I never expected that

  • Busy, busy but a bit in limbo

    FormerMember
    FormerMember

    I'm now officially half way through the chemo (yay!) and this most recent cycle (the fourth of eight) was by far the easiest. Not surprising really, with my white blood count being so low, I was only permitted the oral drug (capecitibine), and for me the side effects of this are minimal. 

    My next oncology appointment is on Friday and I don't really know what to expect. With my white blood count being low even after…

  • Low white cells but cycle 4 started anyway

    FormerMember
    FormerMember

    A strange day. Although I have had two weeks off chemo (three if you count the drug-free week which is part of the normal cycle), my blood count is still not good.

    I went into Northampton early for repeat bloods to be taken in case there was an improvement since Friday's blood test. In fact, on one of the measures - neutrophils - the count was actually worse than two weeks ago when my chemo was postponed. Today the…

  • chemo postponed again

    FormerMember
    FormerMember

    On Tuesday I was due to have my fourth cycle of chemotherapy. Unfortunately my blood count was too low again and it has been postponed (White Blood Count, Neutrophils and Platelets all low this time).

    I was going to be delayed one week, but asked if I could put it off two weeks. It is P's birthday party on the 16th April and I really didn't want to be at the lowest part of the cycle for that. Also, she has her ballet…

  • Counting blessings but patience being tested

    FormerMember
    FormerMember

    Last week I was full of the joys of Spring. Well, weren't most of us? How wonderful to be outside in shirt sleeves enjoying warmer, sunnier weather at last.

    I was really counting my blessings: cycle 3 much better than the previous two (helped by stronger anti-sickness drug and lower dose of chemo), getting  some energy back, managing to get into work, remembering to water recently planted strawberry plants at the…

  • Cycle 3 started Tues - a bit better so far...

    FormerMember
    FormerMember

    My platelets were back up so cycle three could go ahead on Tuesday. It was a bit of a shambles in the clinic and I'm glad I was on the ball and kept asking questions as it could have turned out quite differently.

    For my 10am appointment they were already running an hour or so late. I was due to take a new anti-sickness Aprepitent an hour before the chemo so I asked about this the minute I sat down in the chemo suite…