Treatment, like the current heatwave in the south, continues: here I am reporting on August, winding up for the fourth cycle of docetaxel chemotherapy [and zoledronic acid]. Blood sample: tick [PSA 12, down from 14]. Telephone clinic consultation: tick [and prescription placed].
When I came to Hamwic H two days ago, to give the blood sample, there were no spaces in Blue Carpark, disabled or otherwise, so I parked up in the cemetery, where you get 90 minutes anyway then walked back down to the vampire rooms, trying to stay in the shade patches as I walked. Some gallows humour bounced around in my cranium, along the lines of ”why no long stay parking at the cemetery” and “ cancer overflow parking at the cemetery”.
It's another hottie today: 36 celcius high. No need to bother about parking because Mission Control dropped me off, now I’m scribbling in the waiting bay. 11.45am I’m in chair 14, the prescription already in my bag [in contrast to last update]; 12.00 canula and drip in, an hour to kill. Momentary panic when I couldn’t locate my Ipod, but all hooked and rocking now, aircon maintaining the cool. There are three treatment bays, each with six ‘chairs’, in this chemo ward. Each bay appears to be staffed by three nurse clinicians. To date I’ve not had the same clinician for any parts of my treatments.
All going smoothly, am now on the zoledronic, which is about 15 minutes duration, to be followed by another flush, before the canula comes out. Messaged MC to give a suggested RDV time; off out of HH then: SNAFU! I forgot Di had said call, rather than a text, - that’ll teach me, the muddle-headedness is always lurking, ready to let me down! Still, there was a big patch of shade in front of Ronald Macdonald House [!], and an invalid chair abandoned in its car parking area, so I dragged the wheelchair onto the footpath and sat in the shade, enjoying a stiff, cool breeze, for the half hour wait.
Oops! And another mea culpa!: a couple of hours afterwards, in conversation, I find that I cocked up the pre-treatment steroids by taking three doses of one 2mg tab at the appointed times, whereas I was supposed to take three of four; a deficiency of nine tablets or 18mgs overall! MC looked up the drug’s properties, but it seemed to be multi-use so we rang the Acute Oncology line. They debated in the background for a while and said just take another 4mg now, then keep watch for any new symptoms or worsening of any existing treatment side effects. Fingers crossed for now and tomorrow, when this account will conclude. I’m keen to see if the cycle 4 after effects will be as slight as cycle 3’s were. I got through the evening without any Oramorph top-up, that’s a good start.
Here we are, supposed to be even hotter today and it’s not conducive to do much in the way of chores, but I ought to rest anyway. Took the 09.00 meds and have avoided a top-up, hoping to get to the next lot without taking extra, the chest is aching, but regular changes of body position help a little, and so far I have to say that the after-effects from the fourth chemo cycle are on a par with the third and way less than the first two. Of course, I have to remember that the first two took place in the 4-6 week period wherein I was warned the side effects of the radiotherapy could peak. Next task is to mail my surgery for some prescription renewals, and may as well include the next Zoladex Implant, and arrange for its injection into my belly [every twelfth week]. I think I’ll sign off here, but will do an addendum if there is anything I think I ought to add.
