I am sorry.

I am sorry that what we have written about Joan's unsuccessful journey through chemotherapy may have upset people who are in a similar situation. She had no idea that she had cancer...a simple gastro upset caused her GP to investigate with a CT scan and we heard the horrible news. Her case was stage 4, but with aggressive mets from the bowel cancer to the liver and lungs.

I should have gone first.

Take heart that aggressive treatment for your cancer will probably reap results.

Blog is terminated

I will no longer post on Joan's Cancer Blog.

The Lock Family Blog will continue with frequent postings including reflections on my dear wife.

Kevin

requiescat in pace

The journey through cancer therapy was long and hard. The number of tumours in her liver alone totalled 30 and surgery was not an option.

Joan was accepted onto a trial using Folfox6. That was later changed to two other regimes and she was accepted into the SIRT program where minute irradiated spheres were inserted into her liver. Unfortunately nothing worked and she suffered greatly from the side effects.

Even though she lost her appetite and could eat very little she still collected recipes from the newspapers.

She was able to participate in some group functions until quite near the end of her journey.

Today is her funeral service and we are holding a wake at our place for her. my loss is almost unbearable.

Farewell my Joan

Our beloved Joan has passed on. She left us at 6.20pm yesterday.

We went into battle against the beast knowing that any treatment could only give us extra time. She was able to see our daughter married and participated in social events up until the last few weeks.

We will miss her terribly every day.

Beloved wife and mother

Joan is still with us but the Silver Chain nurses have told us that it is only hours before she goes.

See the Family Blog.

Stressed out

Joan is still in hospital at St John's. This is probably the first time in my life that I have felt real stress. See the family blog.

More hospital

Joan has had to be re-admitted to hospital for an infusion of electrolytes and X Rays of her chest and bowel. It is thought that she has a bowel obstruction. She is fasting until tomorrow morning before having the X Rays. The decision was made by the Silver Chain nurse who listened to her bowel gurgling to find that above a certain position there was movement, but down lower no movement or noises. We will know tomorrow. The Oncologist had previously told us that the bowel tumour was probably restricting the bowel, but to insert a stent was not practical as the bowel is constantly moving to move food 'down the line'.