23/10/2026
A day in the life of Team Kombinalong member.
Narelle At Kombinalong has been a little busy of late with chemotherapy on a regular basis and another 12 months starting November on a new drug Bevacizumab which is a targeted biologic medication classified as an angiogenesis inhibitor. It is a humanised monoclonal antibody engineered to block a specific protein that tumors rely on to survive and grow.
This is a positive in my view as the Nepean Oncology team believes that I am physically strong enough to continue the long term treatment. The side effects of the chemotherapy are chronic fatigue and chronic nausea.
Mentally, I am not so sure. I am struggling with grief brain often called grief fog, with cognitive impairment, memory lapses and mental exhaustion that commonly happens after experiencing major loss in your life.
The brain is so overwhelmed by emotional trauma that it physically alters how it functions.
Cancer has been widely studied, and research suggests stress and trauma are contributing factors.
My husband Ken is not in the best of health with a heart condition, atrial fibrillation, and he most likely will need surgery. Plus, he is waiting for a corneal transplant, which could take months for the right donor.
And then mum is 90 years old with dementia and is very frail. I am her full-time carer and she lives with Ken and me. Plus her sons (I do not call them my brothers) are seeking to put her in a nursing home with constant harassment and bullying through the various avenues and government departments they have available.
I am eternally grateful to the two girls for stepping up and assisting with the few dogs I have left.
We only have oldies now. Most desexed. The hard part to deal with is the end of nearly 50 years of breeding of Team Kombinalong.
Orivet Genetic Pet Care has been very disappointing as they have failed to process a one of three DNA full breed profiles which were sent to them. The dog now lives in Japan and the owner does not speak English and we need to get a new swab for ACCA.
Still looking for a home for the two metre statue which was originally meant to be for the Great Cattle Dog Muster which was declined by the Muswellbrook Chamber of Commerce and Industry Inc for the cost of transport from Penrith to Muswellbrook.
