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Movies and Rugby Finals
The time eventually arrived for me to start the second treatment. Although Anne had called with the results from my bone marrow biopsy, we were all waiting for the final result: that of
the PCR test. Apparently this is the most sensitive test that can be performed, and the results are much more reliable.
I checked into the hospital, on Tuesday 21st June 1995 for my second treatment. The Professor and Anne both came to speak to me regarding what they were planning.
Because I had done so well in the first treatment, and given that I was in better physical condition than I was when I first was diagnosed (that is, I did not have Leukemia cells coursing through my veins!), they had decided to give me a much stronger dose of the three chemotherapy drugs than my first treatment. They also said that if the PCR test came back negative from my first post-treatment biopsy, that this may be my last treatment!
I was delighted.
This gave me the extra energy I needed to make sure the second treatment was as successful as the first. For the first eight days, I had to rest easy and watch TV. Bruce spent every day with me. I had a laptop computer with me, and Bruce and I would sit connected to the internet. One of the best sites I would visit was Granny Barb's home page, and participating in her discussion groups. This was a great source of information on Leukemia, Cancer and related topics.
It was around that time when South Africa was hosting the Rugby World Cup.
Bruce had brought with him a full sized South African flag, and had hung it up on the wall behind my bed. Because Melbourne is eight hours ahead of South African time, the matches were all played at about midnight (Melbourne time). I'm sure the odd squeal of delight would penetrate the night air in the ward, and all the patients and nurses knew the results - we made sure of that!
After the chemotherapy had finished the doctors would monitor my blood counts each morning, and if I was still showing good counts I was allowed to go out with Bruce during the day. It
wasn't long, however, before the effects once again kicked in. My counts bottomed out, and I started to feel generally ill. I had most of the same symptoms as the first treatment, only not nearly as bad.
I was not taking the ATRA pills, so the side effects were limited only to those of the chemotherapy.
The PCR Results
The result of the PCR test finally came in. However, I had told Anne that whatever the results were was of no
relevance since I believed that I would be OK. I thought that if the results were bad, I just didn't want to know. So instead of worrying, I decided not to know either way.
However, on this day, Anne burst into the room. She had a smile that told me everything. I was thrilled. This was an endorsement of everything I believed in. Bruce, who was
with me, was as thrilled as I was. For a long moment we all sat smiling and laughing at each other.
With the help of the doctors and nurses, and my family and friends, and my own relentless belief in myself, we had
come through the storm.
Now, ahead of me lay the blue, wide ocean.
I knew I had a long way to go. When Jacqui popped in from work to see me, we discussed what we would do when I got home after my counts came back up...
We were going to go back to South Africa for a visit in August of 1995, then I was to start work again in September. My thirtieth birthday was in March 1996. While in South Africa,
my friend Chris told me he would come out to Australia in March 1996 to see the first Melbourne Formula One Grand Prix, to go diving up on the Great Barrier Reef, and to celebrate my birthday.
Then there was Jacqui's thirtieth, and the close of the millennium. By that stage, I would be five years post diagnosis. I figured that if I made it there, I would have one hell of a celebration.
So I started to plan the party immediately....
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