Category: Cancer and Me

My cancer journal

The real cancer battle

My Allograft 2018/19 – 18. 10th March 2019 By Andy Burrows, 10 March 2019 Not much change Every morning I see my pale, colourless, hairless reflection in the mirror, and I feel slightly uncomfortable. The weight I’ve lost since the end of January is obvious – 12kg (26 lb / 2 stone) in six weeks…

By Andy Burrows 10th March 2019 3

The view from the summit

My Allograft 2018/19 – 17. 2nd March 2019 By Andy Burrows, 2 March 2019 Home So, the big news is that I’m home now, just this afternoon, Saturday. Sorry if that’s a sudden announcement, but I don’t like to raise expectations too much in advance, otherwise it creates too many questions, like, “Are you home…

By Andy Burrows 2nd March 2019 2

Up and down

My Allograft 2018/19 – 16. 28th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 28 February 2019 The tedious last few steps There hasn’t been very much to report in the week (almost) since I last posted an update. And it is starting to drag to be honest. The summit of my Everest climb is in sight, and…

By Andy Burrows 28th February 2019 0

Coming out of the clouds

My Allograft 2018/19 – 15. 22nd February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 22 February 2019 Progress measures Things are continuing in the right direction, I’m pleased to report. Yesterday, I tried to eat something, but after two spoonfuls of Rice Krispies I couldn’t take any more. It was bland, and my stomach was complaining. I tried…

By Andy Burrows 22nd February 2019 1

On the turn

My Allograft 2018/19 – 14. 20th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 20 February 2019 Good signs So, no further deterioration. And some encouraging signs of the start of a slow bounce back. I haven’t been sick for a few days. And whilst I have a syringe driver pump attached to me 24/7, delivering anti-sickness medication,…

By Andy Burrows 20th February 2019 4

Still plugging away

My Allograft 2018/19 – 13. 18th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 18 February 2019 Allo vs auto It’s Day +11 today. Eleven days after I received my donor’s stem cells. I’ve been in hospital 21 days. To set that in perspective, my autograft hospital stay was 23 days in total, back at the end of…

By Andy Burrows 18th February 2019 2

Hunkering down

My Allograft 2018/19 – 12. 14th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 14 February 2019 Feeling the Everest analogy It’s been a week since I last wrote. And I’ve really been feeling the Everest analogy! It struck me that when you’re climbing a mountain like Everest there’ll be days when you can think and plan ahead,…

By Andy Burrows 14th February 2019 1

Day Zero

My Allograft 2018/19 – 11. 7th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 7 February 2019 A day’s delay Transplant day – the day I receive my donor’s stem cells – was scheduled for yesterday (Wednesday). However, I was told on Tuesday evening that my donor had not produced enough cells in one day, and they would…

By Andy Burrows 7th February 2019 0

Frustration and joy

My Allograft 2018/19 – 10. 5th February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 5 February 2019 Same snow, different hospital Well, the freezing, sub-zero, temperatures of the weekend have gone… not that I noticed much looking out my window on Southampton, which managed to stay clear of the snow and ice. It was weird feeling left out…

By Andy Burrows 5th February 2019 3

Not plain sailing

My Allograft 2018/19 – 9. 1st February 2019 By Andy Burrows, 1 February 2019 The Rhinovirus When I got a visit from one of the transplant consultants yesterday, I thought it was just the normal ward round. The junior doctors do the daily rounds and one of the consultants joins them once a week. But…

By Andy Burrows 1st February 2019 1