Back from Iceland

Chris and I have been taking a trip to Iceland during the schools' crocus break. We flew directly to Kevlavik airport from Schiphol (Amsterdam). By train, Schiphol is easy to reach. We take a train in Dendermonde to  Mechelen and there we can board the ICE train to Amsterdam, with a stop at the airport. Because we had to leave on a morning flight, however, we went to Schiphol on Friday afternoon and spent the rest of the evening and night at the Hilton airport hotel. It was brandnew and you couldn't hear anything of the planes. We had an undisturbed sleep and could enjoy a great breakfast before walking through a covered connection to the airport.

The stay in Reykjavik was interesting. The only minor point was that there was a general strike going on in Iceland, and so we had to make up our beds and fetch new towels and other necessities ourselves. I'm curious to see if Hilton will compensate in some way for this (little) discomfort?

We made several tours from Reykjavik to other parts of the country. Saw geisers, glaciers, black beaches, lava rocks, old Viking houses, etc. Even learnt how to pronunciate Eyafjallajokül (!) But more about that in my travel blog.

And yes, I know, I'm running behing there, but as an excuse I must state that I have been very busy with other things (the renovation of our house, my medical treatment). Tomorrow I'll start my course of radiation for the methastase on my pancreas. Got a few phonecalls about this when in Iceland. Luckily, the same prices as in Belgium are being reckoned (Iceland is part of the EU). 

A little scare

I haven't been around for a while. This has plural reasons.

First of all, the period between my last post and now has been very hectic. We're in the middle of renovating and isolating our house, and every week people are here to make estimates, make measurements, do a job ordered already. Our kitchen has been succesfully updated. We have new aplliances and had the tops of the work tables (which were in a sort of synthetic material) replaced by pure stone. Looks so much better and won't lose its splendour by extensive use. So that's already one job finished. 

For the replacing of all windows and doors of the house, there has been reached an agreement with the company KwaDRO, for a very reasonable price. The new doors and windows will be in PVC and the glass will be high resolution, giving an excellent isolation value. The company estimates that the placement will take place somewhere in May-June.

Another company, Ivoco, has been contacted for the work inside the house (isolation, making of dressings in the bedrooms and other furniture downstairs, ceilings, etc.) We haven't got a price for that yet. Also the bathroom needs renovation. We still have a bathtub now, and we want to replace it by a walk-in shower. 

That about the renovations. At the end of January I had my four-monthly scan and the result was not so positive. The growth on my pancreas is increasing in size once more. This happened already two years ago, but then I had to change the pills I take (my daily poison) and it helped for a while. Apparently, now not anymore. The oncologist had a meeting with her colleagues the day after the scan, and their conclusion was that I'd best be helped with a 5-day course of radiation, which can be pointed directly at the area of interest. This will give me the opportunity of continuing with my current medication (Cabometyx) and then they'll still have immune therapy if things would go wrong in the future. Must also say that this won't cost me a dime, as our social security is very good and moreover, I have a medical insurance which covers all the costs that social security won't pay back.

The first moment I heard the news was not great. It's as if the ground sinks under your feet. But having talked with dr. Bambust the day after, I'm positive again. Also the other doctor, who's going to do the radiotherapy, gives me a good feeling. Next week Thursday I have to go to hospital to have an example scan taken. This is to see where exactly they have to aim their beams. The actual course of radiation will take place after the Crocus break in school, starting of February 27th (the doctor takes a trip to Lapland during that week) and will end of the Friday of that week. Dr. Bral expects that there will be not a lot of side effects. Besides, I'm used to them - have been experiencing side effects for nearly 6 years now (diarhea, vomitting, sore feet).

In the meantime, I can enjoy this coming weekend and the coming schoolbreak when my sister is also at home.