Sorry...in my haste to get the details down I forgot to mention my CEA (Carcino Embryonic Antigen) levels have dropped.
When you are in your mothers womb the levels are high and as soon as you are born the levels drop to what the profession calls normal which is 0 - 2.5.
In between my operation to remove the bowel cancer and the secondary cancer being discovered, the blood test result showed the level to be with 'normal' levels at 1.1.
When I was diagnosed with secondary inoperable cancer the level had jumped to 5+ and now the level is standing at 3+ so dropped by 2 whole points.
The consultant didn't seem to think the change in level was significant and said that there are loads of other factors to be taken into consideration, he did say in some patients the level can be in hundreds if not thousands and they are okay.
However I am taking everything I can get as a positive and significant and so should all you supporters out there.
As I have said, if the Avastin can kick start my immune system then I can also do this in other ways.
Continue the prayer, the reiki, the good wishes and positive thoughts as this will NOT finish me.
Much Love
Tony xxx
Sunday, 9 January 2011
Saturday, 8 January 2011
Chemo visit 4
Hello all,
Shortly after this photo I was whisked efficiently off to a side room given an ECG and kept in overnight - every cloud has a silver lining as they do a great porridge and fry-up at Weston Park for breakfast!
After Fran and I arrived almost an hour late due to snow it was decided to give me the Avastin first over 90 minutes then with a 30 minutes flush through then the Irinotecan for 90 minutes. I had my second Atropine injection due to stomach pains which then appeared to develop into a tight clamp on my chest. Due to previous problems with chemo brought on angina I was given a couple of squirts of Nitroglycerin under my tongue and now have to carry it with me....I am hoping the problems experienced don't prevent me having the Avastin...
I was very impressed with the care and attention I was given, it is given at a time when you absolutely need to feel special, loved and cared for by a profession that so often gets a bad press for their uncaring attitude.
I had an ECG and blood test prior to going up to the ward - they faxed Calow to get my last ECG which was taken prior to me being discharged...this was used to compare my normal Calow ECG with my latest one which proved to be clear - 'good news'. I was also given an ECG and blood test prior to being released from Weston Park this afternoon. They are very through which is very very welcome.
The scarf was a Christmas present from my ma and pa, I had matching socks but forgot to put them on...they will be on next time.
I also met a great 72 year old chap who rides a Vmax motorbike so spent most of my stay talking bikes - to get how impressed I was that he rides a Vmax here is a picture:
My stay also showed me the end of the cancer journey - not nice but then what part of the journey is nice...I saw the on-call doctor that spoke with me earlier given some much needed care, attention and compassion to a fellow patient who was then moved to a private room with his family.
I did the only thing I can do and prayed for Mick the biker and the unknown warrior opposite who was moved to a private room.
Much Love to all
Tony xxx
Shortly after this photo I was whisked efficiently off to a side room given an ECG and kept in overnight - every cloud has a silver lining as they do a great porridge and fry-up at Weston Park for breakfast!
After Fran and I arrived almost an hour late due to snow it was decided to give me the Avastin first over 90 minutes then with a 30 minutes flush through then the Irinotecan for 90 minutes. I had my second Atropine injection due to stomach pains which then appeared to develop into a tight clamp on my chest. Due to previous problems with chemo brought on angina I was given a couple of squirts of Nitroglycerin under my tongue and now have to carry it with me....I am hoping the problems experienced don't prevent me having the Avastin...
I was very impressed with the care and attention I was given, it is given at a time when you absolutely need to feel special, loved and cared for by a profession that so often gets a bad press for their uncaring attitude.
I had an ECG and blood test prior to going up to the ward - they faxed Calow to get my last ECG which was taken prior to me being discharged...this was used to compare my normal Calow ECG with my latest one which proved to be clear - 'good news'. I was also given an ECG and blood test prior to being released from Weston Park this afternoon. They are very through which is very very welcome.
The scarf was a Christmas present from my ma and pa, I had matching socks but forgot to put them on...they will be on next time.
I also met a great 72 year old chap who rides a Vmax motorbike so spent most of my stay talking bikes - to get how impressed I was that he rides a Vmax here is a picture:
My stay also showed me the end of the cancer journey - not nice but then what part of the journey is nice...I saw the on-call doctor that spoke with me earlier given some much needed care, attention and compassion to a fellow patient who was then moved to a private room with his family.
I did the only thing I can do and prayed for Mick the biker and the unknown warrior opposite who was moved to a private room.
Much Love to all
Tony xxx
Friday, 31 December 2010
HAPPY NEW YEAR....
Happy New Year to all my lovely readers....been a tough year but I have learnt so much about me and the people around me...would I change anything? Absolutely would change the prognosis but the experiences and the people I have met along the way absolutely not.
So as I toast the New Year round at the Lingards with many of my friends I will say a toast to absent family and friends, to the many that are struggling with illness and to those that didn't make it....you are all my heroes...thanks!
God bless all.
Tony and Frances xx
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
On yer bike!
