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AlBlue’s Blog

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Health update

2008
Alex's health

It's been a long time since I blogged here (well, apart from just now). Partially, that's because I've not had a laptop and I find it much easier to write blog posts from the sofa, but mainly because I've been recovering from chemotherapy to treat leukaemia. The treatment in this case caused much more of a knock-down than the disease had (at that stage), and although I initially survived the chemo well I ended up being hospitalised for almost two weeks on a drip and antibiotics.

From there, it's been a long and steady climb back to normality. It's only really been since mid-October I've been anywhere near with it, and for the last few weeks I've been working from home. Fortunately, the end seems to be in sight — my immune system (blue line) took a while to get back off the ground but is nearing normality (green line at top), and the rest of the lines seem to be heading in the right direction as well.

I'll be back for a checkup in a couple of weeks, where they'll be able to tell me if the chemo has been successful this time around or not; if not, I get to repeat the whole joyous experience next year. Chances are good that I'm clear, and if so I'll be able to continue for the next five/ten years; if it does recur, then I'll be able to repeat the same process again.

Needless to say, 2008 hasn't been a good year for us and I'd like to pass on my thanks to those that sent get well cards/e-mails/IMs who helped me get through it. With any luck, I'll be able to organise another Christmas Curry down in London as a get together with those whom I've not seen since this summer.

Oh, and I should be getting my laptop in the next week or so, so I hope to be blogging a bit more about my usual range of topics.