tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46803772348600655062024-03-13T00:44:43.343+00:00Livin' With LymphomaEnter the world of Joshua Lerner, a 23 year old with Hodgkin's Lymphoma. Follow my journey, from diagnosis to present day, and read about the highs and lows of life with cancer.Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.comBlogger51125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-67779183760852162812017-01-24T22:24:00.000+00:002017-01-24T22:33:53.455+00:00Living Without Lymphoma<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5cA0JZoMLwdJBVFB4QcyD0upe6pPsFmwnWUW_ohvzz0XV-DMGgw4LEbtvnz7nUP0sa8IubXpOEBRdLjij12Rz4xN4Lvn_UfOqbhO4gqAT931l5pPQj-7BfhFU22qccJy_qUeswia5_HU/s1600/LWC.fw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif5cA0JZoMLwdJBVFB4QcyD0upe6pPsFmwnWUW_ohvzz0XV-DMGgw4LEbtvnz7nUP0sa8IubXpOEBRdLjij12Rz4xN4Lvn_UfOqbhO4gqAT931l5pPQj-7BfhFU22qccJy_qUeswia5_HU/s1600/LWC.fw.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Firstly, I want to thank you all for your support and well wishes over the past years.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It gets harder and harder to find the time to write, especially since I have finally moved out from my parents' house again!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've given this a lot of thought, and I'm pleased and relieved to say that <i>Livin' With Lymphoma </i>is a finished tale. Fingers crossed this is a permanent statement!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So with that, I bid thee farewell. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And for anybody who has stumbled here and is facing lymphoma, I hope you find my tales and experiences helpful, and I wish you the best of luck.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-89674431606567882122016-10-31T18:33:00.000+00:002016-10-31T18:36:42.688+00:00Three Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAb5yYoJ89bYny-IMgF-OQzDRyvE48BBEJGsXAzD3FNTwHrZLu5GmGWspVwaVoFGuAGCn8tusiSANLx7FKiwCHJ5zlHsDjsj_2kpc2hSdpUEl9-uQNGRjqpuGdQAXbVjmK4xJn8gy1qRv/s320/3yearsthumbflat.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkAb5yYoJ89bYny-IMgF-OQzDRyvE48BBEJGsXAzD3FNTwHrZLu5GmGWspVwaVoFGuAGCn8tusiSANLx7FKiwCHJ5zlHsDjsj_2kpc2hSdpUEl9-uQNGRjqpuGdQAXbVjmK4xJn8gy1qRv/s320/3yearsthumbflat.png" style="display: none;" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Today, Monday 31st October 2016, and Halloween, marks three years since I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is also a special date for this blog, <i>Livin' With Lymphoma</i>, as it celebrates its third anniversary!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So much has changed in the past 12 months. I am now in employment, as well as looking and feeling far healthier. Here's to the next year!</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-19244324636369593042016-06-29T21:00:00.000+01:002016-06-29T22:18:55.394+01:00Short and Sweet<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDQkSiHaGac2h7_deuffEaPo_JclohEZG4H-2PNI_4II_xstaYGdeDInoExcv_171569B9cexcjUx4pShEv5YrwbJJQ0pM-w0utrego0S7wxxxzBKH8ujf9KnfX5YmcbSrDljI1XET_IT/s1600/Short+and+Sweet.fw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDQkSiHaGac2h7_deuffEaPo_JclohEZG4H-2PNI_4II_xstaYGdeDInoExcv_171569B9cexcjUx4pShEv5YrwbJJQ0pM-w0utrego0S7wxxxzBKH8ujf9KnfX5YmcbSrDljI1XET_IT/s1600/Short+and+Sweet.fw.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let's keep this like the title, Short and Sweet - I'm not describing myself here! As I'm getting into the swing of 'normal' life again, free time is quickly becoming a luxury.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Work is going very well. I've passed the six-month probationary period, so now I'm officially an Assistant Project Manager working in the rail industry. It can be a stressful job, although I really enjoy the challenge and stability that my job gives. The money isn't bad either!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snazzy work mugshot!</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My heart broke last week as the UK announced its departure from the European Union. There will be many aspects of my lifestyle that will be directly affected, especially regarding travel and insurance premiums. As a Jew of Sephardic origin (descended from the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula in the late 15th century), I am eligible to apply for Spanish citizenship. It would not mean relocating to Spain, instead having dual nationality. My quality of life would be significantly greater by remaining an EU citizen. More information is listed in <a href="http://www.rhodesjewishmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/FAQs-for-Spanish-Citizenship-for-Sephardic-Jews.pdf">this FAQ</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My health is at the best level it's ever been for ages! I can't think of the last time I was poorly which is massively encouraging. After a routine check-up with my haematology consultant, it was confirmed that my blood counts are regular and steady. The next appointment will be in October.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the other hand, my low energy levels seem to have plateaued. It does not take much to exhaust me and so I am being offered extra support in addressing this. The charity <a href="https://www.macmillan.org.uk/">Macmillan Cancer Support</a> offer Fatigue Management sessions to help identify positive changes that can be implemented. I am booked in for a session in July.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next medical checkpoint is on the horizon - re-immunisation. It has been shown that prolonged and intensive chemotherapy can invalidate previous immunity to disease and therefore I will require all vaccinations a second time. A schedule has been sent to my GP and will begin soon...ouch.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sad face :(</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thanks everybody for your continued love and support. Life goes on!</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-87048090319896436442016-05-09T20:22:00.000+01:002016-05-09T20:56:14.181+01:00Cancer and the European Union<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ppRQy76N_eng2JCHsl6NlKqV-FgFICwDHidAhYq0GHk-iUNn6FnskdMmi3jvjD3VLku4xB7xiEGBosEDOsDnGcE2ISjpkf7KRj77wUB_VouFeU8EuDUQ6h7_R3pacRI5OSmTZGsYKHv3/s1600/EU.fw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ppRQy76N_eng2JCHsl6NlKqV-FgFICwDHidAhYq0GHk-iUNn6FnskdMmi3jvjD3VLku4xB7xiEGBosEDOsDnGcE2ISjpkf7KRj77wUB_VouFeU8EuDUQ6h7_R3pacRI5OSmTZGsYKHv3/s1600/EU.fw.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />On June 23rd, 2016, the UK will vote in a referendum on whether to leave the European Union (EU).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are many arguments being made to sway the public into voting <i>Remain</i> or <i>Leave</i>. Its coverage in the media has already been extensive and the outcome is one that will change the United Kingdom as we know it.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As somebody who has faced cancer, I am forever grateful for the billions of pounds that were invested into scientific research, healthcare and other forms of governmental support. Even now, over a year in remission, I am still considered high-risk for a second malignancy in the future. So what implications would there be if the UK voted to leave?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Scientific Funding</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>Between 2007 - 2013, the UK contributed roughly £4.3 billion for EU research projects in a variety of scientific fields. Over the same period, the UK received back nearly £7 billion for the same purpose. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the UK left the EU, it is very unlikely that this £2.7 billion deficit will be plugged by the UK government, slowing innovative research and drug discovery processes.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2fLSRTPqPuPry87bp9HCUj3SrP7wyr4nt7Fozmhj_5mZ49s4t6capEBm3ZLGWFXlXIyr6l-9hBu6zuPk1ivsPEC3ztT5F3Qq7mdRwB-K0WgHvw_yv8DsODCBwn7wE0utfFI8lbEV4COp/s1600/Science+EU.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd2fLSRTPqPuPry87bp9HCUj3SrP7wyr4nt7Fozmhj_5mZ49s4t6capEBm3ZLGWFXlXIyr6l-9hBu6zuPk1ivsPEC3ztT5F3Qq7mdRwB-K0WgHvw_yv8DsODCBwn7wE0utfFI8lbEV4COp/s200/Science+EU.png" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Money aside, the EU's Freedom of Movement policy allows for the open movement of researchers and actively promotes collaborative projects. UK universities often have a mix of nationalities within their research and teaching staff, and it is vital that all brilliant minds are allowed to work together, without barriers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Access to Overseas Emergency Healthcare</b></span><b><br /></b>Cancer patients, and survivors, should have the right to a holiday, just like anybody else. The sad truth is that this isn't always possible. Even if there is no immediate threat to their health, travel insurance is simply not an affordable option.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take me, for example. Declaring my medical condition, here are quotes for basic insurance policies that cover a week's stay in Spain. The cheapest option comes in at <i>£612.68</i>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7E6wNDHRs-Nr8elDld4ffc66y6SQfUcBc453nm3KBRi5BtHgCZSS_LiyXJeesOBWKJJwCtB9zMnCkf_oeTg3DHdpAosvOiteuSo3iSqxRxcHgLd0lT0Juy9Nz97nySbeEsHyZFwgltkF/s1600/Insurance.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="340" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG7E6wNDHRs-Nr8elDld4ffc66y6SQfUcBc453nm3KBRi5BtHgCZSS_LiyXJeesOBWKJJwCtB9zMnCkf_oeTg3DHdpAosvOiteuSo3iSqxRxcHgLd0lT0Juy9Nz97nySbeEsHyZFwgltkF/s640/Insurance.PNG" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quotations correct on 9th May 2016.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br />Currently, under EU legislation, all citizens of EU member states are entitled to state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another European Economic Area country. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers treatment that is medically necessary until your planned return home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If the UK leaves the European Union, there is no mandate to guarantee free, or affordable, emergency healthcare for UK citizens while abroad. As a direct impact of this, I, and many others who have experienced cancer, will simply not be able to travel outside of the United Kingdom.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Availability of Medicines</b><b><br /></b>Losing access to the EU market - one of the largest single pharmaceutical drug markets in the world - would be massively detrimental to the UK and its citizens. A major element of the EU regulatory system is the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which approves medicines for all EU countries. Leaving the European Union would mean that the UK must fund and develop its own regulatory framework, which will need to conform to the EU's existing protocols, otherwise it will lose access to that market. This will be a massively complicated and costly move, with the potential to delay life-saving treatments to those who need it.</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /><span style="color: #333333;"><b><br />So
what would happen if on the 23</b></span></span><sup style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #333333; font-size: 9pt;">rd</span></sup><span class="apple-converted-space" style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="color: #333333;"> </span></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>June 2016, the UK voted to leave the EU?</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Given that a country has never left the EU before, it is probably safe to assume that a period of uncertainty would arise. But how will this insecurity become apparent in the world of cancer? From a financial point of view, what would happen to the EU cancer funding that UK researchers so successfully compete for?<br /><br />It is almost certain that continuous access to EU funding sources can not be renegotiated, and an enormous resource for improving cancer care in the UK could be lost forever. Furthermore, an extended period of economic uncertainty could have significant effects on health budgets, directly impacting upon health outcomes, particularly for disadvantaged members of our community.<br /><br />We must ensure, no matter the result of the referendum, that the UK continues to contribute to the European debate in important fields such as clinical trials, data sharing and clinical best practice, while also delivering the highest quality research that leads to the best possible outcomes for cancer patients. I firmly believe that these aspirations can most effectively be achieved if the UK stays within the EU.<br /><br /><b>Sources</b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br />[1] </span></span><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://royalsociety.org/~/media/policy/projects/eu-uk-funding/uk-membership-of-eu.pdf">https://royalsociety.org/~/media/policy/projects/eu-uk-funding/uk-membership-of-eu.pdf</a><br />[2] </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brexit: a European perspective, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tabernero, Josep et al, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Lancet Oncology , Volume 17 , Issue 5, 558 - 559.<br />[3] </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brexit and health services, Hervey, Tamara et al, Clin Med, Volume 16, 101-102.</span></span></span></div>
Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-83764860044513162182016-03-15T18:15:00.000+00:002016-03-15T19:20:28.780+00:00The Secret Illness<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I've had a weird couple of weeks. Something happened and I decided to keep it out of the public realm. It's been the first time since my diagnosis that I had a serious hiccup and didn't write about it in the moment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is a difficult balance between being candid in my blog and maintaining some privacy in my life. Even two and half years on, I haven't quite got that equilibrium right. Honestly, I think I was a little embarrassed to be unwell again. Nothing quite compares to what I went through before, so it makes everything else seem insignificant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, I've been off work for two weeks and spent a week at Whipps Cross Hospital, my local. Before admission to the ward, I had been stuck in bed with a really high fever. Strangely, I didn't have any other symptoms. I was just insanely hot and nothing seemed to cool me down.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many ex-cancer patients will agree with me on this one - fevers are terrifying. When I was undergoing chemotherapy, it was drilled in from the first day that any sign of fever meant an urgent visit to A&E. Now, off treatment, it was very confusing. All of those negative feelings came flooding back with every increase in my temperature.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without the complications of chemotherapy, a trip to A&E was not necessary, but I knew I needed some medical intervention, so I booked in with my GP. Considering the complex nature of my medical history, the GP insisted on being cautious and referred me straight to Whipps Cross Hospital.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Within the hour, I was needled up, having blood tests, swabs and cultures taken, and on intravenous antibiotics. Next came the waiting game. It takes a very long time, especially when in a small hospital, for these results to come back. I spent the next four days on the Acute Assessment Unit while the tests were analysed and my fever was controlled.<br /><br />The plot thickens, however... While all of the blood cultures and swabs came back negative for any sign of infection, my blood levels went haywire. Haemoglobin, platelet and neutrophil levels (all pretty vital components!) plummeted. These cells are produced within the bone marrow, so it's suspected that these changes are linked to my stem cell transplant a year ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that's the story. I'm out of the hospital and back at work. My blood levels are steadily increasing, my fever is gone and I feel almost like nothing happened. I'll be meeting with my consultant haematologist, Dr Virchis, in a week, but I'm still not entirely sure what any of this meant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It just serves as a reminder that although I've made it through my treatment, there are lasting vulnerabilities that I need to take care of.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-41677266601671645372016-02-08T21:20:00.000+00:002016-02-08T22:42:59.326+00:00Back To Work<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For those who read the previous guest blog, Toby was chosen to go on that amazing Arctic winter adventure! Thank you to everybody who helped him realise his dreams.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And since I last posted, it's been Christmas and New Year. I hope yours were just as enjoyable as mine.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It already feels like an eternity ago!</td></tr>
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For those who follow <a href="https://www.facebook.com/livinwithlymphoma/"><i>Livin' With Lymphoma</i> on Facebook</a>, where there are more frequent updates, you will know that I have started working again. I'm now a month into the job and I am enjoying that sense of purpose, responsibility and new found confidence.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If you had asked me a few years ago where I would be working, I would never have thought it would be the construction industry. Stereotypically speaking, I had a misconception that it was a world of strong tea and bum cracks, although it's turned out to be very different in reality. It is an industry of innovation, interesting characters and precision.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am currently in the 5th week of a 12-week internship with the Sustainability department of Mace, a London-based construction company with revenue of over £1 billion. It's a pretty massive company. They are also a strategic partner with Teenage Cancer Trust which is how I was offered the opportunity.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rocking the safety look on site.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My current role has been far more technical than I expected. Today, I have been calculating the equivalent carbon emissions from various business activities, as well as reading architectural drawings to scope the impact of the materials used. Previously, I thought it would be more shadowing and admin, but they've definitely encouraged me to take hands-on approach.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Before starting at Mace, it had been over two years since I had worked full time. The idea of waking up early and keeping focused through the day was always a terrifying thought, but my ambitious nature thought I was ready for the task. A month down the line, I'm not so sure.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My company mugshot, where I look about 40.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A massive advantage of this internship is the connection to Teenage Cancer Trust. As you all know, my approach to cancer is very public and candid. People at work know my story, and have been very forgiving when my energy levels are low. It was made clear from the beginning that my personal well-being was priority, and there could be more flexibility down the line.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There are lots of friends to be made in the construction industry too.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The time has come already to swallow my pride and admit that I'm not as far as I would have liked in my recovery. The hours working have been taking their toll on my stamina, as well as my health. I have already caught every cold in London and have generally been feeling pretty rough. As a result, an amendment has been made to my working hours, and I am down to 4 days a week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wednesday is now my favourite day of the week - <i>bed day</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">From this experience, I've learnt to appreciate that recovery is a very gradual process, and one where you really need to listen to your body more than your mind. I wish I had been more realistic from the start, and begun slowly, rather than dive in head first. That said, getting back to work has been refreshing, though I'm definitely in need of a holiday.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-82851088282616625472015-12-03T20:30:00.000+00:002015-12-03T20:30:01.811+00:00Guest Blog: Toby Peach<div class="tr_bq">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hi everybody! It's Josh here. I'm very proud to announce a first for </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Livin' With Lymphoma </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">- a guest blog from my friend, and fellow Hodgkin's survivor, Toby. One of the great things about being part of so many charities is that I get to meet a number of inspirational characters. Toby has been an empowering person for me as he demonstrates that life can get back on the right tracks again after going through the same cancer that I did.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Toby is currently in a competition to get the most votes to win an amazing adventure. Please check out his awesome video below, read his guest blog and most importantly, please go and vote for him!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I met Josh for the first time a couple of months ago as we posed for a Trekstock </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Young Person's Network</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> photoshoot (I’m the one in the Yellow!) and then again at Teenage Cancer Trust's </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Find Your Sense Of Tumour </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">conference where I was performing my theatre show about my experience with cancer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The one thing Josh and I worked out is that our experience of cancer was </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">VERY</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> similar. We'd both had Hodgkin's Lymphoma, both had relapsed, both underwent a Stem Cell Transplant and both had some of our treatment at UCLH - we even now have the same outpatient consultant! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I asked Josh if I could write a short guest blog as I came toward a </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BIG</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> anniversary. I never had experience of writing blogs when I was being treated and after reading through a couple of friends' ones I can see what a fantastic way it is to explore and explain what is going on when someone is experiencing cancer. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So that </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">BIG</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> anniversary marks my 5 years in remission and, to those of you who may not know, that means you are </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OUT</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of remission. They're not allowed to say the </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">C word </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">but there is a chance you are C*red. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like many cancer patients who have relapsed I have struggled with my day-to-day fear of lumps, bumps, coughs, sore throats, tiredness and headaches that could return me to relapsing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It took a while but I realised we all have scars, and that its not about how those scars define us - it's how we wear them day-to-day that really defines us. How we move on from them, but accept them. I am not naive enough (unfortunately) to think that may be the end of my journey with cancer but it is a significant achievement to make it and I would like to celebrate, as all that experience it should. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Next year I would like to celebrate being </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OUT</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> of remission in style by joining the</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Fjällräven Polar</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> expedition, which is a 300 km long winter adventure across the Arctic tundra. This is a competition and I hope you all could help me, as Josh has himself, by voting for me here: </span><a href="http://www.fjallravenpolar.com/UserProfile/860" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">http://www.fjallravenpolar.com/UserProfile/860</a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It's been one hell of a journey to get this far and I want to finish it off in style. I want to celebrate the feeling of being alive and feeling on top of the world (literally) by taking on an adventure that shows off this beautiful planet in all of its glory. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thank you to Josh for letting me write this short guest blog and thank you to you all for reading it and voting. If you want to know more about my work check out </span><a href="http://www.tobypeach.co.uk/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">www.tobypeach.co.uk</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></blockquote>
