Thought i'd start way back in the beginning and tell you about all the chemotherapy, radiotherapy and various other treatments i've had up to now.
I was first diagnosed way back in May 2004 after a month of constant tests, scans and a biopsy operation.
The tumour is a type of Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma though the proper name for my exact type is Anoplastic Large Cell Lymphoma. It's a very rare type of Lymphoma and there isn't a set type of treatment for it, i was sort of like a guinea pig where the doctor's decided to give me whatever they thought would work.
I started off with a six month stay in hospital where i was given a course of mild chemotherapy. I can't remember all of the drugs i had but Methotrexate sticks out at me for some reason. After the initial six months of chemotherapy i was sent for a scan to see if the tumour had shrunk or even disappeared, it hadn't. The tumour hadn't changed in size at all and the doctor's explained that it was very unusual to not see any change at this point.
They then suggested a more higher course of chemotherapy. I had another three months of chemotherapy drugs that seemed as though they were working. I became very ill from the drugs and had to stay in hospital for a further two months. The muscles in my legs wasted away and i was isolated away from the rest of the ward. Noone, not even the doctors, could explain what infection i had taken on. Sure enough i came back fighting and on christmas day 2004 i managed to get out of the hospital and back home. It was only one night but wow i had waited so long for it, i don't think i've ever wanted to go home so much in my life.
Further tests showed that the tumour still hadn't shrunk to what the doctor's wanted. They explained that the tumour was near enough inoperable, as part of the tumour was attached to my heart and the other to my aorta (the biggest artery in the human body)
They did a few biopsies in between treatments to try and take away as much of the tumour as possible, but they could never remove it all.
In February 2005 the doctor's suggested another plan of action - Radiotherapy. I was given a course of 23 lots, but only got as far as 13. The consultant radiographer told me that if they carried on it would damage my lung and i would end up a respiratory cripple.
Another plan of action washed down the drain.
By now, doctors were running out of ideas. My consultant was in contact with doctors all over the world, trying to find the best treatment for me.
He suggested a new drug that had been linked with my type of cancer - Vinblastine
I was told it was a mild chemotherapy drug and had hardly any side effects, meaning my hair would finally grow back.
I went on to have this drug for a further year and following this i had another biopsy operation.
Finally got the good news that the part of the tumour they did remove was dead, which most likely meant the tumour that was left in me was dead aswell.
The doctor said i should carry on with the vinblastine for a few more months just incase there are any cancer cells still present.
In November 2006 i was finally put into remission. This is a period of 5 years where you are monitored closely as the cancer is most likely to come back during these crucial years.
My follow up scans in the following months showed no change and the tumour that was left seemed to be well and truely dead - in other words, scarring tissue.
That was until last month...
I started to develop a cough that wouldn't go away, i had it for four weeks and the doctor sent me for a scan only to have my worst image relived.....the cancer was back
After only three months of remission i was being told i'd have to relive my journey all over again and treatment should start straight away as to stop the tumour growing any bigger.
So here this blog ends and the next one begins. I will keep this up to date with any new changes, treatments or ideas that the doctor's come up with next.
My future is up in the air at the moment, noone seems certain of what it holds for me.
All i know for sure is i will keep on fighting this, no matter what happens
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