5:10am.. again didn't sleep all that well, still I'll probably head back up to bed in a little bit, try and get a couple more hours sleep, haven't got to be at the hospital until 11am today. I've gotten to wondering... can you take all this stuff too seriously?
I know treatment and being careful with lifestyle stuff is important, but it seems like at the moment that's all I'm doing. Sorting out benefits, reading up on treatments, the leukaemia and obviously going in to hospital three times a week and doing this blog... to be honest I'm just looking forward to University starting up again and my housemates all getting back, hopefully things will get back to some kind of normality.
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Thought I'd give a little break down of the hospital treatments I'm on, so here are the chemotherapies:
Asparaginase - A colourless fluid. I get this injected in to my leg muscles as two seperate injections, it's fairly painless. From what I've read the possible side effects are pretty standard for this one.
Daunorubicin - A red fluid. Since I'm on a pediatrics regime I get this as a drip in to my central line, again the side effects are the standard ones you expect from chemotherapy, but all the material I've read says it effects different people different anyway.
Methotrexate (IT Chemo) - A yellow fluid. When I mention IT Chemo, or intrathecal's, or lumbar punctures, this is the treatment I'm on about. They involve me lying on my side and a Doctor numbing part of my back with local anaethetic and then using a really small needle to get through to the fluid that surrounds my spine/brain. It's probably the worst of the lot, I had one Doctor catch a nerve a few times and really hurt me, you have to lay flat for a couple of hours after as well to avoid headaches so it does take ages.
Vincristine - clear fluid, pretty sure this is just given as a drip through your central line as well. This is the one that makes your fingertips go numb, something I've definitely noticed. The Doctor's said if it gets any worse to let them know and they'll cut the dose, but so far it's only been pretty minor.
Ambisone - A clear/greeney fluid, given as a drip through your central line. It's an anti-fungal chemical, combats infections from airbourne spores. This isn't chemotherapy, but I've still gotta have it three times a week.
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