Treatment Day 31

Hi All,

Greetings from a fantastic beach on the Gower Pensinsula - Caswell Bay - photos will follow in due course. Temperature is pushing 30 degrees C (as it was 18 years ago at Orchard Cottage in Silverstone at Lucy's and my wedding!!!) with a light breeze and a small swell running to keep the swimmers/bodyboarders/skiffle boarders/paddle boarders etc interested. Our apartment overlooks the beach and the waves send us to sleep at night - location couldn't be better.

We had a beautiful coastal path walk to neighbouring Langlands Bay for brunch this morning at a very nice contemporary brasserie (thank the good lord that someone has sorted some decent seaside catering out -not that prevalent in this country). Spotted two seals close in on the way back. Lucy and I are returning there this evening for fresh local lobster on the terrace (can't say that often in wales!!!) to celebrate our 18th wedding anniversary. Kids are getting left over some lovely shepherds pie for dinner (thank you by the way whoever made it!).

My recovery from last chemo session (left hospital on Tuesday) is continuing - am now at about 80%. No need for anti sickness medication and my energy levels are improving.

Am going to need to be at full strength for Silverbury 2010 next weekend as the event is gathering momentum. Anyone reading the blog wishing to attend Silverbury 2010 please contact Lucy or myself asap as names need to be put on the guest list. It should be fab.

Just a short note today as the beach is calling .....

All the best.

Stephen

Treatment Day 22

G'day All,

The second round of chemo at the Royal Marsden kicked off on schedule yesterday. I only have 86 hours of drugs to go - not that I am counting mind you! Thankfully I have managed to secure a private room for the time being (am waiting for the fateful knock at the door) which is making the process more bearable and much better for visitors.

Suzi and Nick Usiskin popped in last night which was great and Lucy is able to spend a lot more time with me this time thanks to the generosity of Chris and Michaela Hancock letting Lucy stay close by in their fab London home.

Also big thanks to Lucy's help rota which is working like a treat sorting out the girls while we are in London for 6 days. As I write Poppy is being whisked to Milton Keynes by Mark Tyson to get her jabs for her upcoming Tanzania trip - thanks Mark!

Silverbury is gaining momentum day by day and looks like being an amazing event. My only concern is sourcing two kegs of real ale and a keg of cider as you can't have a festival without decent beer and cider. The picture below was taken at Glastonbury a few years ago with my trusty portable BBQ. I am hoping to replicate something similar on the 3th & the 4th July.

Recovering from the first round of chemo has gone better than I hoped. The two nodes in my neck have shrunk to normal size plus the tumor on my tongue has also reduced in size as I am no longer getting any apple pith stuck when I swallow - all good signs that the chemo is doing what it is supposed to do.

After 3 days or so I started jogging and exercising again building back up to where I was before the treatment started. My shoulder injury is nearly healed although I still have one or two trips to make to the physio. Poppy joined me on a few runs which was good. She saw there is still some life in the old boy yet!

I have been also getting some invaluable advice on diet/nutrition from a number of sources which I have been putting into use to get me in as good a shape for the trials ahead. Thanks to everyone's input on this - please keep the advice coming.

I am hoping, subject to how the Radiotherapy goes in the first week to catch a day at the Aus V Pakistan first Test at Lords. Still can't understand why the Aussies are playing so much cricket over here in English conditions with the Ashes around the corner downunder where conditions will be very different. No complaints if it gives me a chance to see them.

Love to all,

Stephen

Day 8 Treatment

Hi All,



The sun is shining on dear old Blighty and the world is good. Returned home from Royal Marsden on Wednesday 2nd June. Jimi's hospital/chemo induced purple haze is slowly and thankfully receding (how did people survive the 60's?). Slowly returning to normal sleeping patterns/routines which were all shot to pieces in hospital. Managed to mow the lawn yesterday and go for a lovely walk with the wolf (Bonza) this morning.



He managed to drag (with Lucy's assistance it has to be said) a huge log back to the car on a walk when I was in hospital. The log is installed in the garden and I expect to send photograhic evidence of his amazing sculpting skills in the next few weeks (I reckon it is going to be a squirrel Bob). He is mad as a hatter!



The weather is helping the recovery process a lot. Best of the summer yet with mid to high 20's expected to continue for the next week. I have to say, England in the summer sunshine is hard to beat especially as the sunsets are after 9:00 pm which means you get to enjoy the good weather (when it happens) and BBQ for longer! I also forgot to mention, no need for Aeroguard!!!!!! May even stroll down to the 'Silverstone Beach' later (our neighbour's Sue and Paul's affectionately known pool).



Home is definitely where the heart is and I can honestly say I have never appreciated my family and home more than this week. Lucy and the girls have been rocks. I now have nurse Ella-Rose attending to my every need - temperature twice a day and logged.

If anything, the house was too clean on my return. Chemo apparently heightens the sense of smell and any smells assoicated with chemo can stay with you a long time. Overriding smell of hospital was bleach/cleaning fluids (can't be a bad thing in hospital I suppose!) so any smell of cleaning fluid sends me straight back to hospital -not good. Another good reason to retain the classic Mills 'lived in' look. The nurse and her sisters are currently doing a great job at returning order to Orchard Cottage. One of the hospital nurses suggested Lucy not wear perfume throughout my treatment as it can be a link back in the future. I will have to suffer eau de Lucy for the next few months - could think of a lot worse things!



In respect to side effects so far, nothing major to report - list below;

• No loss of hair or change of colour or straightening yet - taking on a Lord of the Rings theme, the kids reckon I would give Gandalf a run for his money as Stephen the white - time will tell.
• Soft skin. Apparently my skin has taken on a baby's bum quality. I couldn't possibly comment.
• Mettallic taste. Nothing that a mint or two can't solve.
• Occasional nausea. Getting less due to drugs working through the system. kept in check with anti nausea pills.
• Tiredness which comes in waves, although reducing.

The plan is for me to return to the Marsden on 17th June for another 5 night , subject to a bed being available. Am hoping for good weather as there is a small garden where I intend to spend most of my time.

Three weeks from the start of the next chemo session (circa Monday 12th July) I kick off 6 weeks of Radiotherapy. We still need to coordinate our accomodation in London and hope to do this in the next week or so. Many thanks again to everyone who has been so generous in offering places to stay. In particular, a big thank you to; Chris & Michaela, Nigel & Julie, Henry and Sarah and Julian (times two).

Also the home guard needs a special mention as their efforts have ensured that nurse Ella-Rose and her sisters plus Lucy have been fed and watered in grand style. Thanks (in no particular order) to; Sarah, Sara, Elizabeth, Penny, Anne, Amanda, Caroline and Rachel. Just to let you know, Elizabeth's lasagne has scooped the prize for creativity with a picture of me (in tomato sauce) on top. Setting a tough bench mark indeed.

We are very much looking forward to catching up with my sister Pip who is coming to London mid August to lend a hand.

Time to get into the sun. Take care all and enjoy the first Aussie Grand Slam winner (she is amazing) on Saturday for a very long time.

Stephen