Saturday 03 January 2009, four days after Chemo #1

For anyone else going through the same as me, or similar, take heart the Chemotherapy, that nearly killed me sixteen years ago, is this time doing me some good, in-as-much that it has taken some of the pains away. I have yet to be sick, it is still early days, although I am even more tired than I have been of late, if that is at all possible!I am not dreading the thought of having more treatment on Tuesday as I thought I would be because to be free of the pains, despite the generally feeling of being unwell, is wonderful.

Chemotherapy #1 [1/7]

Chemo #1 did not pass without its problems, namely the Cannula [the needle and vent flow they put in the back of the hand] and the vein on the back of my hand not acting as they should. Firstly the vein would not play ball and did not wish to show its ugly head, despite being plunged and soaked in hot water before hand, then as I hit it a few times with my other hand it soon jumped to the foreground. Thus the needle in the cannula had a target to hit, but once in it also did not go to plan

Having gone through all the routine and necessary paperwork with Nurse Rachel I was ‘flushed’ through the arm with a saline solution before the Chemo was due to be connected. Whilst I was being flushed I was informed of what to expect with regards to the possible side effects of the therapy, should I be so unlucky as to get them.
The needle in the cannula began to hurt the moment the Chemo was introduced into the system and into my arm. After several attempts it was decided to re-cannulate further up the arm, this time with much more success using Sister Rose’s lucky tourniquet.

Although the injection of the treatment lasted approximately ½ hour we were there for at least two hours, most of the time being taken up with the cannula problems and the filling and cross checking of paperwork.

Naturally having gone through this process many years ago, and having suffered quite badly at the hands of Chemotherapy, I was quite uptight and apprehensive throughout the whole process.

I am now at home and I wait for the side effects to take effect, because let’s face it, given my luck, it is bound to happen.

I have very little hair to lose so that does not worry me, unfortunately I have little to lose from my stomach since I am not eating as well as I might so I am hoping that the anti-sickness tablets supplied do their work.

Subsequent chemo sessions are booked for every Tuesday over the next seven weeks should I be fortunate enough for them to work and have no adverse side effects.

Chemotherapy day today #1

It is Chemotherapy day today and I have been feeling worse than ever over the last day or two. I am hoping that the treatment is nothing like that I had in 1992 and that it goes someway to improving my condition as opposed to killing me.

When I have managed to sleep through the night I have awoke in the morning in so much pain that I have come very close, on two occasions, to calling for an ambulance. I am also experiencing a degree of pain not known until now that affects both my back and stomach. Added to this is my continued weight loss, I am now down to under 10 st 4lbs [144lbs] which makes me lethargic and full of aches in every joint in my body.

I am having trouble eating any amount of food and it causing my hiatus hernia to give me some grief.

We are all hoping that the Chemo works but my partner is taking no chances and has bought a new bucket for the journey home in the car just in case I am sick! Now there’s confidence for you.