It seems strange that I only get to write a post once a year, but that is a sign things are going well!
I have recently had my “Fast flow port” removed from my chest as it has been 3 years since it was installed and almost a year since I have accessed ECP treatment.
And I am now being slowly weaned off many of the drugs – down to just 12 tablets a day!
There is a saying that “you only measure what you don’t have enough of”. For most Australian farmers that is rain, for many that is often money and for me that was my blood test results and health indicators.
I am pleased to report that I have stopped recording daily health observations and drug usage. I have stopped recording daily exercise, observations and movements. I only have a blood test every 3 months.
For me this is a strong indication that my health has improved significantly. I am back to 90% of what I used to be and my wife, Jan reminds me that as we get older 90% is the old 100% so that means full health!
My GVHD sclerodermatous skin condition has improved considerably. My Hematologist, Amit Khot was delighted with the improvement as he believed the progression could be halted but was rarely reversed. I am grateful that I have proven him wrong.
I recently spent time mountain biking with my son Lachy and nephew Ned Sheridan.
Sadly we lost our good friend James Watson who I met when we were both undergoing treatment for Leukaemia in RMH back in 2017. In an unbelievably rare event James contracted a new blood cancer this year called MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome) which is a pre-cursor to AML. This cancer was contracted through his bone marrow donor which was not detected at the time of assessment. The donor most likely has not presented with this cancer which has raised a moral dilemma for the team at Peter MacCallum in how they communicate this back to the donor.
James leaves behind Victoria and three lovely girls, Georgia, Chloe and Millie. We attended his funeral in Melbourne which was huge with more than 800 people.
We miss him greatly and cherish our friendship forged during a tough time.
Geoff Beats Leukemia 