DARA Cycle 8

I have to admit that I'm glad that Cycle 7 is over.  The side effects of two of the medications had become significant. Velcade had suppressed my blood counts requiring that I receive platelet infusions.  My red cell count was also down resulting in anaemia.  Taking dexamethasone on 8 occasions resulted in sleepless nights and increased tiredness.  My consultant will be prescribing sleeping tablets so at least that condition might be avoided.  

Cycle 8 is the last intensive of the series.  Cycles 9 onwards are maintenance cycles lasting 4 weeks each and requiring only medication on two days.  My consultant is also hoping to recruit me onto another trial which sounds very encouraging.

Recently, there was an article on the television which featured a book "Flying High in the Sunlight Silence".  The author is a highly talented autistic teenager who has created some truly amazing art.  Within the book is a poem by A.F.Harrold who my wife knows.  Margaret wrote to him and he has given his authority for me to publish it here. The poem comes from "The Book of Not Entirely Useful Advice" and also "The Book of Hopes" (read by Stephen Fry).  

A.F.Harrold's website is at http://www.afharroldkids.com

Enjoy the poem and smile:

Keep safe, keep well and KBO

Stephen

Vaccination

 Within days of receiving my invitation, today I've now had the Covid-19 vaccination

Almost by coincidence, I elected to attend the centre at the former RAF Locking at which I spent so much of my career and which is just minutes from home.  The local pharmacy had established the centre and, as you would expect, there were multiple volunteers waiting to guide each recipient through the process. For the record I received the Astrazeneca vaccine. 

I can only marvel at how quickly things have moved on and to say a very sincere thanks to everyone in the NHS and all these dedicated volunteers.

As a postscript, I received my vaccination on the Saturday. On the Monday, I noted that details of it were reflected on my GP records. Most efficient.