Good remission

"Good remission". These were the very welcome words Maddy and her parents heard from the consultant, Sue Picton, describing Maddys' scan results on Friday lunchtime. There's still a way to go and everyone needs to be vigilant, but this is about as good as it gets at this stage. As it stands, there are no plans for any surgery and no plans for any further chemo beyond that already scheduled. Her body will continue the reparation process itself over the next few months, especially when the chemo's finished. Maddy will continue to be closely monitored for the next year or so, with slightly less intense monitoring during the second year of remission.
As with all cancers, there is a risk of relapse (recurring tumour), but that is not common for M's type of lymphoma - if it does happen, it's likely to do so sooner rather than later. So this next, fifth cycle could well be Maddy's last cycle when she's well enough to cope with it.
Yep, that's right, although she had a blood test as well today, she's still just a bit short of the target level for neutrophils, so she's home again for the weekend and it'll all happen again on Monday.
After 3 incorrect predictions about the start of the next cycle, this blog entry is saying that there's a snowball in hell's chance that she'll be ready for Monday........(get it ?) ......... ;->

Waiting

That's what today's been about. That was a lot of rain wasn't it ? Not much point in even thinking about going out, so M stayed at home and made popcorn from a recipe she found on the web. She's still eating well ( forgot to inform you yesterday that she was weighed again at Jimmy's and - apologies to Maddy, it's not etiquette to discuss a lady's weight - but it was great to see that she was nearly 4kgs heavier).
Early night tonight - supposed to be at Jimmy's for 09.30......scan consultation and another blood test.......

The best laid plans..........

Well, at least Madeleine made progress against one of today's objectives. Her CT scan happened in around 15 minutes, without any drama, although unlike the diagnostic scan at Halifax back in May, there was no same-day feedback. That will come on Friday, when Maddy and her parents will meet the consultant, Sue Picton. The second objective was to get a result from a blood test that would allow Maddy to start her next (final?) cycle. This didn't happen because the result showed a reverse of last Thursday's blood test - i.e. whilst her haemoglobin and platelet levels were fine, her neutrophil count is now too low for chemo.
But as the fabulous Dr Bob (the 'poo doctor' as he calls himself...........well everyone's got to have their own special interest area...) noted, there's nothing unusual about this pattern - blood level recovery times usually increase in later chemo cycles. So the next test has also been scheduled for Friday, which is now going to feel like Wednesday Redux.
Stay tuned for more.....

A walk in the park

It might not have been exactly sunny, but at least it was dry and reasonably warm for Maddy's last full day at home, before returning to Jimmy's on Wednesday. She's probably not going to reflect on her experience of lymphoma as 'a walk in the park', but she might well remember her walk today around, (OK not quite a park - literary license), but the grounds of Cliffe Castle,near Keighley. Maddy walked about 1/2 mile unassisted, a feat that would have seemed highly unlikely, just a week ago and quite inconceivable two weeks ago.
Tomorrow lunchtime, she'll walk back on to Ward 10/10T for her CT scan and (probably) her 5th chemo cycle.

10 weeks

It's exactly 10 weeks since Maddy had the CT and MRI scans at Halifax hospital, that both confirmed the tumour, but showed her clear of any secondaries. She's scheduled for another, obviously significant CT scan this week, now confirmed for Wednesday. It's very probable that M will prepare for her 5th cycle that same evening.
She's not particularly looking forward to going back, but after all the problems she's had getting home at all - over the last 6 weeks or so - it now looks as though she'll manage a whole week at home with much enjoyment and normality.

Form an orderly queue....

....might have been the message of the day for all the visitors who arrived this afternoon. Taking adavantage of the last few days before returning to Jimmy's, Maddy was visited by her Uncle Glynn from South Wales, her grandparents from Liverpool and Mary & Emily from Halifax. Here's a couple of pics...:




Maddy's still eating well and seems remarkably healthy, considering all that she's been through - the few days spent at home have certainlly helped to lift her spirits.