17-Jun-2011 - Time To Build An Immune System

17-Jun-2011 - Time To Build An Immune System 
.

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Give Hope & Information

 .

Hi,

I became aware that my bloods were lower than I had expected from being out of puff (lack of O2 from too few red blood cells) plus a slight rise in discomfort in the mouth and the glands in the neck NOT markedly but a little enlarged.

Looks like lack of an immune system cutting in so I rang Nairn MacMillan/St.Davids but she was out so next line was to ring my Doctor's surgery.

No problem and I have asked for a prescription for Ciprofloxacin 500mg tabs. to provide background immunity and Metronidazole 400mg tabs for aneuorobic cover. These two anti biotics taken jointly may well prove dangerous for others but with the amounts of toxin pumped into my system and the resultant immune system crash it does seem to work well.

The duty nurse was wary and asked if I minded The Doctor calling back as she felt there may be conflicts in the drugs. The Doctor called back quite quickly and it was resolved - so I picked up the Scrip from the surgery at Chepstow Hospital and Boots made it up for me and reminded me of another drug they had ordered for me for when the present supply runs out!
.

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide To Give Others HOPE

I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

. If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order. . Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way. .

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com TWITTER: Greg_LW Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com  

Related articles

• Boost Your Immune System Naturally (fitsugar.com)
• Enlisting the Body Itself to Fight Cancer (online.wsj.com)
• News in Brief: Genes & Cells (sciencenews.org)
• Good News! Optimism Helps Your Immune System (fitsugar.com)
• Boost Your Immune System With a Massage (fitsugar.com)
• Early infection may shorten lifespan (newscientist.com)
• Do unconscious fears of infection influence your social life? (psychologytoday.com)
• Life-Threatening Bacteria Infection Remains Mysterious (livescience.com)
• Report: Driving can contribute to deadliest cancer, particularly on your left side (autoblog.com)
• Cancer Death Rates Continue To Drop: Report (huffingtonpost.com)
• Young cancer survivors inspire business leaders (calgaryherald.com)
• Kim Hyung Jun completes a successful concert in Singapore (allkpop.com)
• Home made anti-bacterial wipes (secretshifter.wordpress.com)
• Cancer charity launches 'Sarcoma Awareness Week' and celebrates support (moneyexpert.com)
• Cancer Death Rate Declining for the Educated, Finds American Cancer Society Report (talesfromthelou.wordpress.com)

15-Jun-2011 - TAKE THAT to the Queue for almost 30 miles

15-Jun-2011 - TAKE THAT to the Queue for almost 30 miles
.

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Give Hope & Information

 .

Hi,


we came out of Velindre and almost immediately we were confronted by traffic.


As soon as we turned onto The M4 at junction 32 there was a solid 3 lanes coming towards us on The West Bound carriageway for almost 30 miles - where we were going towards The Severn Bridge was solid traffic coming towards heading into Central Cardiff and The Millenium Stadium for a Take That Concert with about 50,000 expected!


I was feeling OK so we went to friends, as he had a 'dead printer' and TESCO are offering a great deal on an HP normal price £150 marked down to £100 and then for a 'junk' printer, as long as you can turn it on they knock off a further £30.


Our friends wanted to change some clothes before going for a Baltic cruise next week - astonishingly I was still OK so we went to Cribbs Causeway sorted the shopping and then stopped off for dinner in The swan in Tytherington - Well it was Magna Carta Day ;-)

 .

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide To Give Others HOPE

I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com  
TWITTER: Greg_LW  
Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com  

15-Jun-2011 - My LAST CHEMO in This Round!

15-Jun-2011 - My LAST CHEMO in This Round!
.

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Give Hope & Information

 .

Hi,

well today is the last hit with Chemo in theory!

We arrived on time but unsure whether to go straight to 'Bloods' or to CDU (Chemo Day Unit) - we opted for CDU and as we walked in Louise was by the door with a cheery greeting and Carmen came over with a big hug and how is it going ;-)

I asked if they wanted me to go to bloods but they did it on the unit for me and sent them off as they thought it would be quicker.

Meanwhile rather than hang around Lee and I went off to RadioTherapy booking to see if we could get a better appointment - 09:50hrs. on a Friday Morning seemed a bit like victimisation from Chepstow!!!

No problem atall and we are now booked for 11:50hrs. which seems a whole lot more civilised!

