July 22nd – On my way to The Tumour Vaccine Group

On my way to the Tumour Vaccin Group at Medical Center.  Note to myself: I must remember to take my strong painkillers to make the vaccinations less painful. The vaccinations are not ‘jabs’ like we give our children for Measles. They are 3 sets of injections, where the go in just under the surface of your skin and then they wiggle the needle, to spread the serum, around that area under the skin. It is so HORRIBLE – and this happens three times……….off I go ……..  Luckily I  remembered the pain killers.  I was greeted by the lovely nurses and administrators again – which reminds me so much of chemo – you just can’t be sad or tired when you are surrounded by such positive people.  After blood tests and  the usual long questionnaire of any symptoms or reactions are talked through and a thorough physical check up  (very happy to see that my blood pressure was 94/62).  It was all over in a matter of minutes – and I was observed for an hour and then the delightful Ismail took me to the airport bound for NY. So its all over for this month and I come back next month.  It has been a very easy thing to partake in but what disturbs me somewhat is that they do not have their full quota for this trial.  If anybody knows anybody who has Stage IV Her + Breast Cancer and is currently on Herceptin, but is in Remission then please contact the Tumour Vaccine Group for information about partaking in this trial.  There is no down side – but a huge upside – basically it could keep that person tumour free for many many […]

By |July 24th, 2014|Blog|0 Comments|

July 21st – Back to Seattle for my 3rd trip

I can’t believe it is two months since I first started my vaccinations at ‘UDub’ – Washington University Medical Centre, with the TVG group. I seemed to have waited for them for so long to happen, and now I am almost finished! I went again in mid June, and now today. Yesterday I was in London in the morning, New York in the evening and Seattle today. Tomorrow I have my vaccinations and hop on the plane back to NY. So its been rather a lot of travelling and I don’t really know whether I am Arthur or Martha (i.e. I don’t know whether I am coming or going!) at the moment or whether it is breakfast, lunch or supper. I was met by Ismail at the airport, who I met last time I was here. Gosh – he makes it all so much easier. If you ever come to Seattle – Ismail is your man – he knows Seattle like the back of his hand, is charming, polite and punctual. (Ismail – United Car Service, Seattle +1 206 228 6526.) When I arrived at my little Inn, conveniently situated near UDub Medical Centre, I was greeted with the smiliest of faces and a welcome ‘home’ with such enthusiasm. It is the small things in life that make it so special and worth living. All these special people are the ‘real’ people, the ones behind the scenes enabling us to go about our business, the ones that don’t get mentioned – the cogs in our society – that make it work and run smoothly. So thank you Silver Cloud Inn for helping make my trips so much more easier.

By |July 22nd, 2014|Blog|0 Comments|