Here to IMPRESS.... no not really, just kidding

Yep, it is that time again, once every 3 months. Time for a much asked for update after my latest oncologist visit. 

It was a grey and almost warm Oslo that welcomed me to Ullevål hospital. Seriously, the Helsebus is a great invention. Even though it takes a little over 3 hours, it is a very comfortable ride from Lillehammer hospital to the doorstep of the cancer care center at Ullevål. 

With all the Covid measures, it took a while to actually get into the cancer care center, but luckily I was there in good time. And right on queue, my onco called me in to his meeting room. With a big beaming smile which I took to be a good sign. And yes, I won´t leave you hanging: it was indeed a very good sign! Both the latest CT scans and the MRI´s show that the new chemo we tried for the past 3 months (Eribulin) has done the trick in taming the liver tumours, plus the rest of the tumours have remained stabile. Which is pretty much the best news I could´ve hoped for. 

The onco also told me that he has had mail contact with dear Gabe at the Antoni van Leeuwenhoek in Amsterdam and that he had received great info regarding the IMPRESS cancer research study. So after all these months of badgering my Norwegian onco for research studies I can join, it looks like he (or should I say they..) came through with this internationally recognised IMPRESS research study. The link leads you to info about the Norwegian IMPRESS study or the one that they are currently planning to start some time this year. Internationally they have already done a lot of research into cancer precision medicine. 

Seen as my current chemo and just one more remaining option are the only 2 treatments for my type of cancer left in Norway, it would be so awesome when they could get me into this study. My Norwegian onco is following up with the Norwegian IMPRESS research team as we speak to see whether I am eligible and how the logistics would work. I mean they will need tissue samples, new scans, blood work done etc. 

Can you imagine how excited I was when I left Ullevål yesterday? I mean my current chemo seems to be working (started a new round of 4 months of chemo treatments today) and there is more on the horizon than only the dooming prospect of being done with all possible treatments!

I am telling you, 2021 has already delivered and it can only get even better! 

I sure hope you all are having a great start to this new year too and all of the above: to be continued!