Yes yes I know, I've been going downhill for years...

I don't mean THAT kind of downhill.  I mean that I'm now at the end of my 4th week of 7 of radiotherapy, I've had 2 of my 3 sessions of chemotherapy and I feel like a downhill skier racing to that target of 18th April when my treatment will end.  The light is definitely getting brighter but obviously I'm under no illusions that the hardest part of the journey is yet to come.

Quick progress report.

I've received 20 doses of radiotherapy.
I've received 2 doses of Cisplatin chemotherapy.
My cold is still lingering and causing me more problems than the radio/chemo put together.
My throat feels like I have permanent tonsilitis.
I have contracted a mouth infection called 'oral thrush' - quite common during the process and extremely painful.
I am 11kg (24lbs) lighter than when I started 4 weeks ago.
I haven't eaten anything for over a week and am living off 'milk shake' food supplements fed through a tube into my stomach.
I've spent 3 days throwing up after each dose of chemo

And the real progress is - the oncologist had a good look into my throat on Wednesday and claims there is already a visible reduction in the tumour and that things are going to plan.   Thats the kind of news you grab hold of with both hands, cling to very tightly and hope, pray and hope again that all of this is going to be worthwhile.

This week has been very hard following my chemo on Tuesday evening.  I have found it very difficult to keep down even the milk-shakes and as such I havent had any food at all for 48 hours, feeling a bit light-headed - so todays priority is to take on board some calories.

Looking forward to the weekend, I may even try to get to the match tomorrow as I am desperate to get away from the 4 walls of our lounge and do something.  We will see how I feel...

All the best to you all, thanks for logging on and reading, the blog now has a regular monthly readership of over 1,000 people which is absolutely staggering.  I sincerely hope you all buy the book when its published, priced at £9.99 in all good booksellers

Have a great weekend

Nigel xx