[Chirley]

Hi,

Well I went to the cancer centre for a port flush today. I was about to leave when a nurse came and handed me an appointment time for Monday. I didn't know anything about this and neither did she, she just said I was booked to come in 5 days a week for the next 3 weeks for "treatment".

After then having to see my haematologist it turns out that he has accessed some IV Copper Chloride which he wants me to have for the next 3 weeks and then maybe once a week after that. He said I could be admitted into hospital for 3 weeks to have this or have it in the day care. I'm not sure I even want it. I went to the pharmacy to find out how long it takes to have the infusion, what the side effects might be and how much it costs. Guess what, they didn't have answers to any of my questions. They did say that they would prefer it if I was an inpatient for at least the first week of treatment. I'm supposed to get a phone call from them today with the information I wanted.

I still feel well and I have progressed neurologically and I no longer have to use my walker. It's so good to be back to the walking stick. The doctor said that I'm not physically improving but the neuro rehab is helping me adapt to my new normal.

I had a blood test for the first time in a month and I didn't get numbers the doctor just said that my Hb is good but my neutrophils and platelets have "crashed". My ferritin has fallen 3,000 in 4 weeks BUT he said this isn't an accurate reading because copper deficiency masks iron overload and that he wants me to start chelation next week. He said maybe Exjade or IV chelation (I assumed he meant Desferal-does that sound right?) He said that when I start copper replenishment the ferritin level will increase a lot.

I'm not sure about any of this, I'll have to think about it and make a decision by tomorrow.

I know ignoring it is just burying your head in the sand but I would've liked to have had a bit more time "off".

Regards