23 December 2023
Blimey – December already!
I didn’t realise it’s been two months since my last blog post, and while I’ve felt not much has changed – and it hasn’t really, I have at least made some gradual progress.
The treatment regime for pneumonitis has got me out of the worst of the problems and the lung inflammation has subsided. But I’m pretty certain there’s still some lasting damage to what was my good lung – and I’ve got more lung function tests lined up during February 2024 to try and quantify the situation.
The smart money at this stage seems to indicate I’ll be on supplemental oxygen long term. And while I’m getting more used to being hooked up to a machine and I can get out and about, it isn’t much fun at all really.
Still, on the bright side the last CT scan that I had in mid-November shows that the tumours in my right lung are still ‘stable’ – that means no growth (or disease progression as the medics say) since April, a good 6 months or so. I’ll take that as a win any day!
And yes, that’s given me another Xmas to celebrate – which is four Xmas’s since being pronounced Stage IV incurable, back in September 2020
I feel I can now share some history of prognosis discussions over the past few years:
In September 2020, the expected survival for my cancer of between 9-14 months. Skipped past that.
In Jan 2022 it was 50/50 I’d see the year out. Skipped past that one too!
In May 2023 it was just a matter of months. That took some getting around in my mind, but I reckon I’ve dodged this bullet also.
Because here we are at Xmas 2023 - I’m still doing okay and working on milestones for 2024 😊
Anyway – the clinical trial is stopped and won’t resume. I won’t be able to have any immunotherapy treatment in the future because of the serious risk of inflammation of one or more organs. So, as there’s currently no disease progression, I’m on observation only (no drug treatment), with CT scans until things change. Then it’ll be the 4th (and final) palliative chemotherapy – but hopefully not for a while yet.
Pleased to hear it!
Merry Christmas 2023 and to many more.
Love from the Fowlers
Cheers matey – all the best to you and yours, from me and mine 🙂
Merry Christmas and happy new year to you, Samros and Nisa.
Your collective quiet strength in adversity is an inspiration.
Hope keep dodging those bullets cowboy.
Best wishes
Peter Swead
Hi Peter and thanks for your note.
Been a while since I was in Ropers and pressed Levi’s. Yee Ha!
Wozzer – You are an absolute marvel. You’ve hung in there through thick and thin. Always in good humour. So congrats – you’ll beat more milestones yet.
Enjoy your Christmas with your family and your nearby friends. As for the rest of us, scattered around the world, we’ll raise a glass in your honour.
2024 is going to a big year for us too. I aim to retire from guiding to run the show from behind the scenes. We’ve a new brand identity too – something better suited to taking on the next generation. I’ll keep you posted. Charlie
Hey Charlie – glad to hear all’s going well and look forward to finding out about developments in ’24.
All our best to you and yours
Glad to read that you are ok…and no growth in cancer..in lung…keep fighting it.you have so well so far… seasons greeting…hears to another salt beef sandwich in 2024. All the best the other Garber
Thanks Laurence – all the best to you too mate. Yep – Selfridges Salt Beef is definitely one of my milestones for 2024
Always look forward to your updates, best wishes going forward, love to you and the family xx
Thanks – not too much to write about at the mo. Pity I came off the trial – that was a good source of blog material too!
Good news W . Keep those positive vibes going . Hope to see you soon when weather turns . Your team let me down today in my win treble . Have great Xmas . Love to all family. 🍺🥃🍷🍺🥃
Jim n Les
I enjoy watching Man U these days – makes me realise I’m not so ill after all 😉
All the best to you and Les too mate
You – and your wonderful family – are amazing.
Wishing you all a fantastic 2024.
Love from
Gillian xx
Ahh, what a lovely note – and the same to you and yours Gilly xxx
Hi Wozzer thank you for the update. No progression is good as far as medical jargon is concerned. At the minute you’re doing better than our beloved Man U watched today’s game it was sadly dire. Have a good Christmas with family. Hugs Hazel xx
Hiya Hazel.Yeah, as I said in another comment, watching Man U these days makes me realise I’m not so badly off after all 😉
Have a good ‘un XXX
Merry Christmas Wozza, Samros and Nisa, keep dodging them bullets mate! Me and the big guy will raise one (read a few) in the NY to more of that good news, and would be great to touch base in the new year, big love xx
Oh absolutely – lets get together on a video call soon xx
Haha, your humor shows that you’ve got many Christmases ahead of you mate.
Keep punching!
Lots of love from Phillary
Been punching well above my weight ever since I met Samros 🙂
Take care guys and have a great 2024
We all wish you and the family a wonderful Xmas ❤️ and we’re very proud of you amigo!!!
Tony, Jo and kids
All the best you you all – miss ya so much xx
Wozza,
Another great post, thanks for sharing.
I’m 6 months post “it’s incurable chat” and just had my 4th Immunotherapy session; your posts and your story are truly inspirational.
Here’s to 2024 and (at least) one more trip around the Sun 😉
Thanks JC. Yep, the immunotherapy treatments can really work wonders at times. But do watch out for any ‘itis’s’
One more trip around the sun – what a great line mate!
Here’s to a bright start to 2024 and continuing to dodge the bullets, Dad! 🙂 xxx
Yes indeed Rach xxx
Hey Woz,
Ulla & I are happy to see you are fighting those bad guys trying to knock you down.
We haven’t been to the UK in years.
You still “Indicating Right”?
Time is Marching On. Keep On Marching!
Can U do Whatsapp?
Ulla & Jay……NE2Q
New York
nice to hear from you Warren, glad things are better. Cannot meet when you are next in london, as its during School holidays.with Grandchildren.
Hope to see you sometime in the future.
Regards Laurence Garber