https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/atomTelligent Community (Build: 12.1.2.21912)2023-08-11T11:42:41Zhttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-15-chemo-75-complete---the-lull-before-the-storm2023-09-23T12:38:41Z2023-09-23T12:38:41Z So this week has been a non-treatment week. A week to rebuild the strength and get the energy levels back up to face the 4th and final chemo cycle. There have been some side effects to deal with; both armpits erupted with rashes very similar to a...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-15-chemo-75-complete---the-lull-before-the-storm">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=721034&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-14-chemo-cycle-3---75-of-treatment-now-complete2023-09-18T08:29:08Z2023-09-18T08:29:08Z Sunday through to Tuesday was a lot tougher than previous cycles had been. The fatigue was horrendous and although I had a few things I intended to do, I had to cancel everything just through a lack of energy. I had been warned that each cycle is a ...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-14-chemo-cycle-3---75-of-treatment-now-complete">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=721028&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-13-chemo-cycle-3---the-start-of-the-75-phase2023-09-10T12:13:03Z2023-09-10T12:13:03ZBack here again. The anxiety that builds during that 3rd week of a cycle when you have no treatment and focus on building your strength up again creates a palpable sense of dread that something will delay the next cycle! Blood test first thing Mond...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-13-chemo-cycle-3---the-start-of-the-75-phase">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=721010&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-12-the-chemo-cycle-2-complete---50-of-the-total-treatment-complete2023-09-07T23:27:55Z2023-09-07T23:27:55Z This week is treatment free, and the focus is getting the body on track for blood tests on Monday to see if cycle 3 can be started. The Filgrastim injections came with a massive bite last week. Late Saturday afternoon I had taken a nap, when I wo...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-12-the-chemo-cycle-2-complete---50-of-the-total-treatment-complete">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=721002&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-11-the-chemo-cycle-2---treatment-for-this-cycle-complete2023-08-26T10:28:53Z2023-08-26T10:28:53Z As week 11 rolls along, the treatment part of cycle 2 is complete (week 3 has no treatment, to help build my strength up to do it all over again!). The Tuesday phone calls are becoming a time of apprehension now as depending on the quality of the...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-11-the-chemo-cycle-2---treatment-for-this-cycle-complete">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720978&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-10-the-chemo-cycle-22023-08-19T09:09:47Z2023-08-19T09:09:47Z Let&#39;s recap, Chemo is a cocktail of poisons. My treatment name is GemCarbo (Gemcitabine and Carboplatin) administered intravenously. A cycle consists of week 1 day1 Both chemicals, week 2 day 8 Gemb, Week 3 No treatment (to recover to do it all...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-10-the-chemo-cycle-2">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720969&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-9-the-chemo-phase2023-08-13T21:19:29Z2023-08-13T21:19:29Z As cycle 1 draws to a close, and a well earned treatment free week, as I build my strength up to deal with the next cycle. It seems strange to consider that is already 25% of chemo completed and the Cancer is dead and dying! It has been a challenge,...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-9-the-chemo-phase">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720961&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-8-after-surgery-chemotherapy2023-08-11T21:15:19Z2023-08-11T21:15:19ZSession 2 of the first cycle is done, that is 25% of the killing of the Cancer! This blog might be a little bit of a ramble &hellip; Chemo fogs the head a little Next week involves no treatment, a chance to get over the last two weeks and regroup rea...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-8-after-surgery-chemotherapy">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720955&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-7-after-surgery-and-start-of-the-next-phrase---chemotherapy2023-08-11T21:12:54Z2023-08-11T21:12:54ZChemo is the scary period, it comes across as a blackhole of information because there are so many variations, and everybody deals with it in different ways! Unknown side-effects (2 pages of possible symptoms), fatigue, sickness, isolation. Basically...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-7-after-surgery-and-start-of-the-next-phrase---chemotherapy">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720954&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-6-after-surgery2023-08-11T21:09:34Z2023-08-11T21:09:34ZThis was a week to take stock of all of the changes that have gone on in the last six weeks. Gym on Monday with Fit4Surgery felt good, something to do with blue skies and sun ... starting to push the numbers up, although these trips will be short liv...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-6-after-surgery">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720953&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-5-after-surgery2023-08-11T21:07:37Z2023-08-11T21:07:37ZFollowing the trend from previous weeks, mostly positive, but with a couple of challenges, and no tears (but there was one explosive outburst of anger!), and a resigning! Operation Debris (My nickname for it) continues and is becoming quite draining...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-5-after-surgery">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720952&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-4-after-surgery2023-08-11T21:02:52Z2023-08-11T21:02:52ZMost of this week has been positive, although there have been challenges and a few tears. Operation Debris (My nickname for it) started last weekend, which has been uncomfortable, yet honed my running skills. Basically (sparing the gruesome details) ...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-4-after-surgery">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720951&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-3-after-surgery2023-08-11T21:00:39Z2023-08-11T21:00:39ZThis week has been a rollercoaster of emotions ... from a rather robust positive approach last weekend, to a midweek crash of positivity. Today I got to meet the man that will manage the Anaesthetics when the operation is done in 9 months time. Basic...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-3-after-surgery">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720950&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-2-after-surgery2023-08-11T20:57:59Z2023-08-11T20:57:59ZWell today wasn&#39;t the answer I wanted, but it was the one I got. At the moment I am cancer free ... but we knew that, they removed the two tumours that were found in the TurBT! It will come back, and the options are fluid ... both tumours were ca...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/update-week-2-after-surgery">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720949&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/week-1-after-surgery2023-08-11T10:42:41Z2023-08-11T10:42:41Z I am very extremely moved by the beautiful comments left on the announcement last Friday, and have slowly started to thank people. Life without the catheter is a whole lot better (those 3 days really were hell, probably more so than the Op!) One am...(<a href="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/cancer-blogs/b/my-journey-with-bladder-cancer/posts/week-1-after-surgery">read more</a>)<img src="https://community.macmillan.org.uk/aggbug?PostID=720944&AppID=41496&AppType=Weblog&ContentType=0" width="1" height="1">kasponthttps://community.macmillan.org.uk/members/3714a94835734e76a4c6e78909802b34