The Demise of Roland Ratso: Chapter eight

Got up on Sunday feeling OK and went though my usual ritual – first my diabetes tablets followed by a bowl of porridge, some fruit juice and a two pint mug of green tea in my mug which bears the legend “Granddad knows best.” No need to guess who bought me that. Then the chemo drugs while eating the porridge. Got the dinner prepared and cooked while Irene went to the club to worship the great god Bongo. Antony and Lyndsey turned up with Eleanor – “my little girl.” We were in the kitchen one day and I called her my little friend. She replied that I was her grandpa and she was my little girl so that description stuck, Anyway when Irene came back I had to ask her to dish up dinner as I felt so sick. Not sure if it was the treatment or the hangover although it didn’t feel like a hangover. A couple of anti-emetic tablets and a good kip and I was back firing on all cylinders. Monday 16th Feb. Had a really good nights sleep and the pain in my mouth is settling down. I am using warm salt and water as a mouthwash and pineapple juice. Quite a remarkable change. I have always rated salt water for lots of things along with bicarbonate of soda for heartburn. It hurts when I smile – Irene says that’s no great loss – I never smile anyway. A great to be alive day. Got the granddaughter (Eleanor age 5) staying and when I told her I couldn’t take her to the library because I had hospital she said that she wanted to come because she could help me there! Arrived at Wilko Street and got number 3 on the grid – 3 away from the nearest non disabled parking spot. Always makes my day when I get on the grid so to speak. Pole posish sends me in raptures but 3 is pretty good. Had a long chat with a Medilink passenger who was going to visit his old mate in hospital then off to the phlebotomist for a blood test. Had a long chat with her about my treatment – she seemed genuinely interested in how my treatment was progressing and then down to LINAC 2 for another mooning session. Another elderly gentleman with his wife in the waiting room – it was his first session and he seemed very nervous – and so was his wife. I tried to put them at ease and I think that I did. I told her that a couple of nice young ladies would sort him out – she said that he would be horrified but when he came out he gave a thumbs up and a big smile! Got a combined chemo and radio review tomorrow. My ethnic friend was outside when I left. “Still making your own luck?” I asked. “Trying bro, trying” he said. He was either having a bad day or had had some bad news but the way he shuffled off I guess he didn’t want to speak about it. Just a thought about the doctors and staff in the cancer treatment. They have to deal with the most difficult situations day in and day out. I recall Mr. Happy who welcomed me to death row saying that the consultant was a miserable so and so. What do people expect? All he has got is bad news. Even if it is good news it is still relatively bad. What do you want them to do? Write a musical? Put it in a poem? Devise a dance routine? Give the guys a break! Had a blood test – the bag was issued by the radiology department and had a list of tests they wanted – FBC, CEA and U+A. I worked out FBC is full blood count where they look at haemoglobin and other blood constituents. I looked up the others – CEA (which I remembered by Charles Eats Apples – although why I should think about Prince Charlie eating apples I’ll never know and U+A as under eating apples.) Anyway CEA is Carcinoembryonic Antigen which is blood marker which indicates how the cancer cells are behaving. Internet is a dangerous place? U+A is urine and something. More taking the piss no doubt!