Second try

As we headed out of town on Tuesday to celebrate Louise's 65th birthday at a lovely resort north of Nanaimo, I got a call asking me to report to Vancouver General Hospital at 7.30 the following morning! Louise is very good about accepting these fluctuations in fortune so we drove straight to the ferry instead of a resort. I showed up on schedule for the biopsy and was a little nervous as this time the approach to tumours was to be through my back muscles! I need not have worried. I am accustomed by now to intravenous lines, injection of dyes, controlled breathing in the CT scanner, sedation, etc. The surgeon had extraordinary skills and was done his work in a jiffy. I had to rest for a while to make sure there was no excessive bleeding and then Louise drove us all the way home again! My orders are to rest for two days but that will be difficult as I feel terrific and the weather is perfect. Hopefully, we have harvested many active cancer cells this time and the Personalized Oncogenetics study can go ahead. I should hear soon if the sample was successful.  Peace and love to all as this endless summer unfolds, Nigel

Setback

Last night, I learned that my recent tumour biopsy did not provide enough cancer cells for the genetic testing to be carried out. Most of the harvested cells were dead. There is good news hidden in there too!  So, I have indicated that I would like to move on to a second biopsy at the earliest opportunity. As soon as arrangements are in place, I will post again. In the meantime, I am keeping well and active. The biopsy did trigger a period of pain for two weeks but that is over now and I am back to normal.  Our summer continues perfect every day.  Peace and love, Nigel