The secretary was great and gave us a couple of very good leaflets in an attempt to explain RadioTherapy and the procedures - I gather I get a tattoo for them to spot focus on! I thought a bat would be better than a butterfly but apparently all I get is a dot!

I must admit tattoos have always mystified me and why would ANYONE think they are a lavatory wall and cover themselves with graffiti? Almost as foolish as filling yourself with nuts, bolts and rings with piercings which virtually without exception look revolting.

Well back to the CDU dropping off a box of chcolates at 'Phlebottomy' and then via the information unit with all its leaflets and computers for patients to use - to CDU where a box of chocolates was most welcome!

A few minutes later and having chatted with a couple of anxious looking newcomers it was off to my chair and plug up for this weeks dose ofChemo. The cannella seems easier each time and then a quick flush with saline to clear the vein and ensure it is OK, whilst The Gemcitabine is set up on the stand for delivery.

It is tedious waiting for this dose of toxin to be pumped into you - well aware that MAYBE it will make you better but for sure it will make you feel ropey! However the atmosphere on the unit seems to take a lift when Lee and I arrive with all these angst ridden folk looking concerned by the end of the session we seem to have them all telling jokes and chatting together comparing notes!

I must say I find it so much easier to cope with having some black humour and banter - Otherwise it can be rather unrelenting gloom, as lets face it none of us are exactly well!

On completion, with no drugs to collect we have been berrated by all the staff to drop in whenever we are back for RadioTherapy or clinics - and we will because these cheery folk have made what could have been a daunting and scarey ride more of a party!

 .

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide To Give Others HOPE

I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com TWITTER: Greg_LW Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com  

Related articles

• Yesterday's Chemo (notthedestinationbut.wordpress.com)
• Phase 3 Trial Finds No Benefit From Atrasentan Added To Chemo For Advanced Prostate Cancer (medicalnewstoday.com)
• [cancer] Chemo session two, day three (jlake.com)
• Tips eating Problems after Chemo (marinealgaes.com)
• Antifungal Drug Delays Need For Chemo In Advanced Prostate Cancer (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Complications Arise When Patients Fail To Properly Take Oral Chemo (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Clinical Chemo Trial: Day 70 - So Close and Yet ... (outsidethelaw.net)
• [cancer] Chemo session three, day one (jlake.com)
• After Colon Cancer Surgery, Early Chemo May Pay Off (nlm.nih.gov)
• Chemo round 4 day 6 (ajandray.wordpress.com)
• Great News! 6/7/2011 (charshope.wordpress.com)
• Dr. Oz Discusses the Cancer Fighting Qualities of Vitamin D (huffingtonpost.com)
• Cancer is Big Biz & FDA Tyranny ??? (2012patriot.wordpress.com)
• Stand Up To Cancer Co-Founder Laura Ziskin Dies at Age 61 (prnewswire.com)
• HuffPo blogger claims skin cancer is conspiracy [Greg Laden's Blog] (scienceblogs.com)
• Novel approach to treating cancer (search.japantimes.co.jp)

14-Jun-2011 - Consultant Makes A Fool of Himself over NHS REFORMS

14-Jun-2011 - Consultant Makes A Fool of Himself over NHS REFORMS. 

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Give Hope & Information

 .

Hi,

A Complete pratt of a Doctor makes a fool of himself and his hospital - undermining his staff and making himself look an idiot showing off - Sad really when The Tories are already suffering from OUR-ENEMY-WITHIN who are trying to waterdown NHS Modernisation!

Anyone so insecure they need to hold their head on with a wing nut has got to have a problem! 

Doc tells PM's group: Off my ward!

Stunned ... David Cameron and deputy Nick Clegg look shocked at consultant's tirade during hospital visit

By STAFF REPORTER

Published: 14 Jun 2011

DAVID Cameron was left stunned when a furious doctor burst in on the unveiling of his revised NHS reforms at a patient's bedside today, screaming: "Get out!"

The irate senior orthopaedic surgeon stormed into the ward and ordered out TV crews filming the Prime Minister and deputy Nick Clegg, for ignoring hygiene rules aimed at preventing the spread of disease.
The consultant, seen wearing a bow tie, complained that several people in the room at Guy's Hospital, London did not have their sleeves rolled up.
He was heard on TV footage shouting: "Why is that we are all told to walk around like this and these people...?"
Both Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg looked stunned by the sudden verbal blast, which came as they were due to announce findings from the NHS Future Forum.

