Well, we finally got things started on 12th May, five weeks after the original cancer diagnosis. It had felt like a lifetime and I was really keen to get the treatment underway, however if you told me how the next 48 hours were to turn out then I might not have been quite so enthusiastic.
In my previous blog, I promised that there would be some bumps on my journey however I hadn't expected them to happen quite so quickly.
Tuesday was a long day. Things kicked with off with a Radiotherapy session around lunchtime and ended around 4 a.m after a 12 hour Chemo bash. It was a daunting experience that, not surprisingly, left me a tad tired and emotional. Afraid the fun didn't stop there and I had another Radiotherapy session at 8 a.m before being finally discharged around 10 a.m. Was I glad to get home!
Things, however, didn’t really improve from there and despite taking my anti-sickness medicine, I started to feel unwell - extreme nausea & indigestion. Not much food or sleep was taken that day
By the Thursday things had got progressively worse, despite being given new anti-sickness medicine. The situation escalated to the point where in early evening I was lying prostrate on the bathroom floor in pain and starting to be violently sick. Karen, rightly, called the Paramedics. For those of you who know me, I can be a bit of a “drama queen” at times but this, I’m afraid, was the real thing.
They recommended getting a GP out rather than a visit to A&E. As I didn't fancy getting in to the back of an ambulance and spending a few hours on a trolley I plumped for the GP. He came out, gave me something for the pain and nausea and I finally fell asleep around midnight.
On Friday, despite being in a “helluva state” we went back up to The Beatson, got my medicine changed and I have since started feeling better.
In comparison, the Radiotherapy, so far, has been a walk in the park but I expect it too will have its moments along the way.
It’s not all been doom and gloom and here’s one of the funnier moments so far.
Picture the scene, a very nice nurse is talking Karen & I through the Chemo process and setting me up for my first IV. I’m listening but probably in the “typical guy” way i.e. not really. Apparently she is reminding me of the importance of my renal system working throughout the process and that it would be monitored by regular collection and analysis of my urine. So basically I had to pee as often as I could for the next 12 hours, collect it in sample bottles and leave for the nurses to do their stuff. I had the added challenge of attempting this whilst being strapped to an IV stand and the toilet being a 30 feet shuffle across the room.
At the end of my first IV I had a sample which I was pretty impressed with. Unfortunately the very nice nurse wasn’t. She told me in no uncertain terms that I had to pass all the fluid that was going in to me before she could even start the Chemo let alone finish it. At this point I said I could have provided the full amount with my first sample, but thought I only had to fill one bottle!
She then asked me what I did with the rest! I explained that I had stopped mid flow, put the sample bottle down and then carried on peeing, all with one hand! By the look on her face she seemed impressed by this however it which wasn't quite the same look on Karen’s! Before anyone asks, I won’t be applying for the next series of “Britain’s Got Talent”!
The response to the blog has been tremendous. We’ve had tons of support and encouragement from far and wide. Thanks to everybody who has read, commented, and shared. It means a lot to know that people are rooting for us.
I forget, at times, that it’s not all about me and others are also doing some of their own heavy lifting. Karen and our respective families are going through this too, so I’m really touched and appreciative of the support and encouragement they are getting from their friends. I know that it really helps them.
So, all in all, an eventful week but it’s the first one ticked off on the journey, which is great. At no expense whatsoever we have knocked up our own Cancer Calendar to tick off the days until 22nd June. I did suggest doing an artistic pose to brighten it up however Karen, rightly (?) put her foot down so we’re left with my “Blue Peter Special”. Hopefully you’re all impressed!
Thanks
Craig and Karen
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