I have been busy with my guests from Finland, my little sister Johanna and her partner, Sami.  They arrived last Wednesday and have just left.  I managed not to be ill in the hospital!  We had a lovely time, mostly in east London.  We even went to a Halloween house warming party at Suzie’s boss’s place.  The theme was to dress as someone you wished dead, or as someone who is already dead.  I cannot wish anyone dead, not good karma, so I dressed as Farrah Fawcett from the old Charlie’s Angels.  She died of anal cancer in June this year.  Suzie went as Louise Brooks, the old American silent movie actress.

On Friday, I called Lucy my nurse at the Royal Marsden as I wanted to know about my CT scan.  She said it was looking good, “stable”, as expected.  I said to Lucy, I knew it was difficult to say how many cycles I will need at this stage as I knew they were planning to do the PET scan after the 6^th cycle, but I wanted to know what she thought, did she think I needed more than 6 cycles.  She said, yes it is difficult to say for sure before the PET scan, but what she can see from the scans so far, she thinks it looks like I will only need 6 cycles.  She said, there might be some scar tissue left in the end, but the cancer was stable.  After the phone call I was a little stunned; it was the first time I had heard that the treatment might be over soon.  I was quite moved.  I am nearly there!!  Even though I will not know if the 6^th cycle will be my very last one, I will go to it thinking it is, and will make it a special occasion.

Johanna, Sami, Shawn, Minna, Suzie and I went for a delicious dinner at the Princess Pub near Old Street. (In this pic: Sami, Johanna, Shawn and I)

The original Louise Brooks.

Suzie as Louise Brooks!

Farrah Fawcett in Charlie's Angels.

This is me as 'Farrah'. Shame about the tubicrip. But, maybe she had one too when receiving treatment for her cancer?

Farrah and Louise.

Johanna and Sami in south Hackney.