More or less two months after the initial diagnosis, I have today started the first phase of treatment: chemoradiation to shrink the tumour. My ECG was 'better' today and although neutrophil count a little lower than they would normally accept, I took my first Capecitibine this evening. No nausea yet, but this could be a cumulative thing.
I was in Northampton for two hours this afternoon with the repeat ECG followed by first radiotherapy. B was with me which was welcome because there was inevitably hanging round to be done with only Murder She Wrote with subtitles on the waiting room screen for entertainment!
The radiotherapy was reasonably straight forward - lining up the tattoos with the lasers to ensure I was in exactly the right position and then the machine rotates round to deliver blasts of x-rays from three different angles in turn. I couldn't really see what was going on (forehead resting on one of those pillows like for a message but more clinical!) but there was lots of calling out of numbers by the radiographers before they escaped to the next room while the machine buzzed and whirred. All quite painless (at this stage anyway!).
P and S had a lovely time at a friends house while all this was going on and it was nice to know they were being well cared for - indeed having a fun time - and there was no rush to pick them up. Now I know my appointment times, I'll be able to work out plans for the rest of the week. I had hoped to be in first thing each day but that doesn't kick in until later in the week.
All in all, I'm delighted to be getting on with this treatment. I want to be rid of the cancer as soon as possible, sentiments no doubt shared by everyone else in similar circumstances. x x
