2026 01 02
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.
2026 01 13
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
