I got my CT-scan results yesterday.  The cancer in my chest and above the left collarbone is shrinking, however it is still there.  For some stupid reason I thought the cancer might be gone, so I was a bit disappointed, and to some degree amazed that it was still there.  My team is pleased by the progress though, so that is good.  I should be pleased too.

The plan at the moment is to have at least two more cycles of this chemo, and then the high dose chemo with the stem cell transplant.  I have been referred to the stem cell transplant team at the Sutton branch, so I should hear from them soon.  When the stem cell transplant with the hardcore chemo happens, I will have stay in the hospital about three weeks.  I would stay in a specialist ward with other neutropenic patients.  I am already dreading it.

I had a problem with my PICC line yesterday.  It was blocked!  Luckily, the ward sister at the Medical Day Unit managed to clear the block eventually.  I was so relieved.  I absolutely HATE cannulas.  I desperately need my PICC.

It was also the day 1 of the second cycle of chemo yesterday.  I got Gemcitabine and Rituximab.  This time they gave the Rituximab at high speed, and it took only an hour and a half.  That was good.  I asked them to give me the very last drop of the Rituximab knowing how expensive it is!  Ruth and Michael came to pick me up, which I was very happy about since I was feeling exhausted at the end of it.  Next Monday I will have the Gemcitabine only which should be a quick treatment.

I am back on the nasty steroids, Methylprednisolone, which make me very bloated, cause me insomnia, and make my face swollen.

One of my New Year resolutions is to learn to play my acoustic guitar.  There was a course at the Hackney Community College starting tomorrow that I wanted to do, but I found out today that it is full. However, there is another guitar beginners course that starts in April this year, so I managed to enrol in that one!