Steroids
OK, so I am officially an emotional wreck now.
There is still no conclusive evidence of cancer in Bella's blood, which doesn't mean she doesn't have it; if it's in the bones then it wouldn't show up. But it also means there is a chance that something else may be at play.
She is too weak for a biopsy and general anaesthetic, and we don't want to put her through that just to find that it's cancer after all. However, we can try steroids. This would be a way of ruling out anything else, because if she responds to steroids, then it might mean that her anaemia is caused by something else that steroids can treat. If they don't work, then we know that it's almost certainly cancer and we're back to square one.
It is our last option, but it's a chance. We may just be buying time, but it's time I am grateful for. More tests to run on Monday. They will expect to see her cell count either stabilising or improving if the steroids are working. I have to go to Lisbon with work - the worst possible timing. But I know Eddie will hold the fort brilliantly and he'll let me know the outcome. I've already warned my boss that I may be exceptionally wobbly if we continue to have bad news.
Yesterday Sarah came over for a coffee - from Yeovil. She said she was just exhausted and could not face going in. It's unheard of for her, taking a sickie?! I do understand though. The hamster wheel can really grind you down. And I was so grateful she came over, we sat and talked over coffee about life, work, the children, our families, clothes, cars, dogs...everything. It is wonderful to know that I have a friend in a very similar place to me, with the same challenges and frustrations. We're just doing the best we can. She cheered me up no end. You don't need many friends in this life, sometimes just one fabulous one in the right place at the right time, can make a huge difference.
There is still no conclusive evidence of cancer in Bella's blood, which doesn't mean she doesn't have it; if it's in the bones then it wouldn't show up. But it also means there is a chance that something else may be at play.
She is too weak for a biopsy and general anaesthetic, and we don't want to put her through that just to find that it's cancer after all. However, we can try steroids. This would be a way of ruling out anything else, because if she responds to steroids, then it might mean that her anaemia is caused by something else that steroids can treat. If they don't work, then we know that it's almost certainly cancer and we're back to square one.
It is our last option, but it's a chance. We may just be buying time, but it's time I am grateful for. More tests to run on Monday. They will expect to see her cell count either stabilising or improving if the steroids are working. I have to go to Lisbon with work - the worst possible timing. But I know Eddie will hold the fort brilliantly and he'll let me know the outcome. I've already warned my boss that I may be exceptionally wobbly if we continue to have bad news.
Yesterday Sarah came over for a coffee - from Yeovil. She said she was just exhausted and could not face going in. It's unheard of for her, taking a sickie?! I do understand though. The hamster wheel can really grind you down. And I was so grateful she came over, we sat and talked over coffee about life, work, the children, our families, clothes, cars, dogs...everything. It is wonderful to know that I have a friend in a very similar place to me, with the same challenges and frustrations. We're just doing the best we can. She cheered me up no end. You don't need many friends in this life, sometimes just one fabulous one in the right place at the right time, can make a huge difference.
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