GOOD NEWS!!

When I went to the Haematology unit at Shrewsbury hospital for my chemo on Tuesday 30th December, I was delighted to be informed that the current treatment regime has been running for almost 18 months as planned, which means that the chemotherapy treatment will stop on 13th January 2026.

My blood results are all good, and the abnormal proteins that Myeloma produces are static at a count of 9, which is low. From now on, I will only be taking Lenalidomide (a daily pill). This drug is similiar to Thalidomide, and works by inhibiting cancer cell growth and enhancing the body’s ability to fight cancer, and it has a good effect against Myeloma.

To keep an eye on things, I will need a blood test every month, which will be done in Whitchurch, and what happens next will depend on the results of the blood test. If everything remains stable, that’s good, but if the abnormal proteins start to rise (which they probaby will eventually), then a different line of treatment may be the next step, but it will be up to my Myeloma Consultant to advise. So it’s a wait and see game really. There are lots of new treatments for Myeloma coming on line recently, so there should always be a treatment option for me.

At least this now means that after 13th January, I will no longer need to go to Shrewsbury Hospital for 2 days every fortnight, and nobody sticking needles into my veins either (apart from an occasional blood test, obviously!)

My haemoglobin levels are good, which means plenty of oxygen circulating in my red blood cells, so my energy levels are very good. I go to the the gym 2 or 3 times a week and have definitely got quite a bit stronger. I can also take the dogs for a long brisk walk without getting out of breath.

So, that is a brilliant way to start 2026!

Holidays are the next priority – I’m planning a city break to Europe in March and we will be taking short breaks in the UK as well, dependant on the weather of course.

So what am I going to be doing with all the extra free time, I hear you ask? Well I already do the gym, jigsaw puzzles., reading, sewing and crochet, but I am thinking of volunteering at my local Charity Shop in Whitchurch (the Severn Hospice one). I’ve picked up an application form so will get that filled in and see what happens next.

I am also part way through an online iphone photography course, which is really good, and on the back of it I had an early Christmas present, in the shape of an Iphone 16 Pro (so not the very latest model), and the camera on is it fantastic! I am also learning about how to use different apps to edit/enhance my photos, and I have to say I am really enjoying it!

I had a lovely air fryer for Christmas, which seems to be able to do pretty much everything, so that’s something else for me to get to grips with, which I’m looking forward to.

I’ve also been having a good tidy up, as when you live in a large house, you have room for quite a bit of stuff, so I’m addressing that and getting rid of stuff that never gets used. So if we do ever move somewhere smaller, then at least I’ll be ahead of the game. So far, I have only moved from a one bedroom cottage to a 5 bedroom farmhouse, so at that point, all my furniture would have fitted into one room!! Having said that, I don’t think I would want to go back to living in a one bedroom property…..

I think that’s enough from me for now, so all the best for everyone for 2026……