It's been quite some time since the last update and a lot has happened. Thanks for your interest.
Firstly, many, many thanks to everyone who has donated, whether large or small, it has all contributed to taking the total beyond $5,000 and this has made a huge difference for Sandra and Charlie.
So, the chemo started but there were complications. The dose was too high and it put Sandra in hospital for a few days where there were further complications so we almost lost her then. That was remedied but the side effects meant that after each treatment started she was sensitive to high and low temperatures. This resulted in wearing a beanie and gloves to go into the fridge and on one occasion, on leaving chemo in Wellington, taking a southerly in the face and her windpipe contracted, she collapsed in the hospital reception and the crash team were called. Fortunately before they commenced the tracheostomy (open her windpipe) to enable her to breath, the cancer team suggested the less intrusive solution, to give her a cup of tea (thus warming the windpipe and reversing the contraction).
However, as chemo's progressed, it became apparent that they weren't going to be able to resect her liver (ie slice up and cut out the cancers) and the only other treatment was what they call SIRT's. Here's the official description of what that is:
Selective Internal Radiation Therapy (SIRT) is a treatment for liver cancers or tumours that delivers millions of tiny radioactive microspheres or beads called SIR-Spheres® directly to the liver tumours.
SIR-Spheres® are about one third the diameter of a strand of hair in size and they release a type of radiation energy called ‘Beta’ radiation. Beta radiation is a common type of radiation used in other nuclear medicine therapy and diagnostic procedures.
SIR-Spheres® are approved for the treatment of liver tumours that cannot be removed by surgery. These may be tumours that start in the liver (also known as primary liver cancer), or they may be tumours that have spread to the liver from another part of the body (also known as secondary liver cancer or metastases).
Anyway, this isn't available on the health system in New Zealand but you can pay for it privately at about $50k. However, as Sandra is English by birth there was an alternative option to go back to the UK and have the treatment there. So, in July, Sandra packed hers and Charlie's bags, got on a plane and arrived in Birmingham for them to give her the treatment. This was always going to be temporary, Charlie was there for the school holidays and his 9th birthday and would come back with friends or may stay a little longer to come back with Mum after the treatment and Sandra was going to be away a couple of months but she needed to be back by 31 October as she has a ticket to see Robbie Williams in concert in Wellington.
Best laid plans and all that...
On seeing the specialists in the UK they had a different plan. Stop all treatment and see what happens! Scary!! There was a method to their madness which was to assess how the cancer was developing to see what the best solution to it would be. And here comes the big news; they think that they can still resect the liver. That's always a better solution to the SIRTs which would be last resort.
So Sandra and Charlie have now been in the UK for two months. It was decided (by Charlie) that it was best to stay with Mum until the end of the year and go to school where Aunty and Uncle teach. Charlie has started school and loves it but is also missing his friends back home. Sandra's new chemo starts next week and this type of chemo will have different side effects; hair loss, acne and 'exploding bottom' (maybe too much information there). This is going to be 6 treatments of 2 weeks each and she will need to carry the chemo around for 2 days at the start of each treatment. Charlie may need to board at the school, which is quite exciting for him and gives Sandra some assurance that he's going to be ok (due to her sister's work commitments).
And yes, no Robbie Williams!
Thanks for bearing with us during this longer update. A couple of smaller ones to follow...
