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”.
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