Immunotherapy makes chemo look like a cute, fluffy bunny..

Jill
14 minutes ago
4 min read

Morning!

It really is a very happy bog-standard morning. I'm sitting working in the kitchen. My husband is doing the same. He's taken to making bread and my 12 yr old son (who looks 16) is sat on his phone.

Just another average day (during school hols) in the Cook household.

Over the last 2 weeks I'd have bitten off my own arm for an average, boring time. Paul was administered nivolumab and ipilumab (aka opdivo/yervoy - immunotherapy drugs) which were supposed to do the following;

-Jumpstart his immune system

-Uncloak the burgeoning cancer cells and expose them as the little beggars they are so the body would recognise this, and kill them

-Do all this without the nasty side effects or drama of 3 types of chemo like last time

However, Paul was given the drug concoction on June 10th 2025. He started feeling really "0ff" but after some liquid paracetamol and piriton, he felt fine and got the infusion into him via IV.

However, in the days that followed, he got a headache. He kept on working and they kept on coming..and then the light sensitivity kicked in. He was in such a bad way he could barely move and wore sunglasses round the house.

It got so bad he was hospitalised in the critical care unit.

Mary o Brien our oncologist was absolutely brilliant. She and the amazing team at Royal Marsden Sutton figured out that Paul's immune system had got rather carried away and attacked his pituitary gland! Called Hypophysitis..hence the explosive headaches.

He was in a terrible way.. that morning he talked about financial provision in case he passed...

Fast forward a whole load of drama.. involving dangerously low sodium levels and a blood clot in his lung..and being in hospital for around a week..

He's now doing okay on a mixture of 22 pills a day. The steroids dosage seems to be right and his sodium levels have gone back up again (They had to put him on a liquid restriction during the hottest days of the year but it worked!)He's also on blood thinners for the clot.

Thankfully my utterly incredible mum came down and saved the day. She cooked and cleaned and was there for Cam whilst I stayed with Paul in Sutton.

She's 79 and was brilliant, kind and supportive. Never stopped. Now she's back in Aberdeen hopefully enjoying some sleep and peace n Q!

She was an absolute angel.. because I forgot to mention the things that happened simultaneously to Paul being extremely sick.

Cam fractured his wrist - apparently saving a goal by a kid who plays for Chelsea ;-)
The dog got attacked by a fox and had to have surgery to remove a broken tooth and close a slash on her nose
The first floor loo started leaking through the kitchen roof!

I owe massive thanks to Scottish Claire for looking beautifully after Sandy dog and walking her/helping with vets - plus Abbi for rushing to rescue Cam from school the day Paul was hospitalised. Also Andi for helping too!

Now I'm hoping you understand why I feel very blessed to have a normal (almost boring) week!!?

We had to cancel our holiday to Greece tomorrow as Paul is unfit to fly with his blood clot but I'm (strangely) incredibly grateful. If Paul hadn't been in hospital that clot mightn't have been discovered and he could have died. Easyjet and Amex have been brilliant about holiday and refunded/given out vouchers.

All the small stuff I tend to moan about pales into insignificance when you've witnessed your loved one in so much pain and discomfort - and been dangerously ill. To see him throw a rugby ball around the garden with Cam and go to driving range last night was incredible.

The cliche police will be after me but it's really important to count all blessings, cherish time with loved ones ..and take every day as a gift.

I don't know what will happen with the cancer treatment now. There's a PETscan on the 25th to see if the mesothelioma has been pummelled...or not.

Throughout all the trauma Paul has been INCREDIBLE. He has had an awful time but looked for the positives in everything. We've had quite a laugh even through the dark days.

My bonkers hubby showed bravery, kindness, strength of character and downright determination. He's always cheerful, very funny and never complains. I'm so lucky to be married to him. To Cam and I he is the sun.

Have a lovely week,

Jill x

PS - the other lovely things that have happened over the past month involved

Cam winning a Design and Engineering prize from Primary Engineer and being presented with it at Canterbury Uni
Cam getting a Head's commendation at school alongside his mate Zac
Camping at WoWo with Dakins and Gordons - such a laugh
Attending a Train concert with Mary H - such a tonic
Tasha's 50th and uni reunion
Doing a mums and sons Guilfest day
Battersea Powerstation and Ivy Wimbledon with mum
Great weekend with neices and sis in law in London covering Six the Musical, Camden Market and Graffitti at Leake St