Lazy Day's

And What is in YOUR Bag?

2010-07-11T09:27:46Z

And so it begins........

The word Chemotherpy, I think carries as much stigma as cancer does. There is no getting away from this, no matter how you are introduced to this next redical step, it is going to be life changing. It can be swallowed, injected, rubbed in,or in my case fed directly into the body by way of a Central Line or PICC. Luckily there have been massive improvements in this since my father died from cancer some 25 years ago, even thought Chemo has beed around longer, in those day if you had to go into a hospital for treatment you were in bed for the full course; I was in just one night and that was because it was my first section, the rest of my courses will be done via an Out Patient Clinic.

The whole experiance was quite daunting at first, I think just the unknown of what, and how it is going to work is numbing enough. I was informed I would be walking around with a small pump attacted to me pumping the Chemo around my body constantly,( of coures images start flashing in your head of all shapes and form's) infact this so call pump works off gravity and is and look's like a babies bottle which sits in a pocket with a thin pipe coming from the top which can be fed down under your clothing so to all perposes invisable to the naked eye.

The Chemo course came to me in 3 pre - set bags for set amounts of time, and what happened was a specilist qualified Sister/Nurse came in and drew some blood from the PICC, flushed the line through and then screwed in the first bag and that was it and that carried on for the full section. I'm not saying or in any way qualifed to say this happens to everyone, but looking around the Ward I was in everyone looked much the same.

Every Chemo is unique to that person and so are their side effects, this is probably the worse part of the illness. Side effects will be suffered that is enevitable hopefully to all of us they will be minor, and not the hole set but only your body will be able to combat that, but they do have umtine courses of tablets, injections, creams, and liquids to help with these. As well as follow up medication to reconstruct the body once that section is complete. (As has propably been explained to the person being cared for.) Re-building up your red and white bloodcell's, and platlets which are effected whilst the Chemo is going through your body. The red cell's that transfer's oxygen around the body, the white for the immune system, and the platles which help with blood cloting and control of bleeding. These in my case will be administered by way of a set of injections when the 5 day(120hrs) section is complete, but think ahead who may be doing the injections, a District Nurse may be the best oppion, but a family member may also be able to in my case my daughter, my wife said it may be to upsetting for her.

I feel that this bit need's to go in, because it is very important to be on the look out for. I was passed a card as a guild line if problems occure. I'm not saying at the second one of these happen panic because it could just be you body getting use to what is happening to it, But if they continue better be safe And this may just be for my type of Cancer of the throat.

Chest pain of difficulty breathing
Temerature get's greater than 38 Dagree's C (100 f)
Shivering episodes
Flu - like syptoms
Gum / nose bleeds or unsual bruising
Mouth ulcers that stop you eating or drinking
Vomiting
Watery Diarrhoea or 4 or more bowel movements in a day

You MUST contact your hospital team URGENTLY if you feel unwell or possibly develop the above.

Other things which may be worth a thought are just practial help idears, invest in a good termometer they are not to expensive now, and if the treatment is going on for some time, will be able to keep you on track. and may flag up any problems early. Stay clear of confined spaces ie lift's or vastly popolated room's, because the Chemo will have greatly reduced your body's natrual immunities, and if someone has got a cold or is ill you will be a prime target. That also goes for family and friends if they are not up to par again you may leave your self open to illness, but I think they will understand. Keep clean and as health as you fill fit to do, I know it will and is a pain wrapping in some form of waterproofing just to take a wash but it make you feel you have withheld some normality in your life, try to lead as normal a life as you did before you became ill ( because it will be quite easy to slip down hill if things don't go to well or you have a bad bout of Chemo). Try to keep your appitite up as well but this may prove harder than you think. Above all do not dwell on what is happening to you this will probaly one of the hardest thing to do, and if your side effects become more visable don't lock yourself away, and think that everyone get's ill sometime.

Finding Mickymouse, and Mustard Tree.

2010-07-09T06:10:00Z

What is in a Word.....

The second the word Cancer is mention it is amazing what it dose to you, your family, your friends, work colleagues and people around you. All people react in different ways some become very quite, some overprotective, some will hide their heads in the ground, others go into a worldwind of needing to know every in and out, some even roll over and start putting nails in coffins, me personally feel that fighting is a very good way ahead this is not a new thing and things are always improving, and if you look at the word it's self when broken down tell's you it CAN-Cer(ie Bob) be beaten.

When I got the conformation I had throat cancer I had a hold rush of thought's and feelings, and if you are reading this you or someone close to you are probally having much the same thoughts now. For me this worldwind has had only three weeks to sink in, and one of the hardest things has already happened telling people, and it dose get a tiny bit easier each time for you to except what is happening to you, what was daunting for me was the first meeting after being told. We were ushered into a office and sat down in front of a collection of specialist from a handful of different sections, One bit of advice I will pass on is Have a least two other people with you when have to go through this part, because each of you will phase out (and you all will at one point in the conversation which will follow) but not all at the same time we hope. Also the addage a picture paints a thousand words comes to mind my Consultant drew a picture of where the tumor was and what it was doing (this works well when telling people especially younger children because they will want to know everything). I was also informed what the immadiate treatment was going to entail, in my case the incetion of a PICC and the type of Chemo I was going to receive.

