A slight change of plan

After a great chemo-free Christmas and New Year, Ben got away for a few days snowboarding in Austria (under strict instructions to not push himself or do anything silly). The fresh air, exercise, and fun of doing one of the things he loves best did my boy the world of good and he came back smiling and with his (side-effect) acne greatly reduced.

So then Ben and I were gearing up for his liver surgery which was supposed to happen in mid-January. But at his next consultation, the liver surgeon said he wanted to do another scan, just to be sure. The scan revealed the lesions had shrunk so much due to the chemo that it just wasn't going to be worth operating. So great news is that Ben doesn't need surgery! Of course this threw us at first - being told one thing, then another under these circumstances doesn't make anything easier, but it's wonderful that he doesn't have to go through the trauma of surgery again. And it's clear that the cocktail of drugs Ben is on is working, which is also great.

So, while we still have a few questions about what it all means for future eradication of all cancer cells, we're happy, and now making social plans for the next 6 weeks!

Ben will be starting the next round of chemo next week. This will be another 3-month stint. We're better prepared this time - he's getting a 'portocath' (presumably a portable catheter) put in under the skin on his chest so the IV chemo drugs can be plugged straight into there rather than into his arm veins which have been suffering a bit.

Thanks to everyone who made enquiries after Ben's (and my) health... sorry I've not had much of an online presence lately... it was just an overhead I couldn't deal with while we sorted out what was happening with treatments, and work/leave arrangements and everything else. Needless to say your ongoing support and love is helping us along enormously, as always :)

What the 2008/9 festive season has been for me

- a Legofest - hours upon hours of making and sorting Lego both new and old with incredibly satisfying results
- subjecting our baby nieces to wearing pink reindeer headbands with bells on them
- a chemo-free Benjy!
- lots of yummy food and good wine, courtesy mainly of Ben's parents
- watching a bizarre and wonderful circus/cabaret show called La Clique (highly recommended)
- learning how to do my eye make-up a bit more daringly and creatively
- wearing my 'Burlesque' dress for the first time
- watching a woman light up a flaming g-string and nipple covers as part of the New Year countdown
- an impromptu gig by moi (see last post)
- hearing 'Chicken Payback' in a club venue and bending some funky grooves with The Turner
- scoffing all the chocolates I got given within 3 days of receiving them
- getting Volume 1 of Absolute Sandman (YAY!!!!) - thanks Benjy!
- getting the ultimate Kath & Kim DVD Boxset in a rooly nice and unusual quilted white handbag case (YAY!!!) - thanks Mum & Dad!!
- knowing with absolute certainty that 2009 is going to be an amazing year!

Happy New Year everyone! xx