Category Archives: Uncategorized

Well! COVID has finally caught up with us! Those of you who follow us on the socials would know that we have been (carefully!!) out and about at a time when this latest wave is raging!! Elaine came down with it on Saturday and I followed on Monday. So perhaps this is another chapter. WeContinue reading “It Comes to Us All”

It’s about two months since I finished my “first course” and we’ve been putting the “plan” from the last post into action and actually getting “OUT!” quite a bit although we are always rather circumspect lest we pick up some strands of Omicron (probably BA.2 at this stage)! We have been to a great ACOContinue reading “Out & About – at least a little bit!!”

Last Friday, 18th Feb 2022, was a pretty significant day in this journey. After 2,190 tablets in just over 12 months (not counting paracetamol!) I have officially finished the first stage of my cancer treatment. This is the finish of the Venetoclax (and the antiviral and anti-urea sidekicks) after having finished the Obinutuzimab infusions lastContinue reading ““Opening Up” aka “Setting Sail in a Pandemic!!””

After almost a full year I have started on the last bottle of Venetoclax (having finished with Obinutuzumab in June) and am headed towards the end of this course of treatment around Feb 20. My blood tests are fine , on all measures, and with my Doc we will do a test for MRD (MinimalContinue reading “Finishing the first Lap !!”

Some of you may remember my COVID plan (from a few months ago) which, apart from taking all possible steps to avoid contracting COVID, centered on getting Regeneron or Sotrovimab asap after being admitted to hospital. I was feeling pretty good about my chances with this regime but the recent Omicron flare up and theContinue reading “It certainly is a New Year – let’s hope it goes OK!!”

To paraphrase Star Wars (who would never know it is not an exact quote?) one of our main defences against COVID is “down”. This article in the NYT 21/12 gives the very disturbing news that two of the three monoclonal antibodies that have been the main defence of hospitalised, immunocompromised people appear to be NOTContinue reading ““One of our main shield generators is down!””

I haven’t written anything for a while which is generally good news and all is going pretty well on the physical front. I have three months to go on Venetoclax and my bloods are “perfect” and my only ailment is tiredness but even that sounds wimpish coming from an alpha male like me!! 😉 –Continue reading “Just a little bit stir crazy!!”

I’m spurred on by NSW “re-opening” and being acutely aware of my presumed lack of vaccine protection and encouraged by the excellent CLL Society (from the US) to prepare I have made my plans!! To the left is my “label” which will hang around my neck when/if I actually go to hospital!! Below is aContinue reading “Roll up Your Sleeve (again!) and get ready for anything!!”

There was a terrific presentation a few days back which give some really good information around the concerns re Vaccine Efficacy and Antibody testing which I spoke about in the last post. Sponsored by the Leukaemia Foundation and available in full on Youtube COVID-19 Vaccinations: Fact and fiction this presentation was given by: Associate ProfessorContinue reading “Antibody tests – Do the vaccines work for us? Should we get checked?”

I had my blood test and the follow-up Telehealth on Monday (yesterday) and the good news is that the blood test is pretty much perfect which is a nice way to be!! Now believe me when I say that I know I am very lucky to have had such a good treatment and such aContinue reading “Well, I’ve had the Jabs but ……..”