My dad had a near-death experience when he was young – his attitude towards life planted the seeds for my own approach of challenging circumstances. I have completed my final full day at the hospital. Tomorrow, I receive my final infusion and then I will return home. One of the nurses summed it up quite … Continue reading Cycle 3, Day 4 – 7 September 2026 →

There are surely better places to be on a Sunday than an oncology ward – but they do bring out the "fun" food. And just like that I have completed the majority of my final inpatient stay. Tomorrow marks my final full day at the hospital and by Tuesday evening I will be back home … Continue reading Cycle 3, Day 3 – 6 September 2026 →

Today one of the nurses learned it is near impossible to win a game of "Guess My Age" with my parents. The second day of my final cycle passed in about as uneventful a way as the rest. My oncologist dropped by again this morning, funnily enough while I was in the middle of reading … Continue reading Cycle 3, Day 2 – 5 September 2026 →

A day marked by the start of my final cycle and nurses using my room as a zen oasis to flee the hospital stress. After Tuesday's hiccup we are finally underway: I have completed the first day of my final chemotherapy cycle. Quite literally everyone on the floor is excited on my behalf. They are … Continue reading Cycle 3, Day 1 – 4 September 2026 →

Discharged due to low white blood cell count or how I got cockblocked by my own immune system. I arrived at the hospital at around 8.20am. Slight disappointment at the check-in: no private rooms were available this time around. For readers from outside Luxembourg, the way it works here is that anyone can request a … Continue reading Cycle ?, Day ?? (1 September 2026) →

As summer slowly fades into autumn and my final cycle is about to begin, I find myself drawn into a familiar inner silence. Tomorrow I will return to the hospital for the third and (in all likelihood) final time. It is rather pleasing that Day 1 of Cycle 3 coincides with 1 September. I've been … Continue reading Cycle 2, Day 21 (31 August 2026) →

From quiet moments at home, warm chats in between, and a Proustian moment at the bottom of a pint of alcohol-free Guinness. It's been a while since I've updated this blog, so let me get you up to speed on how the past week went for me. I faced an unexpected challenge coming back from … Continue reading Cycle 2, Day 12 – 22 August 2026 →

Cancer patients are often framed as being in a fight with their illness – I hold a different view. I have officially completed my final full day at the hospital. After receiving tomorrow's treatment, I will be discharged and return home once more. Cycle 2 has in many ways been more comfortable than Cycle 1. … Continue reading Cycle 2, Day 4 – 14 August 2026 →

The one in which my oncologist talks himself out of giving me more injections and also finds out I'm a Buddhist. With the third full day done and dusted, I am now over halfway through my second inpatient stay. Tomorrow will be my last full day at the hospital and by Saturday evening I will … Continue reading Cycle 2, Day 3 – 13 August 2026 →

Tiny changes can sometimes make a huge difference or a tale of soaps and blankets. Day 2 of Cycle 2 is complete and it's a milestone because it was the longest day of the cycle in that I received all three of my chemo meds. Three full days left and so far we are still … Continue reading Cycle 2, Day 2 – 12 August 2026 →