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