This brought a happy tear of joy to my eye today . . .

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbItoJlfSyI&feature=related

Pee

My results have arrived

So it's now two weeks since I had my final 'prescribed' round of chemotherapy (three sessions in all are usually what's required to 'deal with' seminoma testicular cancer).

Today was all about seeing how effective the treatment has been.

The news was pretty flippin' good thus far (but I'm reserving any hooting and hollering just in case I tempt fate).

My scan evidence showed that the remaining cancer (post having my nut removed) overtaking my gland (the reason I had such excruciating back pain) has shrunk heaps as a result of the chemotherapy and while there is a 'very small mass remaining' the oncologist suggested (as he always has) that it's very likely to be scar tissue (very common in this form of cancer).

The other guide as to whether there's any active cancer flowing in your veins is a review of a range of blood tumour markers. They were very abnormal pre surgery and pre chemotherapy. Results now show they're all back to normal. Which is great.

So in the words of my oncologist: "You've done really well. I don't see any need for any further treatment. We'll see you in early February for a check-up and then probably just have a blood test every quarter from there for a while to ensure all remains 'normal'.

While he did say: "9 times out of 10 this treatment is fully curative, and you've responded as we'd hoped", he obviously said he can't give me 100% guarantees because the human body is a complex thing. But he says it's all very positive. And we'll see you for a standard check-up early February.

I'm stoked that there's no more needles, drips, toxins on the horizon.

And even more thrilled to be back on board fulltime at work as of next Monday.

What a curious few months it's been.

Positivity onwards . . .

Pee

Half full or half empty?

Lou Lou Hawke sent me this super-cute photo last week.

Made me laugh so much.

I thought I'd post it as a tribute to 'positivity' (yep, the glasses are half full outlook).

Smile on y'all.

Clearly not the work of Fred Hollows.

Pee

First-up lessons from Keef

As a big fan of the mighty Keithmeister, I looked to his drug-injecting techniques to help me with my own self-administered G-CSF (white blood cell stimulants) abdomen hits.

Chuck on some chilled tracks. Kick back. Flick needle. Pinch skin (a variation on his 'find usable vein' directive). Inject. Plunge. Breathe in. Withdraw. Dispose (or in his case, save to use again).

Will follow the Chili Peppers' Keidis routine tomorrow for a bit of variety.

Then consult Renton from Trainspotting on Tuesday.

And cap it off with a nod to James Salant on Wednesday.

Aaaah, life in the suburbs currently.

Pee

Hello! Anybody there?

Sorry readers. Haven't posted of late because I've had no new news to speak of.

(And posting stinky fart stories must be wearing thin - hee hee.)

So here's a fortnight's update . . .

I now have just one full day left of my third (and hopefully final) round of chemotherapy this week.

Rather than stay in hospital for five days (hard work) the wonderful team at the day ward have opened early so I can do a full day at their place, meaning I head home each night - better food, better sleep. Bless them. They are truly angels.

Although my bloods (white cell counts - the infection fighters) were a little low to really start my third round this week, the oncologist has ordered me a five day course of a white cell stimulant called G-CSF from this Saturday through to next Wednesday which should effectively boost my counts before they start to fall post this round of chemo (it's a balancing act of medicine, maths and science).

The G-CSF will be fired into me via needle into the abdomen (insulin style). All good. What with the number of blood tests and IV lines I've had poked into me (not to mention tattoos), what's another needle or five?

So, post this week I now have an appointment booked with my oncologist for the 24th of November which will hopefully give me the full outcome of how the treatment's gone (including a review of the CT scan I had last week).

Has it killed all the cancer? Is there a little left? Or just scar tissue (which often occurs with my form of cancer treatment)?

Best case it'll be all good and I'll be routinely monitored over coming months/years for any 'abnormalities'.

Or, as insurance, if they are not fully sure whether it's scar tissue or 'a little active cancer' in the lower back gland that directly linked to my 'now long gone' right testicle, they might prescribe a little blast of radiotherapy directly on that site for good measure.

Standing by.

Positively.

Pee