This update covers the second part of week 2 and all week 3 of my 4-week initial treatment period.
Part 2 - What Happened Next.
The radio appointments for the rest of the week after I'd come out of hospital were fine - uneventful, in fact. It gave me a couple of days to catch up with things. Phew!
On Sunday 25 April I broke a front tooth [eating minestrone soup!] Cue a rambling message on the dentist's answerphone and an appearance first thing at the surgery Monday morning for an urgent "sit and wait" appointment. Bless him, he was wonderful - shocked to hear the diagnosis but so positive and supportive. He patched me up on Monday, and finished the job on Tuesday; two unplanned appointments for which he charged me nothing. There are some kind folk in this world.
Monday and Tuesday's radio zaps were fine - just as well given the dental issues going on!
Wednesday - Chemo Day. This was the day when we completed the Cunning Plan To Avoid Cannulas........ a little gem of an invention called a PICC line. [It stands for Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter and it's a semi-permanent IV line which has been inserted into my left arm]. The huge benefit of this is fluids can be transfused in - chemo, blood etc - and taken out without any problem; I can just be plugged in and left to get on with it! The PICC line will remain in my arm for a month or so; it's flushed weekly and I love it. I've christened it my Bionic Arm :-)
The PICC operation was done via a small op Wednesday morning under local anaesthetic. It was quick and painless and I can't believe how much stress it's taken away from me.
Although it was another thing to go through that day, it was well worth it. Chemo Days are no longer an ordeal.
The fun continued on the Friday. I had a radio zap and a planning scan [to see how things were progressing and prepare for Phase 2 of the treatment]. So - lots of "lovely" contrast fluid to drink [haha] - followed by a sudden appearance by the doctor to say after Wednesday's chemo, my haemoglobin levels had dropped again and she wanted me to have another 2 units of blood that very afternoon!!
So - instead of leaving the hospital at around 1pm, I eventually left at 9pm, full of blood and somewhat bewildered! It's amazing how things can just change and happen so suddenly there - but it's not a complaint, as I know it's all happening for my benefit and I'm so grateful for the care that I'm getting from the Christie. They are wonderful.
Side effects after week 3 - nothing too serious. Feel a little tired but the anti-nausea drugs they give with the chemo work wonders, and the radio effects still aren't too bad.
Jacqui x
Lessons learned:
1. Things don't always happened as planned - but that's OK. It has to be done.