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Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-78317537769101481712015-10-31T10:30:00.000+00:002015-10-31T10:30:01.615+00:00Two Years<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today, Saturday 31st October 2015, and Halloween, marks two years since I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is also a special date for this blog, <i>Livin' With Lymphoma</i>, as it celebrates its second anniversary!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's to many more, full of happiness and good health to all.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-34037927642651695082015-10-28T08:25:00.000+00:002015-10-28T09:02:28.794+00:00The Latest News<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello, my loyal followers!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are so many interesting things to tell you all that have happened across October so far!</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Prepare for a load of photos...</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1. I went to Germany and Austria!</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As most of you already know, I completed my Chemistry Master's degree in Spain. While studying, I became friends with cool people all over Europe. We decided to have our annual reunion in Munich, Germany, as it would coincide with the final weekend of Oktoberfest!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvNQH56O6beMjnRP3GXzH9EstRVdVamlQb1YApdii3OI9x62rwVrjOIAhjdtbNhyphenhyphenDmBnaWmVV6q3rRlV8e_TihHo6O5ao53lXQLpGRyFF3VksRjnUBtAgvnml8V6IrFuWMCggZ0PnHeWB/s1600/IMG_6670.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvNQH56O6beMjnRP3GXzH9EstRVdVamlQb1YApdii3OI9x62rwVrjOIAhjdtbNhyphenhyphenDmBnaWmVV6q3rRlV8e_TihHo6O5ao53lXQLpGRyFF3VksRjnUBtAgvnml8V6IrFuWMCggZ0PnHeWB/s400/IMG_6670.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Enjoying what the Germans call a Maß...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />I must admit that Oktoberfest was very different to my expectations. To guarantee entry to one of the tents, we had to be in the queue before 7am, in time for a 9am opening. I don't know about you lot, but I'm not the greatest fan of drinking in the morning! That said, we still had a great time, and the pretzels were jumbo.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqovcH19UiRVRampIH9fBQnhJS2mxc4enCX__6rA-k2LU7uRMUfGoT7zbHZ5ZYDmp1bXUyBK0OTzey7aEDiM0TEKEm-XiKfagMqJBUeUm2fOXpOWucUfEOGhS0X85LQTh9byayLl9BIzT/s1600/IMG_6684.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHqovcH19UiRVRampIH9fBQnhJS2mxc4enCX__6rA-k2LU7uRMUfGoT7zbHZ5ZYDmp1bXUyBK0OTzey7aEDiM0TEKEm-XiKfagMqJBUeUm2fOXpOWucUfEOGhS0X85LQTh9byayLl9BIzT/s400/IMG_6684.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here's Limme's head for scale.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Finally, after a long weekend in Munich, I caught a coach to Vienna, Austria. In hindsight, I should have flown it, as the journey was nearly 7 hours. Anyway, I met with David, another of my Seville friends, and spent the next few days enjoying some Viennese culture with him.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XvJi3LhoeiRC2V3WPwyNjLrDm4CFjxTw6dTWagvYhC6B58MEKvU-phfnFFlZtzAUpdxpaLzDtZzZVr9WlUrh3H6JZyBCZQU8V8sZGK0Gd33Hrde2oDFfhEPf5OCHYvg_QATAaLcCIM8X/s1600/IMG_6791.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-XvJi3LhoeiRC2V3WPwyNjLrDm4CFjxTw6dTWagvYhC6B58MEKvU-phfnFFlZtzAUpdxpaLzDtZzZVr9WlUrh3H6JZyBCZQU8V8sZGK0Gd33Hrde2oDFfhEPf5OCHYvg_QATAaLcCIM8X/s400/IMG_6791.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rooftop views of the Ringstraße.</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />2. I had a weekend in Brighton!</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immediately after my return from Europe, my old lab partner, Emily, came down from Yorkshire for a visit. Along with James, we decided to take over my dad's place in Brighton.<br /><br />We were blessed with some sunshine, so decided to wander around, check out the Pier and the little shops in the Lanes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8uw69SYncBichijyZXGXbXL9xK-MxqfCgNC3Z23SRUE5U0n0bQz-NSOnDjA1GB7JyvfrW6GVwJ8omznTvVrTEM2s6LRdQRpK52E9_Os-nVpWZ-ORXXDhBIb90codswNi_KIu5GcT6aqH/s1600/IMG_6923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA8uw69SYncBichijyZXGXbXL9xK-MxqfCgNC3Z23SRUE5U0n0bQz-NSOnDjA1GB7JyvfrW6GVwJ8omznTvVrTEM2s6LRdQRpK52E9_Os-nVpWZ-ORXXDhBIb90codswNi_KIu5GcT6aqH/s400/IMG_6923.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Photobombed.</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />3. After meeting with my haematologist, a scan was booked.</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess we're back to cancer again now. I had met with my consultant and he was slightly concerned about itchiness. This was one of my presenting symptoms when I was originally diagnosed back in 2013. Recently, I have been getting some red and itchy blotches on my skin, and well, we had to rule out the possibility that I could relapse once again... So I was sent for a PET/CT scan (for more information on this procedure, read '<a href="http://www.joshualerner.co.uk/2013/11/being-scanned.html">Being Scanned</a>').</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBNc_2cniYHzyjntSWP0ylej_tuV_zrlW-zhB-BHhCg30Vo8a-iZyZcXBRjqItr-L6zGsUIknNtkwOCjlNzK3TdpDBCMFWeJkmJq4jdmp5-SO23lfwsW6nBYHc01dp9JjNsk33HAZHn_I/s1600/IMG_6944.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeBNc_2cniYHzyjntSWP0ylej_tuV_zrlW-zhB-BHhCg30Vo8a-iZyZcXBRjqItr-L6zGsUIknNtkwOCjlNzK3TdpDBCMFWeJkmJq4jdmp5-SO23lfwsW6nBYHc01dp9JjNsk33HAZHn_I/s400/IMG_6944.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My comfy tissue bed, ready for a PET/CT scan.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />My results came back shortly after. <b>ABSOLUTELY CLEAR! </b>About bloody time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So that's pretty damn conclusive. My problems aren't due to a relapse, so I've been referred to a dermatologist in December for further testing. I was explained that the long-term effects of chemotherapy can include skin irritation and dryness, so hopefully they can be sorted easily.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. I ate my first Michelin star!</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A friend of mine, back from the days of Sixth Form, got engaged. To celebrate Jennifer and Tom's amazing news, we dined together at the Michelin star Indian restaurant, Trishna, in Marylebone. It was pretty swanky, and the company was good too.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDSrMpSM5UEl1xjyKvI9O5HTKeOnSG0fy1dDk9caOCJVoR5QdpcyvkAUZiHPs4PfcCCJQDKjJZogIJ38B10xnDHDrfP9Z_JUhzSrifZB47KqFEi-Ol8w7MPaucGzShfOFG08B4jPNps6-/s1600/12031532_10153727318051151_4555047044995476822_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDSrMpSM5UEl1xjyKvI9O5HTKeOnSG0fy1dDk9caOCJVoR5QdpcyvkAUZiHPs4PfcCCJQDKjJZogIJ38B10xnDHDrfP9Z_JUhzSrifZB47KqFEi-Ol8w7MPaucGzShfOFG08B4jPNps6-/s400/12031532_10153727318051151_4555047044995476822_o.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a couple glasses of Prosecco...</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5. I attended a protest against the road closures in Walthamstow Village.</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At the moment, there is a lot of controversy in my local area. I have lived in Walthamstow Village, an interesting and historic pocket of North-East London. It was never considered a particularly desirable place to live until not long ago.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past few years, the area has undergone a large degree of gentrification, and more recently, there has been a campaign by a small, but vocal, group of locals to close roads in favour of cyclists.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can definitely sympathise to their cause, but they can't seem to do the same with mine, or other disabled and elderly residents in the area. In response to the pro-cycle campaign, dubbed <i>Mini Holland</i>, the local council have closed all but one access road into Walthamstow Village.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't get me wrong, I think cycling is an excellent form of transport and I am not in protest of that. Instead, I feel like the closures have been finalised without taking into consideration the full extent of the residents' needs. I feel trapped in my own home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those who would like to do something, please sign <a href="https://www.change.org/p/stella-creasy-mp-stop-mini-holland-in-walthamstow">this petition against the closures</a>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJiofE0n0ILdb5In0PaCcNYXlqq1hUp51yZNStVNfqh-eiG_PChP38O_cQ8BYDbcPpiWHVLKdanqTQuk9bkkCmbUSHe3r-lt3rOIXkrCzLXqmpM8qFFa3IzaYk6LeJajFM8EzFBCHkKb0/s1600/IMG_7028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOJiofE0n0ILdb5In0PaCcNYXlqq1hUp51yZNStVNfqh-eiG_PChP38O_cQ8BYDbcPpiWHVLKdanqTQuk9bkkCmbUSHe3r-lt3rOIXkrCzLXqmpM8qFFa3IzaYk6LeJajFM8EzFBCHkKb0/s400/IMG_7028.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A large number of residents also appear to agree.</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. I was called up at synagogue.</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's no secret that I'm Jewish, so from time to time I do Jewwy things.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This includes being called up at my synagogue, Bevis Marks, to recite Birkat HaGomel, a special prayer said by those who have overcome serious illness. It was great to be surrounded by so many friends, family and members of the congregation and to receive their blessings.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since being told I was physically better, it was time to let go of some of my issues spiritually.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2e71v1l1LTYmJMpuKo8VV8LgEwbertSiUh00ae6sxthswjjZps1T1HqK8J6iaWgax0dN0S2yXzfmNAhqIUglcuKguZLBxdGq4xffvrB1uoPI4homJUZ67h9kPVENLfiAuISBfMCX2CqwL/s1600/IMG_7037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2e71v1l1LTYmJMpuKo8VV8LgEwbertSiUh00ae6sxthswjjZps1T1HqK8J6iaWgax0dN0S2yXzfmNAhqIUglcuKguZLBxdGq4xffvrB1uoPI4homJUZ67h9kPVENLfiAuISBfMCX2CqwL/s400/IMG_7037.JPG" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At our synagogue, we wear top hats.</span></td></tr>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">7. I got a job offer!</span></i></b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll make this the last one now, as this is becoming a very long post.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In my <a href="http://www.joshualerner.co.uk/2015/09/evening-with-teenage-cancer-trust.html">last blog post</a>, I mentioned how I was invited to speak to a corporate crowd on behalf of the Teenage Cancer Trust. After this, I was approached by one of the guests to talk about potentially being offered a position in their department.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am proud to announce that I will be starting an internship in Sustainability for Mace, an international consultancy and construction company. They are known for building the famous Shard skyscraper.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have agreed that I will begin in January. The new year really will signify a fresh new start for me.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-44732627611437520642015-09-29T23:24:00.005+01:002015-09-30T01:21:54.233+01:00An Evening With Teenage Cancer Trust<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKmhVGAp__npKaTW9CpjyhHSiDmlVNpqqJVmTzVpaLpqyLehnc_p6Bd9qmoqqrT6fOUWmIYtWbes0-nxfpMmrXq51trajbjB6LEzvFRriDjPb1WpeEqSL8Jt_3vflvx-2tXc82fezwzx0/s1600/TCT.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWKmhVGAp__npKaTW9CpjyhHSiDmlVNpqqJVmTzVpaLpqyLehnc_p6Bd9qmoqqrT6fOUWmIYtWbes0-nxfpMmrXq51trajbjB6LEzvFRriDjPb1WpeEqSL8Jt_3vflvx-2tXc82fezwzx0/s1600/TCT.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Let's start with an old favourite - which town or country represents the readership of this blog! As of this evening, we are now over 120,000. The support that you have all shown me is mind-blowing. Thank you.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdF_Nmo5T0u-ZJ40KTeBN1yFgA9etqQ3jFYwZkuhK2pIWF8Oyeh44bNegFe71dgyNkpGD0NMDYGXLuy1mkexIrDPUM-6mh8Om0WBBjwT0OrUXOKLlh17YcA1FrrShXXUgDqz0xOpF5j-9/s1600/Waco.fw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXdF_Nmo5T0u-ZJ40KTeBN1yFgA9etqQ3jFYwZkuhK2pIWF8Oyeh44bNegFe71dgyNkpGD0NMDYGXLuy1mkexIrDPUM-6mh8Om0WBBjwT0OrUXOKLlh17YcA1FrrShXXUgDqz0xOpF5j-9/s400/Waco.fw.png" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Welcome to Waco, Texas! And no, it's not a misspelt description of me.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This evening was a massive honour - I had been asked by the </span><a href="https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Teenage Cancer Trust</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to represent them, and other young-adult patients, to address an audience of over 100 corporate and individual supporters, as well as some volunteers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The evening was an amazing success! From what I've heard, there was massive financial support from attendees and the event was enjoyed by all who came.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The work that the Teenage Cancer Trust does around the UK is incredible. In the hands of the NHS, I know my medical care will be fantastic, but sometimes it's just not enough. The Teenage Cancer Trust were absolutely amazing to me during my treatment by putting me in touch with other young people, and generally just helping to build back my confidence after such a mighty blow.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I even decided to get a bit <i>cheeky</i> with my talk. I casually dropped the fact that I have begun job hunting in front of a number of successful company directors, recruiters and rich people. If you fall into one of those categories, please do get in contact! And if I'm not appropriate for your organisation, I'm certain you'll know somebody who will think I am!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The best route of contact would be via email. Please drop me a message at <a href="mailto:joshuajameslerner@gmail.com">joshuajameslerner@gmail.com</a>!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, I was given a gift bag full of wonderful goodies for helping out this evening. I'm very proud to sport my new pyjama top. Goodnight everybody!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CgoakB1JzNdjg-qsNcTxOnj1qCvp5ai3yPUCWJKlxc-xMzrmA7f0vziG_yh8Ph-axmC5O2BkKFunwcgQ64Ep43buKBfI-ELq9L_ACEurRaMTl1zCqoGHSK6Q5TC0w3ebsR7bOrBYu6QX/s1600/pyjamas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_CgoakB1JzNdjg-qsNcTxOnj1qCvp5ai3yPUCWJKlxc-xMzrmA7f0vziG_yh8Ph-axmC5O2BkKFunwcgQ64Ep43buKBfI-ELq9L_ACEurRaMTl1zCqoGHSK6Q5TC0w3ebsR7bOrBYu6QX/s400/pyjamas.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keeping those pearly whites clean!</span></td></tr>
