This past 10 days has been full of pre-chemo treatment at a clinic near Birmingham. It has meant going up every other day so there has been much travelling. A bright spot in the middle of it was that Mari was able to celebrate her grandmother's 100 birthday last weekend.
Tomorrow ( Thurs 30th) Mari has another appointment with her Oncology Consultant in Bristol with the possibility of another PET scan in the near future. We should then have a clearer idea of when the chemotherapy will start. The Oncologists are keen to get treatment underway as soon as possible but realise the importance of the pre-chemo treatment.
Please pray for a sense of right timing for all the treatment and that the growth of the cancer will be arrested in the meantime.
We will update when we have more information but can we thank you again for all the love and care shown by so many and for the prayer that has been raised all around the world.
God bless
With love
Mari, Phil, Dave and Rhi
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Friday, July 10, 2009
Todays Appointment ( 9/7/09)
Mari's appointment today was a spelling out of the treatment schedule for her course of chemo. This will start after Mari has had treatment at a clinic in the Midlands which is aimed at minimising the long term effects of the chemo.
She will have three courses of salvage chemo for which she will be hospitalised for up to 5 days for each. She will receive chemo each of these five days.The next course will follow after approx 21 days when her blood count has had chance to rebuild.
She may have a scan after the second course to ensure the cancer is responding to treatment.
When these courses are over, Mari will be hospitalised for up to a month. She will have treatment to extract stem cells from her blood and then hit with a very strong chemo. As soon as that is over, the cells will be transplanted back into her body and she will need to be in isolation for three weeks as her immune system will be extremely low.
If all goes to plan, it will be over in time for Christmas.
Please pray for;
The effectiveness of the pre-chemo treatment
That the cancer's growth will be slowed before she is able to have the chemo
Phil is returning from NZ tomorrow which is great news, please pray for them both at this stressful time.
The treatment is extremely daunting both physically and emotionally for Mari, esp as she is still recovering from the recent 9 months of chemo.
The timing of everything is important too.
Mari will have a permanent line ( known as a hickman line) inserted in to one of my the main veins in her chest. This will require a small surgical procedure but ultimately less needles/less harsh on her veins.
Many thanks and we will continue to keep you updated.
God bless
With love
The Days
She will have three courses of salvage chemo for which she will be hospitalised for up to 5 days for each. She will receive chemo each of these five days.The next course will follow after approx 21 days when her blood count has had chance to rebuild.
She may have a scan after the second course to ensure the cancer is responding to treatment.
When these courses are over, Mari will be hospitalised for up to a month. She will have treatment to extract stem cells from her blood and then hit with a very strong chemo. As soon as that is over, the cells will be transplanted back into her body and she will need to be in isolation for three weeks as her immune system will be extremely low.
If all goes to plan, it will be over in time for Christmas.
Please pray for;
The effectiveness of the pre-chemo treatment
That the cancer's growth will be slowed before she is able to have the chemo
Phil is returning from NZ tomorrow which is great news, please pray for them both at this stressful time.
The treatment is extremely daunting both physically and emotionally for Mari, esp as she is still recovering from the recent 9 months of chemo.
The timing of everything is important too.
Mari will have a permanent line ( known as a hickman line) inserted in to one of my the main veins in her chest. This will require a small surgical procedure but ultimately less needles/less harsh on her veins.
Many thanks and we will continue to keep you updated.
God bless
With love
The Days
Friday, July 3, 2009
A Long Difficult Day
A Long Day
Today has been a long and difficult day. The Consultant at the Oncology Dept explained the treatment that they would recommend. It is gruelling and will necessitate hospitalisation for the chemotherapy. There will be three courses of 'salvage chemo' which will be followed by taking Mari's Stem Cell and then two very aggressive courses of chemo which will be followed by a Stem Cell Transplant.
There will be a team discussion next Thursday when they will examine all the scans more closely etc and Mari will see them after that. She also has to go to a clinic in the Midlands tomorrow for further consultation. Though Mari has been told the cancer is treatable, it is a very daunting prospect especially as she has not fully recovered from the last Chemo.
We will keep you updated and want to thank you again for your love, support and prayer.
With much love
Us
Today has been a long and difficult day. The Consultant at the Oncology Dept explained the treatment that they would recommend. It is gruelling and will necessitate hospitalisation for the chemotherapy. There will be three courses of 'salvage chemo' which will be followed by taking Mari's Stem Cell and then two very aggressive courses of chemo which will be followed by a Stem Cell Transplant.
There will be a team discussion next Thursday when they will examine all the scans more closely etc and Mari will see them after that. She also has to go to a clinic in the Midlands tomorrow for further consultation. Though Mari has been told the cancer is treatable, it is a very daunting prospect especially as she has not fully recovered from the last Chemo.
We will keep you updated and want to thank you again for your love, support and prayer.
With much love
Us
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