t, joy and peace at this time.

Lots of love 🌹❤️

2025 12 30

Hi everyone –

A quick update on what could have been my last day of chemo ... but wasn’t.

My blood test showed a white count that was way too low for chemo. So we need to try again on Friday.

I also have to stay away from gatherings of people, so no New Year’s Eve circle dancing for me! 😢

Over the past few days, the tummy bug that’s going around paid a visit to me and left me rather washed out, to the extent that I thought a transfusion might be necessary, but my red blood count was extra high – a pleasant surprise.

So a mixed day, like the bougainvillea we spotted when we stopped for some waterside fresh air before I came home to go back to bed.

Lots of love to all of you 🌹❤️

 

2025 12 31