Last Achy week

Had mild back pains all week as well as odd stomach muscle and neck pains. Seems to be easing a bit tho. Glad it's the last week of these aches. Should just have the fatigue to deal with from next week and pushing to kick that as soon as I can!

Starting early planning for my charity bike run. Very early in fact as I won't do it until Oct! Looking at cycle computers with Gps as my Xmas pressie and have my contact at charity comg back to me on routes in Ireland and training plan hopefully. Aiming to get on my bike next week and very slowly ease in. So looking forward to being fit.

In other news kids already getting xmas mad here. School Xmas fayre tomorrow. Should be fun!

Award winner

Last night I attended an awards event hosted by luekemia and lymphoma research in London. My friend Jon was invited for his run and he kindly asked me to join him.

What a great evening. Great to see so many great fundraisers, drink champagne with Jon with an amazing view of London and event better Jon won an award for his run. Alastair Campbell presented it to him as well! It was very bizarre hear Alastair Campbell talk about me, Criterion Games and baby Lily. Was great to see Jon up there get the award. Great job!

The whole thing really inspired me for my own biking charity event next year and I have a contact at the charity now who will help me get this organised.

In other news it's achy week and so far I am not feeling too bad despite my night out. Took the last of my drugs this morning as well so threw the pharmacy paper bag in the bin with an amazing sense of pleasure! Another milestone met. Just over 1 week until my scan!

Final chemo done!

Last treatment yesterday. Fairly usual crappy experience. Spent afternoon in bed and after helping get kids to bed went off to bed again myself. Feeling better today but still pretty tired.

I have a scan in just over 2 weeks followed by appointment with doc to go over results then that's me until first maintanence treatment in 8 weeks.

Really hoping achy week not bad this week and I am on road to normality by Xmas.

Frustrations

Hate to moan, but hell it's my blog so who cares, but what a mixed week. For a week 3 it's been challenging because I have pushed myself harder than ever under treatment and been frustrated I cannot achieve as much as I want. I should probably be chuffed I have managed so much but instead I am annoyed how I still feel held back. I am such high maintanence!

We had a fireworks party over at neighbours which we all enjoyed, was godfather at a best friends baby's baptism in London and had two full days of meetings at work - first full days since chemo started.

And it's only Wednesday night!

Looking forward to the weekend, getting my chemo out of the way and looking forward best I can. I am so glad Tuesday's is the last. I am sick of the drugs, sick of the tiredness, sick of putting Clare through the stress of picking me up with the kids cos I can't drive, sick of those hospital beds, the smell, the food, every little detail of the experience of being in the hospital.

Ouch!

Week 2 and it's achy achy time. Suffering awful back pains this time but trying to resist the heavy pain killers as they could upset me and i am taking enough crap right now.

Taking the afternoons to rest so I can work in morning and help with kids at night but still suffering. Trying to be positive that the next time I go through this will be at end of chemo but still pain is hard and making me grumpy as hell.

Day of the Big Run

Today Jon Lawrence, my friend and colleague ran the Great South Run and beat his record time. As Jon would say 'Strong!'

He has raised nearly £3,500 for Leukemia and Lymphoma Research, an amount that EA will match. The man should be very proud of himself!

He even made it to be fund raiser of the month. I am very touched by his commitment and effort to raise much needed funds and many thanks to all those people who sponsored him.

In other news, we all went to a Halloween and Fireworks party on Friday night. The kids loved it and we had a really nice time eating and drinking outside at the country club as it was such a mild night.

End of the half term holidays today. Its been a tough one what with it being treatment week but the good news is only 2 weeks until the final round of chemo.

On Tuesday my consultant took me through the steps thereafter:

I will get a scan on 1st of December to assess how well treatment has gone then starting 10th Jan I will get what's called maintenance treatment every 8 weeks for 2 yrs to keep the cancer in remission. At least that's the theory and in most cases what happens.

So looking forward to Xmas now. Starting to get some aches and pains as usual for this stage but nothing too troublesome yet.

Prestige

Not a bad week despite having a cold. Been busy at work and home with the baby. Feeling a bit sore tonight but I think that's just tiredness from the busy week.

After months of play when I could get time I have finally hit Prestige on Call of Duty modern warfare 2 (rank 70+). Clare is happy cos i have been playing for a while and playing this game online winds me up.

Gaming season has very much begun with a new big hitter out every Friday. Now if only I had more time to play!

Quiet weekend planned this weekend. Lots of nice fAmily time before round 7 of chemo on tues.

Clan Gathering

Had my parents, sister and brother in law visit until Sunday which was busy but really nice. Unfortunately I now have a cold so dealing with that and hoping it does not get any worse.

Was nice to see the family, take them out for a lovely lunch and get some time out with Clare.

Week 2, traditionally the 'achy back week' was less severe that my last cycle but still slowed me down a bit.

Lily doing well. Over a month already and full of smiles for daddy - result!

Getting into the groove of week 3 with added sniffles.

One more week then its cycle 7 - the penultimate one. Feels like the end is getting closer. Can't wait to feel healthy again!

Family time

Had my brother visit over the weekend which was busy but nice. I felt pretty good over the weekend so we managed to go for a walk and take the kids swimming. This week my parents, sister and brother in law visit which I am looking forward to. I have even been uber organised and sorted out Xmas presents for them to take home with them.

Unfortunately the aches and pains have set in again so I am not sleeping or functioning as well as I would like. Hoping pains subside so I have energy to do family stuff.

My friend Jon, who is running the Great South Run has managed to get a piece about his run and I in the lymphoma association newsletter and website so I have been writing my contribution for this about my diagnosis and experience with cancer. All good publicity to hopefully raise more money and awareness.

Number 6. 2 to go!

My third week on cycle 3 was great. After the pain and frustration of week 2 I felt almost normal. I felt focussed at work and in good spirits. What a roller coaster! Was also nice to see my Bro at the weekend.

Go round 6 chemo yesterday and feel not too bad so far but week 2 is the one to watch. Got my detailed results from scan and all pretty good. Swollen lymph nodes all heading down and termed as 'partially reduced'. Doc happy with this so hopefully they will keep shrinking as much as possible. I will get a scan at end of chemo then another 1 yr into my maintanence therapy.

My niece and nephew did the Cumbrian run this weekend to raise funds for lymphoma research. Very proud of them!
My friend jon also does the great south run at the end of the month.

Lily, clare and kids doing well. Clare dealing with lily still at nights so I can rest. My wife needs some kind of medal! She is great!

Parents, sister and bro in law visiting next week which is great so hoping week 2 more forgiving than the last time!