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<br />Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-33517903583858309332015-08-02T21:03:00.002+01:002015-08-03T00:37:44.002+01:00Anxiety<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I almost can't believe that another month has whizzed by. In my head, my last blog post was made live only recently, yet another five weeks have passed. At times, it feels like the day passes slowly yet the weeks seem to fly by.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This isn't to say that I haven't done lots of things! There have been lots of happy memories with friends, family, a rapid visit to Yorkshire, and so on. My life is continuing and its pace seems to be picking up, especially in comparison to a few months ago. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0JQ8GzmQbr7GhFbr5eS99WaRWBKaMW49aK8a3wEHYBDwLspaKyQ9tiOSzbnm41WDV4qDGIdjBX7ntDnKjrKCMHG_HG07F7oARsii7rremgP8klyjVjYZ_1Ro9r4ike9FBlbPqcvmt8fb/s1600/Compare.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ0JQ8GzmQbr7GhFbr5eS99WaRWBKaMW49aK8a3wEHYBDwLspaKyQ9tiOSzbnm41WDV4qDGIdjBX7ntDnKjrKCMHG_HG07F7oARsii7rremgP8klyjVjYZ_1Ro9r4ike9FBlbPqcvmt8fb/s400/Compare.png" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The difference a month makes!</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, I am back off to Yorkshire again this weekend to see Sophie, who was my housemate during university. She has been so supportive through everything, and has just completed Tough Mudder (an 11 mile obstacle course challenge...) today in aid of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research. If you can, please sponsor through </span><a href="https://www.justgiving.com/Sophie-Wadsworth/?utm_id=11" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sophie's JustGiving page</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. It would mean a lot to her!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUZTcP4iTpyKLfV7ScP70_ia32qH6lyMAAL30p-YzZ3af5-RbBdOCMLoCawy_MSTUwXfNdBiJFktUncGDNTllUXMmxV4TYvlYVbNzdOBn3aThCUKuTZS2XQgJHrmno9rRy_gk4SBrzLKk/s1600/MuddySoph.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLUZTcP4iTpyKLfV7ScP70_ia32qH6lyMAAL30p-YzZ3af5-RbBdOCMLoCawy_MSTUwXfNdBiJFktUncGDNTllUXMmxV4TYvlYVbNzdOBn3aThCUKuTZS2XQgJHrmno9rRy_gk4SBrzLKk/s320/MuddySoph.png" width="317" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I heard Sophie even lost a contact lens halfway through...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much that I am ready to do. Things that I have been dreaming of accomplishing once I could. Places I would love to see. Except they are all still slightly out of reach. Part of me is very ready to put this whole cancer ordeal behind me and dive head-first into my future.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few weeks ago I had my annual 'benefits review'. This involves sending off lots of personal and embarrassing information the Department of Work and Pensions. Much to my surprise, my needs were assessed to still be at the highest level, which means I am entitled to the same level of financial and physical support as I was receiving during the peak of my illness.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl-_6hKMfGcz7MAKw4sAJrP4OG59um-QdOvkn-vwLSyQCqPQ26q9nuKzP3EPJbnVlD7bHdkmFfVOeC3smzH8b83l7VsSyJKpn_mtFfGGLnW1WxOmuU72GSxJuST1Egoobak_19V1W-EJL/s1600/Clive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWl-_6hKMfGcz7MAKw4sAJrP4OG59um-QdOvkn-vwLSyQCqPQ26q9nuKzP3EPJbnVlD7bHdkmFfVOeC3smzH8b83l7VsSyJKpn_mtFfGGLnW1WxOmuU72GSxJuST1Egoobak_19V1W-EJL/s400/Clive.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This includes keeping hold of Clive, my government-issued automobile.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There are things, like this, that make me feel ever so slightly insecure about my future. In my head I am ready to move on, yet my medical staff and <i>even</i> the government suggest that I should hang on for a while longer.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every lump, bump, itch, sweat or cough seems to make me, and those close, uneasy about what they could imply. Of course, the answer is that they mean absolutely nothing. Human nature isn't quite so rational at first, unfortunately.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't entirely know what I'm trying to say here. It's difficult living with the uncertainty of my lymphoma relapsing. It's quite a real possibility, but the actual probability is very slim.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Occasionally worrying is a good thing (it keeps me vigilant!) and I feel pretty good about my future, although it may be a few more months yet until anything interesting happens.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-64086149048305424652015-06-25T17:15:00.000+01:002015-06-25T17:47:46.465+01:00Energy<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0B_hQY-rhSQMHPQeo1bionx0tGZhpowqhd2BoxFCATDRvv7-Q1KHQoV0QyJVByb4k6it-g18ilpgjogOw6BFihZzelpRy1Zt6GFnoZKpIBPf2yBJ3V2MPNA9w8tAsfpaxwqQaYDC4yxL/s1600/energy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgu0B_hQY-rhSQMHPQeo1bionx0tGZhpowqhd2BoxFCATDRvv7-Q1KHQoV0QyJVByb4k6it-g18ilpgjogOw6BFihZzelpRy1Zt6GFnoZKpIBPf2yBJ3V2MPNA9w8tAsfpaxwqQaYDC4yxL/s1600/energy.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hello. I'm back!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Although I've not been blogging so much these days, definitely don't assume I haven't been active! There have been many adventures with my friends, a birth (not mine, I promise!), a wedding, my birthday and lots of sunshine.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7G1Ocbzdufb9Z2i6p8wuEOBBtz8oVxEBGDycpFYBrQXhLwPVtGJhZYcCLtbbMR3GaNXDicltIH_WG-6OELAEXp-jgtV5ZYRIqvrIjLac-gYDIoNn093flfCGzAxFqvde0Q_ScjjAG09D/s1600/IMG_5261.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv7G1Ocbzdufb9Z2i6p8wuEOBBtz8oVxEBGDycpFYBrQXhLwPVtGJhZYcCLtbbMR3GaNXDicltIH_WG-6OELAEXp-jgtV5ZYRIqvrIjLac-gYDIoNn093flfCGzAxFqvde0Q_ScjjAG09D/s320/IMG_5261.jpg" width="276" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It's definitely a wonderful summer so far!</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every day that passes makes me look far healthier than the day before. I'm currently rocking a bit of a beard, my hair is growing back and my eyebrow game is stronger than ever. My skin is darkening, as opposed to being a sickly geisha white. I'm definitely enjoyed being 'tubeless' too. I've even been swimming for the first time in ages.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJ-tPh3bzXmrGdyqdVWakxG5zG_hLGl1PL8Np29hLtcav392ovD6K7P6TAe74twXcMhguAcUzmo3DoCkqTWmsAqJ7PwgmnvmQK10qFM28Xrmop1VH_n-fvhhhi2zZSeibnpG9-wiYIaVm/s1600/IMG_5400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOJ-tPh3bzXmrGdyqdVWakxG5zG_hLGl1PL8Np29hLtcav392ovD6K7P6TAe74twXcMhguAcUzmo3DoCkqTWmsAqJ7PwgmnvmQK10qFM28Xrmop1VH_n-fvhhhi2zZSeibnpG9-wiYIaVm/s400/IMG_5400.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheers!</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Today marked the first three-monthly check up after my Stem Cell Transplant. It hasn't been quite that long since I had finished with that mega hospital stay, but instead since the first chemotherapy session in preparation.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In terms of my health, there's not a whole lot for me to inform you on. That's a good thing, I promise! My blood tests have returned good levels of most vital blood cells. The platelets are on the low side, although not dangerously.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The most frustrating thing is my energy levels. They're still very low. Every now and again I get some kind of adrenaline burst and keep going all day, followed by 2-3 days of absolute exhaustion. I need to sleep around 12 hours each night, like some kind of lazy feline. According to the docs, this is to be expected. Fine.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTRzR2AU_IkBSgP7xQAM9xhDKuB89t_kkLf3uFHsG2xwiPRxveJ1dwe6FKSsA-q9VuGXx_ZMLP37I2XrxarlIafZw1RvcaMkwa6FE92CsG5QDBbMASaAEjE4HilKH2sLkw_RkrFc_2riv/s1600/sleepingcat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZTRzR2AU_IkBSgP7xQAM9xhDKuB89t_kkLf3uFHsG2xwiPRxveJ1dwe6FKSsA-q9VuGXx_ZMLP37I2XrxarlIafZw1RvcaMkwa6FE92CsG5QDBbMASaAEjE4HilKH2sLkw_RkrFc_2riv/s400/sleepingcat.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shhhh, or you'll wake me.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've been advised to continue as I am, not thinking about careers and working for another three months. Hopefully I'll be feeling far more energetic by then!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So yes, September marks the next time I'll need to (hopefully...) make any kind of contact with the hospital. It's amazing just how quickly everything goes from intense to calm.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-72588699848420471782015-05-11T16:16:00.000+01:002015-05-11T16:39:43.588+01:00Home<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGzRxKZnyKda30bz1cQxmkeCMgOCrGml6JmwFr64nc1_fivnJXJ69MC51DrG5gYJVS5vBJWKWOnbCG8gIMPzhOwVe1lBG_kZcb-fXfQa8byaKNmtkscfEHjyb_GU9dVC-pbEoxm-ZSO1X/s1600/home.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTGzRxKZnyKda30bz1cQxmkeCMgOCrGml6JmwFr64nc1_fivnJXJ69MC51DrG5gYJVS5vBJWKWOnbCG8gIMPzhOwVe1lBG_kZcb-fXfQa8byaKNmtkscfEHjyb_GU9dVC-pbEoxm-ZSO1X/s1600/home.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been exactly two months since I last posted anything, and for that I want to sincerely apologise. As most of you already know, I underwent my stem cell transplant and have been back home for three weeks.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I could make lots of excuses as to why I didn't post anything while in the hospital or since I have been home, but I won't. It's been a difficult couple of months for me, and now I am recovering very well.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the 27th March, I began LEAM chemotherapy. It's one of the highest-dose regimes that exists in the treatment of lymphoma and so the side effects were particularly nasty. It involved 6 back-to-back days of gruelling chemotherapies before transplanting back my own stem cells. Honestly, I don't remember much about those days, but I remember feeling very nauseous and tired.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Etoposide, Cytarabine and Monopoly.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Like the previous times I received chemotherapy, I wasn't directly admitted to the hospital. I was allowed to receive my treatment as an outpatient, although I was staying at UCH's patient hotel called The Cotton Rooms. This allowed me to be within walking distance from the hospital while maintaining a bit of freedom.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3nMVC0xR9Ve1mvlTP6gTHFnOB0317zy6UVt8AFOjNSFXI6xy9HhfINB83vPVxfqXNgcYMOaJkAMOJkl-ETjmsdFQ_WlKlAqoAJ3LFAIfez_L9R7H6zv7c5yGBISTc3VUWhlW1MwwGT4i/s1600/melphalan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj3nMVC0xR9Ve1mvlTP6gTHFnOB0317zy6UVt8AFOjNSFXI6xy9HhfINB83vPVxfqXNgcYMOaJkAMOJkl-ETjmsdFQ_WlKlAqoAJ3LFAIfez_L9R7H6zv7c5yGBISTc3VUWhlW1MwwGT4i/s400/melphalan.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ice lollies were supposed to reduce damage to the mouth by Melphalan.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was admitted to hospital by the 1st April (not an April Fools joke!) due to fatigue and nausea. This was just in time for my stem cells to arrive and be transplanted back in. Again, I don't remember a whole lot other than a big cryogenic tank being wheeled into my room, followed by bags and bags of pink blood being defrosted and transfused.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhph98bxkbUQrG8Wc6drh8mSEuNfW-AQCDr2W2b5FlrFaXnVkGC6NVZZFKhpL8Jkmj3EDhxCHHr5VZLWBR1bhyyUWJUVyWvuipnw6_hoWAlBo8ihXR9LuWgHtfFLISJKEfVgs_2kCOI5wbY/s1600/transplant.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhph98bxkbUQrG8Wc6drh8mSEuNfW-AQCDr2W2b5FlrFaXnVkGC6NVZZFKhpL8Jkmj3EDhxCHHr5VZLWBR1bhyyUWJUVyWvuipnw6_hoWAlBo8ihXR9LuWgHtfFLISJKEfVgs_2kCOI5wbY/s400/transplant.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Batman juice.</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was told at this point that it was take around two weeks longer for the stem cells to mature and start producing healthy blood cells again. I was not told about the horrors that would unfold before then...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diarrhoea. Sickness. Dizziness. Pain. Extreme fatigue. Fever. Internal blistering. <b>Super baldness.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In fact, the doctors did explain each of these side effects, although I could never have predicted just how nasty they would be.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The worst two were definitely the internal blistering and diarrhoea. They were both caused by the most unpleasant component of the LEAM chemotherapy, a drug called Melphalan. Imagine having the entirety of your gastrointestinal tract breaking down. That's what Melphalan does.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few days after admission, my mouth was full of ulcers and I was finding it difficult to eat and drink. Shortly after this, I was declared 'nil by mouth'. This means that I could only receive medication, nutrition and hydration through my veins. It didn't take long until I was losing weight and after just a week of no food, I was down 5kg (11lb). I guess it was fortunate that the other treatments had bloated me up beforehand!