Me vs Head & Neck Cancer

Second Chemo Session - Day 1

2011-07-08T08:04:09Z

First day of my second 5 day chemo was yesterday Thu 7th July, should have started the day before (Wednesday) before but there wasn't a bed available, feeling fine, the first session was a bit of a learning experience but I feel more prepared with an idea what'll be happening this time round.

Had a bit of a rough time with mouth ulcers & bowel problems after the first session but after a week & half or so got these sorted and then got back to close to normal quite quickly, only lingering effects have been some changes to my sense of taste (can no longer drink coffee - tastes horrid), and while not as easy to tire as I was initially, still find myself having a kip in the early afternoon most days. No longer need to shave and my head is starting to look quite shiny now, have also lost my nasal hairs and consequently my nose sometimes runs like a tap which can be a little embarrassing.

Wishing you all well.
Dave

Treatment Days 8 & 9

2011-06-23T21:13:21Z

Day 8 continued

I am now a baldie! Pauline & I managed a real belly laugh or three getting to this stage, it felt really good to laugh like that. My only concern is that I now look frighteningly like my avatar. Went shopping for a few bits and then off to a couple of Pauline's favourite fabric shops for her patchworking supplies. Back home as (Martin) one of her work colleagues was calling round with his 3 year old. He expressed sympathy for our condition then told me "well at least you'll get some time of work". TW@T! Settled down for an evening together & all going comfortably apart from I couldn't get settled temperature wise, either cold or too hot then about 11:00 got really hot. Pauline took my temperature it was 38 so she called the cancer ward for advice. Bloody great, ended up back in hospital with a needle in my arm again this time for I.V. antibiotics.

Day 9

Nothing to say really, spent best part of the day in hospital. Had a lecture about the need to rest after chemo. Got released late afternoon & more or less have spent what was left of the day vegetating. Am fed up.

Dave

Treatment Days 5,6,7 & into day 8

2011-06-22T08:41:39Z

Sunday.

What a bloody awful day, woke up with a headache which just got worse and worse, just felt so unwell, was truly miserable, could hardly eat, couldn't even be ar**d to drink really, When Pauline came in to visit got her to phone my girls up & tell them not to come and visit. When I look back on it now think I just spent the day feeling sorry for myself.

Monday.

Unsettled night but awake about 4.30 & headache more or less gone, generally feeling much better, don't know if the fact I'm going home today has anything to do with it :). 5:30 bath & shave etc, enjoyed the soak, very relaxing, mind you am looking forward to having a bath where I can have both arms in the water rather than one having to hang over the edge of the bath. Went & stretched out on the bed & read a book till break fast arrived, managed 2 slices of toast. Then waiting for the 4th & last bag of chemo to finish, know it's daft but every look at that bag it made me feel sick. 9:25 chemo finished & a 2hour flush started. Flush actually felt pleasant (how wierd is that?) Lovely lovely nurse, at 11:10 she bought her little tray in & left it on the table so that when the flush finished she could get that bloody needle out straight away. All my medication to go home sorted for me & I've had my instructions. 11.35 FREEDOM!!! I'm dressed, Pauline is here. Quick goodbyes now lets go home. Sat on my own sofa, had a cuddle then FELL ASLEEP again. Woke up & had a really nice fresh salad, before my youngest (Lisa) arrived with a strawberry flan she'd made with freshly picked fruit. I'm being spoilt. Really didn't do anything else, had some more salad then bed. My own bed.

Tuesday

My mouth feels strange, tongue feels swollen & tingly but numb all at the same time, gums very sensitive, doesn't actually feel sore but I've a feeling it may get that way. Brushing of teeth was a bit of a trial, I always use an ultrasonic toothbrush & sensodyne toothpaste which I've always considered gentle but it felt like a wire brush with vinegar. Went & filled the bird feeders, did a little pruning & tidying & felt absolutely knackered so sat on sofa till district nurse arrived to use me as dart practice, never had injection in the tum before but was ok. She told me I have a fungal infection in my mouth & sorted out a prescription for me. Didn't do much else but Christina bought my 3 grandchildren round & we had a grand visit. Eating has been a bit difficult due to every time I chew I seem to bite my tongue, cheek or inner lips so have stuck to the softer options.

Wednesday am

Up at my usual 5:00 then into the bath, mouth still out of sorts but other than that ok. Managed to do a fair bit this morning getting ready for the builders who start on Friday, took me about 3 hours to do 1 1/2 hours work, had to keep taking a break but hey it's better than nowt. Left 1 job for later or maybe tomorrow, see how I feel. Finishing this for now, Pauline is going to help me shave my head, then we're going shopping.

Treatment Day 4

2011-06-18T18:29:59Z

Good sleep till woken for obs then dozed till about 5, went & had bath & shave etc then stretched out on bed & guess what! Yep fell asleep again. Managed a couple of slices of toast for breakfast, vegetable balti for lunch and mediteranean pasta for lunch, couple of little threats of the dreaded heartburn but nothing materialised, Still avoiding the hot drinks for the time being.

