next update on Nan

it is now the end of October and my mother's condition is deteriorating. Family and friends are welcome to visit her in hospice care and to contact me on my mobile for any updates. Jo

Nan has been on the new round of chemo for a few days and still has a good appetite but also a bit of nausea. She has new hearing aids and is impatient for me to get on with her cigarette supply. Time to start putting my old cigarette rolling skills to work!

The St. Vincent's Cancer Centre is very good, but so far we have seen three oncologists in three visits, all nice young women. Today's reviewed last Friday's blood tests and talked to Nan about the last round of chemo. We were disappointed to discover Nan has not actually gained weight (52kg). The doctor said many people report feeling a bit of 'fog' during chemotherapy, and this is consistent with how Nan has been feeling about her memory. Nan is on a new regime of 3 tablets night and morning for two weeks, a week off, a blood test, and then back to the doc on Monday 8 July. She'll have a scan in August, to see if the drugs are making any difference to the tumours.  After the appointment, we went to see Olga Silver who is an in-patient at St. V's following a fall (?fractured humerus). Tomorrow Nan is speaking at a service honouring an old and dear friend, Helen.

Back tonight from Sydney: it was a short and sweet break in the Ibis at Darling Harbour. We had a view of the water, and even better of last night's fireworks. Fran and Mark were frequent and warm visitors, and took us out for a splendid Chinese lunch overlooking the harbour. After a yummy lunch at Bondi beach today,  my friend Di took us out for an afternoon tour of beautiful parts of Sydney today, and finally to the airport. Nan was happy to spend most of the trip sitting in the winter sun but said on return that she felt like she'd been away for a month. In a good way, I'm sure!

Just got off the phone from Nan, who had a better night's sleep apparently. She said it is today that she is going out for lunch with Jeffrey. Nothing further to report.

Greetings to all of you who love Nan: She is finishing up the first round of chemotherapy tablets today, and going out for lunch with Jeffrey. This will be a week without chemo and on Friday, Nan will have a blood test before seeing the oncologist again on Monday morning. In between, she and I are flying up to Sydney to stay at the Ibis, because Nan decided she wanted a holiday and that Darling Harbour was where she wants to be. This will also give us a chance to catch up with an old schoolfriend of mine who loves Nan, Fran McIlroy. Today Nan is not feeling too good, after a bad night's sleep, so I hope the lunch outing will cheer her up. Please keep sending her encouragement on the email, and drop in when you can.

If anyone is reading this, you will have noticed the absence of updates recently. This is because Cate is down for a few days, and I am not seeing Nan daily for the time being. Nan went shopping on her own on Tuesday, and with Cate on Wednesday, and has some new clothes, boots and wallet to show for it. It seems that the chemo has been quite tolerable. So, luckily, has at least one small meal from Meals in a Moment. Nan was having a rest in bed, as she does most days, when I rang earlier today. Will post more tomorrow evening.

Nan is starting on oral chemotherapy this evening: two tablets night and morning for two weeks, then a break for a week, then a blood test and back to the oncologist on Monday June 17. She is planning to go shopping today, and looking forward to Cate's arrival this evening. Please keep emailing her as she really appreciates the  moral support.