Video: Doc rage as Cam visits hospital

SURGEON gets angry at group with PM and Clegg over ward dress code

• Sky News

Baffled Mr Cameron — who apologetically put his hands up and gestured at the TV crew to leave the ward — then said: "Why don't we erm, why don't we, why don't you disappear... I agree.. out... because we've all taken our ties off."
A member of hospital staff then ushers the consultant out of the ward but as the camera crew leaves, the doctor bellows: "I'm not having it, now OUT."
It is understood that journalists in the PM's party had checked with the ward sister whether they needed to wash their hands and roll up their sleeves. They were told it was not necessary because they were not coming into close contact with patients.
Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg had observed the drill because they were going to be close to the man.
A hospital spokeswoman said: "Arrangements for today's visit were entirely consistent with infection control policy. One individual member of staff expressed concern with one element of the infection control measures employed, but this was not a view shared by the wider team."

'Not having it' ... irate consultant's rant is caught on camera

To view the original article of Mummy's little boy having a temper tantrum -
The Consultant Making A Fool of Himself CLICK HERE

 .

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs

To Spread The Facts World Wide To Give Others HOPE

I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com
TWITTER: Greg_LW  
Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com   

Related articles

• Doc tells PM's group: Off my ward! (thesun.co.uk)

08-Jun-2011 - Off for day 01 Chemo on my third cycle DOUBLE HIT!

08-Jun-2011 - Off for day 01 Chemo on my third cycle DOUBLE HIT!

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs  

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Leave-The-EU

Hi,


well my bloods were OK on Monday in fact they were 'spot on' to quote Lester.

So here we go for another double whammy of Chemo - just as I was starting to feel normal lets have another go at feeling bl''dy awful with mouth ulcers, no energy, despondency and infected teath with abscesses!

Oh Joy ;-)

But the rest of the news is far better so whilst you read Alice's essay above on the >TAB< I'll see what I can come up with as an update!

Regards,
Greg_L-W.

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs  

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Leave-The-EU

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

Related articles

• What chemo drug is better for a 67 year old with cancer? (zocdoc.com)
• Does cancer therapy always involve chemo? (zocdoc.com)
• Chemo Treatment: 1 Week Later (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• Chemo Treatment #2: The Neutrophil Edition (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• After Colon Cancer Surgery, Early Chemo May Pay Off (nlm.nih.gov)
• Does shaving the head after chemo promote stronger hair growth? (zocdoc.com)
• Antifungal Drug Delays Need For Chemo In Advanced Prostate Cancer (medicalnewstoday.com)
• Clinical Chemo Trial: Day 70 - So Close and Yet ... (outsidethelaw.net)
• Can chemotherapy cause permanent attention loss? (zocdoc.com)
• What causes cancer relapses? (zocdoc.com)

07-Jun-2011 - If You Have To Wait In Pharmacy

07-Jun-2011 - If You Have To Wait In Pharmacy

Hi,

as you wait interminably in pharmacy you might feel like remembering the complexity of the drugs available!


Drug Parody of Beatles Obladi Oblada from Gordon Stevens on Vimeo.

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way. .

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

06-Jun- 2011 - CLINIC - RESULTS & THE PLAN!

06-Jun- 2011 - CLINIC - RESULTS & THE PLAN!

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs  

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Leave-The-EU

Hi,

Shortly after returning from the canteen our name came up and it was into Clinic with Dr. Lester.

Chatted for a few moments about having eventually got married after 26 years - he was quite miffed as we had beaten him as he had been with his partner for 23 years when they got married! He was originally a Londoner but has married a Welsh girl.

Anyway cutting to the chase:

Firstly he is surprised at how spot on my bloods are considering I've got one kidney, one adrenal gland years of cancer and buckets of chemo!!

He sees no problem there and is very pleased he has managed to so successfully trash my bloods every time with chemo thus starving the cancer.

Now for the scan:

Some good and some not so bad!

For the first time he feels he can, since I understand the limitations, talk of a cure.

Obviously this is NOT a cure of cancer but a cure of this outbreak and we then have a watching brief, if lucky, for the next return!


Even if we win this round it could be back in 3 months, or 3 years or if VERY lucky longer.


Caveat:

The tumour on the Uretal stump would seem to have shrunk by about 20% that is OK but not wonderful.

The Radiologist and he had conferred and they believe that the Lymph Node which was necrotic & cancerous seems free of cancer but due to deformation it is hard to be certain.