I have just been out for a spin and after a bit of a hiccup with the clutch not working (had to top up the fluid) - it went like a dream....
It was wet dark and foggy but I didn't want to get off and the seat is so comfortable on a bigger bike I could have stayed out a lot later had I not been aware that Fran would be worried!
I went to Matlock Bath and chatted with a bloke at 'the kiosk' who checked the brake fluid reservoir and told me my clutch problems were due to a lack of clutch fluid...off I rode to a little shop in Chesterfield, purchased some fluid and a little screwdriver set and fixed my bike!
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Nice to do other stuff!
T xx
Monday, 27 December 2010
A great Christmas...
Christmas Eve got off to a bumpy start but once we all settled down everything just happened...
Charlotte and I prepared the vegetables and some stuffing for Christmas lunch, Fran went out and delivered cards and then I went and shopped for a couple of last minute presents. I stopped off at the Kenyons for a cuppa and met Henry (Mr Kenyon Snr) - what a warm household and not just because of the fire!
I called Fran at 5pm on the way home and asked if she fancied a drink...not something we had done for months and one of our last encounters at the Duke of Wellington ended with a leaky stoma down my leg so demons needed exorcising! I picked up Fran and off we went...a nice pint of Stella, we also met Amanda and Sam our next door neighbours which was great too. We moved into our house in Aug 09 and had not even had the chance to say hello properly because of one thing or another...so a good opportunity.
Only the one pint on Christmas Eve but it was great to be out just for a while with my beautiful wife...
We put out the carrot, mince pie and glass of sherry and read 'Twas the night before Christmas' with all three of us reading a page at a time...
Spoke with Colm on a video call who is in Ireland on Skype...modern technology!
Bed at half past midnight and then the dreaded chemo side effects kicked in from 03:30 onwards....
Christmas Day - the birth of our lord, Hallelujah!
After breakfast of crumpets and tea we opened stockings and got ready to go to worship.
I stupidly rode my bike to the bandstand in the park for out Sunday service, it was so icy I was very lucky not to crash...It was a great albeit cold service and lovely to see our friends on Christmas morning to celebrate!
The Songhurst's opened a bottle of bucks fizz, and I jokingly pointed the cork at Fran then moved it out of her line of fire...the cork popped and instead of going straight up it did a perfect arch and bonked straight on Fran's head...now that was funny and we all laughed so hard!
Great lunch and watched 'Singing in the rain'. I have never seen it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received some great presents from Santa, most notably was a pink Ralph Lauren shirt, one I had liked and admired in a shop in Bakewell, very nice and very expensive...thanks Fran xx (also sorry I broke my mini remote controlled helicopter within 30 minutes crashing it into the ground - there must have been a design fault!)
Had an absolute great day and slept for 9 hrs straight, probably due to being up since 3am although the brandys probably helped....
Much Love to all.
Tony xx
Charlotte and I prepared the vegetables and some stuffing for Christmas lunch, Fran went out and delivered cards and then I went and shopped for a couple of last minute presents. I stopped off at the Kenyons for a cuppa and met Henry (Mr Kenyon Snr) - what a warm household and not just because of the fire!
I called Fran at 5pm on the way home and asked if she fancied a drink...not something we had done for months and one of our last encounters at the Duke of Wellington ended with a leaky stoma down my leg so demons needed exorcising! I picked up Fran and off we went...a nice pint of Stella, we also met Amanda and Sam our next door neighbours which was great too. We moved into our house in Aug 09 and had not even had the chance to say hello properly because of one thing or another...so a good opportunity.
Only the one pint on Christmas Eve but it was great to be out just for a while with my beautiful wife...
We put out the carrot, mince pie and glass of sherry and read 'Twas the night before Christmas' with all three of us reading a page at a time...
Spoke with Colm on a video call who is in Ireland on Skype...modern technology!
Bed at half past midnight and then the dreaded chemo side effects kicked in from 03:30 onwards....
Christmas Day - the birth of our lord, Hallelujah!
After breakfast of crumpets and tea we opened stockings and got ready to go to worship.
I stupidly rode my bike to the bandstand in the park for out Sunday service, it was so icy I was very lucky not to crash...It was a great albeit cold service and lovely to see our friends on Christmas morning to celebrate!
The Songhurst's opened a bottle of bucks fizz, and I jokingly pointed the cork at Fran then moved it out of her line of fire...the cork popped and instead of going straight up it did a perfect arch and bonked straight on Fran's head...now that was funny and we all laughed so hard!
Great lunch and watched 'Singing in the rain'. I have never seen it and thoroughly enjoyed it.
I received some great presents from Santa, most notably was a pink Ralph Lauren shirt, one I had liked and admired in a shop in Bakewell, very nice and very expensive...thanks Fran xx (also sorry I broke my mini remote controlled helicopter within 30 minutes crashing it into the ground - there must have been a design fault!)
Had an absolute great day and slept for 9 hrs straight, probably due to being up since 3am although the brandys probably helped....
Much Love to all.
Tony xx
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