Life Unexpected...: And so it begins...

Hi Friends,

Just a quick post tonight to fill you in on last week's events and results- quite a big week for me.

On Tuesday I had my blood tests done (phew) and on Wednesday I went in to have a CT scan to check how I had responded to all of the chemo I had before my bone marrow harvest as well as all of the radiation I had recently. I hadn't had a scan done since December so I was quite excited to see the results. My previous scan was an absolute nightmare as the nurses couldn't find a vein to put in a J-line so that they could administer the contrast dye (the dye highlights metabolically active sites which would expose cancer hotspots) and I ended up having to be sedated and an Anaesthetist had to put in my line.

When I went in on Wednesday the Nurses remembered me and they called a Doctor to help as I wasn't prepared to have hours of unsuccessful and painful poking and prodding, the Doctor eventually took me through to another ward to have an ultrasound done so that he could find a suitable vein and my line was put in near my elbow. The CT is really quick, I lay down on the flat bed part of the machine and waited for the contrast dye to be pushed through the line. I'd completely forgotten what it feels like when the dye hit your bloodstream- metal taste in your mouth, hot flush from the top of your head to the tips of your toes and the best part... the feeling like you've wet your pants!! Luckily these side effects only last for a minute or two! The machine gives instructions on when to hold your breath and when to breathe out. The line is then removed and off you go!

Gav and I flew up to Pretoria on Thursday to meet with the Team so that we would have an idea of what to expect when I have my transplant, we didn't get any surprises as we knew most of the info already. When my bone marrow was harvested we were told that it was a really good harvest but we were told any numbers and had no benchmark so we didn't think much of it, when I saw the Haematologist he said that the minimum amount of stem cells they need in order to do a transplant is roughly 2 million, my harvest blew this number out of the water and I have got 8.5 million little babies waiting to be transplanted! We were also given the results of my blood tests and CT scan... blood tests all clear and the best news we ever could've hoped for- a completely clear CT scan! What does this mean in simple terms? Well, I'm officially in remission! There is no evidence of disease present in my body at the moment which means that my cancer was definitely sensitive to the chemo and radiation. Unfortunately I still have to have my bone transplant as my remission is only temporary, there is a very high chance that without my cancer will return as my current immune system is strong enough to fight it off without any additional help. My new stem cells will hopefully be little super fighters and keep me strong and healthy for many years to come!

Tomorrow I will be admitted at Pretoria East Hospital before lunch and the process begins! Firstly, I'll have another central line put into my neck- it really isn't pleasant but I'm SO happy that I don't have to have any lines put in my arms- I then have chemo everyday for a week (day 0 to day 6). I think this will be the toughest chemo yet and the potential side effects are awful but I'll update you as I go along. I then have a day off to recover (day 7) and then on day 8 I'll have my transplant. Ill be in complete isolation again and on a special low bacteria diet both of which I'm really dreading, and at this point we think I'll be in hospital for about 3 weeks post transplant. Last time I thought I'd feel well enough to blog often but I felt so, so terrible and really battled to even watch TV so I'll just play it by ear this time.

I've had a weekend filled with treats and spoiling and my special friends and family have really been incredible :) Sushi, cocktails, pastry delights - you name it I've probably had it! My amazing friend, Virgilia, ran her first half marathon on behalf of me on Friday and I am so honoured- you are a gem my friend, well done!