Update 3

UDATE THREE – Monday 4 August

Medical Adventure

Well, we’re on our way with the chemotherapy. John has finished his first session and is back at home, feeling ok.

The Oncology Centre in Nicosia called on Friday to say can you come, so we did. Because it was the first time they wanted him to stay in overnight, and luckily we have dear friends in Nicosia where I could stay.

The cocktail was the Irinotecan plus the 5-fluorouracil and the Cetuximab. He also has a pile of pills to take – anti nausea before meals – and mouth washes after meals etc so our day runs to a schedule.

So far he’s had only minor side effects. The next session is on 19 August (a small delay due to the holiday period and the big holiday on 15^th – Assumption of the Virgin Mary). So this will be after Damon’s visit, but before Natasha’s.

Tomorrow we have friends from UK coming to stay, a mum and her twin daughters.

It doesn’t seem possible that it was just a month – 2^nd July – when the doctor from the walk in medical centre in Bismark told us on the phone that John had “something going on in his belly and a possible tumour”. We left for home on the 9^th and arrived on the 11^th. Then it was 11 days in the clinic for tests, when the colonoscopy pinpointed the tumour in the colon (adenocarninoma – the commonest - wild type). We’re not sure just what the ‘wild’ bit means but hope my biochemist brother will be finding out for us.

Of course it’s easy to look on the internet and be swayed by the many “cures” offered, but Natasha has evidence from Alan’s dad of the effectiveness of Manuka honey from New Zealand. In fact his doctor has been so impressed with the results that he is now prescribing this for him on the NHS. So, if you’re coming over, please bring a pot.

John loves to hear from you all, and has enjoyed his visits from local friends.