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxfQ-2GMxC9F_0d-R65zNv98OmxamOq7czjD8tvYVxYlFnpNG_FA151COQ72tfN_1JWF1vuj-Ix4xN_nbtB1OLZQwjsgCzhZl2uQ6CiZSxfKqzjY8LvsmTAXGtYnB_PruJ4A4yNuvGY1v/s1600/chocolatethief.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="345" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxfQ-2GMxC9F_0d-R65zNv98OmxamOq7czjD8tvYVxYlFnpNG_FA151COQ72tfN_1JWF1vuj-Ix4xN_nbtB1OLZQwjsgCzhZl2uQ6CiZSxfKqzjY8LvsmTAXGtYnB_PruJ4A4yNuvGY1v/s400/chocolatethief.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I couldn't eat, but Dad sure could!</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Diarrhoea was particularly horrible. I'll try not to go into much detail, but it was non-stop for two weeks. My insides felt like they were on fire. I felt bad for the nurses too, because I was asked to go to the toilet in a pan so that my 'waste' could be observed and checked for signs of internal bleeding.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, the treatment side of my hospital stay was awful. The actual stay itself was very pleasant. In general, the nurses were fantastic and always full of spirit. The facilities at UCH were also great. Unlike that time <a href="http://www.joshualerner.co.uk/2014/02/a-week-at-whipps.html">I was at Whipps Cross Hospital</a>, I had access to the internet and 24-hour food and drink (although I wasn't able to enjoy it).</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6N2ob-48rhfYt1vPDkATlXYuDL-MUoIULvlET7yvNlt-zRuN_oX_O53thJtbXRdMQbCOi8fWaBMs4ge_9AlGs_cl_EumTD_IY1_R7bM4O-suMGyqVg0FX6zpyI7pWPo2x15fnJdOv2mh/s1600/room.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy6N2ob-48rhfYt1vPDkATlXYuDL-MUoIULvlET7yvNlt-zRuN_oX_O53thJtbXRdMQbCOi8fWaBMs4ge_9AlGs_cl_EumTD_IY1_R7bM4O-suMGyqVg0FX6zpyI7pWPo2x15fnJdOv2mh/s400/room.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My home for three weeks. Not too bad!</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would particularly like to thank the <a href="https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/">Teenage Cancer Trust</a> though. The charity has a specialist ward at UCH and were able to provide me with some extra things to make my stay more comfortable. I was given a humongous TV to watch shows and films. They also organised fun visitors up to my room, including a <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/musicalbethan">lovely musician from YouTube</a> and a volunteer from the <a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/zoology">Grant Museum of Zoology</a> who brought up some specimens to look at.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually, I was released back home where I have been recovering ever since. Each day that passes brings more energy, more motivation and whole lot more excitement. I've been given the go ahead to take most of 2015 off for recovery, except I don't think it'll be long before I'll be feeling shiny and new again.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDxzQOxGZBdnkXAgTn_o7GyOTJdIIoBuklDOQHxlpFPUdLUhjGcTWk2SlnFoeht0eRUahGt8PxdCgXJwh9SfzwecPcqjyhIv9vr4t1OSLk_uNVXNTDyXhtdsaxLyTMoDExD1EXydqXswa/s1600/tubeless.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkDxzQOxGZBdnkXAgTn_o7GyOTJdIIoBuklDOQHxlpFPUdLUhjGcTWk2SlnFoeht0eRUahGt8PxdCgXJwh9SfzwecPcqjyhIv9vr4t1OSLk_uNVXNTDyXhtdsaxLyTMoDExD1EXydqXswa/s400/tubeless.JPG" width="355" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My PICC line has been removed. I'm officially tubeless!</td></tr>
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</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll finish this post with an update for what the future should hold for me. My medical team are feeling very confident that my cancer journey should be coming to an end, with predictions of 90% survival over the next 5 years. It sounds scary having a number to look at, yet I am feeling positive about the future. There will be no more scans unless any of my original symptoms return, and no more hospital appointments until the end of June.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This could be it...</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-25769186775290012472015-03-11T17:46:00.002+00:002015-03-25T15:26:27.541+00:00Nuclear Medicine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthB4rJROOEDfzWVhZ6pL7TkJpcEA8QaMwLU4nVxCxK-j5DhgLr-iboBh7VS1BDKSX0fg0FALtuANkmkAjzpOWdGtltpmxlN2dHSMqcsJV0f0KxqgSpIgrFn1lKJcLZvPoBE4mbOxtycKs/s1600/nuclear.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjthB4rJROOEDfzWVhZ6pL7TkJpcEA8QaMwLU4nVxCxK-j5DhgLr-iboBh7VS1BDKSX0fg0FALtuANkmkAjzpOWdGtltpmxlN2dHSMqcsJV0f0KxqgSpIgrFn1lKJcLZvPoBE4mbOxtycKs/s1600/nuclear.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been a while since I had enough going on to make two posts in under a week! Things are really picking up pace, and the official date of my stem cell transplant will be confirmed very soon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The reason the date's not yet official is that all of the variables have to be right. I've successfully passed the 'harvesting' stage, and next is to ensure my vital organs are strong enough for the upcoming procedures.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This leads me to the department of Nuclear Medicine. Ominous sounding, don't you think?</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFfMKShZWwwqrQldhGnjWt1fwO_M3NJXAynbN7c3JQe74fz2kSBE2_rL3FWtQFOAiaEKgs3Bppt16LaesKubmmkaW6-RHUvDRJQb95zPVOJD0idKN1p9xaP_vUiRtR5C36th2HznALGYo/s1600/radioactive.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcFfMKShZWwwqrQldhGnjWt1fwO_M3NJXAynbN7c3JQe74fz2kSBE2_rL3FWtQFOAiaEKgs3Bppt16LaesKubmmkaW6-RHUvDRJQb95zPVOJD0idKN1p9xaP_vUiRtR5C36th2HznALGYo/s1600/radioactive.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Truth be told, there wasn't a single one of these notices in the department.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By definition, Nuclear Medicine is the branch of medicine which deals with the use of radioactive substances in research, diagnosis and treatment.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those who don't know my background, I have a Masters in Chemistry. Every time I am referred to the Nuclear Medicine department, I have a little geek moment and demand to chat technical with the nurses and radiographers.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwv2dxUxXlAsPRb7AS2dqCDdJPx85RLnGJgYhAoNzz3pKMjeEy8YJWPply6P5F62sF3E5SyokY5y5rPnpAuts-rmEi9C-i1eRla6hfe7KR-6s7hXDXlz-sYTXmUPzDjnLRq_5ntp2GCeL/s1600/chemdrink.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEwv2dxUxXlAsPRb7AS2dqCDdJPx85RLnGJgYhAoNzz3pKMjeEy8YJWPply6P5F62sF3E5SyokY5y5rPnpAuts-rmEi9C-i1eRla6hfe7KR-6s7hXDXlz-sYTXmUPzDjnLRq_5ntp2GCeL/s1600/chemdrink.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I don't have a single photo from labs... Enjoy chemistry drinks from 2011 instead.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My referral was for kidney and heart function tests. For obvious reasons, they both need to be healthy enough to process the chemotherapy drugs otherwise there could be fatal consequences. I can't currently tell you the outcome of these yet, as I simply don't know the results. Don't be afraid though, I'm not expecting any negative news.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The idea of radioactivity doesn't make me nervous. The actual radiation dose is very small and the active products have very short half-lives. My least favourite thing is that my PICC line cannot be used. This is in case the radioactive substances adhere to the tube linings. Instead, another cannula was inserted. My arms are covered in bruises.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2b4yHg-QAN_uVxdABi6DJA0EutRT5ZBVSw19xSd-1DQPmhEKhXnKcFk4qbK2ScHeSVu9q_vUfi7jnjK2MM6_YKZxOpKJ69__eECBgeNv00XcKrKQixgsMZnvSB1WxQZvY1B7UZp87Jdk/s1600/bruise.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha2b4yHg-QAN_uVxdABi6DJA0EutRT5ZBVSw19xSd-1DQPmhEKhXnKcFk4qbK2ScHeSVu9q_vUfi7jnjK2MM6_YKZxOpKJ69__eECBgeNv00XcKrKQixgsMZnvSB1WxQZvY1B7UZp87Jdk/s1600/bruise.JPG" height="400" width="381" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A beautiful, deep purple. I might get it colour matched at Homebase.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">To probe the kidney function, you must undergo an analysis to calculate the <i>GFR</i> - <i style="font-weight: bold;">G</i>lomerular <i style="font-weight: bold;">F</i>iltration <i style="font-weight: bold;">R</i>ate, or the rate that the kidneys are capable of cleaning. This is carried out using a radioactive tracer (51Cr-EDTA) and detected by taking blood samples. Three blood samples are required in total - the first after two hours, and then every hour thereafter. I was allowed to leave the hospital between the blood tests, allowing me a little freedom and avoiding complete boredom. In fact, I even visited the <a href="http://www.ucl.ac.uk/museums/zoology">Grant Museum of Zoology</a>, next door. Definitely worth a look to any of you that come to visit me when the time comes round.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivumxFsVsnkEBWCMWyZL_Q_NI1DNTJ-avTE_3bdce1dSvr30KDjOQToIbMwRe9oEgAuBXsUpPoYhjQXRs-r0nnB3O7B8NoKFp6dcjUpAtwF_QJuMAQss1UU8_G_Tvx-Lj-giMb5GxIwayj/s1600/credta.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivumxFsVsnkEBWCMWyZL_Q_NI1DNTJ-avTE_3bdce1dSvr30KDjOQToIbMwRe9oEgAuBXsUpPoYhjQXRs-r0nnB3O7B8NoKFp6dcjUpAtwF_QJuMAQss1UU8_G_Tvx-Lj-giMb5GxIwayj/s1600/credta.jpg" height="303" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">51Cr-EDTA. This is for the curious amongst you.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Immediately after the end of the <i>GFR</i> analysis, I was sent for a heart function scan. The official name is a <i>MUGA</i> - <i style="font-weight: bold;">MU</i>ltiple-<b><i>G</i></b>ated <i style="font-weight: bold;">A</i>cquisition scan. I don't know who named these procedures, but they seem purposefully pretentious. In preparation for the <i>MUGA</i>, I was injected twice. The first contained Tin Chloride, which sticks to the red blood cells. 20 minutes later, the radioactive tracer (Tc-99m) was added. The tin stops the radioactive component from attaching to the red blood cells, which keeps it in the bloodstream.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4-7qbBteRhH3q58SV395cSWctpYfXD2o3RFTAz33xaLtfJyFHihP4wejFuuuOLKJgffJk58vh57Sbgn2UfRNe5MNfIWGvGbftWdfiRCErkx2xR-yBK2aFW-SpkpyRT7GijbW47GaEwuj/s1600/mugascan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_4-7qbBteRhH3q58SV395cSWctpYfXD2o3RFTAz33xaLtfJyFHihP4wejFuuuOLKJgffJk58vh57Sbgn2UfRNe5MNfIWGvGbftWdfiRCErkx2xR-yBK2aFW-SpkpyRT7GijbW47GaEwuj/s1600/mugascan.png" height="367" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Example pictures obtained in a <i>MUGA</i> scan.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was immediately moved to a scanning room, which contained a small bed and a gamma camera. At the same time, <i>ECG</i> electrodes were placed on my chest to capture my heartbeat. The two devices work in harmony to take a range of cardiac 'snapshots'. The <i>ECG</i> electrodes trigger the gamma camera based on the rhythm. The process takes around ten minutes.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVoG4O2MdL0Frjp6Q0pUekn5d6p9zZXBXfRQD0cgQh82zPgA-LQjxDcVEt2kRmLoTSwgedJ7UWWxH9dy3BeqKZbtPBQpe2cwym5yblaePqfRN_lndwHKS5tXiR7Wb9MVrlBxl7ZUUY2k-/s1600/muga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVoG4O2MdL0Frjp6Q0pUekn5d6p9zZXBXfRQD0cgQh82zPgA-LQjxDcVEt2kRmLoTSwgedJ7UWWxH9dy3BeqKZbtPBQpe2cwym5yblaePqfRN_lndwHKS5tXiR7Wb9MVrlBxl7ZUUY2k-/s1600/muga.jpg" height="201" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check this out, <i>MUGA</i>f*****!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">All in all, it took six hours in the Nuclear Medicine department. Done.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My next appointment in on Thursday 19th March, where I will be signing my consent forms for the stem cell transplant, and an official date will be announced. Wish me luck!</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-27721017245768507942015-03-08T21:41:00.000+00:002015-03-08T22:05:47.065+00:00Harvest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPe1IkY9ZxFGdQ7Bz889SElnQ0hugcteXXhVshD9RzkjuSU2wpGdfQvJO80okgZQS8iqc-lPNJkw9VKhIBEJ9bE_EDuROYEOHPJ3OZMNTWRL71YkZ196-KxnBNyeFsqAkvLZTte3-VShV/s1600/harvest.fw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFPe1IkY9ZxFGdQ7Bz889SElnQ0hugcteXXhVshD9RzkjuSU2wpGdfQvJO80okgZQS8iqc-lPNJkw9VKhIBEJ9bE_EDuROYEOHPJ3OZMNTWRL71YkZ196-KxnBNyeFsqAkvLZTte3-VShV/s1600/harvest.fw.png" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
It's been a long and hard week in the world of Josh. Finally, the preparations to my 'special day' have officially begun and I've been harvested.</span><br />