LYMPH NODE Image via Wikipedia

However it does seem that the Lymph Node on The Femoral Artery which was believed to be cancerous almost definitely isn't and is, like apparently many lymph nodes, naturally deformed and NOT cancerous.   

So What Now & Why:

OK so the game plan changes!

Dr. Lester is relatively pleased particularly as the cancer HAS responded to chemo on the dosages he advocated but it hasn't destroyed it totally.

The fear is now that if he ploughs on for the full programme as originally planned the cancer may well become imune to the treatment but the chemo will go on beating me up! I gather the aim is to kill the cancer before you kill the patient!

So we now give it one more round of chemo to 'drive the nail home' so to speak.

That is a day 01 which is on Wednesday 08-Jun-2011 which is Carb & Gem

Then the following Wed 15-Jun-2011 which is a day 08 with Gem only.

The next phase will be a schedule of 20 hits of Radio Therapy - 5 days a week for 4 weeks. But more of that later when IO know what the full game plan is.

Lester did say that the sideeffects are less punishing but that I am likely to be very tired during the last 2 weeks - Hardly surprising 80 Mile round trip to Velindre on the same boring bit of M4 every day!!

So that is the game plan so far.

I'm 'fairly' laid back about it - but then again what choice do I have! So it is best to not get wound up about it - laughing is always a good medicine and with all my various contacts and blogs I just don't have time to be concerned! JUST SCARED ;-)

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs  

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Leave-The-EU

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

Related articles

• What chemo drug is better for a 67 year old with cancer? (zocdoc.com)
• Does cancer therapy always involve chemo? (zocdoc.com)
• Could swollen lymph nodes mean cancer? (zocdoc.com)
• Are swollen lymph nodes a sign of infection? (zocdoc.com)
• Extra radiation lowers risk of breast cancer recurrence (ctv.ca)
• Breast cancer surgery patients benefit from adding radiation therapy (eurekalert.org)
• Living with Cancer AND Diabetes (diabetesmine.com)
• Extra radiation dramatically cuts spread of breast cancer (theglobeandmail.com)
• Chemo for Late-Stage Cancer Patients May Be Unjustified (nlm.nih.gov)
• Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma: Stages of Lymphoma (brighthub.com)
• The Latest on Sentinel Node Biopsy (health.yahoo.net)
• Antifungal drug delays need for chemo in advanced prostate cancer (eurekalert.org)
• Some good news! (littledogdiaries.wordpress.com)
• Will I need a radiation oncology consultation if I've already had chemo? (zocdoc.com)
• Puget Sound Race for the Cure raises $1.6 million (queenanneview.com)
• Would you join a clinical trial? (blogs.telegraph.co.uk)
• Tai chi boosts function for those with 'chemo brain,’ study finds (theglobeandmail.com)
• Well: Chemo Brain May Last 5 Years or More (well.blogs.nytimes.com)
• Fighting cancer with cancer: Mayo Clinic finds promising use for thyroid cancer gene (eurekalert.org)
• After Colon Cancer Surgery, Early Chemo May Pay Off (nlm.nih.gov)

06-Jun-2011 - BLOODS, CLINIC, DELAYS & THE REAL WORLD!

06-Jun-2011 - BLOODS, CLINIC, DELAYS & THE REAL WORLD!

 Please Be Sure To

Tweet My Blogs  

To Spread The Facts World Wide

To Leave-The-EU

  Hi,

Just to put some of this in perspective:

Mortality from cancer worldwide

Each year more than 7.5 million people worldwide die from cancer. Because of the size of its population around half of these people (50%) are in Asia). Around 12% of deaths worldwide are from cancer. The proportion of all deaths caused by cancer varies, from only 4% in Africa to 23% in Northern America ( Figure 3.11-2). In the UK around 24% of all deaths are caused by cancer.

Even considering WHO predictions that Cancer deaths will rise to 15M a year by 2020 CLICK HERE worldwide that is scarey but a tiny weenie number when you consider there will be approaching 8 Billion people alive then.

So currently out of around 56 Million deaths a year only about 7.5 million are related to cancer.

OK that's you dead from boredom with statistics but it does put some facts around the fear ;-)

Now to really bore you!

So on Monday Lee and I went to Velindre for a Clinic as although I had not been notified last Thursday I remembered I had Chemo on Wednesday (low on my priorities that week!) but when did they intend to check my bloods and when was Dr. lester going to come up with the results on my scan.

