It's All On Today

First up, a new alliance between New Zealand, Australia, Canada and  UK is underway to do something about Colon Cancer.  In New Zealand today, the Beat Bowel Cancer Aotearoa is launching in Parliament.  I will be supporting this effort.  Right now, about 100 people a month die in new Zealand due to colo-rectal cancer, around twice the road deaths and more than alcohol related deaths.  Both road deaths and alcohol problems get extensive publicity, government education and correction programs, but colo-rectal issues get next to nothing.  Why is this?

Second, I am meeting my mother in Christchurch Hospital shortly, my brother is bringing her through from Ashburton for a liver biopsy to try to identify the cause of her liver lesions.  At this point the most likely reason is metastatic cancer, but the source in unknown.

And finally, we plan to go to the caravan in Glentunnel this afternoon, until Friday morning.  Need to be back to meet with the oncologist on Friday afternoon.  Weather is looking good and I am feeling ready for it.

About the oncologist meeting, for the past 2 days I have been researching and thinking about the decision on whether to have chemo or not.  That work, plus the fact that I am not able to live life the way I want to due to slow recovery, has really done my head in, and I have got quite depressed.  I am feeling better today though.

In terms of the chemo decision, it is clear that there are incremental changes taking place in colon cancer screening and treatment.  However it takes at least 5 years to truly evaluate the 3-5 year non-recurrence and survival rate.  And some of the promising chemotherapy regimes have proven to have negative consequences over time.   Unfortunately most currently available clinical trials do suggest I have limited promise of a 5 year survival, and reading that data is quite depressing, I had expected at least another couple of decades to get everything done that I have in mind.  However realistically there is hope and I do have fair cause to expect to be able to hassle people for quite a few years yet.

I have yet to commit to a position on chemotherapy and will be seeking more data on Friday, I also have a few more people to talk to.  There is no hurry, but it will be good to get this situation resolved.