We saw the specialist on Wednesday 25th and all is good so far. I don't know what they look at however from his blood test results they can tell that all is looking and progressing well with treatment at the moment. He is still in remission so that's fabulous and now that Luke's reached true maintenance chemo cycles for the next two years the prognosis looks pretty good. I really think now that he's made it through all of the intensive chemo he's on the right path. So let's just keep fingers crossed that it stays this way throughout the rest of his treatment.
Luke has currently been on 50% dosages of Mercaptopurine and Methotrexate as his liver function tests went through the roof. A few weeks ago they increased the Methotrexate (which is a once a week chemo tablet) to 75% of the dosage. His blood tests showed that his liver function increased slightly but nowhere near as bad as they had before. They are just going to monitor this and see if he copes with the increase or whether they drop him back down to 50% dosages. We asked the specialist about the long term effects of not having the full dosage and the response was that as he had made it to maintenance chemo the reduced levels would not affect him and also different people react in different ways to the chemo and the results show that for Luke even the reduced dosages are doing what they need to.
So it was good news all round.
Luke had 4 exams over the past 2 weeks. We were a bit concerned at first as he had to have an intravenous chemo treatment on the Monday and he was scheduled to have 2 exams on the Wednesday and 1 on Thursday with the last exam the following Thursday.
We decided that as Luke always feels pretty lousy 1-2 days after this chemo, that we would contact the university accessibility area and see if they could move one of the Wednesday exams. They ended up rearranging his whole exam schedule. So he ended up with 1 on Thursday / 1 on Friday / 1 on Monday and the last one on Tuesday. So they ended up being quite evenly spread out and gave him enough time to study.
I really don't know how he does it - I'm sure he must have a photographic memory! He ended up not going to any of the lectures throughout the semester (due to being behind after his hospitalisation and playing catch up with assignments), and just looked over the lecture and tutorial notes and textbooks. He thinks he's done pretty well - the results come out 10 June. He's been getting fairly much top marks for all of his assignments. We are really proud of what he's achieved so far.
He now has 2.5 months off university till 2nd semester starts. They do run a winter term if you want to finish off your degree earlier, however he's decided he'll just stick to the normal full time 3 year course, studying 2 x semesters per year. I think he deserves a break now anyway. He's put on a fair bit of weight over the year due to steroids, eating lots!! and lack of exercise. So now that he doesn't need to study, I'm on his back to get outside and exercising.
I'm thinking we all deserve a holiday, considering as a family we haven't been away anywhere since January 2010 to Port Macquarie, that was just before Luke got sick. We all want to go to New Zealand sometime, however originally I had thought October school holidays but the rugby world cup will be on then and costs will be through the roof. So we might leave that one till January. In the meantime I'd really like us all to get away somewhere during July. I'm just starting to play with ideas. All I know is that we want to go somewhere soon and somewhere warmer than Canberra! I'd love to go to Hawaii but that becomes expensive for a short visit so we might just stick to somewhere close like Queensland.
Finally for anyone following my Mum's problems with having a catheter since August last year. She has finally after quite a few tests and doctors visits been told that one of the muscles that controls the release of the urine can't be fixed. She is now trying out self catheterisation. Oh to be a fly on the wall while Dad and her try and sort this out! So far so good and all seems to be working well. At least she is now free of having a bag with her all the time.
Think that's all for now. I'll update any news in a month or so.
Monday 2nd May 2011
I've just realised I've been very amiss at not doing a post on the blog for a month.
Last I wrote that Luke's liver function test went sky high and his chemo was put on hold until his blood levels settled back to normal.
The good news is that his levels did settle down - it took about 2 weeks. He then recommenced maintenance chemo but on 50% of the original dosages of Methotrexate and Mercaptopurine. So far all seems to be going well on these dosages. Luke goes to see the Resident doctor this Wednesday so he'll get the full run down of what's going on. He then has an appointment with the specialist on the 25th May and at that stage I will go with my millions of questions to ask about Luke's progress and long term prospects. We haven't seen the specialist for quite a while (Luke was meant to see him in March, however he got admitted into the hospital with the infection and didn't get to see him)so it will be good to catch up.
Otherwise I am really proud with how well he has been going with his uni work. He had quite a few assignment extensions due to his hospitalisation, however he has managed to catch up with these and is now on track with everyone else. He's been getting top marks back from the assignments he's already submitted.I think he has one or two more assignments to submit in the next week and then exams will be starting on the 18th May. So he still has a lot of work to do to listen to all the lectures he's missed out on in the next few weeks. I have no doubt though that he will do really well. He will then get to have about 3 months off as he will not do the new uni option of a winter term and will start up again I think in August for 2nd semester. I think he is really looking forward to the break and deserves one too.
We've all been keeping well. Amy did quite a bit of work at Donut King over the school holidays and is rolling in the money. She also had her birthday last month and she used birthday money and work money to buy a Canon digital SLR camera. So she has been busy clicking away at everyone. Murray is away this week at Tura Beach on a golfing holiday with some of his golfing group. I'm not sure that he's playing too well but at least he gets to have a nice break from work. I also got to have a nice 10 day break over Easter. I've had my head down doing assignments for a Certificate IV in Human Resources. Thankfully the last class is this week and only 1 more assignment. It will be nice to get some time back to myself.
So all is well in the Elton household. I'll let you know any news we find out after the specialist visit at the end of the month.
Last I wrote that Luke's liver function test went sky high and his chemo was put on hold until his blood levels settled back to normal.
The good news is that his levels did settle down - it took about 2 weeks. He then recommenced maintenance chemo but on 50% of the original dosages of Methotrexate and Mercaptopurine. So far all seems to be going well on these dosages. Luke goes to see the Resident doctor this Wednesday so he'll get the full run down of what's going on. He then has an appointment with the specialist on the 25th May and at that stage I will go with my millions of questions to ask about Luke's progress and long term prospects. We haven't seen the specialist for quite a while (Luke was meant to see him in March, however he got admitted into the hospital with the infection and didn't get to see him)so it will be good to catch up.
Otherwise I am really proud with how well he has been going with his uni work. He had quite a few assignment extensions due to his hospitalisation, however he has managed to catch up with these and is now on track with everyone else. He's been getting top marks back from the assignments he's already submitted.I think he has one or two more assignments to submit in the next week and then exams will be starting on the 18th May. So he still has a lot of work to do to listen to all the lectures he's missed out on in the next few weeks. I have no doubt though that he will do really well. He will then get to have about 3 months off as he will not do the new uni option of a winter term and will start up again I think in August for 2nd semester. I think he is really looking forward to the break and deserves one too.
We've all been keeping well. Amy did quite a bit of work at Donut King over the school holidays and is rolling in the money. She also had her birthday last month and she used birthday money and work money to buy a Canon digital SLR camera. So she has been busy clicking away at everyone. Murray is away this week at Tura Beach on a golfing holiday with some of his golfing group. I'm not sure that he's playing too well but at least he gets to have a nice break from work. I also got to have a nice 10 day break over Easter. I've had my head down doing assignments for a Certificate IV in Human Resources. Thankfully the last class is this week and only 1 more assignment. It will be nice to get some time back to myself.
So all is well in the Elton household. I'll let you know any news we find out after the specialist visit at the end of the month.
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