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
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
