Today was a follow-up phone visit with the folks at CancerCare to get an update on how I’m doing and to review the latest blood work.
And the number are in and they are good! Up in all critical areas, except for those stubborn platelets. A picture, or perhaps a graph or two, is worth a thousand words.
I’m doing really well. I feel great and my strength and stamina has improved measurably over the last 4-6 weeks. As is typical for me, I measure things by how well I’m riding the bike. On the bike I’m able to do self-testing to determine a thing called FTP, functional threshold power. On the last two tests my FTP has increased substantially and is now almost at my 2018 pre-cancer levels. I’m looking forward to a good outdoor road riding season this spring, summer and fall both around Winnipeg with FROG (Fast Retired Old Guys) & FOG (Fast Old Guys) groups and out at the lake with the Kenora RPCC (Rat Portage Cycling Club) crew.
Well, looking back it is this time one year ago that our Toronto CAR-T journey began. First starting with the assessment and T-cell collection trip and then the subsequent CAR-T treatment and recovery trip. In some ways, it seems like yesterday, and in others a distant memory. We’re forever grateful to our Toronto family for the loving support we received, to the great medical team at Princess Margaret Hospital and the supporting University Hospital Network and to all our family and friends who supported us on the journey.