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Yes, in this context my stem cells are like a crop. They were grown, monitored and harvested, all inside my beautiful bones. To kick start the extra production, I was self-injecting a drug called Neupogen (filgrastim) which is also referred to as G-CSF - <i><b>G</b></i>ranulocyte <i><b>C</b></i>olony <i><b>S</b></i>timulating <i><b>F</b></i>actor. It encourages the bone marrow to overproduce blood stem cells, which can then be extracted later. The overproduction is known to cause bone aches and pains. They sucked.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjxthwLx2yFOTv1aY8hHoafpwQj8H8PPIlK07kLaOaz8VXQJRIQL49knDW2peO0A51LzStEgbmi99A_2J1m3yH7pg49vTligQUGutcqr_h0jEXaZhRGz6e7ax5GzDQP9Kz6_hivafN2K8/s1600/filgrastim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjxthwLx2yFOTv1aY8hHoafpwQj8H8PPIlK07kLaOaz8VXQJRIQL49knDW2peO0A51LzStEgbmi99A_2J1m3yH7pg49vTligQUGutcqr_h0jEXaZhRGz6e7ax5GzDQP9Kz6_hivafN2K8/s1600/filgrastim.jpg" height="370" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Quick stab in the belly and we're good.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Every evening for 10 days, I settled down with a hot Ribena and injected into my stomach. For many, I can imagine this to be their idea of a nightmare. I must admit, it wasn't particularly comfortable for me either. Sometimes you just have to close your eyes and get over it. The outcome will be worth it.</span><br />
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A blood test indicated when the level of stem cells was high enough. They use a special marker on the cells to detect how many are available. This marker is called haematopoietic progenitor CD34 antigen. Once the number exceeds the threshold, the time is right.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmh7_ipDHmlh56IOJJLlpcOzoxpfxaohyphenhyphenJgqyYC-tnY7e0xDEXzmMUoHl1fP8Xp_W0cAklt94DdBX9Us4Kd3tO2wQIpCZldFUtP2vQLftGU3GYZN6TN26U5dOtb2BCN-6br-gB1a8TO_a/s1600/cd34stemcell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJmh7_ipDHmlh56IOJJLlpcOzoxpfxaohyphenhyphenJgqyYC-tnY7e0xDEXzmMUoHl1fP8Xp_W0cAklt94DdBX9Us4Kd3tO2wQIpCZldFUtP2vQLftGU3GYZN6TN26U5dOtb2BCN-6br-gB1a8TO_a/s1600/cd34stemcell.jpg" height="315" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A real-life blood stem cell! Not mine though. That would be too cool.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This brings me to the actual process of harvesting. Technically speaking, the correct term is haematopoietic stem cell apheresis, although it's a bit of a mouthful and doesn't flow off the tongue. I'll stick with <i>harvesting</i>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Removing the stem cells from the bloodstream has become a very simple procedure with the introduction of automatic machinery. The blood is removed from a vein in one arm, and sent through a centrifuge which separates out the blood cells by spinning them very fast. The machine identifies the different cells and removes the stem cells. The remaining blood is combined again, and returned through a vein in the other arm.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M0zQ8iDKUG2LxXUuctfJnQriSocN97DzeNpvB_i0KNapYfXa6zcNJJPnmBfN4zX2_kXWAztWCcrvgbQj5fP6RctnBTcB9jkYg1Fz6eChx55TFV4P4W7lZLP6WbW2tnzaTF4plrnI-J4c/s1600/centrifuge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8M0zQ8iDKUG2LxXUuctfJnQriSocN97DzeNpvB_i0KNapYfXa6zcNJJPnmBfN4zX2_kXWAztWCcrvgbQj5fP6RctnBTcB9jkYg1Fz6eChx55TFV4P4W7lZLP6WbW2tnzaTF4plrnI-J4c/s1600/centrifuge.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Meet Aphrodite, the apheresis centrifuge of love, pleasure and procreation.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would love to be more technical, but the theory is very simple and effective. Unfortunately the simplicity of the process doesn't take away from how uncomfortable it is. The output needle must be very secure as the system works under high pressure. This means that the needle is metallic, fastened securely, and inserted under local anaesthetic. One arm must be kept perfectly straight and still for the entire duration of the harvest. The other uses a simple cannula which is made of flexible plastic.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgYMkhghMNZ5Uifrea68B50DBCOyA7aSv6E5CQlsQN7tZk3HwbP2mFv4TrsGjRmUJdCOr45j520ge_jQqhoWbU3grpc3Keo9V21CQwlD422r-NPLJVrUPIutMKgKRLbFToww1Pq6xlKRE/s1600/apheresis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRgYMkhghMNZ5Uifrea68B50DBCOyA7aSv6E5CQlsQN7tZk3HwbP2mFv4TrsGjRmUJdCOr45j520ge_jQqhoWbU3grpc3Keo9V21CQwlD422r-NPLJVrUPIutMKgKRLbFToww1Pq6xlKRE/s1600/apheresis.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My brave egghead.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Five hours after beginning, the machine stops. For safety's sake, they will not remove more than 120mL of blood/cells in one day. It takes the entire five hours to reach this volume. The cells, still warmish, are escorted to the laboratory and instantly analysed before being frozen. As like before, the technicians perform a CD34 count to verify the number of stem cells.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkRz96oO-F8fWX5pqdTJv1CZIRgQCgfCALUIU3qKfl4PPcytfTBRegExrs3apLlXhQMpAew4gDA6fnTG2qxLpsdzkjtV6_erYxIdv4GQm0Tz4qkqDlS7Eb9JHF9b0zMCfTkZm9vCqY3Db/s1600/cellbag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpkRz96oO-F8fWX5pqdTJv1CZIRgQCgfCALUIU3qKfl4PPcytfTBRegExrs3apLlXhQMpAew4gDA6fnTG2qxLpsdzkjtV6_erYxIdv4GQm0Tz4qkqDlS7Eb9JHF9b0zMCfTkZm9vCqY3Db/s1600/cellbag.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My stem cells, collected and bagged up. Vampires - hands off.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The total target of stem cells extracted depends on several factors - age, gender, height, weight, etc. For me, they wanted to harvest 2,000,000 cells/kg. This was expected to be easily obtained from two days on the apheresis machines.</span><br />
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After one day, only 700,000 cells/kg (35% of target) were extracted. Underwhelming, to say the least. Sometimes, the body needs a kick-start to release lots of stem cells at the right time.</span><br />
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This comes in the form of a drug called Mozobil (plerixafor) which cuts the microscopic anchors of the stem cells to release them. Great, huh? Except it meant more needles, a very sore injection site, and a common side effect, nausea. One dose also costs £5,860. It sounds expensive, although if somebody were to calculate my total medical costs over the past 18 months, you wouldn't even notice it.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJFRbRDVyUtVS7-9qSRZR_3193437kIub_PHH-B2DxoHSoax_iy5w4BD1MUfYKKeUa99Iec6goBH0pFEU1PIxRlMZdv0dBprhst84sKyrh05AEuPCiBFbiUluqSd7Ux-IpzgEtYkgV_W9/s1600/plerixafor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCJFRbRDVyUtVS7-9qSRZR_3193437kIub_PHH-B2DxoHSoax_iy5w4BD1MUfYKKeUa99Iec6goBH0pFEU1PIxRlMZdv0dBprhst84sKyrh05AEuPCiBFbiUluqSd7Ux-IpzgEtYkgV_W9/s1600/plerixafor.jpg" height="368" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One dose is equal to around 18% of my student loan.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Harvesting, day two, began again. Same process - needles in, arm straight, machine on. Five hours later, we were expecting a bumper crop! No. Only 700,000 cells/kg (35%) were extracted again. This is way below the target, and slightly below the minimum number that the hospital will risk a transplant with.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3mYDO4Hw4He1T1zwTQe3fXHkSGC9eSV0_iDdwLGYNfiJpoxXGH5GhiLRFsf4vxl3ee4qiyypZ4U7rNn0md8sf0SGECHGXPtUIQPPo340EaX7CC_xdojedUbTTWOVueVzTuAZ8Tk175wh/s1600/day2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq3mYDO4Hw4He1T1zwTQe3fXHkSGC9eSV0_iDdwLGYNfiJpoxXGH5GhiLRFsf4vxl3ee4qiyypZ4U7rNn0md8sf0SGECHGXPtUIQPPo340EaX7CC_xdojedUbTTWOVueVzTuAZ8Tk175wh/s1600/day2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day two, and feeling grumpy.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to the nurses, almost nobody has to endure three days. My body wasn't cooperating, so day three was scheduled. Another dose of Mozobil was prescribed, and I returned to the hospital for the third day. Yet again, the same process as before. Five hours later, the CD34 count of the next harvest came back - 1,100,000 cells/kg!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzbx-yryeETKXjZif0bo1ZyVKiWy_LWDALD8sEael_Hfbb41Ttgb5T7JgLb_PqhmDHIz8ft17MPHl0XOCP0QXXaCzjb4tSYo2cRGtZRFeTzs2wf-5ZfasELDHeQGoM3jOOiIUhpZRRUUw/s1600/day3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVzbx-yryeETKXjZif0bo1ZyVKiWy_LWDALD8sEael_Hfbb41Ttgb5T7JgLb_PqhmDHIz8ft17MPHl0XOCP0QXXaCzjb4tSYo2cRGtZRFeTzs2wf-5ZfasELDHeQGoM3jOOiIUhpZRRUUw/s1600/day3.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Day three, and even grumpier. </span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last, the target was reached, plus a little extra. All the cells have been cryogenically frozen and are awaiting the time when I will need them.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
The extra day of harvesting did mess up my beautiful planner from before. Stupid as it sounds, adding a day pushes my hospital admission date forward a week. It now is expected to be the 20th March, although it may shift if other factors don't go to plan.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
Next appointments are coming through thick and fast though! On Tuesday 10th March, I have been referred to the Nuclear Medicine department to check heart and kidney functions. I'm not worried, and the 'nuclear' part of the name is just another way to say 'mildly radioactive dyes are used here'. Don't be scared.</span><br />
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More updates soon. In the meantime, keep checking back, and with some luck and determination, things will be over soon.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-27920824009637979822015-02-23T13:52:00.000+00:002015-03-25T15:54:07.077+00:00Timescale<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">I can finally announce what is going to happen, and when. Rather than explain every element, I thought it would be easier to read as a calendar. Assuming everything goes to plan, my body should be cancerless by the 20th April!</span></div>
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*Dates are subject to change depending on health...</div>
Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-77105897442637991812015-02-10T00:00:00.000+00:002015-02-10T04:28:28.435+00:00Feeling Lost<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWp5YKUz3umBKMIsTSpWMm_lzjpjMt3xiQs_SZCVvoQEXR7rRyyxNjWVoqBBTGeD19bmRgQjvnftnBorDvZ7abd5L5jEEbJ2MrLlCsit_3VCSEaZFLFiFGKKCFlAKyn-MRdj6I26atNEj/s1600/feeling+lost.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwWp5YKUz3umBKMIsTSpWMm_lzjpjMt3xiQs_SZCVvoQEXR7rRyyxNjWVoqBBTGeD19bmRgQjvnftnBorDvZ7abd5L5jEEbJ2MrLlCsit_3VCSEaZFLFiFGKKCFlAKyn-MRdj6I26atNEj/s1600/feeling+lost.png" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Never once have I sat down and considered myself a victim. I've come to terms with the idea that bad things can happen for no reason, and there's nothing you can do about it.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I firmly stand by this, although today I've been thinking some very unusual things.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is so much that I've had to sacrifice through my journey. There are some things that I've had to compromise on. There are dreams that I know will never come true. <i>And it sucks.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I can't seem to shake this thought at the moment. It keeps finding new ways to penetrate deep inside my mind. My treatment plan is currently in limbo as there has been almost no contact from my medical team for three weeks. I'm chasing it up, but they always tell me that we will be moving on very soon.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This lack of structure, routine and planning has left me without a goal to focus on. These are the main things that have always kept me (somewhat) sane. Without them, a weird sense of vulnerability sweeps through.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I know for certain that it will all be fine once things start moving again. Until then, I'll try my best to keep it together.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-82223931251156411172015-01-30T20:30:00.000+00:002015-01-31T00:49:35.210+00:00One Hundred Thousand<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdZQ6cV-6EF59SxYBm8rJKIeL-dTWqMWCPcLkRlwrL4z5H3ObrdNXhj6hkFoDO3V932vvsECDIOUNPYbGJDcariInQ_AIuAf4kagYETQRU7PlWkchJAv8ZOujQViXha5LvN7AZfFcca0b/s1600/100k.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIdZQ6cV-6EF59SxYBm8rJKIeL-dTWqMWCPcLkRlwrL4z5H3ObrdNXhj6hkFoDO3V932vvsECDIOUNPYbGJDcariInQ_AIuAf4kagYETQRU7PlWkchJAv8ZOujQViXha5LvN7AZfFcca0b/s1600/100k.png" /></a></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt8ZPu1djOnu-VMfieSkBA4fmTQ_-61BfQmnUTRRt1B5LeOV6FPGbgFVD7ed4uKBJ7HSmI_Xg77c_FttZLwNosUEw8loRFmljghw-CDxGcbOxBiHD51ejgzvAKroHYR4Zw0GMuOy1gXjw/s1600/milestone.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPt8ZPu1djOnu-VMfieSkBA4fmTQ_-61BfQmnUTRRt1B5LeOV6FPGbgFVD7ed4uKBJ7HSmI_Xg77c_FttZLwNosUEw8loRFmljghw-CDxGcbOxBiHD51ejgzvAKroHYR4Zw0GMuOy1gXjw/s1600/milestone.png" height="332" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I honestly can't believe it. You guys are awesome.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-81278866807663160242015-01-28T04:07:00.001+00:002015-01-29T01:11:00.997+00:00Cancer Bonuses<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Fd7XTho1MZaxwET6hA3pYbPiJVRUvBlchZJIHGxOINziaSB34a5JRWnX5LRJxcJ57zwHuouyJ_6crHAFHce52SH5elvLeLC8rxBkxOo8l7DbibG3yfOlDkBwnTjYTgsTonKQBXh9nH90/s1600/CancerBonus.png" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Fd7XTho1MZaxwET6hA3pYbPiJVRUvBlchZJIHGxOINziaSB34a5JRWnX5LRJxcJ57zwHuouyJ_6crHAFHce52SH5elvLeLC8rxBkxOo8l7DbibG3yfOlDkBwnTjYTgsTonKQBXh9nH90/s1600/CancerBonus.png" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had a chance to read through some of the latest posts that I've published, and well, the tone is rather sombre. Let's take a small break from the current reality and have a look back on the positives that have come from my cancer diagnosis.