Well, what a deeply unpleasant week this has been.

[berth]

Sending you positive vibes.

[Chips]

I'm OK for now.

Well if you ever get seriously bored, I do have a copy of War and Peace floating around...

I never got past page 10. And that's the introduction.

[Mopy]

Hi pj, hope you're doing well. Come out the other side of this soon!

[fiksal]

Wishing strength and power.


Any chance for some entrainment there, or there's no time for that?

Besides being at a hospital itself, I always found them incredibly boring

[fiksal]

I'm OK for now.

Well if you ever get seriously bored, I do have a copy of War and Peace floating around...

I never got past page 10. And that's the introduction.

In original Russian, that's probably page 200

[RegisterMe]

I'm OK for now.

Well if you ever get seriously bored, I do have a copy of War and Peace floating around...

I never got past page 10. And that's the introduction.

In original Russian, that's probably page 200

Life and Fate by Vassily Grossman is better and shorter (it's also a contender for my single favourite book). Don't be under any illusion though, it is long, it is Russian, it is hard work, and it is wonderful.

On to my only real point - sending @pjknibbs my best wishes. I'm thinking of you and wishing you well.


RM

[fiksal]

Life and Fate by Vassily Grossman is better and shorter (it's also a contender for my single favourite book). Don't be under any illusion though, it is long, it is Russian, it is hard work, and it is wonderful.

Glad you enjoy it. I have never really grown into the Russian literature. But I see it has its moments. Master and Margarita by Bulgakov only ever peaked my interest. And Strugatskie of course.

[pjknibbs]

Well, just had a needle inserted into my back to drain a bunch of horrible brown fluid that's built up next to my lung. Going to take a while to get rid of it all...

[Gavrushka]

Ewww! Mind, I guess you'll feel a hell of a lot more comfortable after it's fully drained.

Is it a side effect of the treatment?

[pjknibbs]

Don't know yet, they took a couple of samples to send to the lab so will probably know more later on. So far we've drained nearly 3l of fluid and looks like there's more to come!

[Redvers Ganderpoke]

Don't know yet, they took a couple of samples to send to the lab so will probably know more later on. So far we've drained nearly 3l of fluid and looks like there's more to come!

Sounds unpleasant and uncomfortable, whatever it is, it's better out than in.

[pjknibbs]

The main problem is that the tap which turns it on and off is digging into my back and making it quite sore--the actual needle bit itself is fine.

[Steel]

Still thinking of you Paul. Best wishes.

[pjknibbs]

Well, I finally got to go home yesterday. Been in hospital for around three months so it's about time! Now I just have five million things to sort out here. My twin brother is coming down from Darlington today to lend a helping hand, so will be good to see him.

[Steel]

Well, I finally got to go home yesterday. Been in hospital for around three months so it's about time! Now I just have five million things to sort out here. My twin brother is coming down from Darlington today to lend a helping hand, so will be good to see him.

Home! Good.

If you need any help with anything or fancy a F2F chat, just let me know. I can get to you.

[Gavrushka]

Well, I finally got to go home yesterday. Been in hospital for around three months so it's about time! Now I just have five million things to sort out here. My twin brother is coming down from Darlington today to lend a helping hand, so will be good to see him.

Delighted to hear you're out!

If your brother is planning on using the A167 out of Darlo towards A1M, tell him to try a different route. - There's roadworks, and they're a nightmare. (Hot off the press!)

[pjknibbs]

He's coming by train and Shank's pony, Gavrushka, so I don't think that'll be a problem, but thanks anyway!

@Steel: You're welcome to come round anytime.

[pjknibbs]

Well, discussed the next moves with the doctor yesterday. The plan is to put me on a third type of chemo starting in October--this is not intended as a cure, they're pretty sure there is none at this point, but they're hoping to at least shrink the tumour a bit and improve my quality of life, maybe even add a few months to it. He did say there's a CAR-T like therapy that could be tried but I refused that one, don't want to potentially spend what little time I do have left away with the fairies and unable to remember entire days--the side effects of the CAR-T were horrible.

[Gavrushka]

That was a very difficult choice to make, Paul, but fully appreciate why you chose as you have even though I wish it'd been otherwise. There's more I'd say, but I respect it's not my place to do so.

I just hope you fill the days ahead of you in a way that brings you as much joy as can be had.

[pjknibbs]

Well, here's a little experiment for the reader--do Paul's CAR-T Side Effect Simulator! This involves getting completely wasted for about three weeks, then get someone to knock you out and move you to a different location so you wake up in a strange room with absolutely no memory of the preceding 48 hours. You can then just stay mildly drunk for another week or two just to cap it off. Barrel of fun, I'm sure you'll agree.

Seriously, I already went through that for a treatment with only a one-third chance of success--why would I risk something similar for a treatment with effectively none?