11 December 2012 - Neurosciences OPD, New QE Hospital

     Deb and Bert walking the coastal path near Dumfries, Scotland

Deb had her latest scan (22 since RT) last Friday (on 07/12/12) and today saw Dr Sanghera at Neurosciences Outpatients Department. Recently Deb has suffered from a number of headaches and she was concerned that they were due to tumour progression. So it was with an even greater sense of foreboding that she had approached this latest MRI scan and subsequent review with the consultant.  However this anxiety was misplaced. The results from the MRI were very good. The tumour is still stable and showed no change from the last scan in August. Dr Sanghera was also reassuring about Deb's headaches. If they had been pressure headaches caused by the mass effect of the tumour (ie tumour growth causing compression of the brain) the pain would have been more severe and persistent  and often occurring in the morning. Debs headaches could have been caused by the radiotherapy or chemotherapy but were not due to the tumour.

I was unable to go to the hospital with Deb (for the first time in over 4 years)  and Kate went instead. (Last week I came off my bike while cycling along the icy lanes of Staffordshire and fractured my pelvis. So I sit at home feeling sorry for myself surrounded by the paraphernalia of old age - Zimmer frames, toilet modifications, bath seats etc...),

Deb has applied to get her driving license back but is still awaiting to hear from the DVLA,

The next scan is due in March.

Update since last post : 

07/09        Attended Terence and Katherine's wedding
25/09        Took delivery of new car BMW Series 1, 116i
03/10        Sam enrolled on PhD, University of Hull (The objective of                    this research is to create a portfolio of interactive, non-                    linear compositions in the form of site-specific
                 audiovisual installations.)
08-13/10   Holiday in Dumfries and Galloway
26/11        Kate hands in notice at Carluccios prior to                                          going travelling next year.
05/12        Chris falls off bike and fractures pelvis.

So unless anything changes I will not be posting again until after the scan in March next year.

 I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.

4 September 2012 - Neurosciences OPD, New QE Hospital

Deb and I outside the trulli in Puglia, Southern Italy

My apologies. it is 6 months since the last post and my only excuse is that nothing much has changed. This is GREAT NEWS. Deb continues to be well. The tumour is dormant and is showing no signs of further growth.    To bring you up to date:

Medical Matters

1     Visited the QEH today for an appointment with Dr Sanghera. Since the last post Deb has had 2 MRI scans (on 18 May and 31 August. Scans 20 & 21 since RT). Both scans show no tumour growth. It is now over a year since Deb stopped taking chemotherapy and throughout this time the tumour has been stable with no signs of progression.

2    As mentioned in the last post, Deb has come off her steroid medication. She finally stopped on 5 May 2012. Dexamethazone, the synthetic steroid Deb was taking, is 26 times more potent than the naturally    occurring steroid - cortisol. It is taken by those with brain tumours to reduce oedema but has the side effect of blocking the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. (The HPA regulates many body processes including digestion, the immune system, mood and emotions and energy storage and expenditure.) So it is good to see Deb back to her normal self. 

3    The only medication Deb is still taking related to her brain tumour is phenytoin to prevent seizures. Deb has not had any 'episodes' for over a year  and although Dr Sanghera recommended that Deb keep taking the drug he thought she could reapply for her driving license (taken from her at diagnosis).

4   Next appointment and MRI scan is in 3 months.

Other Matters

12/03          Attended 'Medicine and Me' Brain Tumour Conference.

19-23/03     Holiday in the Gower, South Wales

14-18/05     Visit to Kay and Mike in Aberaeron, S. Wales

13/05          Villa narrowly avoid relegation from the Premiership

27/05          100 mile cycle event around Norwich.

06/06          Renewed Villa season tickets for 2012/13.

12-19/06     Holiday in Puglia, Southern Italy.

22/07          Bradley Wiggins wins the Tour de France

21-23/08     Visit to Chris and Syd in Weymouth.

British Heart Foundation 100 mile Bike Ride around Norwich - Sunday 27 May 2012

28 February 2012 - Neurosciences OPD, New QE Hospital

Deb - 13 January 2012 - Abingdon

Three months since the last post and sorry to be so boring but this entry will be almost identical to the last one.  Deb is still doing really well and her tumour is still stable with no signs of further growth.

On 28th February visited QEH for an appointment with Dr Sanghera to review Deb's latest scan results.

1 MRI Scan

Deb had her last MRI scan (19th since RT) on 31 January. The scan results were again excellent. Dr Sanghera was actually smiling when he bought up Deb's latest scan. He put it on the screen with the result from 6 months ago and there was no discernible difference between the two scans. So despite Deb not being on any treatment the tumour is still not doing anything.

2 Steroids

On 31 January Deb has also had a Short Synacthen Test to measure her body's ability to generate steroids (A Synacthen Test uses a special chemical to test how well the adrenal glands make a hormone called cortisol. It involves stimulating the adrenal glands and then checking to see if they respond. Prolonged use of artificial steroids can often knock out the body's own cortisol production.) The results of the test showed that Deb's body was still producing some cortisol so it agreed that Deb would come off her steroid medication. This has to be done gradually and Deb will reduce her dose by 0.5mg per week over the next 4 weeks. (She may not be able to tolerate this and if she gets extremely tired she is put her dose back up.)

3 Seizures

The only other medication Deb is on relating directly to her brain tumour is phenytoin which prevents seizures. Deb'd need to take this is to be reviewed and she will be referred to a neurologist for a specialist opinion.

4 Next Appointment

Next appointment is on 22 May 2012 to see Dr Sanghera. Hopefully I will have nothing to report before then.