A few weeks back home and I went to visit my oncologist Professor Sebag Montefiore to discuss my next round of treatment. It was great to see him again and he was amazed at how well I looked and was so pleased that everything had gone to plan during surgery.
There were 3 options that we discussed and I decided upon the most aggressive one, which presented me with the best odds of the cancer not returning. This option would entail 6 cycles of treatment over an 18-week period. However this would also mean that my date for surgery to reverse my ileostomy would have to wait until 4 weeks after treatment had ended. This was quite a set back for me as, this meant that I had to keep my stoma for at lest 6 more months.
It’s just before 13:00 on Wednesday 3rd November 2010 and I arrive at Spire Roundhay Leeds, for cycle 1 of my Chemo. I am greeted at reception by Anna one of the Oncology nurses at Spire and I am taken into the Oncology unit. All though I had seen images on TV before, this was now for real. My bed was second from the end, left to right and was to be my treatment chair for the next 18 weeks.
First things first was a warm drink and to choose a sandwich from the menu for later. Next was a few questions surrounding my treatment to date and we discussed how surgery went. My staples were out now and I showed off my scar, which was healing quite well by now. Next my height and weight measurements were taken and this stats were to be used calculate the amount of chemo that was to be administered to me,.
Next was the preparation for Chemo……a cannula was inserted into my left arm and was blood was dawn. This was taken off to the lab so that a blood count could be undertaken to ensure that white blood cell count amongst others were at the right levels. It took about 40 minutes for the results to come back and the all clear was given to proceed.
In came my bag of Chemo from the Pharmacy that had been specially prepared for me. Two of the nurses checked the details before it was hooked up to a machine used to administer the rate of delivery into me via the cannula.
It took just 10 minutes to feel the affects of this treatment entering my veins. I should be used to having needles and drugs administered into me…but this was so so different. If we say that saline is a mild encounter, this was like having extremely strong experience and I could feel each drop entering my body. During the 2 hours it took to administer, a pharmacist arrives with a huge bag containing my oral Chemotherapy prescription, nausea tablets, mouthwash and a digital thermometer.
Each cycle of chemo is a mixture of Oxaliplatin, which is administered through the vein, followed by a 2-week course of Capecitabine tablets, which are taken twice daily prior to food. Then it’s a week off before the next cycle commences. Side affects such as nausea can occur, hence the medication and one needs to take their temperature twice daily. The reason for this is that chemo can cause infections and if I was to start with a high temperature, then I may need to be omitted onto a ward for observation.
I am so glad I went by taxi as at 16:30 I was now ready to go home and I was absolutely shattered and the side affects of treatment were starting to surface. The first thing to hit me as I left the hospital was my throat suddenly becoming sore as I hit the cold air, shortly followed by numbness and tingling, with the latter to last for the next 18 weeks.
Small day-to-day tasks like getting a glass of water to getting milk from the fridge became challenges and to provide aid gloves were worn most of the time and along too came my hat. Another side affect of Chemo is hair loss, however as I had always shaved my hair my head became another exit point for heat and the hat provided warmth.
The first cycle was not too bad, however cycle 2 onwards was difficult and pain was another issue to deal with. The arm, which Oxaliplatin was administered through, became increasingly painful and I used on most days a Lavender Heat Bag to manage the pain along with pain relief. The first 3 days after the Chemo is administered through the vein are the worst, with tiredness and nausea hitting its heights. Then as the week progresses things get easier and more manageable.
The worst time was during cycle 3 when I was due to commence treatment Wed 15th Dec 10. This would mean that by Christmas eve my energy levels would be improved so that I could enjoy Christmas and the New Year. However bad news soon arrived when my blood count results came back low. This was a huge set back as this meant having to delay treatment.
A second test was undertaken the following Monday and again the count was low and I decided to book myself in again on Thurs 23rd Dec 10, with the knowledge that Christmas would not be much fun. The results cam back fine and I had to decide to go ahead. The next few days were worse than normal, as it was extremely cold outside, plus I was now ½ way through my treatment and the Chemo was definitely having its affect on me.
On Christmas day I got up about 11 and opened my presents with the family. I had a light breakfast and then went back to bed to rest until lunch was served. I managed to change before lunch, but was soon back in my PJ’s and stayed in bed for the remainder of the day.
By New Years Eve the affects had started to wear off and off I went to Gavin & Vicky’s for our traditional NYE celebrations. This year they kindly toned down activities and we went to their local for Pie and Mash and then back to theirs where we played poker…..and buzz on the PS3…and yes Gavin wins again…….
My last cycle commenced on Fri 4th Mar 11 and by Fri 18th Mar 11 it was all over. All in all some 19 weeks had now passed and my treatment was finally over. If I had to choose between surgery of chemo….surgery would win hands down for me. The pain and discomfort endured during those weeks will remain in my thoughts with me forever.
I did however receive a hard word from the oncology team one Friday, after some dental treatment endured endless bleeding. Luckily the dentist managed to stem the bleed and after a call later that evening from a worried oncologist, I apologised profusely for my actions and promised never ever to do that again…….”I forgot that Chemo affects the white blood cell count which means that clotting can take a lot longer”.
