Chemo 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 I have signed up to be poisoned, or more to the point, I have wavered permission for the NHS to poison my Cancer in my body, while I am still using it!
I was warned that the walk onto the ward was going to be tough, especially if there were children being treated. In my case I was on a ward with all adults. A massive, and I mean BIG grounding moment came as I took my seat, next to a very pleasant, smiling, happy young lady who was doing her best to cheer up the room, it was her first day, I was reassured that I was amongst kindred souls. After ten minutes or so I plucked up the courage to ask what cancer she was fighting: Liver and Brain was the answer! Christ I shrunk in my seat ... mine is so insignificant and humbling in comparison!
My treatment name is GemCarbo (Gemcitabine and Carboplatin) intravenously.
Basically 4 cycles of week 1 day1 Both chemicals, week 2 day 8 Gemb, Week 3 No treatment (to recover to do it all over again), then rinse and repeat for 3 more cycles.
Gemcitabine is a type of chemo drug that belongs to a class of drugs called antimetabolites. Antimetabolites disrupt DNA replication, which a cell needs to do in order to divide. Basically it kills Cancer cells.
Carboplatin basically slows the formation of the Cancer.
Sent home with a supply of Steroids for 3 days. A strong pick up against the fatigue while the poisons do the business. (There goes my dreams of being an olympian!), and anti-sickness tablets to fight the nausea!
My body needs to be monitored carefully, blood tests throughout the cycles, generally isolation, so no trips to the pub, gym, or the German kebab shop! I now carry a red emergency card with a potential risk of Neutropenic Sepsis being the worst. a 24/7 number to the chemo ward to notify if I show any symptoms including temperatures, shivers, I need to call it in and potentially be admitted!
So far at the time of writing (day2), I am loving the steroids, only had 1 anti sickness tablet, and I am a little run down! and restless! but still positive ... This week I am kicking 25% of the cancer into touch!
Highlights of the week:
This is my journey, yet I am still extremely aware that a lot of people are facing their own demons and journeys, and I am so grateful for the friends that have got in touch. I am going to beat this Cancer and although the fight has to come from inside, when I stumble, and I will ... I will gain strength from the love and support shown ...Thank you!
Please stay safe, stay positive and stay healthy!
