Hello my healing team,
I hope this update finds you happy and well.
I am progressing well through my treatment. Chemo……tick, radiation therapy………tick, stem cell (SC) harvesting………tick. The SC harvesting went really well. I spent a gruelling week in hospital. However, I did manage to catch up with a lot of people, get out for dinner a few times in Fitzroy and Collingwood, I got to a few footy matches (go tiggies) and managed to pop into the cinema to catch a flick. Gruelling. Regardless it was productive. Dr Ali needed to extract five million of my precious SCs which is enough for two transplants, but given I am fit and healthy, I managed to give up nine million. Anyone need any…………..just text me.
I am now fast approaching what feels like the serious part of my treatment. I am booked in to undergo a SC transplant on 11 August. As noted previously, they give me high dose chemo which will effectively remove all cancer, my bone marrow and white blood cells (my immunity). They will then reintroduce my own SCs which will re-establish my bone marrow and white blood cells minus the cancer. The aim of this remains Complete Remission (capitals intended)!!
It feels to me that the shock of being diagnosed with cancer has subsided. I have spent a lot of time talking to my close family and friends of our new predicament and the challenges that we face, and I feel that we understand better what our journey is going to entail (both the good bits and bad). Importantly, regardless of the medical uncertainty and statistics, I remain steadfast in having a positive outlook and retaining the belief that I will live a long time with (or even possibly cured from) cancer.
A well known symptom of my SC transplant will be the loss of my hair. To prepare myself for this I thought I would get ahead of the game and shave my head. I thought it could be a good opportunity to raise money for the Leukaemia Foundation. On telling my brothers (of which I have six) of my intent, as a show of support, they all decided to join in and make it a mass shaving!! Not wanting to be left out, my two sisters are also keen to have a serious hair cut for charity. So this is the bit where I lean on your generosity to support us in ‘OUR’ GREATEST SHAVE. I have set up a fund raising page with the Leukaemia Foundation. Thanks in advance for your generosity and support.
http://my.leukaemiafoundation.org.au/geoffnyssen
I have been reading a lot recently on the topic of wellness and self improvement and have come across several quotes that have resonated with me. I like them because they are simple;
- Instead of multitasking, do one thing at a time and do it well.
- Be present.
- Life isn’t waiting for the storm to pass, it is learning to dance in the rain!!
- When eating food, eat not too much and mostly plants.
- The commonality that unites most popular or ‘fad’ diets is that they recommend mostly unprocessed plant foods with or without lean meat, poultry or seafood and which is low in refined starches, added sugars and highly processed foods.
- When considering traditional Vs alternative treatment approaches, implement them both. Just know what treatment you are undertaking and why!!
I’ll be in touch soon to provide an update as I progress towards having a cold shaved shiny head.
Take care
Geoff