Afternoon all,
Well the Consultant rang back this afternoon. I will be hearing from hospital with an appointment for next week for the fitting of the hickman line. Surprise was that they're keeping me in and starting the IVE chemo the following day. This involves 3/4 days being hooked up. If everything goes well, they'll let me out for 2/3 days then back in for observation when my bloods drop. There'll be a CT scan after the first cycle to check it's having the desired effect. After the 2nd cycle they're hoping to harvest stem cells and then it'll be a 3rd cycle of IVE and more scans. I'm definitely having stem cell transplant - all of the stem cell stuff happens in Newcastle - bit of a commute for the family but... So, I should be hearing from Professor Jackson(who he??) up there very soon.
At the end of my R-Chop, I was a bit concerned at the six-week break til PET scan. Well it's flown by and now I'm, on the one hand, really pleased it's all going to be moving so quickly (they're hoping to squeeze it all in by xmas but you can't predict what's going to happen at each stage) but on the other hand it's "Whoa!" I haven't planned the kids work! They're away til monday night and I could be in on hospital on Tuesday!"
I'd already caved in and said that we're going to have to 'buy in' some distance learning courses for their exams over the next year. I hate having to let go with this because now the emphasis will be on jumping through hoops to pass exams rather than 'education' but I have to face the fact that 'chemo brain' is a real possibility; I've no idea how I'm going to react to treatment and as the doc said "You just have to be kind to yourself" - there's enough going on without self-imposed pressure. Thank you to the guy who drove into my stationary car at that roundabout last September! The insurance payout which has just arrived will cover the courses :)
Anyway needed to write this all down to get it clear in my head :)
xx
