To Oz or not to Oz?

That is THE question. Today I have scans and Chemo doctors appointment  to find out if I'm fit to go to Oz for my 4WD advernture with Jim and the team. If the tumors in the lung are significantly bigger, I wont be going. If there has been little or no growth, I'm good to go, albeit there is a risk factor. But then, isn't life one big risk?
Apologies for the lack of 'blog activity' - the week in Melbourne with the family was full on, but a great experience none the less. Visited the magnificent Tutankhamun exhibition at the Melbourne Museum, and a very nice Waterfront restuarant courtesy Mike and Gina. Aus seafood cuisine at its very best!
My book is in its final stages - hope to have it pretty well finished before I leave. We even have a couple of Childrens Books on the go, also in the 'illustration' stages. These (hopefully) will be our new income source, depending of course on future cancer prognosis and treatment. Much work to be done yet!
Pray for the best outcome this avo when I see the specialist,and any future treatment - chemo, vitamin C, or whatever I decide. The new diet, supplements and fitness regime are keeping me in good nick - I almost feel normal again!
In the meantime, google the Canning Stock Route, Wiluna and Halls Creek. These names will mean nothing to you, but they are the starting and finishing points of our Big Trek.(excluding the travelling from Perth and to Darwin before and after the CSR) Longer than Cape Reinga to the Bluff, just not quite as green!
More to come....

Decisions, decisions...

Next week - off to Melbourne for a few days to catch up with Gina, Mike and the grandkids. This week - decisions on a very expensive test to help determine the best chemo treatment to take when I start in July. Results may show a specific drug, or drugs, or even no treatment. Or have alternative treatment. Plenty of prayer and wisdom needed here to make sure I make the right decision. No medical insurance cover for this one!
Great weekend as we joined the blue-rinse brigade at the Andre Rieu concert on Friday, complete with surprise appearance from the Seekers! Remember them? Almost needed walking frames to get on stage, but Judy Durhams voice was as powerful and magical as ever. And the Viennese orchestra was fantastic. Many thanks to Bruce and Ruth for the tickets - courtesy of the Cancer Society! Vey appropriate.
Beautiful Mothers Day on Sunday as the 'family' took us out to Western Springs for lunch and a walk in the sunshine. Great reminder to look after our mums, daughters and wives, who have enriched our lives so much.

And 'My Story' is just about  finished! Once Terry has put all the pics in place (thanks mate) all systems are go! This is the autobiography you've all been hanging out for, advance orders accepted, signed copies available! (how much more PR sales drivel can you handle?).
Have a great week!

Tornados and 4WDs...

Just when you thought it was safe to go shopping, the tornado strikes! Fay and I both happened to be in the Albany Mall at the time the tornade struck - neither aware that the other was there. Pretty freaky stuff! I left the car with bits of iron, trees and debris falling out of the sky on cars all over the carpark and rushed to one of the stores for cover- thankfully I chose a spot away from the centre of the action (quite by accident) but it was all over so quickly. We ran up and took a few shots on our cellphones, unaware of the injuries and fatality that had already occurred. The scene was pretty horrific - debris and roofing iron everywhere, ripped up trees, cars smashed and on their roofs, people rushing around frantically trying to find loved ones. Thankfully the fire service, police etc were on the scene very quickly, and quickly cordoned off the area. Little did we know then  the path of destruction the tornado would cause as it tore through other housing areas on the Shore.
Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the construction worker who was killed, and the others who suffered serious injury - looking at the scene it was a miracle more weren't killed.

Other News! my next round of chemo was planned for late May/early June - a 6 month 'mother of all chemo courses' which is bound to leave me shattered. HOWEVER, I have prevailed upon the very wise and understanding chemotherapist to delay it for 6 weeks or so, and he doesnt see it being a problem. Reason? We have been planning for almost a year now to do a 4WD trip with good friend Jim and a few mates through the Canning Stock Route, Perth to Darwin, the 'mother of all off-road tracks' in WA. (thats two 'mothers' in one paragraph!) in June. Crazy? perhaps, but I've never been a safety first person, and if I dont do it now,I may never get to do it. I'll be ultra well prepared, well, as much as one can be in the Outback, and I know you'll all be praying for the 'crazy man'. I'll promise to behave, and bring you back a boomerang or stuffed dingo. Family and friends will be looking after Fay while I'm gone.
More news coming - keep in touch!

Another bit of 'rough road' coming up...

