Desert Island Discs

We have asked a friend of ours to do a "Desert Island Discs" interview with Quentin. She is doing a broadcast journalism course and would make a great Kirsty Young replacement in years to come. Quentin has pondered for hours over which 8 records to take with him.

Helen has known Quentin for a few years but wants as much material as possible, so I had the idea of asking you all for some anecdotes and / or thoughts on Quentin for her to use. Things he's done, his approach to life etc etc. I'm sure you've all heard the programme. Quent thought this was a brilliant idea... for a few moments. And then he looked a bit less sure ;o))

So, maybe I should encourage you to think of Oakley as your main audience. Feel free to email me on hwebbhome@gmail.com if you think discretion is required! But do please send them in. Even if we can't use all of them in the recording, we'll enjoy reading them and can drip feed them to Oakley as he grows up... The U, PG, 15 and 18 collections!

We hope to make a great recording which shows what a fantastic, fun and talented person Quent is - but more realistic entries are also welcome. (Just kidding, Quent!)

Silver Linings

We have been collecting silver linings ever since the cloud descended. We have found a surprising number, including

Clear bone and brain scans
Losing a bit of weight (Helen)
Having Quentin at home
Adding to my MP3 collection (Quentin)
Home-made soups and other delicious goodies delivered to our door
Lovefilm DVD rental
Hearing from people for the first time in ages
Babysitting credits - which we plan to cash in the New Year
Messages of love and support from family and friends

... and the availability of your own medium on which to post Christmas wishes when you run out of time on the Christmas cards!

Apologies to those who did not get cards - we are still thinking of you and hope everyone has a very happy Christmas and a healthy New Year.

Quentin, Oakley and I wish you clear blue skies in 2007, with huge silver linings around any clouds which may appear.

Prodigal Quent

Quent returned to work this week (in the office every other day, and working from home in between). He has really enjoyed seeing everyone - and the warm welcome he's been given.

Tonight we popped over to Rickmansworth so that he could go to Scouts. The Explorers were equally delighted to see him (and he them) - I didn't go in but I could hear their welcome as I turned the car outside.

No wonder he's getting out and about. Weeping is bound to be on the long list of new driving offences, so I had better pull myself together or risk a custodial sentence. Apologies to anyone who has seen me "on the brink" over the past few days - and to the whole of Chiswick which is now on an amber flood alert.

We have a great weekend lined up - if Thomas the Tank and Father Christmas don't cheer me up, then the Scout Panto is bound to.

Oh yes it will...

From speckles to spots

Quent had his second CT scan today and then we saw Dr Savage.

News

The bad news is that the speckles have grown. They have approximately doubled in volume since October. I am devastated by this news. Static speckles was the only thing I wanted for Christmas. Now we have spots (approx 12mm each).

There was some encouraging news, however. The cancer seems to be "moderately agressive" (not static, not fast growing) and Dr Savage said that he feels quite reassured. It does not appear to have spread to the liver, bones or brain. We need to watch it closely but we don't need to set a date for treatment yet. Dr Savage expects treatment will need to start sometime during 2007.

Dr Savage also mentioned that there are two more drugs about to be licensed for kidney cancer, so there are 4 new drugs in this area in the last 2 years. With such an increase in treatments all of a sudden, they are still working out how to put them together.

Next steps

Because the CT scan gives 400 times the radiation of a chest X-ray, Dr Savage said we will monitor with chest x-rays (each month) for about 6 months, before doing another CT scan - unless Quent starts feeling unwell or the x-rays show significant change.

Quent confirmed he would like to be treated at Charing Cross, with the triple therapy (the one that's more toxic but has a chance of better life extension) when the time comes.

Q&A

Quent asked whether the growth is linear - ie. can we expect the speckles to double again in the next 2 months. Apparently it's not as neat as that and we can't predict growth rates.

Quent also asked whether his immune system is trying to fight the cancerous cells and failing or failing to recognise them as bad. Apparently, the understanding of how the immune system interacts with kidney cancer is fairly modest. Immunotherapy sometimes helps, but it is still unclear how or why.

Finally, we asked about a heart and lung transplant. He said this has never happened for a cancer patient. There is a shortage of donors, it is a huge (and expensive) operation and there is a chance of microscopic spots being elsewhere and then growing.

Conclusion

I am aware that your view of our situation is dictated by my mood and this is a gloomy post. The truth, though, is that things are progressing pretty much as expected. There is still a while before treatment, then a good chance Quent will respond - as well as several new drugs to play with further down the line. We may not have static speckles but there is still good reason to have hope.

We're back

We are back in rainy London after ... rainy Nice! We had a lovely time in spite of the weather - and one day it was nice enough to sit on the beach.

Since we have come home, the boiler has played up, the microwave has blown up, we have moths in our coat cupboard and the Dyson's on the blink. Not to mention the rather dogdy "is that a rat under the floorboards?" smell in the living room.

But I do remember vowing that I could and would cope with anything in exchange for Quent's speckles staying small. I guess I have to keep to my side of the bargain and hope all of this is a good omen. Bring on the rain and the rats - I'm ready!

Quent now has two big days ahead of him. He returns to work tomorrow. Part time, at least till Christmas and probably working from home quite a bit, but with a chauffeur the rest of the time to save him the long drive.

The following day (Tuesday) we have the next CT scan followed by an appointment with Dr Savage to review the state of the speckles.

We have learned from a medical friend that often, once the primary tumour is removed (Quent's kidney), the secondary tumours (in the lungs) stay static for a while. It seems the body is so pleased the big guy has gone, it finds a few speckles a doddle to fight. So we are not expecting bad news from this CT scan, though of course as the medics say, nothing is guaranteed.

We would appreciate all positive thoughts, prayers and crossed fingers to be directed Quent's way on Tuesday morning at about 10.30am.

I must go and polish my cap and check the tyre pressures. I'm on duty first thing in the morning.

All in a day's madness

There I was, 9pm on Friday night, getting excited about our holiday and writing my list of everything that needs doing before we go on Tuesday. It suddenly struck me that Quentin's passport might have run out. We rushed upstairs and thankfully it hasn't.

But it will on Tuesday... The day we fly.

Quent's plan was to fly out as normal - as his passport would still be valid - and then to flash his scar and "plead cancer" on the way back. To be honest, it probably would have worked, but I wasn't too keen on the "what if it doesn't" scenario. The conditions in those detention centres look dubious and I don't want to go back down the wound infection route. It's true that Chiswick is pretty handy for Harmondsworth, but in the end we called the Passport Office and the nice man in Delhi has arranged for us to get a passport done in person on Monday.

Meanwhile Oakley has finally stopped being a girl. It's all very well being a Princess in November but we have opened one advent calendar window and he's spotted an even better chance of glory. As of this evening he is to be addressed as "Baby Jesus". Except of course at passport control, when I will put my foot down.