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I remember my very first chemotherapy session quite clearly. The majority of my time was spent talking with a girl who was having her last session, and she explained to me the concept of 'Cancer Bonuses'.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In no real order, here are my 10 Cancer Bonuses:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>1. Care Packages</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q-xzaBbrznFTIB0ZTayTT4tF833KWVHjqI4Seiay9dsF4SGPqPr1P0VENz6s-S7u3eSg-gooIXsdA6Dp_rhDsKR9rLlXUxiCogpJQVkD15Zts_8MQUrmBexSdgkE_XPLg-4ZKB1Rs1Kw/s1600/carepackage.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2q-xzaBbrznFTIB0ZTayTT4tF833KWVHjqI4Seiay9dsF4SGPqPr1P0VENz6s-S7u3eSg-gooIXsdA6Dp_rhDsKR9rLlXUxiCogpJQVkD15Zts_8MQUrmBexSdgkE_XPLg-4ZKB1Rs1Kw/s1600/carepackage.jpg" height="290" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who doesn't love a care package?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>2. A Giant Chocolate Bunny</b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXdz-RBpi00Lng3TvJAE1BCLKBlotx5puB6fqQbzS83tg0vxWphRp7mvh1545Jq7mEyjCWhhchUVdTxaK_bv6McYWBryLm-4xRpWaRVspX08N4f2EU6z06sLuchwq-GCu6JXSThAslmuV/s1600/bunny.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqXdz-RBpi00Lng3TvJAE1BCLKBlotx5puB6fqQbzS83tg0vxWphRp7mvh1545Jq7mEyjCWhhchUVdTxaK_bv6McYWBryLm-4xRpWaRVspX08N4f2EU6z06sLuchwq-GCu6JXSThAslmuV/s1600/bunny.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I bit his ears off first.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3. My Car Through <a href="http://www.motability.co.uk/">Motability</a></span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw0VAUZjWPCYLLvziD_OLmFrz8WOTiF6TZnSGGftwp7ycwtnZZt_kbnESbQEtS6Z7lnrwUlCVEY8cHezdRHstoRsQ6bQZrgrfh_kBqhtYSl-U3Fjp26MpfYq1uzZFvrxwf-Xnl86Vb65n/s1600/clio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiw0VAUZjWPCYLLvziD_OLmFrz8WOTiF6TZnSGGftwp7ycwtnZZt_kbnESbQEtS6Z7lnrwUlCVEY8cHezdRHstoRsQ6bQZrgrfh_kBqhtYSl-U3Fjp26MpfYq1uzZFvrxwf-Xnl86Vb65n/s1600/clio.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Me and Clive the Clio!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></b>
<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4. Trips courtesy of the <a href="http://www.amywallacemagpietrust.org.uk/">Amy Wallace Magpie Trust</a></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnxo9SYfjTjNbq85bUrNxF_DM8psJb0QDzU4dC7_DjWlD1YadKHsyZM1hdl5zR6zhaH_OmJFV3MXdErtp2hU8sPEjosDh26xYUYlHyHbc7M3g-TcefLGGlUynUaJ0Wz2QT-vNeiX2BClw/s1600/harrypotter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTnxo9SYfjTjNbq85bUrNxF_DM8psJb0QDzU4dC7_DjWlD1YadKHsyZM1hdl5zR6zhaH_OmJFV3MXdErtp2hU8sPEjosDh26xYUYlHyHbc7M3g-TcefLGGlUynUaJ0Wz2QT-vNeiX2BClw/s1600/harrypotter.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was Siriusly magical.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>5. Socks</b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfc6LPGuHjGh_7XylGg4p5JOPjb5ybJs9EFsy338mGm0CR6Tjgr0N2CpXw45WYri2Y-g7MeBdzOTkTuaNOLhGNdYgQiP2FSaUXu-6e9Jx910CKOFtseJZIvM_1ypQKRPkdHqA6hrtp3c9/s1600/socks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipfc6LPGuHjGh_7XylGg4p5JOPjb5ybJs9EFsy338mGm0CR6Tjgr0N2CpXw45WYri2Y-g7MeBdzOTkTuaNOLhGNdYgQiP2FSaUXu-6e9Jx910CKOFtseJZIvM_1ypQKRPkdHqA6hrtp3c9/s1600/socks.jpg" height="400" width="395" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My sock collection brings so much joy!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">6. Sailing with the <a href="http://www.ellenmacarthurcancertrust.org/">Ellen MacArthur Cancer Trust</a></span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkJbySKgROdCsUwED3AlG31pmoO0KW2ud5OiFwYtPEMGz5LXgxHHnelyvOEQitg48Vd5ZuAd7MjBZc4IpaMa_6l_5b-zcqRkARbTGuaTHjrLM3DZOazSrV01yMeMUNekwjU6S6Dw4HrX8/s1600/sailing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkJbySKgROdCsUwED3AlG31pmoO0KW2ud5OiFwYtPEMGz5LXgxHHnelyvOEQitg48Vd5ZuAd7MjBZc4IpaMa_6l_5b-zcqRkARbTGuaTHjrLM3DZOazSrV01yMeMUNekwjU6S6Dw4HrX8/s1600/sailing.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jib! Jib! Tack! Haul!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>7. Morphine</b></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju96B6nQBxooprxBQwc66gfQs5yNaMtARgSyr7rOLOAcHgXG7yuI_LccjEITsaFEnSoH6RwjOdjDmrRJvpHFXmvK6NHlI4moslrff6dtvdW_KUY9EE_kF2Om540Y8U980KlUskOTU0bflP/s1600/morphine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju96B6nQBxooprxBQwc66gfQs5yNaMtARgSyr7rOLOAcHgXG7yuI_LccjEITsaFEnSoH6RwjOdjDmrRJvpHFXmvK6NHlI4moslrff6dtvdW_KUY9EE_kF2Om540Y8U980KlUskOTU0bflP/s1600/morphine.jpg" height="400" width="363" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Moving swiftly along...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">8. Find Your Sense of Tumour with the <a href="https://www.teenagecancertrust.org/">Teenage Cancer Trust</a></span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3B0JMSLEUEFjgKlqkcNvKyPuAxytIgk6yy4WMIJed4HQOtH_3rl5GG_yqx7am0Vzustak54QjGA1CifU6wtQaw5LIeiVdp8VlMBMy7dRySNog6pwCy_NU58sg_Oi0qtybv4psccLdowB/s1600/fysot.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3B0JMSLEUEFjgKlqkcNvKyPuAxytIgk6yy4WMIJed4HQOtH_3rl5GG_yqx7am0Vzustak54QjGA1CifU6wtQaw5LIeiVdp8VlMBMy7dRySNog6pwCy_NU58sg_Oi0qtybv4psccLdowB/s1600/fysot.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Representing the Young Adults from University College Hospital, London.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">9. Trips with <a href="http://teensunitefightingcancer.org/">Teens Unite</a></span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYXqY3g1ut6cWY3RDPytaJkfkHllkhZiDoWX2SshbdLligvlbwyle6PCZGwymtxsdrYGLzQazwE2_CVF4QwAaP-ufgAFsiMOAylAe6VAnV5DtA-U_Wp2hacqvTMaAzsZSz6B4wWmk_EXX/s1600/jingle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwYXqY3g1ut6cWY3RDPytaJkfkHllkhZiDoWX2SshbdLligvlbwyle6PCZGwymtxsdrYGLzQazwE2_CVF4QwAaP-ufgAFsiMOAylAe6VAnV5DtA-U_Wp2hacqvTMaAzsZSz6B4wWmk_EXX/s1600/jingle.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They say music soothes the soul...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">10. My Amazing Friends</span></b><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLicKzSrRIlzjTxzSIDCWD9DUrZYJDUtNcGGqmuUxkapvsY3WS6NXarHlf9Yhqp30_bPngM699dWelP3NFxl-19kZfwYDQeuwwpA_QBx1h6xZfYl2hTVKCvIM5jVJtWeu3gdhyphenhyphennZxawDo/s1600/surprise.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJLicKzSrRIlzjTxzSIDCWD9DUrZYJDUtNcGGqmuUxkapvsY3WS6NXarHlf9Yhqp30_bPngM699dWelP3NFxl-19kZfwYDQeuwwpA_QBx1h6xZfYl2hTVKCvIM5jVJtWeu3gdhyphenhyphennZxawDo/s1600/surprise.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I couldn't be luckier to have the support of so many amazing people.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And that makes ten! So yeah. Had I not gone through what I'm going through, I would never have had the opportunity to do so many things. It's not all treatment and bleakness!</span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Feel free to spread the joy using the 'Share' buttons below or you can leave a comment at the bottom of the page.</span></div>
Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-4596809469396334782015-01-23T02:04:00.000+00:002015-01-29T01:12:15.717+00:00The Next Step<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wow! I can't believe we're nearing the end of January already. The past month has been a weird one in the world of Josh, but I still found time to redesign the blog! January has been full of chemotherapy and uncertainty about what's yet to come. After another PET/CT scan </span><a href="http://www.joshualerner.co.uk/2013/11/being-scanned.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(see 'Being Scanned' for more details about this)</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, the medical team have come to a decision about what will happen next. Here goes.</span><br />
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Apparently I have responded well to ESHAP chemotherapy and we are ready to go ahead with a stem cell transplant!</span><br />
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This is where it all gets very complicated and I will do my best to explain it. I can't guarantee everything will be completely accurate though, as it's such a complex procedure. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm7nyFc5pK2ebJoznZsW_Ezw2dzcipCz1JBC9Hx2UHB_GZmEAIyBoFokPFnH78EHsBnGY8q1fJmoNzszmbMIh-UcEnmd_OcFm7-rAF7MGRBbeGuwCOVLagEMfqhC8L-qcCZXda_G3JvA1/s1600/confusing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNm7nyFc5pK2ebJoznZsW_Ezw2dzcipCz1JBC9Hx2UHB_GZmEAIyBoFokPFnH78EHsBnGY8q1fJmoNzszmbMIh-UcEnmd_OcFm7-rAF7MGRBbeGuwCOVLagEMfqhC8L-qcCZXda_G3JvA1/s1600/confusing.jpg" height="200" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing ever explains my feelings better than the Simpsons can.</td></tr>
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Let's start with the reason somebody would need a stem cell transplant. It's a common misconception that the transplant is the part of the therapy that will cure the patient. This is not the case. The important procedure comes a week before the actual transplant. It involves a special chemotherapy combination called <i>BEAM </i>and it is one of the most intense regimes available. This should be harsh enough to destroy any residual or remaining cancer cells. Unfortunately, the chemotherapy is so strong that the bone marrow is also destroyed. It is impossible to survive without bone marrow and the stem cell transplant is actually a way of managing this serious side effect. Complicated, huh? <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn9OeMTBy-bdqUlaZibb6Q2s8s50LhRgmE5t7zd_QUWatZLjAepc82olAn4h678s1w258cHoCSop6Jt8V0Rvf6TzVUv-isB50UPKTIAadqE2CJHfdspJ18abzA1buBdt4lOzom1uoaXQs/s1600/jimbeam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn9OeMTBy-bdqUlaZibb6Q2s8s50LhRgmE5t7zd_QUWatZLjAepc82olAn4h678s1w258cHoCSop6Jt8V0Rvf6TzVUv-isB50UPKTIAadqE2CJHfdspJ18abzA1buBdt4lOzom1uoaXQs/s1600/jimbeam.jpg" height="400" width="206" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Not this kind of BEAM, unfortunately...</td></tr>
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The next stage is deciding where these stem cells come from. In many cases, a donor from the <a href="http://www.anthonynolan.org/">Anthony Nolan Register</a> is required <i>(UK only...)</i>. In other cases, a patient may provide their own stem cells, but these must be collected when in remission to avoid transplanting cancerous cells back in.</span><br />
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After long deliberation, my medical team have agreed I appear to be in remission! This means I am eligible for an <i>autograft transplant</i>. In normal terms, I am a suitable candidate to use my own stem cells. One benefit of this is that there is almost no chance of my body rejecting the cells as they are my own. Another is that recovery time is more rapid, as the body accepts the cells more readily.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERM-3KciCX8RSsbS2VHNagVHtXb-Vl10wVq8YvJW4q2Spv9rHEuFabMeZXOfa5TQdMwryCTgpWXH3BoINqbvXRYCvc3fKhW4grP4WFW8tOD6P1_qBx0gjpyObi_XOwPmW5qEtKoFxsnLJ/s1600/motivate.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERM-3KciCX8RSsbS2VHNagVHtXb-Vl10wVq8YvJW4q2Spv9rHEuFabMeZXOfa5TQdMwryCTgpWXH3BoINqbvXRYCvc3fKhW4grP4WFW8tOD6P1_qBx0gjpyObi_XOwPmW5qEtKoFxsnLJ/s1600/motivate.jpg" height="400" width="352" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is my cringeworthy "You Can Do It!" motivational face.</td></tr>
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And that concludes my current knowledge of the next step! I shall be meeting with the Transplant Coordinator very shortly and then I will know the preparations required before the transplant, as well as the how long the whole thing will take. Watch this space...</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-29525454836055204922014-12-27T18:55:00.002+00:002015-01-29T01:12:53.663+00:00My Christmas Blog<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Merry Christmas everybody! I hope you've all shared a few wonderful days with friends, family and more food than you can handle. I've had a very lovely time. Fortunately, I have spent the week at home, nowhere near a hospital! </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good haul, good haul.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For me, Christmas is a time for sharing, reminiscing and togetherness. For these reasons, I would love to share with you an old home video that we have managed to find.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />It's my 6th birthday in 1997. Sure, it's embarrassing! But consider it my Christmas gift.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My next chemotherapy begins on Monday and runs over into the New Year. This should be the last cycle before my transplant. We haven't yet met with the Transplant Team, but when there is an update there, I will write a new post.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Happy New Year one and all!</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-23777037724306571742014-12-17T13:24:00.002+00:002015-01-29T01:14:16.534+00:00Hospitals and Transplants<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOH_dRUtmx1nXkukyJpqHaHs9WOWogVrnOKJXX-MBwPFh85qRkD8ueS-BBdfTR-HBDMAPZEYCd0RtL3Go4TLpPJCJ8oYCMpoyR2FakogAS-jRG2ZpekE6iiXEXqxgGgetciZUzNWqw9o6/s1600/hospitals.fw.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsOH_dRUtmx1nXkukyJpqHaHs9WOWogVrnOKJXX-MBwPFh85qRkD8ueS-BBdfTR-HBDMAPZEYCd0RtL3Go4TLpPJCJ8oYCMpoyR2FakogAS-jRG2ZpekE6iiXEXqxgGgetciZUzNWqw9o6/s1600/hospitals.fw.png" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At last! I've managed to overcome all of the hurdles from the last chemo and now it should be clear sailing until after Christmas. It's been a pretty nasty couple of weeks though. I've spent around 10 days unable to get out of bed.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A swab test of my nose/throat came back positive for a strain of Influenza A. So yeah. As well as recovering from chemotherapy, I've been battling the flu. After a week of Tamiflu and bedrest I was feeling good again. That is, until the fever kicked in. A temperature of over 38C means that I have to go straight to A&E. That's just one of the cancer protocols. So off I went to the hospital. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaG2IX324XSQ4UMA0KQ7zPFqRyrJa-ok6_JEOO8FciK1DoduGzldgG_Q7IThyphenhyphenxViw9En_2j4chgwt-dc-K32cFACakovHr-v_wEA9ZESUI3edbmkNogdbCKMafbykUwpREuTDU-2J5BqVc/s1600/flu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaG2IX324XSQ4UMA0KQ7zPFqRyrJa-ok6_JEOO8FciK1DoduGzldgG_Q7IThyphenhyphenxViw9En_2j4chgwt-dc-K32cFACakovHr-v_wEA9ZESUI3edbmkNogdbCKMafbykUwpREuTDU-2J5BqVc/s1600/flu.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grim.</td></tr>
