I saw the oncology consultant on Thursday.

There is no easy way to say this - it is easier to write about the nice things in life. I am in the valley of the shadow of death again, having lived in the sunny uplands (and some of them very sunny) for so long that I have perhaps forgotten the shadow.

The cancer is growing again, maybe not unexpected although the implications have not sunk in yet - and we do not have enough information to know where it will go. I have not taken cancer meditation for some time and  I cannot continue with the wonder-drug (Tarceva) on which I did pretty well for well over a year. I am to get another lot of chemo (combined peretrexed and cisplatin). The side effects are a lot harder than the chemo I have had in the last couple of years. I have to go into the oncology ward to get the treatment and then stay overnight, getting out the next day, all being well. This starts next Sunday.

 Dear friends - thanks for your support and communications - they comfort me beyond what I can express.

Appendix

Look back to around Sept 2009 for earlier references to the valley. It comes from:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,
for thou art with me;
thy rod and thy staff comfort me.