My Last Chemo Session

The side effects for the last week have been so minimal they really don't warrant a post of their own, so I'll keep it brief

• eyebrow/eyelash loss continues
• no tastebuds
• sores up my nose
• toothache
• mild neuropathy (numb fingers/toes)
• mild tinnitus
• no sleep for a couple of nights (steroid induced pre last chemo infusion)

but on the plus side the fluffy white baby hair on my head continues to increase, albeit very slowly and probably barely visible to anyone but me and Ian who know every inch of my bald head.

So on to the main event - MY LAST CHEMO SESSION - I really can't believe how the time has flown since 4 October and just remembering back now to the sheer terror I felt going in for the first session has me crying as I type this.  If only I had known then what I know now - it was do-able - not always pleasant, but certainly not the horrendous experience I'd imagined.

Knowing it was the last one, I was very impatient to get going and typically the Pharmacy Dept. hadn't sent all the necessary drugs down to the Galton Unit so my poor nurse (the lovely Suzie) spent ages chasing them down.  In the end I had the chemo infusion before the Herceptin subcutaneous jab - but it didn't matter which way round really. 

I know it's not the end of my treatment by any means as I'll still have to have

• 15 more Herceptin injections (every 3 weeks which takes me to mid-Dec)
• 15 daily radiotherapy sessions (due to start 18 February)
• 5 years of daily tablets of Letrozole (starting 18 February)

and of course I'm still injecting daily with the anti coagulant until 6 weeks after the PICC line is removed which will hopefully be next Wednesday (so that takes me to mid-March)

But somehow it is a huge milestone as once I get over this latest session I won't be having anything else quite as nasty 🤞🤞🤞 OK I know radiotherapy can produce it's own side effects, as can the Letrozole (oestrogen hormone blocker) but with these I will just have to revert back to my mantra - PFTWHFTB - which let's face it has done me pretty well so far.

So with the weekly visits reducing to once every 3 weeks, I thought it would be a nice time to take in cakes and a few Thank You cards for the wonderful nurses, receptionists and the tea/coffee volunteers who, each in their own different ways, have all made this whole experience so pleasurable (strange word to use probably, but it really was a pleasure to make friends and interact with these lovely people).

Tradition in the Galton Unit is to ring the bell 3 times when you've had your last chemo and so I did

Ring this bell

three times well

its toll to clearly say

my treatment's done

this course is run

and I'm on my way!

And it was incredibly emotional, everyone sitting there having their treatments clapped and cheered and the nurses gave me hugs - we were all in tears 😭😭😭.  I felt a bit daft saying "see you next week"

So, apart from the next 4 or 5 days when I'll probably feel a little bit rubbish, I'm done with chemotherapy and please God (the real one, because I truly believe Surgeon God did his job well) let that be forevermore 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

T Cycle 2 - Days 8-14

Another quiet week side effect wise - the only thing really of note is the sore mouth which has persisted.  The Difflam mouth wash prescribed by Onco is good; I don't think it helps the sores heal but it does numb the mouth which gives me some relief.

We saw Onco on Monday and discussed the random toothache.  I had a printout from my dentist which suggests it's a slowly dying root and nothing to worry about in terms of the bisphosphonates but Onco decided to be on the safe side and sent me off for a full jaw x-ray which should show up any real problems.

I'm beginning to see a light at the end of the tunnel with my treatment - the 6th and final chemo session is next Friday and although I know I'll go down for a while after that, at least once I start to recover a bit I should continue in an upward direction.

I also have the dates for the radiotherapy - a planning meeting at the end of January and the actual zapping starts mid February.  I also have my prescription for the hormone therapy which I'm to start in conjunction with rads.

Now for a couple of candid photos 😲😲😲😲😲

My hair is beginning to grow back and I'm starting to look a little like Mrs Potato Head.  As expected the hair is very, very fine and mostly white - it'll be interesting to see how it develops - I'm quite keen on ginger and curly for a change 😄 

But as one lot grows, another lot vanishes - the eyebrows and lashes are thinning almost by the hour

A quick update on Ian's Indigestion-Heart Attack - he was given a thorough examination at the Rapid Heart Clinic on Tuesday and everything is absolutely fine.  The Nurse was very keen to tell me that I did exactly the right thing in calling 111 and how they wished more people would!

T Cycle 2 - Days 1-7

Back at the hospital last Friday (4/Jan) for the second chemo infusion of Docetaxol plus the next injection of the Herceptin the Wonderdrug (no.2 out of 18).

As usual, before giving the doses the nurse went through various questions to ensure I was fit and well (this is in addition to the telephone call the day before), and despite me having mentioned my very sporadic toothache on several occasions over the last few months, she decided it wasn't safe for me to have the Zoldendronic Acid (bisphosphonates - bone strengthening and helps prevent cancer spreading to the bones) in case it was a sign of osteonecrosis of the jaw and especially as Onco was away.

I was unfortunate enough to be sitting in the "cold cap" seat which was being prepared for the next occupant.  I can't remember if I've mentioned cold capping before, anyway it's a method of attempting to not loose your hair by wearing an ice helmet 🥶🥶🥶 whilst you have your chemo infusions - I knew without any shadow of a doubt that this was not something I would ever consider doing and, having had to sit by the machine whilst it got to the correct temperature, I know I made the right decision ❄️❄️❄️  plus it doesn't work for everyone 😞

Despite being one infusion down, everything seemed to take forever and although we only had to wait for 2 hours monitoring after the Herceptin (in case of allergic reaction) by the time the Docetaxel was being infused I was practically falling asleep and then it kept bubbling as before so the hour drip through took nearer two.  Never mind though, home for a sleep😴😴😴

Another 7 days supply of bone marrow boosting injections 💉💉💉and beautiful Creme de Menthe coloured mouthwash were included in my take home Goody Bag this time.

