What a week!

You know me; once my passion is ignited I cannot stop until it’s done. This week started with renewed passion at work. I felt great and healthy so nothing would get in the way to work the whole week and push the limits. Everyday I felt exhausted, needed my lunchtime power nap, but I could initiate pending stuff and get myself involved in a new initiative.

I told everyone that I had recovered, and it truly feels like I am telling the truth! My energy is back at levels not felt for a long long time. I went with my family to see the last episode of STARWARS and I drove back after the exciting 4DX experience, with actual wind, rain, rocking chairs and being punched in the back. I had enjoyed it with all my senses!

Having so much energy left on Friday night at 23:00 after a long week makes me so intensely happy! Gone are the days of energy draining side effects. No more hospital visits every other week. No more. Just live a normal life, week in week out. Wow, I had forgotten how it was. Will I really be able to pick up my life from where I left it 3 years ago?

It sounds like a miracle, something cancer patients cannot dream of. Patiently and gratefully I accept every day as a gift, as life is given back to me. One day at a time, no plans, no wishes. Christmas carols all around and I feel reborn. Hallelujah!🙏

Updated history

6 Jan'17 : surgery in Singapore to remove a polyp, Melanoma is diagnosed

16 Feb'17 : maxilliary sinus and nose surgery in Singapore to remove Melanoma from nose and left sinuses

1-19 Apr'17 : proton beam radiation (5 sessions) in Kashiwa Cancer Center Tokyo

1 May'17 : starting work again (part-time)

25 May'17 : MRI scan finds possible metastasis in the spine

1 July’17 : Move permanently to Tokyo for treatment.

7 Aug'17 : MRI/PET scan, cancer in sinus and nose is gone! Melanoma has metastasized in the spine and other bones

9 Aug'17 : Melanoma specialist in Tsukiji Cancer Center proposes treatment for bone metastasis: one-shot strontium drip, followed by check-up after 3 months and then decide on Opdivo. Admission tests: blood, X-ray, CT-scan, ECG test.

14 Aug'17 : Strontium IV is not suitable for me as I have no pain. Also because the short/long term side effects are bad for the bone marrow.

21 Aug'17 : Start 3 months immunotherapy. 6 infusions of Nivolumab (Opdivo)

30 Oct'17 : CT scan, priliminary diagnosis of treatment effect, continue with Opdivo as there are many tumors in brain artery, liver, left kidney, spleen, spine and other bones.

1 Nov'17 : Decided to start a new life. Erasing the past in my mind and focus on living life as it should be lived: once. Enjoy the small things.

13 Nov'17 : CT-scan shows all tumours have reduced in size: brain, liver, left kidney, spleen, spine, etc. Start 2nd set of 6 infusions.

25 Jan'18 : CT scan shows shrinking tumours, ongoing repair in bones and a new swollen lymph node. Start 3rd set of 6 infusions.

1 Feb'18 : Start working 6 hours/day, 4 days/wk.

5 Apr'18 : The detailed report of the CT-scan is not in yet but the oncologist said it looks good.

10 Apr'18 : My radiologist is very positive that primary site is clean. Metastasis is also shrinking continuously, so he is convinced I will make it. 

19 Apr’18 : Detailed CT-scan report, infusion no18. Continue infusions for another 1.5 year (probably).

11 Jul’18 : CT-scan looks great. My radiologist is so happy to see us and says a miracle has happened.

18 Oct'18 : Blood is normal. CT-scan shows continuous shrinking of tumors, infusion no30. Keep on going!

Jan'19 : Blood is normal. CT-scan shows continuous shrinking of tumors.

Apr’19 : Blood is normal. CT-scan showing same continued progress. Some spots in the lung will need confirmed in the next scan.

May’19 : PET/CT scan shows that all activity in the body has cleared except for a spot in the maxillary sinus.

Jul'19 : CT scan shows all is clear. The detailed report is also all clear, only some remaining traces in the bones.
Sep'19 : Start Opdivo with 4 weeks interval. Next scans in Oct'19 and Jan'20 to check the impact.
Oct’19 : CT scan shows all is again clear. The detailed report talks about remaining traces of tumors but not if they are active or not.
Nov’19 : Blood test is normal, infusion #52. Start taking iron supplements to recover from chronic anemia.
Dec’19 : Doctor decides that infusion #53 is the last one. Next CT scan in planned in Jan’20. Anemia is recovering.