Final Meeting with Consultant

A year ago, after two biopsies, Patrick Axon told me that the lump on my neck was not malignant. He was wrong. A year later, Robert Marcus tells me that I am in full remission. He added that those Hodgkin’s patients with a negative PET scan hardly ever relapse. Lets hope he is right. He further told me that ABVD treatment is not in itself carcinogenic (unlike what was contained in the consent form). The sun is bursting out all over, I guess. I go back in September for a check-up. Indeed I will be checked every 3 or 4 months over the next two years.

For the moment I am very relieved. And tomorrow I need to make a start on getting together some kind of career. That will be a far more difficult task than chemo was...never mind...I have some plans.

An American colleague wrote this: “Es giebt so viele Morgenrothen, die noch nicht geleuchtet haben.” He must think I speak German because I have a habit of greeting people in german. Like Guten abend, Sieg Heil etc. School boyish behaviour I know but there you are. In reality, aside from a few such words and some names of yummy dishes, I haven’t got a clue about the German language. Anyway, here is a translation: " There are so many dawns yet to glow.” I hope so. And I hope to see them with my Laura and Pavel. Adios.

Those two words

G phoned to say that RM thinks I am in "complete remission."

How do I feel? Strangely I don't feel elated. Having stayed up all night for the election results and seeing Bliar as PM again is obviously having a dampening effect. I am of course relieved that I am not going to have chemo. Nevertheless at the back of my mind, I am wondering if I really am in complete remission. Perhaps they have got it wrong..? There is no room for mistakes now....I am still considering taking my initial mis-diagnosis case further against the hospital. They will discuss my case next wednesday and will tell me how to proceed then.

And yes lets say it again - relieved and happy for my family.

Scan Result

Waiting for oncology to phone is like waiting for Godot. So I called G. Nurse G that is - not Godot.

"It looks like the scan is negative. There is no significant activity in the chest or abdomen."

Hmm. I didn't really want to hear the qualifications and caveats but still ...its promising. She said she would show the scan results to RM ( my consultant) and maybe he will give me more feedback this week. Otherwise I will need to wait for the multi-disciplinary team meeting next wednesday. Not popping the champagne yet but its looking good.