Wednesday 26/06/24
Here I was, flying on the ceiling with lots of Dex tabs running through my veins, outside Scarborough hospital, on a very sunny and hot Wednesday afternoon. I was ready to kill some cancer! This bastard is going to really get it I thought. (Maybe the Dex talking). I’m ready, in i go!
I was greeted by a very friendly staff nurse, Rachel. It was nurse John’s day off! She took me to the chemo room a nice brightly lit air conned room, with 8 chemo chairs in a rough oval shape to make it easy to chat if you want or not if you don’t. It was still a bit hot though and I’m glad I’d worn my shorts and sandals!
She showed me to my chair, Firstly she rechecked my weight and height, sadly both the same, too heavy and still 1/2 an inch shorter! She produced the bag of Docetaxel from the fridge, checked it was mine and checked off I was who I said I was. The brown bag had the poison 
️ skull and crossbones on it. That’s when I started calling it the cancer poison!
Firstly, she explained they were going to put the cannula into my hand, it’s the device that slowly feeds the solution into your veins. Before that though she put my hands in a bowl of warm water to bring the veins up, for about 10 minutes. suitably warmed and primed she fiddled around getting it in. My veins are sadly deeper than a coal mine shaft. She eventually managed to get it into my left hand. The process was a bi5 uncomfortable. But once in things settled down
First they run through some saline to flush the vein. Then they attach the docetaxel bag to the saline bag and set for both solutions to run into you at the same time. The cancer poison was on its way in! It takes about an hour. Everyone in the room was friendly and chatty so the time passed quickly. They gave you tea biscuits and even a sandwich
When finished they give me an appointment card for future appointments. A blood form to take to the hospital to get your bloods done 48hours before your next appointment, your supply of Dex for the next cycle and 2 packets 28 days supply of prednisolone steroids. This is the new regime, 2 of them everyday before breakfast they reduce the side effects and sickness apparently. They come with loads of side effects though too!
After getting home I felt hyper from all the Dex tabs. They also run more Dex through the IV. The docetaxel has also got alcohol in it. You think all that would lead to a decent nights sleep 
exactly the opposite, I got 1 hour sleep the damn things keep you awake!
Next instalment to be published next Wednesday. Day 1-7 the first week…
