Hi all, I'm really humbled by the kind and caring messages you offered. My oncologists' team were really disappointed by the news and one was visibly upset, we've been through a lot together and my combination of age, fitness and P16+ status were supposed to set the stage for a cure. But as we know this insidious disease doesn't follow such rules. I've been put straight onto Nivolumab immunotherapy and started Monday - we were lucky that this recurrence was found within 6 months of my last chemo by a matter of days which means we get PBS funding and treatment will be bulk billed, if it was found later by a week or two we'd have the awful decision whether to self-fund the $10k/month or go without. Nivolumab was chosen because my cancer may have become chemo tolerant and we want to avoid the toxicity of long term chemo exposure (because I still plan to be around a long time ;-). I was also getting strong reactions to the Pembrolizumab during the clinical trial and apparently that is a sign that immunotherapy is likely to be effective. It will be a monthly IV treatment, so not regular enough to need a portacath or PICC line, something I'm very happy about. They still have trouble getting canulas to hold in my veins as they've hardened from treatment, but its worth persevering to avoid a permanent device that stops me swimming or exercising. Plan is another PET scan in 3-4 months to gauge whether treatment is controlling spread, from there decide whether treatment is maintained or intensified. Doctors won't commit to timelines this early in the peace and thanks to COVID-19 we can't get out to take advantage of the time left. So for now I'm tapering out of work and tidying up our camping gear, we're also looking seriously at a new camper trailer!! 🙂 Our strategy is plan for the best but have a contingency if fate delivers something less. Thankfully it looks like our income protection insurance will reopen our claim, removing one source of stress and enabling us to get out and squeeze as much from life as we can (well... after lock down anyhow). I wasn't planning to make treatment vlogs this time, but will definitely post some videos as we celebrate living (even if it is with cancer). Thanks again for all your support. I'll check in soon Shane
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