It’s official

“No Evidence of cancer currently”

Straight from my oncologist on Tuesday afternoon. I’ve had a “full and complete response to the immunotherapy”

I’m so grateful for medical science and for the whole medical team that has supported me at various stages.

Friends and family are rightly really pleased for me, and the whole family.

So why don’t I feel as happy?

Probably because while I’m no longer in pain, or in imminent danger of death, my life has been turned upside down. I still have chronic fatigue caused by the immunotherapy and breathlessness caused by asthma.

These two are severely limiting in my day to day life still. And this gets me down when I cannot do something I feel I should be able to.

Eg: Playing which the dogs in the garden and then struggling to walk up the stairs. simple things.

People just think cancer has gone now so why not move on and stop playing “The C Card’, and I understand that, but I’m going to be facing the knock on effects for a long time to come.

My treatment is continuing for the next 12 months every 4 weeks with a CT scan every 12 weeks. So I’ve got to deal with the fatigue for a while.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m managing the fatigue a lot better, I can work almost a full day and hope to get to a full day soon. And it will continue to improve as my fitness levels (very) slowly rise.

For now, I’m extremely grateful to still be here but I still have a mountain to climb.

Comments

6 responses to “It’s official”

  1. Brenda Davis ( Mum ) avatar
    Brenda Davis ( Mum )

    Treatment that you need will still knock you for six
    You and your body have undergone massive changes , so it’s understandable that you will feel tired and fatigued
    Just don’t expect sudden changes , they WILL happen I am sure, but give yourself chance here You have coped with everything so well
    STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF
    You are doing awesome work

  2. Brenda Davis ( Mum ) avatar
    Brenda Davis ( Mum )

    Treatment that you need will still knock you for six
    You and your body have undergone massive changes , so it’s understandable that you will feel tired and fatigued
    Just don’t expect sudden changes , they WILL happen I am sure, but give yourself chance here You have coped with everything so well
    STOP BEING SO HARD ON YOURSELF
    You are doing awesome work

  3. Alex avatar
    Alex

    Couldn’t be more pleased for you fella!

  4. Alex avatar
    Alex

    Couldn’t be more pleased for you fella!

  5. Ruth avatar
    Ruth

    Huge congratulations, Steve.

    Your body and mind have worked so hard for so long to achieve the result. Huge respect to you (and Katie) for how you have handled it all.
    Enormoysly frustrating as it must be, you need to be kind to yourself and let it take some more time. Meanwhile, enjoy that holiday!
    Love to you all, Ruth x

  6. Ruth avatar
    Ruth

    Huge congratulations, Steve.

    Your body and mind have worked so hard for so long to achieve the result. Huge respect to you (and Katie) for how you have handled it all.
    Enormoysly frustrating as it must be, you need to be kind to yourself and let it take some more time. Meanwhile, enjoy that holiday!
    Love to you all, Ruth x

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