Weaning Myself off Nivo

 After having been on combination immunotherapy (Ipi/Nivo) for three years, and having been NED at the last six of my regular three-monthly scans, I have decided to stop the treatment.  The medical team thinks it has done all it can for me, and my immune system should be able to do the job by itself from now on (if needed).  Furthermore, people going onto this therapy at present are only being given two years of it.

 So in one way I feel as though I am throwing away my security blanket, but on the other hand that I am taking another step forward in my fight with cancer.  I will continue to be monitored every three months as part of the trial protocol, but will no longer have to present at the chemo lounge every two weeks.

 I still find it a bit surreal to think I have actually gotten away with having mRCC, which in the past was usually a very sombre prognosis.  I am absolutely grateful to all the scientists who made this possible, together with all the various politicians, bureaucrats, drug companies, funding organisations and private donors who had the courage and vision to support scientific and medical research.  And the nurses, doctors and clinical staff who daily continue to be at the forefront of the still daunting battle for people’s lives.

 There is still a long way to go before we totally defeat cancer, and my own story may still have some further stages to it that I can only guess at, with no certainty of being permanently cured.  However I feel that I represent a real achievement by the medical community, and sincerely hope that more and more others will come to benefit from this progress as I have.

And it is somewhat ironic and very sad to be posting this after just learning of Abunai’s passing.  A bitter sweet moment.