The results of the latest CT scan was a 'good news, bad news' story. Good news - the tumors being targeted have shrunk, and are quite a bit smaller. Bad news - the cancer is confirmed as an 'aggressive cancer' and has spread to the lungs. These are still tiny growths, but its a bit of a worry that they are there at all. So a new round of heavy-duty chemo treatment is planned, timing to be confirmed. Those who have been there have told me I'm in this for the long haul - i hope they're right! So as part of the journey, consider this a patch of rough road with a few pot-holes - but there's smooth road ahead!
 Just returned from a fleeting visit to Chch to catch up with travelling friends and family - if they can repair this city, restoring me to full health should be no problem! Right now I'm sussing out alternative treaments to complement my new diet and health supplement regime and help the healing process.
Will and Kate are done and dusted, Breakers rule, and the Blues are the No 1 NZ rugby team. All is right with the world!

CT Scan day come and gone....

Well, that didnt take long! Less than 4 weeks and I was in for another CT Scan this morning. Results wont be known for a day or two, but I'll keep you in the loop. Like waiting for school exam results, only I won't want to fail this one! Your encouragement, prayer and support has been amazing and so appreciated - keep it up!
Helpful hint to prevent cancer - and believe me, prevention beats the cure everytime. Google WebMD, and on the column on the left, click on 'cancer'. Two very helpful heading in the list are Cancer Fighting Foods, which gives 20 hints on foods to eat/avoid to give yourself the best chance of avoiding cancer. Most of the foods I've already bored you silly with over the past 2-3 months, but its worth a reminder Not over the top, not extreme, just very basic and sensible advise which would benefit everbody - complete with colour pics. Plus, a heading 15 Symptoms Men Ignore - every guy should read this!  Definitely no place for 'Kiwi macho - I dont need to go to the doctor' attitude when it comes to checking out unusual or niggly symptoms. Believe me when I tell you, it could save your life.
You can subscribe to the WebMD newsletter - no cost, and definitely worthwhile.
Off to Earthquake City on Friday to catch up with family and friends. Enjoy the Breakers v Taipans/ Blues vs Highlanders/ and some little wedding in London (William somebody?) - I hope your house has three TVs - there will be a test on all three 'events' in the next blog!

Its Friday, but Sundays coming...

I've been neglecting you - so sorry! Truth is being in limbo is no fun, but it does give me a chance to finish up GST returns, end of year accounts and all those other boring things that are necessary. The supplements and 'good food regime' are keeping me going, and I even have a personal trainer coming once a week to help restore the bod to some of its former glory (minus the weight-loss!) Thanks Glen!. Thats Glen the friend, not Glen the son.
This weekend its Easter - we know what Friday stands for. Why do they call it Good? Pain, anguish, betrayal, loss, suffering. Most of us have been there - some of us are still living in the 'Friday' Take heart - the story of Easter is that there is a Sunday, a day of redemption, victory, renewed hope, new beginnings. Its not just another story - its THE story. Its what gives our faith wheels, makes it the Greatest Story Ever Told, and gives our lives purpose and significance. I've had my fill of Fridays - like you, I'm hanging out for Sunday, when the glory of the resurrection puts everything we do, everything we are into perspective. So have a great Easter, go easy on the Chocolate Bunnies (sugar, remember?) and thank God for life. And if your life seems stuck in the Friday, heres the good news - Sundays coming!

The waiting game...

Waiting is never easy. Whatever we want we want now, and waiting for it doesnt build the expectation, it just makes us more impatient and more frustrated. Anyway, thats me. And with the last two weeks out of the way since the 'treatment', we're now in waiting mode. Waiting for the radiation and chemo to finish their work (yes, its the gift that keeps on giving, even when you stop getting it) and the bod to restore itself to some sort of normality. And after 3-4 weeks - another further round of scans to see what further treatment is required, almost certainly more (higher dose) chemo, and possible surgery... all for a few more months? Who knows? In the meantime I am embarking on another course of treament from an alternative specialist, highly recommended, with the hope that whatever she can do will negate the need for going back to the traditional treatment. These costs arent covered by any health cover, and they dont come cheap, but ifs it helps the cause, it will be worth it.
The cab has gone, so now we're on the lookout for some casual or part time work - this is the first week I've felt up to it since the treatment stopped, so thats a good sign! Stay with me during this 'limbo' stage, dont give up! I'm not! Now for a nice fish meal courtesy Phil the Fisherman - well done Phil, and thanks!