2026 10 07
Hi everyone –
Just letting you know I had the Day 8 chemo of this cycle (the short one), and it was uneventful (my favourite!).
Three injections come next (Friday to Sunday), and then a short break until we start Cycle 6 of 6, hopefully on 22 October.
Thanks for your ongoing support, and all the best for whatever is happening in your lives at the moment (your updates are always welcome).
Lots of love 🌹❤️
(Photo: Crisp-leafed pelargonium, which is tiny)
2026 10 12
After a friend asked how the series of three injections went:
It went ok, thanks – better than in some cycles. Fairly tired today, still; hoping that will pick up from tomorrow.
2026 10 16
Hi everyone –
Once again, greetings from Constantiaberg hospital, where I’m in my favourite ward (Haematology) for another blood transfusion overnight. I had a blood test this morning, as my energy levels were lower than expected. Sure enough, my haemoglobin and platelets are both low again (8.9 and 20 respectively). So it will be two units of blood and one of platelets.
My thoughts are especially with the many people in my life who have recently suffered bereavements. To each of you, I am so, so sorry for your loss.🕯️
Lots of love to all 🌹❤️
Photo: Strangely enough, yesterday’s lenticular clouds kind-of resembled platelets.
2026 10 17
Hi everyone –
(I once knew a company called “reusable objects”, and today I’m repeating much of what I wrote three weeks ago, as a “reusable object” because the experience was so similar.)
Home! With a reasonable blood count (10.9 and 90 respectively), which is likely to increase further over the next few days.
Another photo of the lenticular clouds, this one including the colourful beach huts – in appreciation of blood donors and blood/platelet transfusions.
We’ll test again on in four days’ time, in preparation for the next day’s chemo (Day 1 of Cycle 6).
The transfusion ran from about 22:30 to 7:00. (I didn’t wake extra early this time.)
Thanks to all of you for your support, which buoyed me up through the whole process. Enjoy the rest of the weekend!
Lots of love 🌹❤️
2026 10 22
Hi everyone – just letting you know that I had Day 1 chemo of Cycle 6 today.
It was touch and go as to whether I could have it today (those who want
the details, see the story of “The Wayward Choir” below), but I’m glad that we
did go ahead.
Today consisted of bursts of activity, with waiting in between:
- An extra blood test, quite
early; wait.
- Three-weekly consultation with
Garth; wait (in hospital coffee shop).
- Blood test results available
but not ideal; wait.
- Quick chat with Garth to decide
re chemo today or not; wait.
- Chemo.
- Home with three injections to
give myself.
(Most of this follows the pattern of the time towards the end of last
year’s course of chemo).
The consultation with Garth included the good news that my tumour
markers are down even further, to 19.8. We agreed that my next CT scan will be
in about two weeks’ time, and will play a major part in deciding the way
forward.
Appreciation to Gail for being with me for the consultations and the
waiting, and for driving me home afterwards – using your newly cataract-free
eyes!
Lots of love to all – may your "choirs" sing harmoniously 🌹❤️
The Wayward Choir
🎼❤️🎵🤍🎶💛
About 69 years ago, a concert hall (me) was built. It houses a choir (blood components).
The choir had a performance (chemo) scheduled for today in its concert
hall. The orchestra (chemo room) and the conductor (Garth) were ready for the
performance.
Some of the sections of the choir were augmented (received a
transfusion) last Friday night.
The choir’s bass section (haemoglobin) was depleted and wobbly before
being augmented, and improved afterwards. They continued to exercise their
vocal chords, up to an excellent level of 11.8 by yesterday (Wednesday).
The tenor section (platelets) was extremely depleted before being
augmented. They only went up to 70, not the level of 90 that was reported after
the augmentation! Naughty tenors, straining your vocal chords to hoodwink
whoever listened to that recording! But thank you for the extra practising you
did, to get up to 154 by yesterday.
The alto section (white blood cell count) was put off by all the
augmentation of the tenor and bass sections; having started off fine on Friday,
they were a bit hoarse by Saturday and very hoarse by yesterday. I think they
wanted some more of that cough mixture (injections)!
And as for the diva sopranos (neutrophils)! They were a little hoarse on
Friday but fine by Saturday. It seems that they then became complacent and
bunked choir practice, as they were very hoarse at 1.01 (should be at least
1.5, if not 2.0) by yesterday and now also needed cough mixture.
The orchestra members forgot to notify the concert hall yesterday that a
further sound check (blood test) was needed today, so this morning they called
before they even started practising, and before the hall had opened for the
day, to say the sound check was required in an hour – this was not possible but
was done within 90 minutes.
Results: all sections had remained stable overnight, except the diva
sopranos who were now down to 0.99.
The conductor was called in, so that a decision could be made.
The options were:
1. Give cough mixture immediately, plus
more tomorrow and the next day, to help the sopranos and altos. Do a sound
check on Monday morning and – if the sound is good – give the postponed
performance immediately after the check.
Or:
2. Perform today, knowing that the
sopranos and altos will not be at their best, but also knowing that they will
take cough mixture tomorrow and the following two days. Then do a sound check
on Monday in case more cough mixture is needed to enable the next performance,
which is scheduled for a week from today. (There will be a sound check the day
before that performance, just to make sure.)
Option 2 won out. The performance, which started shortly after 12:00 and
continued for three hours, was surprisingly good. Then the cough mixture was
issued, music scores and instruments were packed away, and everyone could rest.
Until next time.
(Image: seems to come from a site named Terapiadelamusicaencasa)
Hi everyone –
This past week, the Wayward Choir attended every choir practice and made some good recordings! In other words, I was able to do a couple of good things (Chart Farm and the better part of last Saturday's circle dancing session!) before the injections kicked in; the injections brought a lot of fatigue, but did their work and no extra ones were needed 😅 (I had been worried that they might be).
And today I had my final session of this course of chemo, and rang the bell! 🔔
On the way home, Gail and I went for a light lunch to celebrate, and now I’m having a little rest. (And I do have to give myself the usual three post-chemo injections so that today’s chemo doesn't cause too much depletion over the next while.)
Next steps: A CT scan, and then a decision with Garth within a week or two on the way forward for my next treatment. (There has to be a next treatment; we can't take any breaks from treatment.)
Thank you, always, for all your love and support.
Lots of love 🌹❤️
