If only chocolate cured cancer instead of chemo

Even though we have been locked down a few weeks now, pretty much every single day we are able to find a reason to celebrate. And today a few extra reasons! But let me start at the beginning.

Since 12 March of this year, Norway has closed its borders. Airports have seen a drop in travellers of up to 95%, plenty small and bigger businesses are struggling for survival and all schools and universities are closed. For a full list of all the measures taken in Norway, please refer to this site. Even though it is in Norwegian, I am sure you will get the gist of what is written there.

Where we already lived in a sort of protective bubble ever since Marco went into the hospital, it now seems that more and more people have created their own bubble. Social distancing, staying within the kommun borders, avoiding the masses, shopping when there are least people. And staying at home. No working at the office, no going to school.

Home is where the heart is and home these days is also where pretty much all the action is. Or the non-action, as all this home-time also leaves plenty of time for reflection and stillness. No rush to get dressed in the morning I wanted to write. Rest assured (or be disappointed), we do get dressed in the mornings. Sometimes a little later than usual, but we do get dressed. Without being stressed. With me being on 100% sick leave, I have all the time in the world to be there for Mik´s home school and all the rest that comes with our day to day life. Locked down or not.

With plenty of people I know worried about their job, I am in the lucky circumstance that I do not have to worry right now as I am on sick leave. I can´t help but feel guilty though, seen as I would love to do all that is possible to help our company get through these tough times. The prospect for the tourism industry seems to look bleaker and bleaker with every day longer this pandemic lasts. 

So yes, sick leave. Just this morning, I had a chat with my oncologist and boy do I have reason to celebrate because the weekly chemo seems to be doing the trick! I really do like my oncologist, even though he did start our morning meeting with his obligatory ´How are you doing?´. Seeing the look on my face made him realise that we could cut to the chase and start with the evaluation of the treatment straight away.

The weekly chemo has done several good things:
- the activity in the metastases in the pelvic area has come to a stand still
- several of the small metastases on the liver seem to have shrunk
- metastasis in the upper back is stable
And I am holding up well, considering I am receiving a pretty hefty dose of chemo every week.

<time for glasses clinking, drumrolls, celebratory dances and the rest!>

What´s next?
To really make this treatment stick, we are continuing with 3 more booster shots as I call them. Then a pause week and 3 more booster shots. After those 7 weeks, we will do a new evaluation (MRIs, CT, blood works etc) to see whether the stability has stabilised if you know what I mean. I like to believe it will have stabilised and then heck yeah, even bigger celebrations are in order!

And then what?
Yep, that is the bit that took a tiny bit of getting used to. Getting my head around the idea if you will. As long as this treatment keeps my cancer stable, this is the treatment we stick to. So yes, chemo for life.

And even though I got the most amazing Toupim hair (do check them out, they are AMAZING!), it looks like I will never ever have my own hair back. I know, that is only minor. As long as I have my  health, who cares about the hair.

So all in all, I have no reason whatsoever to complain. I mean, my body is amazing at dealing with the chemo and with the result being as good as it is, what more could a girl wish for?

<online shopping for summer hats and caps and bandanas!>

I so hope that all of you are as safe as we are: physically, mentally, financially, socially and all the other -ly´s you can think of. From our protective bubble to yours: you mean the world to me, so please take care and look after yourself!