1 Year And No Treatment!

Hi Everyone

Just a quick update from the Redfers. I'm doing OK; a few swallowing problems but nothing to worry about. My next appointment with the oncologist is in January and I'll post again then and let you know how it's going.

I'm not going to bore you all with the minutiae of my life; to be honest the more I told everyone the more some people felt empowered to comment on the vast number of holidays I take! I plan to take loads more too! Seriously, when I was in treatment it was great to keep everyone up to date with all the detail but now I'm so much better it seems a bit 'precious'.

It's been a year since my last chemo - a whole year and I'm still well; how cool is that?

Check in again in January 2010 for the latest update.

Have a great Christmas & new year everyone.

Best wishes

Dave xx

Slobber, slobber etc...

Hi Troops,

Firstly thank-you for all your kind comments - you are all heroes!

Well just had a wisdom tooth out - actually just the exposed root from a previous 'bodged' extraction. Had to go to the Maxo-Oral-Facial unit at Bedford South Wing Hospital. It took a crow bar, extra shots of Novacane, 4 stitches and a dental surgeon with a strong wrist. Glad it's gone; it was painful exposed roots etc....

Teresa's birthday today, started with a champagne breakfast at a local hotel then had to go back to bed. Champagne with breakfast is to be recommended but, you need a sleep afterwards. Nothing dodgy just an overwhelming fatigue.. Happy Birthday Florence.

Signing off now for two weeks, off to France and the cottage for a nice half term holiday. I'll blog again when we get back.

Thanks for checking in again...

Luv Dave xxxxx

WOW!!!! Note The Changed Blog Title

Dear Friends,

Just changed the blog title from 'Cancer Fight' to 'Cancer Survivor'. 18 months with no growth or spread. God, Florence (& my family), the NHS and my friends (WNL Church, Stamps, Hearns, and their Lordships Burrell & Forsell) are so good!

The tumour is not growing, not spreading in fact really behaving its evil self. The swallowing problems are caused by fibrosis from last year's radiotherapy, the worst I'll need is a stent if it gets any worse.

Not got another appointment now until 2010 and, wait for it, no scan beforehand. Might I actually be in the few % of sufferers who survive this disease? Starting to beleive it now.
Have to say I was VERY nervous before this scan. You have to prepare yourself for the worse because if you get bad news and haven't even thought you might where does that leave you? Sleepless night last night and actually felt sick this morning.

So thank-you for your prayers & your friendship.

God Bless

David

xxxxxxxxxx

Update (Again!)

Mallorca was fantastic; great room, pool etc. superb weather and the kind of hotel with a watchtower and sniper in case of undesirables (and children) trying to muscle in! Seriously a brill weekend. Teresa was able to do a bit of business too whilst there. Loads of sun, swimming and tapas.

Here's the timescales for the next few day.

Tuesday: Off to the BUPA hospital early in the afternoon for a minor procedure. Bloomin chemo mucks up everything! Scan then at Bedford South wing at 5.00 pm.

Wednesday: 10.15 - See my hero oncologist for results which I promise I'll post straight away.

Friday 16th: Having my wisdom tooth out - no jokes please...

Pray for me - swallowing is not fantastic so it might be growing again - let's hope not.

Thanks for checking in

Dave xxxx

Quick Update

Hiya All,

Had a fantastic weekend in France with my mates, brill weather, great company and lots of superb French meals. Thanks David & Adrian for being such wonderful mates and putting up with my inane ramblings!

I'm with Teresa at a business conference this week and then off for a weekend in Majorca which should be fun.

My scan is next Tuesday with results on Wednesday. I'm hoping for the best but my swallowing is not too good at the moment. We'll see and of course I'll blog straight away.

Thanks guys...

Hi All,

Once more thanks for checking in on me; it’s great to know that you care! We are doing really well at the moment; business is brisk for Teresa and I’m well.

I had a great fishing trip two weeks ago on a rough channel off Newhaven. Needless to say I caught only one fish! Actually I was quite relieved having watched the others desperately trying to get hooks out of slimly thrashing half dead fish. The boat was pitching and rolling and a couple of our compatriots parted company with their early morning fry up. All good fun. Thank goodness for travel sickness pills. Actually is was a great day; loads of fun and a first for me.

Teresa picked up her new car today, a long awaited Merc convertible (SLK), goodness knows she deserves it; she works so hard. Must admit even a ‘none car lover’ me enjoys driving it!

Last Sunday the Wootton youth group (XLR8) lead the harvest service. I was so proud of them. They planned the whole service and even preached. Young people get such a bad press but these guys are heroes. We are sponsoring Bedfordshire Young Person Of The Year (YOPEY) and this week I’ve lead two assemblies in local schools promoting the whole event. It culminates with a big award ceremony at Woburn Abbey in November with the Duke of Bedford. The whole idea is that young people who are excellent role models are revealed, recognised and rewarded.

I’m at Cliff this week for a MPhil tutorial and then to France on Thursday for a long weekend with my good mates David and Adrian who I went to Spain with earlier in the year. The week after we have a master’s conference followed by a few days Majorca visiting a friend and new franchisee. It’s all go!

I’ve stopped preaching on a Sunday but I am running a 7 week bible study at WNL on ‘A People Called Methodists’ and we’ve just started Youth Alpha with XLR8. So all in all I’m keeping busy.

Health’s OK, next scan is soon and I meet with the oncologist next on October 9th.

Well, think that’s about it for now,

Luv Dave

Brittany Pics

Me and Amy....

Amy & James

The Redfern Clan

My Grandfather's war Grave near Caen

Loubie......

My girls

My Florence....

The studly son....