Update 15/10/09

Hi All,

Well, Tim has finally been able to resume treatment this week. This was after much discussion and a meeting between the oncologists and haematologists at the Austin, where it was decided that Tim would resume the treatment protocol, but the dosage of all the chemotherapy to be reduced by fifty percent. We have decided upon this strategy as a way of moving forward and receiving treatment. Otherwise, we were falling into the cycle of having one full dose of chemotherapy that was completely wiping out all cell production in his bone marrow and being unable to have treatment for several weeks. As you can imagine, it is has been a huge mental challenge for Tim, where the continual 'rejection' at Day Oncology has been depressing. We see this move as very positive, a) because it is a step closer to the end of the protocol and b) that he does have the 'luxury' of being a candidate for a reduction in chemo.

So, Tim recommenced yesterday, with two chemotherapy drugs (Cyclophosphamide and Cytarabine) administered through his PICC, three drugs ( methotrexate, cytarabine and dexamethasone) intrathecally (into the spine) and one drug (Thioguanine) orally. Just a nice way to ease him back into it all!!!! Boy oh Boy !! He is due to have cytarabine daily this week as well as the chemo tablets for 14 days straight, all at half the dose originally prescribed.

Tim, so far, has noticed that the side effects are only half as bad. This is great. Usually, after a full dose of what Tim had yesterday, he would be bed bound for a couple of weeks. But on the reduced dosage, he is able to sit up, with mild nausea and headaches. So this does seem a promising move forward.

We are counting down the days till Ian Gawler's Residential Life & Living Program. It will mean a short break in treatment, but the doctors at the Austin are very happy for Tim to go and compliment his medical treatment with the natural therapies offered. The two main focuses of the program will be meditation and diet and we are both so keen to participate and immerse ourselves in some natural healing. We will miss the kids like crazy, but see this as such a valuable opportunity. The kids know we are going to "Ian's" or "the man with one leg" to help daddy get better and they are extremely excited about all the time they will be spending with nanny and poppy and nanna and pa! I think we are all pretty lucky really!

So glad to finally have some news for you all.

Take care,

Love Andi