As anyone who has played these games will know - you desperately want the results of scans but you try to put them off as it MIGHT be a death sentence - Scanziety!

Anyway I bit the bullet and I suggested I came in for clinic on Monday and then if there was a problem someone else, with luckier results, could have my Chemo slot on Wednesday!

So we walker into Velindre on time! Another 40 miles down the M4! More of that later, but I've had a bit of a cunning wheeze I think!

It is astonishing in that busy hospital with all those agitated and concerned faces around just howmany seem to greet me by name!! I suppose it is 'cos of the crazy 'T'Shirt slogans and the determination to laugh about life and laugh with people however rough it gets!!

It is astonishing how many people end up chatting as they sit their looking glum and you say 'Hi great to see you are still alive it gives me hope'! They ALWAYS smile after that!

Anyway - in for another armful of blood to be taken! No problem we were laughing about the risks of washing up when you are on Chemo - DANGEROUS might cut your finger!!

Right so off the blood samples go and the tests, which are done mechanically (well electro Mechanically sort of electronic and printed out on screen) are then human checked by someone with one of the world's most boring jobs! 

That should take just over 20 minutes but in any busy blood unit it takes nearer an hour - werll it is all down to resources and of course Managers come far before Medical Care! Clearly there are far too many managers and parasites in the Kleptocratic QUANGOcracy.

What we need is more clinical & medical staff - not more parasites - clearly there is a log jam at Bloods and another in Radiography.

I would NOT have possibly terminal Cancer if instead of squandering £1Billion The Local Welsh Health Service had not squandered the money but bought the required Scanners and funded them. The scan I should have had in the first 2 weeks of January so that this could all have been sorted with simple surgery but waiting until the end of March to prove what we already knew led to metastases that may well kill me!

ANNOUNCEMENT:

whilst we were chatting with a couple where the wife had been a Sister at The Royal Gwent, in one of the few units she believed functioned OK, her husband had Prostate Cancer and was waiting for news of scans with a mixture of bold equanimity and trepidation - don't we all!

The announcement was that Dr. Jason Lester's clinic was running 90 minutes late!


Actually nuisance as it may be I never really mind - he sets up his clinic on a planned time scale, as is essential, but when he sets it up he has no way of knowing just how long his patients may take to assimilate what may be very grave news and he will - as I have seen repeatedly, give the time that is needed to every patient according to that need.


I may need that time one day and I may well think of the delay but ...

So Lee and I checked in with the sister managing the clinic and asked if we could Mike Off to the canteen for an hour - no problem, the coffee is better, it is comfier and there is an outside view!

 Please Be Sure To
 ..

To Spread The Facts World Wide 
To Give Others HOPE

I Have Been Fighting Cancer since 1997 & I'M STILL HERE!

I Have Cancer, Cancer Does NOT Have Me

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com  
TWITTER: Greg_LW  
Health/Cancer Blog: http://GregLW.blogspot.com  

Related articles

• Antifungal drug delays need for chemo in advanced prostate cancer (eurekalert.org)
• [cancer] Failed my blood test, no chemo today (jlake.com)
• FDA: Prostate Cancer Risk From BPH, Hair Drugs (men.webmd.com)
• Ray Warren diagnosed with prostate cancer (news.theage.com.au)
• Antifungal drug delays need for chemo in advanced prostate cancer (medicalxpress.com)
• What chemo drug is better for a 67 year old with cancer? (zocdoc.com)
• Drug shows promise in prostate cancer spread to bone (eurekalert.org)
• Kidney Cancer (findmeacure.com)
• Treatment #4 Update (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• Chemo for Late-Stage Cancer Patients May Be Unjustified (nlm.nih.gov)
• Living with Cancer AND Diabetes (diabetesmine.com)
• Does cancer therapy always involve chemo? (zocdoc.com)
• A Brief Litany of the Woes Experienced By My Family, Fall 2009-Present (wildprecious.net)
• 2011 ASCO: Additional Phase III Study Data Support the Potential Role of Avastin in Newly-Diagnosed & Recurrent Ovarian Cancer (healthinfoispower.wordpress.com)
• Taking Chemo Drug Continuously Delayed Lung Cancer's Return (nlm.nih.gov)
• Ovarian Cancer Screen: Risks May Outweigh Benefits (webmd.com)
• Does an elevated CA-125 test indicate cancer? (zocdoc.com)
• Ovarian cancer screening does not appear to reduce risk of ovarian cancer death (medicalxpress.com)
• Can genetic tests tell me if I have cancer? (zocdoc.com)
• Trials to tackle blood cancers (bbc.co.uk)
• Ovarian cancer screening doesn't save lives (msnbc.msn.com)
• Detecting lung cancer early (eurekalert.org)
• Bone cancer, from the lab to the clinic (medicalxpress.com)
• Can cancer spread from the blood to the organs? (zocdoc.com)
• Is colon cancer treatable? (zocdoc.com)
• Triple-negative breast cancer: drug trial to start (telegraph.co.uk)
• Manitoba targets cancer wait times (cbc.ca)
• I'm a Cancer Survivor. Now What? (thedailybeast.com)

