Chemotherapy today.

Thanks for your prayers - today went well. The nurses found a vein quickly and it was a good vein - it didn't play up last the one did last week.

It's good to tick another round off, 3 more to go! The Dr told us that soon Mari is due to have another chest x-ray to find out how things are looking after the pneumonia. We will let you know when we have a date for this.

It is now possible for Mari to have some of the injections ( which she is having regularly now, to boost her white blood cells) at home. This means less hospital visits - horray!
The Dr also confirmed that after treatment number 16, (scheduled on December 11th), Mari will have a few weeks off before returning to hospital in January for CT scans/pet scans etc. They will then decide whether Mari needs some radiotherapy at the oncology hospital. We really hope the cancer will be all gone by then.

Mari is looking forward to having a few weeks off after the final chemotherapy round.

She is now in bed resting and recovering from today - grateful for your messages and prayers. Today went very smoothly and quickly which was a great relief. There is a nasty sickness bug going around ( warnings about it in the hospital) and 3 people in our house have been unwell with that, plus friends. It would be very complicated if Mari gets infected and she would have to go straight back in to hospital. Fortunately, so far she hasn't caught it which is amazing given the state of her immune system right now following treatments.

There are a few things to pray about, we are starting to look ahead now and longing for this to all be over. We are hoping for some good news in January but also preparing ourselves for the possibility of further treatment if necessary.

We will write more soon.
Love and thanks.

Hospital again this week

Hi,

I have enjoyed every minute of my needle-free week this week. I will be in and out of hospital over the next four days for the usual blood tests and injections. If all goes according to plan I will be having chemo ( number 13) on Thursday at 10 am.

I have noticed I am starting to feel more positive and I think that's because finally the end of treatment is in sight, with only 4 more to go! Then I will have a series of tests/CT scans/pet scan etc to assess the situation. The Dr's have always said I might need to have some radiotherapy when the chemo finishes so obviously I am hoping and praying this won't be the case.

Your messages have helped me to keep positive too of course so thanks a million, as always.
Love love love Mari x

End of Round 12

Mari is now 3/4s of the way through her chemo. Today started off well with the Nurse quickly finding a vein which was a relief, however parts of today were quite gruelling. She was not too well after the pneumonia and various injections from earlier this week and the chemo was fairly torrid today. It does seem to vary from session to session. Her temperature was starting to rise through the chemo so we have to watch that over the next couple of days. She has gone straight to bed on arriving home.

Please pray that her temperature will stabilise, otherwise it is straight back into hospital. Pray too that the chemo will do its work. She will have a scan before the final treatment to determine whether the cancer has gone. We would all love that to be the case.

Many thanks again for your love and concern.

God bless
With love
Dave, Rhi, Phil and Mari

This week.

Thanks for your lovely messages.
I was in hospital again today, having my usual tests and injection to boost my white blood cells. Back in tomorrow and Wednesday for more of the same. I will also be having a flu jab and pneumonia jab as I am considered "at risk"! So, lots of needles this week! Then round 12 of chemo on Thursday, if my tests show that I am well enough!
I am counting the treatments down now, and cannot wait to feel normal again!

We will keep updating you.
With much love and appreciation, Mari x

Update.

Mari is keeping pretty well post chemo. She is experiencing a few of the usual side effects which are unpleasant, but nothing major. She is going back in to hospital next week for injections on Monday and Tuesday, tests on Wednesday and then round 12 of chemo on Thursday ( if blood tests show she is well enough to have it), so she has this week to rest and recover from the last treatment. We will keep you updated.

Have a great week and thank you ~ x

Today.

Fortunately, Mari was able to proceed with chemo today ( 11 down,5 to go)! It was a long day, she was in hospital from 10.30 am through to gone 5 pm. Tomorrow, she is due to have an injection, which has some unpleasant side effects - but other than that, she will be resting up over the weekend in bed.
She is really grateful that you continue to read this blog and leave such wonderful messages.
Thank you. It is an encouragement to us all.

We will let you know how she gets on after the next few days ( she has to take 10 plus tablets the day after chemo, so she is fairly drugged up initially for a few days).

Have a great weekend.
Love from us xxxx

Chemo tomorrow, number 11.

Hi,

Thanks for your messages and continued support. I have had my two injections this week, as planned. Tomorrow morning I'm going in to hospital (in the morning) for blood tests.
If my white blood cells are up to it, I will have chemo,round 11, later on in the morning. I have to wait around for test results before we can proceed with treatment but hopefully the injections will have done the trick. I then need to have another injection on Friday, so my bod will be taking a bit of a hammering over the next couple of days.
Will let you know how I get on with it all. As unpleasant as the chemo is, it is always good to tick another one off.
With love and thank you again for continuing to read this and for posting such lovely messages, Mari xx