Comfortable Situation

I attended my consultant's clinic today and, as usual, provided blood for testing.  Considering my paraprotein, while I had been on maintenance therapy, this had been undetectable.  In December there was a suggestion that this happy situation was changing.  In April my PP had risen to 5.  In May it remained at 5 and accordingly I was withdrawn from the clinical trial.  In June the PP had only risen to 6 and suggested that I might be following a plateau.  The last test, taken in August,  has shown the possibility of a gentle rise to 8.  It would seem that two things need to be considered.  Firstly, my general blood tests, which check such things as haemoglobin and platelet levels, show no deterioration. Accordingly no myeloma treatment is required.  I need to be realistic though.  The maximum level of paraprotein I ever reached was only 57.  Clearly I have some way to go though.

I continue to see my many friends at the Bristol Haematology and Oncology Centre.  I have the reassurance that my health is being very carefully monitored.  The fact that I need not return for another two months (in December) indicates that my consultant is comfortable with my situation: so am I !

Since my last post, the most significant event has been a trip to the sun-kissed island of Crete.  We flew from Bristol to Heraklion, in which city we spent a very comfortable week in a hotel next to the old harbour.

Arriving in September, the temperature was typically in the mid-twenties each day.  The journey out had been spoilt by Bristol Airport's determination to expand quicker than its facilities - the long-stay car park, which we had pre-booked, was full ! The easyJet flight was late taking off being late arriving from its previous journey.  This must be inevitable if they develop such tight schedules. Heraklion airport is, well, Greek !  Our hire car was in generally good condition and efficiently provided.  The drive to our hotel was the usual experience of a strange car driven from the wrong seat and on the wrong side of the road, and in the dark.  Google maps did an excellent job and guiding us though.

During our stay we made the obligatory trip to the Minoan ruins at Knossos.  Fortunately we had previously visited the archaeological museum in Heraklion and had already bought tickets.  We thus did not have to join the seemingly endless entrance queue.  The site is huge and impressive but at some time the decision had been taken to provide reproductions of what was thought to have once existed.  The effect was something out of Disney.  We did visit another site at Phaistos.  It had fewer visitors, was smaller, and seemed more friendly.  Again, however, there was evidence of modern concrete.  That trip was made slightly inconvenient as the route to Phaistos passed through a town which had closed the road for a Saturday market !

Our return journey was to include waiting in Heraklion airport for the (yet again) delayed easyJet flight and a long walk once back at Bristol airport.  "Time to spare; go by air".

Despite the occasional discomforts of our trip to Crete, I feel very well and comfortable with my situation.

Be happy with this moment, this moment is your life

Omar Khayyam

Keep well

Stephen