Monday 29 July 2013

The Essential Component in My Chemo Survival Kit.

I couldn't have got through the last few months and especially the last couple of weeks without the love and  support of my wonderful partner.
Everybody should be so lucky.
xxxx

Sunday 28 July 2013

Oldham Pride-I'm Proud of You

Yesterday was high point.  I was we'll enough and fit enough to attend Oldham Pride.  Again, this year, the weather was good and this small, uncommercialised event was well attended.
I had very little side effect from this outing and although I have been warned about fatigue I am not feeling too tired.  The reason maybe that I have wonderful support.

A Step Too Fem


Anyone that has known me for any length of time will know that I don't do makeup.  So you will know what a big thing it is for me to have applied nail varnish.  There is a chance that the nails will become loose.  A nurse at Christies had worked in Jersey and had found that painting the nails in a sunny climate seemed to protected them.  So, whether this will work in the rainy North West we will see.

For my followers in Russia, USA, Serbia, Israel and anywhere in the world that doesn't know the North West of England I will often refer to the hospital where I am being treated as Christies when it should really be called the Christie Hospital.

Thursday 25 July 2013

9 days post chemo

The days that have passed since the chemotherapy have been a bit of a roller coaster. On the third day we called the doctor out. Which in itself was difficult because the receptionist was insistent that I be put in a car and be driven down to the health centre.  It as been plain that you can't do this alone.  You need someone to advocate for you, help you with you medicine and someone just to be there for you. Anyway the doctor gave me some anti biotics because my temp was up.  So by Sunday I was able to take a short trip.  By Monday I wasn't well and the district nurse got me some Imodium and stronger painkillers because my inner workings were over working and giving me rather severe pains.
By the last immune boosting injection on Tuesday my mouth had become very sore dispite sterilising my tooth brush etc, so more drugs were prescribed.  So now all these problems seem to have settled down and A has just described me as looking like a 'normal person' sat at my desk.
People of the North West of England have come to expect a superb service from The Christie Hospital and we certainly get one but the service that should also be getting plaudits is the District Nurse Service.  They have been absolutely fantastics, caring compassionate and completely non judgemental.

Monday 15 July 2013

FEC's OFF

The echocardiogram showed that I have a thicker than normal left ventricle.  So because the E in FEC can effect the heart the chemotherapy has been changed to TC.
The side effects of these are similar to those with FEC, complete hair loss, nausea, etc.  I have to take three days worth of seroids around the chemo treatment.  These can stop you sleeping, make you irritable, (me irritable?) and a bit hypa.
The advice from the doctor was a bit more sensible than some of the info around on the Internet.  Basically she said live your life as you would want to, don't wrap yourself in cotton wool, if you don't feel well change your plans and take it easy and if you think you have got an infection get in touch with them right away no matter what time.
So here I go.  Hope to see you soon.
Take care.
XXX

Sunday 14 July 2013

Friday 12 July 2013

A number two

So today I had a number two.  That is, I have had my hair clipped on a number two in preparation for losing it. I'll have it shaved off soon after my first chemo next week.  I am not going to wait for it to fall out.

Thursday 11 July 2013

Last few days before chemo

I went to my favourite cafe today-the Towngate Tearooms in Heptonstall.  Good food and pleasant staff.  Try it.  Heptonstall is a real step back in time, unlike Howarth and Hebden Bridge the outside world is still to find it.
I have added to the chemo survival kit.  Fibogel for when the drugs take over my digestive track and have put some audio books on to my iPad and bought two more scarves off Royton Market.
The day is now getting very close and yes folks I am scared.  It really is a leap into the unknown.  I have big fears of throwing up and developing bad migraines.
I don't think, no matter how many 'bad heads' you get you never get used to them and I think I must be crackers for doing something that may bring them on.
I am asked by my good friends what can they do for me, so I will say to all of you, think of me, pray, if that is you belief, phone, text email and please don't be put off if I don't answer or if I am sharp or whatever.  I am blessed to have you all.  Most of all look after Alix, please check that she's OK and take her out or cook us a meal to give her a break.
Sad to say I have dropped out of the photography class, I just got too exhausted trying to cope with it all.
I will 'blog' at the first opportunity after the chemo.  I have read that being in front of a screen immediately after chemo can bring on migraines. Nooooooo how will I live without tele!
Take care and be kind to one another.
Luv yer
Xxxx

Name change

You will notice that I have changed the name of my blog.  I was looking last night for what to expect from chemo that wasn't written by the professionals.  I only came across one blog, so, I thought mine may not be accessible to those who may be interested.
I know it's not the most inspired title but if you have got any better suggestions bearing in mind the search engines need to pick up key words, let me know.  Bye the way you can leave out anything like 'Breast Cancer-My Battle'.

Monday 8 July 2013

Chemo survival kit

My chemotherapy survival kit is now in place.  It consists of:-
Cheap DAB radio
Hand gel to kill germs when immiunosupressed
Child's soft tooth brush for when gums are too sore to use ordinary toothbrush
Alcohol free Corsodil for sore mouth
Sea Band to help to prevent nausea
Boiled sweets to ward of possible bad taste when chemo is administered
Ice lolly moulds to make lollies to cool sore mouth
Cordials to help keep up liquid intake and to make lollies
Insect repellent, midges love me and I can't risk infection
Insect bite cream
Anti septic wipes
Anti septic cream
Digital thermometer to monitor temperature in case of fever
Films
Books
Several 'Buffs' to cover head when I lose my hair
Caps for same reason
Small Piglet
Lots of good wishes from my FANTASTIC friends
XXX

Friday 5 July 2013

Save the NHS

Today I joined members of UNITE outside the Royal Oldham Hospital to mark the birth of the National Health Service 65 years ago.
You just don't know when you might need it.

Thursday 4 July 2013

FECin appointments

Received the appointment card this morning for the three cycles of FEC.  The other three cycles will be a diiferent drug-T. (Look it up yourself).
Each treatment is over two days.  The first day I go for my bloods and then the second day the chemo is administered.  This seems a bit of a drag until you realise that the Chemotherapy Treatment Centre deals with around 200 patients a day and all the drugs are specific to that patient and treatment is dependent on the patients bloods being ok.
It's a pity that the Appointment system at the Pennine Acute Trust doesn't run as efficiently.  I am so fed up with the people on the appointment switch board not being able to understand why it might be a good idea that I have my dental treatment before I start my chemo that I have made an official complaint.  We tend to forget the 'Service' bit of the NHS and that it is our NHS.  We need to stick up for this service but tell them when they get it wrong.  It is very quietly being privatised and we are sleep walking into a system that will no longer be free at the point of delivery.  Don't let it happen.
 
Keep fighting people.
xxx

Wednesday 3 July 2013

Chemo News

So on Monday we went along to Wythenshawe Hospital for me to have an echocardiogram.  I had recieved two letters from Wythenshawe, one for the echocardiogram and one for a bone density scan, different dates about ten days apart.  The bone density scan was in the Nightingale Centre at Wythenshawe.  So while I was having my heart looked into Alix went and asked if the Nightingale could do the bone density scan, which they did.
 
The chemotherapy has been put back a week but I do have a date for the treatment starting.  This of course is dependent on having a good blood count the previous day.  I think I might go mad if it does not start.

Camping by bike


Spent last weekend camping at Barber Booth Campsite in Edale.  We caught the train at Belle Vue with bikes and camping gear.  Good camping weather, so good that the campsite was full 'even to small tents' but my silver tongued friend got us on.
Ate in the Ramblers pub with Alix's family, a lovely way to finish the day.
We had all mod cons.

And the locals were friendly.



 

And I always get my priories right.