A Future....

Today is my Birthday.....

And yesterday I had the very best birthday present I could ever have wished for.

It didnt have a very auspicious start, I had to go the Anti Coag clinic in the morning to have some blood taken - and desperately trying to preserve the good vein in my left arm in the hope I would need it for a PIC line next week, it took the phlebotomist 3 attempts to get some.  My veins, or rather the lack of them, are getting to be a standing joke now.

We set off in plenty of time for the dreaded drive up the M6 and it was a good job.  The weather and traffic were awful and in the end we arrived just in time.  Not that we needed to have worried, all the clinics were running 2 hours late.  This is very common on a Thursday afternoon apparently and most of the 'regulars' turn up with sandwiches!

I had some more blood taken, was weighed (I darnt say how much weight I put on during our holiday) and we sat down expecting a very long wait.

It was only about 20 mins later that we were called in to see Prof H but by this time I was virtually shaking with nerves.  Andrea, his nurse was there too.  He didnt keep me waiting any longer and launced straight into my results....

"Well, IL2 is working - and its working really well"

I just burst into tears - which confused Andrea a bit who asked if they were tears of happiness !

Prof H carried on....

"The tumour on your lung has gone.  Completely.  Of the two on your lymph nodes one shows 'significant' shrinkage, the other shows shrinkage"

Im still speechless.

"So lets give it a good blast this time and that should finish the job"

And that was that.  Just a few small things to sort out, putting me on Clexane injections instead of Warfin, which I can do at home.  Deciding to stick with trying another PIC line and not going for a Hickman.  Both Prof H andAndrea looked really happy, it must be fantastic to give this type of news.

" We will see you on Monday then Jane"

I dont think I had spoken more than half a dozen words - which is most unusual for me !

I was stunned....absolutely stunned.  I had really worked myself up to expecting bad news, I knew the odds, the small % of patients who benefit from this treatment, the nasty insiduous nature of this disease, and I was prepared for the worst.

But its worked.  And its worked really well.  And its continuing to work - IL2 carries on working for several months after youve had the treatment.

And today is my Birthday.....which seems so appropriate.