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 little tougher than the last one ... this one was the worst by far! Including 2 occasions when I came close to making calls that would have had me heading to the chemo ward.
So the 2nd treatment in a cycle is just one of the chemicals ... Gemcitabine, just a 30 minute session. The ward was cooler and a little less empty than the previous week, so I didn't envisage a long wait. Unfortunately there was an issue with my chemicals so a new batch had to be made up. There are two parts to the chemo ward, a dedicated room, and a corridor. This was the first time I had been sat in the corridor, in fact right next to the reception desk, so with cannular in hand, I sat and waited the best part of 3 hours for my chemicals to arrive. Strangely if you sat on the left side of the corridor, nurses provided tea, coffee and biscuits. Not a luxury offered to the right hand occupants ... smile, the chemo experience is nearly over, and the nurses get a tough enough time as it is!
So time to tell another person's story ...
The lady in the next chair to me is I would estimate late 50s, a full head of hair, and of a fairly cheerful nature, we started to chat ... there is little else to do! She was a nurse, 35 years in the NHS and in recent years a Macmillan, End of life Nurse
She is having immunotherapy, basically training your immune system to attack the Cancer! She lived a distance away, Northampton I think, and there is talk that her treatment will change to something she can manage at home. What struck me was how positive she was, so the inevitable question was asked ... "Where is the Cancer?", the answer was a shock ... "Just about everywhere!" Apparently it started with a form of skin cancer that hadn't actually presented itself externally (Melanoma) and had been discovered quite late on, and had already spread to several organs in her body ... it was now in both kidneys, chest, bone, brain, skin, etc. Stage 4 to 5.
I apologised, which she dismissed saying there was no need, and then came the BOMBSHELL! Back at the start of July she had been told she had one week to live! Northampton hospital basically said they could do nothing more for her, and she should get her affairs in order. News got back to her workplace at the LRI, and a Cancer doctor wanted to discuss options, he was "intrigued" about her Cancer because it is so rare, and interested to see if there was anything they could do! The middle of September and the treatment is ongoing, and she has returned to work 2 days a week!
She loves her job, but there is a frustration. She has patients that are declining treatment similar to the one that has actually prolonged her life, but she isn't allowed to tell them NOT to decline it. Everyone has a choice! She finished her treatment and went off for a balloon ride! Very Happy!
There are several morals to this story:
- Listen to the experts, raise questions, but don't ignore!
- Never be to busy to put off that test, or treatment. It might just save your life!
Yesterday in my newsfeed I saw a former school friend complaining about wasting an afternoon in the hospital having her boob squashed! Trust me, I am sure that is a walk in the park in comparison with a round or two of treatment and the way it plays with the mental health when you get a positive test!
Highlight of the week: Chicken Stew!
Thank you for all of the amazing support and comments ... love the lot of you!
I thought I had read that in your blog.I had mine removed almost 4 years ago and am currently cancer free.I didn’t have chemo or radiotherapy as I had squamous cell cancer and that doesn’t respond that well to either.I’m happy to help if I can.Jane