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Paracetamol was what I craved, but another cancer protocol is that I can't take any without supervision as it can mask other important symptoms. I was given paracetamol and the fever went away. Surely I could go home then? Nope. Turns out that my blood results showed impaired kidney function due to severe dehydration.<br /><br />I had been informed from the beginning that I must drink a lot of water. I did not realised that this meant to drink around 4-5 litres a day. That's practically enough to swim in. Either way, I'm back home again now and you can always find me with a glass in my hand or in the bathroom. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag73vkVjLaDD1EmWmgydvIS9hDEpiDd8bRYfm-U22HDJx_amCHV6swywZ07wU9MpUyEIZmPQxHDSvfEi97BVoCJa_-Ls8Ot4PFAW7tgZEee2a16_rJp0ojn14OtxeUj-rgEAggHtQK_ql/s1600/hose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjag73vkVjLaDD1EmWmgydvIS9hDEpiDd8bRYfm-U22HDJx_amCHV6swywZ07wU9MpUyEIZmPQxHDSvfEi97BVoCJa_-Ls8Ot4PFAW7tgZEee2a16_rJp0ojn14OtxeUj-rgEAggHtQK_ql/s1600/hose.jpg" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This kid is on to something... That actually looks like fun.</td></tr>
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We've covered the topic of hospitals. Now let's talk about transplants.<br /><br />My brother and I have had our tests and we are only a partial match for a stem cell transplant. This means that we will not consider using his cells if a better match can be found from the donor register. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLhQU-8nCdZEUDj7ckQT6CQyFBnyOsjPEJqt7ik1jnbuuwn8b-giKY2NbVvax1MIgQJA8iNUlidELYIExnUqGO7n2aGDGvffm2e4Ab3-OYGQRyqYywM91AqwCL63gGlFqwPaYBhyvbg3l/s1600/stem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkLhQU-8nCdZEUDj7ckQT6CQyFBnyOsjPEJqt7ik1jnbuuwn8b-giKY2NbVvax1MIgQJA8iNUlidELYIExnUqGO7n2aGDGvffm2e4Ab3-OYGQRyqYywM91AqwCL63gGlFqwPaYBhyvbg3l/s1600/stem.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stem Cells are eerily beautiful, don't you think?</td></tr>
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Many people have approached me and want to be tested to see if they could be a match. Isn't that a lovely gesture! The best advice I can give is to join the <a href="http://www.anthonynolan.org/8-ways-you-could-save-life/donate-your-stem-cells/apply-join-our-register" target="_blank">Anthony Nolan donor register</a>. You must be a UK resident, aged 16-30 and of good physical health. They will send you a 'spit kit' in the post which you can return. Your results will be put on the national database and if you match somebody in need of a donor, the charity will be in touch.<br /><br />I expect to have a formal meeting with the Transplant Team very soon, but this has not yet been formally discussed. I'll write a new post when the next step of my treatment plan is clearer.<br /><br />Until then, Merry Christmas!</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-33269125630322718542014-12-04T08:20:00.000+00:002015-01-29T01:15:36.431+00:00Ambicare<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />What a crazy time so far. There have been some massive changes in just a few days. Time for the midweek report!<br /><br />I am currently being treated as an 'ambicare' patient. It's a weird limbo between being allowed to go home and having to stay on the ward. The truth is that I'm not quite well or sick enough to do either! Instead, I am being put up in a swanky London hotel (owned by the hospital...) and looked after very nicely.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioX-0fFoEZffbv77kGlPrBqMcvTWRdmCkBN3QCOIf8qnw7HqdDF6srWFrMgkhrkwngRtAblj0PPxvg6xh7Uzx1GcvlprTEdxgR1Wegx7-x1kJpDKYc2IIFMT4Wbb3bD0ZlpzixEUXeBZkR/s1600/cotton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioX-0fFoEZffbv77kGlPrBqMcvTWRdmCkBN3QCOIf8qnw7HqdDF6srWFrMgkhrkwngRtAblj0PPxvg6xh7Uzx1GcvlprTEdxgR1Wegx7-x1kJpDKYc2IIFMT4Wbb3bD0ZlpzixEUXeBZkR/s1600/cotton.jpg" height="270" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Cotton Rooms near Tottenham Court Road.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As much as I like to keep an always-positive attitude, especially on the blog, my spirits are beginning to slip a little. Don't get me wrong, I'm not feeling sorry for myself! I'm just stuck in a state of shock and disbelief. My medical team have approached me and decided that I should be referred to meet with a psychotherapist which will happen shortly. It seems like quite an extreme option although I'm willing to give it go...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I see Gene Simmons from Kiss. What does that mean?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The chemotherapy has been bearable so far. I'm already four days in and the symptoms are being well controlled. One of the chemo drugs is a continuous flow for 5 days and cannot be disconnected. I must carry it around in a very sexy bumbag. When anybody asks, I just pretend to be American.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJesPcBTA9-y4tO3IXyiWgDF-RFEpKjdCDY2G04TL_6to0rnoEVt3JNzjH17J_1YH_HuzlcQN7FLZKkP47z5BlvSKOAM_zoRQC6i7tQHP5FZvlzSnx80sj8dwv8tsjM7ksdXdvY6MZT9kH/s1600/tourist.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJesPcBTA9-y4tO3IXyiWgDF-RFEpKjdCDY2G04TL_6to0rnoEVt3JNzjH17J_1YH_HuzlcQN7FLZKkP47z5BlvSKOAM_zoRQC6i7tQHP5FZvlzSnx80sj8dwv8tsjM7ksdXdvY6MZT9kH/s1600/tourist.jpg" height="400" width="323" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Nobody looks good with a bumbag, trust me.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, a few summaries from last time: Moonface is definitely back. My brother is booked for transplant eligibility testing on Friday and thank you very much to everybody who donated to <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ThomasLerner" target="_blank">his marathon page</a> too.<br /><br />I'll be in touch soon! At the moment my focus is on keeping active, healthy and calm. So far, so good. Except for the psychotherapy referral. Peace out.</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-71083427334041901122014-11-28T16:43:00.003+00:002015-01-29T01:17:07.258+00:00The Second Round<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's been many months since I last updated this blog. Many of you were asking for a new post back in August, but well, I've been too busy loving life and making the most of the time off. Since then, I've been to Germany, Belgium and Spain and celebrated two weddings, an engagement party, a new birth in the family and so on. The world has definitely not stopped turning!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is just a small montage of some recent highlights.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I speak to you now having had a day to process the latest news. For those who haven't yet heard, it's not great. Even though initial tests looked optimistic, the biopsy doesn't lie. The lymphoma </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">is</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> back. As far as I know, it's isolated to the neck area only, but this isn't entirely certain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />The risk of 'relapse' was always a major factor that played in the back of my mind, but I had stupidly let my guard down. I am still sitting here, completely shell shocked. I struggle to believe it all for now.<br /><br />They have already sat me down and discussed the treatment too. It's not going to be pretty. There's a very high chance that 'moonface Josh' will be making a reappearance.<br /><br />The treatment will come in two phases: <i>Chemotherapy </i>and a <i>Stem Cell Transplant</i>.<br /><br /><i>Let's start with the chemotherapy</i>. It's called ESHAP. Like last time, each letter stands for some kind of nasty that will do various kinds of internal damage. Once I've had a chance to do some proper research, I'll go into more detail. The chemotherapy phase of the treatment will only last 6 weeks in total, beginning on Monday 1st December. That's the good part...<br />The worst part of the chemotherapy (other than being crap, of course) is that it requires a 24-hour-a-day drip, so I will be having to stay at the hospital for a week of each cycle.<br /><br /><i>The next phase of the treatment is a Stem Cell Transplant.</i> This is the nastiest part of all, with the highest risk of complications. In short, they will completely destroy my body's ability to make blood cells. I will then be transplanted with healthy stem cells that should rebuilt the immune system again. Like other treatments, I will need a donor. In some cases, the patient can be their own donor. In others, you'll need somebody else's cells.<br /><br />This leads me on to talk about my brother, Tom. In theory, he is my biggest chance of finding a donor match. He has been absolutely brilliant so far, and continues to be incredible. We spoke everything through last night and he has already agreed to go to the hospital and be tested. Even though he might not be a match, I'm already so glad to know just how supportive he is through it all. Cheers bro.<br /> </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxlCpd_hqm1WbSx2SDp8gA19d5luCY90vJKa7dDWIMl7MVW8wyPBCSYbBU7pjbHjKX-Ae_cbLrCnfMiW1xh7aJTzAZYL0OxGa23gwFdRldfQnIhQ7bacn6Ve0lOMt7wFS6eQocEA_Sx2K/s1600/tom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNxlCpd_hqm1WbSx2SDp8gA19d5luCY90vJKa7dDWIMl7MVW8wyPBCSYbBU7pjbHjKX-Ae_cbLrCnfMiW1xh7aJTzAZYL0OxGa23gwFdRldfQnIhQ7bacn6Ve0lOMt7wFS6eQocEA_Sx2K/s1600/tom.jpg" height="320" width="268" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Continuing this, for those who don't know, Tom is running the London Marathon next year in support of Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research, my chosen charity. It would incredible if you could <a href="http://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/ThomasLerner" target="_blank">support him through his Virgin Money Giving page</a>. I know he has been training incredibly hard and I'm so proud of him.<br /><br />It seems like the blog is back up and running then. I wish I had it in me to crack some more jokes and make light of the situation right now, but nothing came to mind. Once it begins to sink in, I hope I'll be back to my normal self again.<br /><br />Thanks for your continuing love, support and good wishes. Until next time!</span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4680377234860065506.post-18950493807157237712014-07-14T16:10:00.003+01:002015-01-29T01:18:08.500+00:00Film In The Forest<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hi everybody! We are so proud to announce </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Film in the Forest</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> on Saturday 16th August! Tickets are available now!</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">OOOOHHHHHH, yes please!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My wonderful cousins are at it again! This time we're trying to raise money for <a href="http://www.lymphomas.org.uk/" target="_blank">Lymphoma Association</a>, a small charity providing information and support for lymphoma sufferers.<br /><br />So without further ado, we are very proud to announce <i>Film in the Forest </i>on Saturday 16th August! This will be a magical event, watching 'The Breakfast Club' in the forest near Abridge, in Essex, in a natural auditorium. There will also be loads of tasty grub and drinks, so bring all your friends!<br /><br />For any more information, take a look at our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/events/1438904029691387/?fref=ts" target="_blank">Facebook Page</a>.<br /><br /><b>Booking tickets is as easy as 1, 2, 3!</b><br /><br />1) <a href="http://virginmoneygiving.com/filmintheforest" target="_blank">Click here</a> to visit our Virgin Money donation page (<a href="http://virginmoneygiving.com/filmintheforest" target="_blank">virginmoneygiving.com/filmintheforest</a>)<br />2) Donate £10 per ticket, and comment your name(s).<br />3) Send a cheeky email to <a href="mailto:filmintheforest@gmail.com">filmintheforest@gmail.com</a> with the names of those coming and we'll add you to the guest list!<br /><br />If you are unable to attend, donations would be very welcome too.<br />Thank you very much for your continuing support! I love you all! </span>Joshuahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07804463447050817969noreply@blogger.com0