As per last time, I have the horrid metallic taste and no food tastes remotely like it should - even water feels incredibly slimy; more like wallpaper paste - yuk!  My mouth is also very sore although the prescribed mouthwash is very effective and does relieve this.  Apart from tiredness which I've grown used to, I'm really not suffering from too much else at the moment.

Wow - if I'd been told at the start this is all I'd have to write about I just wouldn't have believed it!!!

But what we did get to experience last week was a whole different side to the wonderful treatment/service we've had at the Galton Unit.

On Monday Ian came home from golf complaining of a tightness across his chest which, although he thought was just wind 🌪️🌪️🌪️, hadn't improved with various over-the-counter medicines.  By the evening I was really quite concerned and as a regular watcher of Casualty for many years I am usually quite good at diagnosing a wide variety of complaints, so I seriously began to consider he could be having a mild heart attack (often mistaken for indigestion).  So I checked the NHS Website and, as he was showing other symptoms; tingling arm, dizziness, followed their advice

If you suspect the symptoms of a heart attack, dial 999 immediately and ask for an ambulance - don't worry if you have doubts. Paramedics would rather be called out to find an honest mistake has been made than be too late to save a person's life.

Except I didn't call 999 (probably overkill 😀) but 111 and explained I was probably overreacting, emotional time etc etc.  The operator went though various questions with Ian (the answer to the majority of which was "no") and promptly announced she was sending an emergency paramedic.

The ambulance 🚑 arrived within about 15 mins and Ian was checked over, lots more questions and an ECG done which they said looked perfectly normal but showing a potassium peak so he really should have a full blood test which would show up anything and everything going on.  We presumed they meant the following day via our GP, but no "we would recommend we take you in now!"

I followed by car and we sat and waited - of all the places to be when you're having chemo is NOT a medical waiting room (far too many germs and infections flying around) so I sat there with my cap pulled down low and a scarf over my nose and mouth.

It really was a most fascinating and enlightening wait, observing the comings and goings of many of life's unfortunates, most of whom knew each other and were obviously very regular visitors - clearly ED on a Monday night is where the party is 🎉🎉🎉

After about an hour we saw the triage nurse who re-ECGd Ian and sent the results off to be seen by a doctor.  By this time it was about 00:30 and the news came back quite quickly that the ECG was fine but would Ian please go next door to be seen by a doctor (MEDOCC a kind of non emergency GP dept within the hospital).  We were told there would be a 4 hour wait although there only seemed to be a 6 or so people in front of us.  Ian asked again about seeing his GP the next day but having been brought in by ambulance the receptionist was very keen for him to stay.  So we sat and waited huddled in the furthest corner away from possible germs.  Very little seemed to happen other than staff clocking off and going home and when Ian checked progress after a couple of hours, we were still 6th in the queue and there was now only 1 doctor working and a further 4 hours before we'd be seen.   Bit naughty really but then we played the Chemo Card and explained that I was desperate for sleep (true) and we really couldn't wait any longer (also true) - with that the receptionist agreed best to go the GP the next day and she'd photocopy the notes for us.

So whilst I receive the utmost care and attention whenever I visit the hospital - clearly other areas of it are really not fit for purpose.

Ian did see his GP and again expected the event to be dismissed but no, he has been referred to The Rapid Heart Dept - but as the wait is about 2 weeks Ian thinks he might have misheard!

T Cycle 1 - Days 15-21

Well I’ve been a little tardy with this post, but to be perfectly honest there hasn’t been a great deal to write about.

We were able to celebrate Ian's birthday with the usual family gathering, maybe a little less riotous than in previous years but then again our granddaughters are getting older too.

My energy levels have recovered nicely; the 2 mile walk down and back to check on Mum has been quite manageable and on Tuesday Ian and I did a long, 2 hour walk from our house across to the top of the North Downs which was fantastic although I was pretty shattered when we got home. 😴😴😴😴😴

And most of the other side effects mentioned in the last post have either gone or lessened so not of bother.

So far for me this drug doesn’t seem to be living up to its reputation 👹👹👹 - "Big Daddy", "The Batterer" etc - and long may that continue 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻

Just one visit to the Galton Unit for a line flush and bloods in preparation for T Cycle 2 - let's hope the idea of starting me on the immune boosting injections immediately and for longer did the trick and I'll be considered ready for another poisoning.  It was a bit busy as they were still playing catch up from the Christmas/New Year closures but all in all we didn't have to wait too long.  

I can't believe on Friday I'll be having my (hopefully) penultimate dose of chemo - the time has flown by.

Playing Around

Ever since all this kicked off I've hardly picked up a camera and have had no enthusiasm or inspiration for editing.

But I feel the need to record, purely for me, the most obvious effect of my treatment - hair loss - but don’t panic, no full frontals 🤭🤩🤭🤪🤭 - I’m only going to deal with my head.  This morning I had a play around and quite like these four images and after all I'm writing this blog for me 😛😛😛😛😛

Cracked ..............  But Not Yet Broken

Facing My Future Head On

I Don't Recognise Myself Anymore

Chemo Brain