Last Updated on April 10, 2025 by Tom Kane

I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. The medical treatment here in Cyprus is second to none. The administrative side leaves a lot to be desired.

What is Immunotherapy

If you want to know more about immunotherapy, then read this article from the BBC by clicking here.

The Cancer All Clear?

On Wednesday, 25th September 2024 I have my last but one infusion before I get the final all-clear from cancer. I say final, because I’ve already been told, earlier in the year, the bad proteins are all gone, and that I was perfect. I’ve been saying I was perfect for years but nobody took a blind bit of notice.

Time Off for Good Behaviour

That declaration of all the bad proteins being gone, and proof of my perfectness, I took to be the all clear, but it was/wasn’t as the medical team decided to forge ahead with more infusions for immunotherapy and booster infusions to help my sad and frayed immune system. After Wednesday I’m scheduled for another infusion in October. There are no more appointments penned in for the rest of the year. But, that has happened before.  Halfway through my chemotherapy the medical team decided I needed a rest from treatment. They didn’t bother to tell me that, just went ahead and gave me some time off. Good behaviour may have had something to do with it.

Treating the Cancer, Not the Patient

The problem is, as I’ve already mentioned, the admin side of medical treatment in Cyprus leaves a lot to be desired. The medics tend to treat the disease, rather than treat the patient. We sometimes feel a little left out. It’s okay, it’s fine, I’m used to making telephone calls and sending emails from me to them to find out what happens next. I rarely see my oncologist as she practices in Limassol and only holds a surgery in Paphos every Tuesday. My infusions these days tend to be on Wednesday.

Johnny No Mates

I sometimes get the feeling I’m being gently edged out the door. Once I get the real all clear there will be no ringing of bells or lines of medics clapping as I wobble (yes, I still wobble when walking, a little bit) out the door. It’s more softly shuffling off into the night than a fanfare.

For Whom the Bell Tolls

At the end of the day, all that matters is that my old pal cancer is dead and buried and I get the all clear. In the UK and I believe in many parts of the world, when a cancer patient gets the all clear, they ring a bell. It’s not a practice I’ve seen here in Cyprus. But, killing off the cancer is the most important thing. If they can do that, I’ll gladly waive the right to ring a bell.

Copyright © Tom Kane 2024

Well, here we are in October and on Monday I had an unscheduled infusion to boost my immune system. Today, Wednesday 23rd October 2024, I think I’m having yet another infusion, this time immunotherapy for cancer. But! I may be wrong and this may be another infusion to boost my immune system.
I did ask the question last Friday when an SMS alert hit my phone to remind me about my Monday appointment… the Monday appointment I didn’t know I had because nobody bothered to tell me I had an appointment.
Confused? You and me both!
Tom Kane October 2024

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