06-Jun-2011 - THANKS ALL

06-Jun-2011 - THANKS ALL

Hi,

I'm just about to dash off to Clinic at Velindre on the edge of Cardiff but I felt I really must thank the literally 100s of people who have not only congratulated us on the marriage last Tuesday but also given tremendous support in my battle to defeat cancer.

I am ever astonished by the incredible generosity and emotional support of both friends and people whom I have never met.

I do so hope this blog offers some hope and a warm and comforting arm across the shoulder of all who are themselves fighting this pernicious disease.

Thanks for your wonderful support it really counts and if my blog helps just one person be they victim, carer or cared for - then it is worthwhile.

YOU can probably help cancer patients most by talking openly and freely about the disease and when they fail to get the standards of care they deserve then help them to formulate and carry through their reasoned, logical well documented complaint - Nothing improves a system better than a factually presented assessment.

A concise and cogent report WILL help your Oncology Consultant to get the funding he needs!

Never turn a blind eye to poor service or a shoddy hospital - Nothing improves medicine more than rational comment from patients and their friends.

Thank You all for your support, friends, family and strangers alike.

Regards,
Greg_L-W.

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

. If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order. . Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way. .

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

05-Jun-2011 - A Bit of Catchup - I have an Excuse ;-)

05-Jun-2011 - A Bit of Catchup - I have an Excuse ;-)

Hi,

well my wife says I've got an excuse so it MUST be true ;p)

As you know the week just passed in a flash for all sorts of great reasons (one of which was it was my week off!) I still can't get over the generosity of spirit and nature of all our friends! Of course particularly Gerald & Carol and the team they put together to make Tuesday such a great day for everyone.

So this was my week off chemo and the previous week I was refused chemo 'cos my blood had not recovered adequately as my Neutrophils were chugging along at only 1! They are not happy administering chemo below 1.5.

So now it is back to reality with a bump and Bloods at Velindre at 14:30hrs. then Clinic to see Julian Lester and let us hope firstly that the bloods are OK for chemo on Wednesday with The Day 01 phase of Carboplatin + Gemcetamide!!

Also I think I will get my first scan results since chemo started - though I'm not sure that will tell us much as it may just be a 'marker' since the last CT scan was way back at the end of March.

So fingers crossed - every day is a confrontation with mortality - but then in its own way it has been for 13 years now!

It is years ago that I coined the phrase 'Scanziety' as one awaits a scan and 'superscanziety' for that wait between scan and results.

Do you know how you can tell someone who has a Urological Cancer'?

They can't pee in the dark!

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

Related articles

• Chemo Treatment #2: The Neutrophil Edition (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• When Chemo Fails, What's Left for Colon Cancer in the Liver? (everydayhealth.com)
• Bloods are good to go (ajandray.wordpress.com)
• Through Our time.. (lovemysnoopy.wordpress.com)
• >Round Two of Chemo (rosierambleson.wordpress.com)
• When Chemo Can't Be Tolerated (everydayhealth.com)
• Monday Catchup ~> 02/05/2011 (zonbi.org)
• How Can I Boost White Cells for Head Cancer Chemo? (everydayhealth.com)
• When Cancer Spreads, Chemo's the Key (everydayhealth.com)
• What Do 'Man Neut' and 'Man Lymph' Mean in CLL? (everydayhealth.com)
• Charting the Course of My White Blood Cells (everydayhealth.com)
• Treatment #3 update and a story (andyridesagainstcancer.wordpress.com)
• Pumping Up the Blood Cells for Myeloma Treatment (everydayhealth.com)
• Colon Testing for an Elderly Woman? (everydayhealth.com)
• Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Resources (everydayhealth.com)