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 🌹❤️