Back to the Future: Part 3

Yesterday Caitlin had a routine blood sample taken to make sure her counts were fine for a trip to Addenbrooke's today.


Everything came back fine and we were good to go. Today was the last of Escalating Capizzi, which consisted of Vincristine and Cytarabines. We had to wait a little while as they have to be made up and being Monday, they have a backlog of two days to catch up on. Everything went absolutely fine and once again, everyone mentioned how well she's coping and doing through this tough block, she's put a bit of weight back on and her counts are good.


Which brings me to the next block, its called Delayed Intensification... I know, it sounds like a method to torture James Bond. However, this 2 month block, in theory, is Caitlin's last before Maintenance. This block features all our old favourite drugs, Dexamethasone, Mercaptopurine, Cytarabines, Vincristine, Cyclophosphamide, and Septrin. We also add in Doxorubicin in this block, which damages DNA and kills cancer cells. It is a type of anthracycline antitumour antibiotic, lovely bit of alliteration! This block is mainly at Addenbrooke's hospital, with Ipswich administering a few of the drugs. We hopefully start on the 25th of June, blood counts permitting. It's going to be fairly intense (d'uh!) but Caitlin has had these drugs before, and we're used to it all by now so we've just got to plough on and see August as the light we've been so desperately aiming towards. I'll add the flowchart on here once I scan it in, it may not make much sense to anyone but at least people can get an idea of what we get and go by.


The charity fundraising is going well with the organisation of the gig fundraiser going full steam ahead with amazing raffle prizes coming in, Cyclemania is coming along nicely, there's an awesome bike rally being planned and the best of all, my Dad and the team did the BT Three Peaks walk in awful conditions in 10 Hours and 45 Minutes. So far he's raised £1030 for Clic Sargent but it looks like a load more is being added to that so it's a brilliant achievement from everyone and a massive thank you to everyone who has donated!


We spoke to a couple today who's little girl was in the early stages of treatment, and it brought back so many memories of how we were at that point, scared, confused, angry but most of all unsure of what the future held. The little girl was so sweet but just so angry at everyone, and it just reminded me of what we went through and how we coped with the help of the charities and the hospitals and the people around us. I'm determined to raise as much money as I can this year.


XXX