Now on 3rd infusion so only one left to go, should be starting in the early hours tomorrow so can hopefully go home on monday.

Visits from the grandchildren today, was lovely to see them & they're coming back tomorrow.

Bit tired but today has been a good day :)

Dave

Treatment Day 3

2011-06-17T20:14:37Z

Had a pretty good night, about 4 hours till woken for obs than managed another hour or so till drip changeover. Got up did the shaving, teeth & loo then a nice hot bath for pleasure rather than necessity this time. Loved it. Went & stretched out on the bed & fell asleep again. Unbelievable!

Woke up with severe heartburn, first time I've woken with it, told this probably down to the high dose of steroids I've been put on. Had to avoid breakfast & hot drinks till the medication did it's job, actually slept again & felt a lot more comfortable when woken for obs & pills.

Lunch arrived, fish, chips & mushy peas, carefully separated fish from crumb coating and had a few mouthfuls with the peas. Back came the bloody heartburn. More medication, spent the afternoon watching a couple of films on the laptop till Pauline arrived. Dinner arrived while she was here & glad to say I managed faggots & peas without problem. Still avoiding hot drinks as I know from past experience they will trigger the problem till completely cleared, do miss my strong black java.

Just a quarter of my second 5FU left then just two more to go, considering the amount of sleep I've had can't believe how tired I feel.

I will have a much better day tomorrow.

Dave

Treatment Day 2

2011-06-16T21:45:56Z

LIttle bit I forgot yesterday, my wife Pauline is a truly lovely lady, extremely loving and supportive and never fails to bring a smile to my face, yesterday following a chat about the PEG she managed it with this "will I need to prepare the food at home and liquidize it?" She says it was said tongue in cheek but I'm pretty sure it was more a case of foot in mouth. Following this my trials nurse Tracey told the story of one patient she had who apparently injected a glass of red wine through the tube, got very drunk very quickly. Worth a try in time to come?

Given this a bit of thought and have decided to leave nothing out barring lapses of memory no matter how embarrassing. Someone may learn from my mistakes.

Learnt a valuable lesson last night & the early hours of today when I found out the staff do Know better than me. I decided not to take the suggested laxative as at the time didn't feel I had a problem. By 1:00am cramps had started by 2:00 was very uncomfortable and asked for a laxative. By 3:00 had a minor accident, soiled my pjs got away with a wash down and a change, by 4:30 was in the bath following a major breach in the dam allowing all that had built up to evacuate at once unfortunately because I had to unplug my drip and the loo is at the other end of the corridor I never made it. Thankfully the staff were brilliant, just sympathetic to my problem and avoided as much embarrasment as possible. Don't think I got more than an hours sleep.

Aside from the above have had no problems today, the dryness in the mouth I started to experience yesterday has gone, assuming this was down to the taxotere while today's chemo of choice is the 5FU combo, still have the odd taste which at times has started to make me feel slightly nauseous but have found that sucking a strongly flavoured sweet (aniseed imperials) helps this. Have had a slight attack of heartburn but this is something I've had for 18 mths or so. After last nights episode am now very tired, have never been a good sleeper so have forced myself to stay awake today in the hope of making up for it tonight. Hoping the bowel problems don't return overnight, have visions of me doing a Buddah impersonation & spending the night on the throne.

Good lord, I have rambled on again.

ps Am grateful for any comments, this is my first ever blog and any guidance would be much appreciated.

Thanks

Dave

Treatment Day 1

2011-06-15T21:36:18Z

Following a good few weeks of tests, scans, results, chats etc treatment plan was laid out. Two or three five day courses of chemo as an in-patient before starting a five day a week, seven week course of radiotherapy with a few one day stays for further chemo thrown in, a PEG tube, plus sessions with a speech therapist to excercise my tongue (wife not too keen on me exercising elsewhere but understands) ;) Visit for dental assesment-need to lose four not so pearly whites.

Have agreed to take part in a PET scan clinical trial and have been informed that I'm allocated to the group that instead of automatically having a neck dissection after radiotherapy I have a Pet scan which hopefully will show that the treatments have knocked out the cancer, if cancer remains then I have the surgery but if not one less lot of misery to go through.

Turned up yesterday for a chat about the radiotherapy & side effects etc & got bombshelled with the news that the first chemo starts today.

Now sitting in my hospital bed hooked up to my new bossom companion, feel a bit like a pin cushion Doc this morning took a good few attempts on both arms & both hands before succeeding with the cannula, lasted about three hours then started to come out, two hour interuption to treatment till a senior nurse arrived to insert a replacement, first attempt & in it went. At the moment mouth starting to dry a little & odd taste in throat but quite comfortable-nothing to complain about. Staff (Singleton Swansea) have been brilliant-just hope they don't get fed up with me.

This been somewhat long winded but fair bit to get down, sure the continuing story will be a bit less wordy.

By the way have pee'd for Britain today.