Biopsy Results

Professor Foster called me on Tuesday evening. Andrew, my husband, listened in to the conversation and made notes for me. It's strange that you listen to a conversation but don't 'hear' alot of what is said. Andrew made copious notes when we went to London to see Prof Foster for the first time - there was no way I could have taken in everything.

"It's good news", said Prof Foster, "the biopsy results show that you are at Stage 1 (we had secretly thought it would be Stage 3 - no reason just a gut feel) and because of your low Viral Load Count (18,000) you have choices".

I could sit tight and do nothing. This is, after all, a very slow progessing disease. He told us that there are no new drugs on the horizon ie 3-5 yeears and that my chances of 'beating' the virus would go down by 10% for every 10 years I waited. On the other hand, with my biopsy results, I had a good chance of knocking it on its head by doing the treatment.

I have read so many dreadful things about the treatment side effects. I mentioned these to the professor and he said that there are folk out there who don't suffer so much but they also don't write about it either. He more or less said that 20% had a bad time, 20% felt not so good and the remainder had a fairly easy time.

I am not even on treatment yet and I feel constantly irritable, full of rage, constantly tired, totally lethargic and my hair is falling out. What chance do I have of having an easy time of it? Mind you, the cats hair is falling out too so mayble that has something to do with the season....

I knew before I had put the telephone down that I had to do the treatment. It's part of my personality - I'm a do'er. I don't want to look back in 10 years and think 'if only'. So, I slept on it and next morning woke up feeling exactly the same. I have to give it a go. I emailed Professor Foster and we plan to start the treatment after my Easter holiday. I feel very positive!