When we heard about the PICC no one knew what it was, but one of the specialist helped here, he phoned down to one or the Wards and spoke to somebody who had one fitted and they were happy to let us come down and see it. When you first see one it is not as scary as it sounds, all you will see is a small piece of clear piping coming out from the arm with a small clip, and a slightly larger collar at the bottom it will dangle down your arm though. One of my worries was that if you had young children or babies they may be able to grab or you catch it easy remedy tubeiler bandage, old cut off sock/thights, tape, the possibilities are endless.

Fitting the PICC is unbelieivable simple but never the less it is classed as a Minor Opperation done under Local Anaesthetic in a sterile area with whoever doing in full Opperating Scrubs mask and all. The nurse who did mine was great first he ultrasounds your choosen arm (usally the dominant one) and then they go looking for Mickymouse as he call's it this is three blood veins which are just above the elbow he let us watch him find them on the Ultrasound screen, and when they are found it dose look like Mickymouses head two small veins and a larger one just below (the ear's and head), he also pointed out the main artire in my arm as well, he did this by pushing down on it with the ultrasound probe when closed it pulsed. He then incerted the PICC this to me felt just like someone slightly pinching your arm, and it is slightly uncomfortable the line it's self dose go right into the hart though, which may be quite alarming when you are told it follows the picked vein all the way in, but this is done blindly so if it dose brush something it shouldn't you will get a tingling effect, I was told it was like getting a pin's and needles effect and all they will do is pull the tube back slightly and push on again. The other problem you may get ( even though it is quite rear) is just by the collar bone area the veins split some go to the hart some go up past the ear to the brain and the tube may go up that one if it dose all that happens is you hear a rushing sound like water, and if this happens they may just leave it ( it appears that the blood flow warms the tube up and it finds it's own way back down and into the hart though I not sure how) and if all else fails then the just pull it out and start again. You will be chest x-rayed after fitting and the person fitting it may tell you how it all went at a later date mine did. I was also given a log book which is to signed by whoever touches the line after they do what need to and infomation pack .

Next I have to mention " The Mustard Tree " I'm not sure if it is at every Hospital in the counry, but it is down here in the South West, it is run by " The MacMillan Trust", and an absolute must, it's a drop in clinic and a very good sounding board for ANY problems, we found I had a clot come lose a day or two ago and in dia panic phoned them along with one of the specilalist and they put me at ease and explained that as the biopsy was only done a few days prior, that that was probaly all it was and conformation from the specilist later that day proved to be correct. Most of the volenteer's there have lived through Cancer in varoius forms or through connection. They have a large and detailed list of contacts in finance, theropy, living aids for later on in treatments (if needed) and mountains of counciling one to one's and any other need's, and in our case a more comfortable area that a Ward waiting room for further treatment when needed. OH and free tea and coffee

In it to win it.

2010-07-06T19:40:45Z

Well what a start ,

Just three weeks ago I had a sore throat , which I thought was brought on by my new high setting on my CPAP machine. I was supposed to dianosed with Obstructive Sleep Apnea, and until then that is exactly what I thought it was. I was loseing weight well, bike rideing into work, eating well, and feeling quite impressed about it to. Then after being told by the Chest nurse that I was set at a very high setting (18) I got my sore throat and after a couple of uncomfortable day's went to the GP "looks like a syst or tesit " he said " Take these antibiotics and if it is still sore come back Thursday."

Firday came and I felt still very sore, the clincher was trying to ride up a steep hill on my bike, half way up I was gasping for breath and I had to stop and walk the rest. Back to the GPat end of surgery on the Friday, "This is not to good , I'm sending you to the Hospital tonight away you go."

After a long wait and umteen blood tests in A& E of all places I was seen by a ENT doctor. She was lovely girl (Irish )she said she was in two minds to admit me or not the Syst was looked "Angry and inflamed," and she was not happy either. She call the On-Call Register, but he said the blood's were fine, and as I had not got my CPAP macine with me tomorrow would do.

Saturday came and I went into the hospital to get the syst lanced, (he was also a nice guy this time German) " this is a bit hit and miss" he said,"sometimes it takes a couple of attempts to remove the puss" he said. Then things started to go pear shaped " That's odd I tryed this three time, and there is no puss I need a closer look this is not right."

(My LUCKY Break) It just so happened that the Head Consultant was in the ward (Shorts, Ceckered Shirt and All) and so it went on "This is not a syst ,it looks like a very large tumor and I'm fast tracking you through see you Tuesday.

The story continues