Health
- I have a wonderful wife who loves me and looks after me 💕💚
- Old friends and family visited yesterday for afternoon tea and a fish and chip dinner 💕
- Children stayed for a wide ranging discussion that included ‘How long could you survive by yourself on a desert island?’, to son talking about IT qualifications he’s doing for his post-construction job
- More old friends coming to a 1970s themed dinner tonight — salmon mousse and cheese fondue
- New line of cancer treatment might be showing signs of positive response (early days but fingers crossed 🤞😷
- Dedicated Dharma teachers who guide me on a spiritual path that is meaningful to me🙏🕉️
- Inspiring people on social media and in real life communities who are trying to make the world a better place — it doesn’t always feel like it, but there are a lot of us
- Knowing that most people are essentially good and want the best for everyone
Good to have a local hospital
Things they don't tell about cancer
My poor wife has lost her voice. She’s had a cough for a couple of days — probably hay fever — as I haven’t caught anything from her. Last night she went to a book launch in town and all she has now is a hoarse rasp to communicate in. Fortunately, she doesn’t have any online meetings today.
Great service from Awanui
A new pain?
Regarding the news from Auckland today about the City Council considering when stores can sell alcohol.
I reckon anyone who wants to buy alcohol at 11pm has probably been on the sauce for a while and doesn’t need any more!
A new notebook
I’ve just created a new section in my bullet journal for September. It’s the last one I have any room for in the notebook. Given my prognosis at the end of last year, I didn’t think I would be doing this. But, things have changed, and I have even had the confidence to buy a new notebook for October and onwards.
It’s not exactly one of my highest priorities regarding my health, but I will be interested to see how much of the new notebook I get time to use!
Your immune system is not a muscle
A fascinating description of the incredible complexity of our immune system. Not too technical for a non-clinical person to understand.
Accessibility on devices for poor eyesight
Gratitude
Lying in bed thinking of some of the things I can be grateful for:
Kate’s off on her second run in as many days, after a very long time not doing much exercise. Very proud of her getting back into it. She enjoys it and feels much better being fit.
Good for her!
Another day in the hospital day ward
Another day in the Kenepuru day ward for a blood top up. Keeps me out of mischief, I suppose.
CW: Adverse reaction to medicine
Porn movie character name
A former boss was diagnosed with prostate cancer a few months ago and had surgery early this year. On a couple of occasions he has mentioned that one of the risks with this surgery is a reduction in sexual function (this appears to bother him).
Today he told me he is recovering OK and is encouraged by the fact that his surgeon’s name is Rod Stud!
I thought he was joking. He wasn’t. (Although the surgeon’s surname is actually Studd, which isn’t quite as funny.)
Hope can be a dangerous thing when it comes to our health
When you’re face-to-face with serious illness or death, hope in an unattainable cure or treatment can be very emotionally damaging.
I mentioned in a blog post a couple of weeks ago that I was being considered for a newly-funded drug to have another crack at my myeloma. It’s now become available and I am into my first round of 21 days on pomalidomide (tradename Pomilide). I’ve only taken 2 capsules so far, which isn’t long enough for any side effects to show up.