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 🌹❤️
