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
