90%

First of all thank you too everyone for reading the first part of the Blog. I had some great feedback and it was good to get everything out via a Blog.

The last time I wrote anything was at school, I can remember it vividly. We were asked to write a story about a man who was falling from a building and we had to write about his life that flashed before him. It’s ironic because that’s how I felt when I was told I had Bowel Cancer, the feeling of dread is quite overwhelming once you hear that word.  As the days went by though I quickly realized the prognosis was good, and I have a 90% chance of making a full recovery all because I caught it early(check your poo!!!).

So, back to the story on 21^st of January Dawn and I set off to the Hospital for a CT scan to see if the cancer had spread. I was called into a room where the nurse prepped me by inserting a canula into my arm to administer the drug that goes into my veins, this highlights the Lymph Nodes so they can see if the Cancer has spread into them. The nurse informed me I would also need to drink a Barium Meal. This shows up the stomach and bowel for the CT scan. It needs to be drunk over the hour before the scan.  I had noticed a small plastic cup that I presumed was for the drink, easy I thought it’s only a small cup east I thought I soon knock that back. Then she handed me a 1 liter container of what turned out to be an orange flavored thick chalky milkshake style goo, that did actually take a good hour to force down.  Back in the waiting room the others waiting for scans and drinking that drink winced with every sip as I did, there was definitely no gulping going on. The scan was over in a few minutes and apart from a feeling of nausea when what ever was in the drip was administered, but that soon went.

We were told it would be three days before my tests came back and it was going to be a long three days, luckily on the Monday, L(I’ll call her) the Colorectal Nurse Specialist rang me to tell me that the cancer  hadn’t spread.  To say it was a relief is an understatement of the highest order. I rang Dawn straight away give her the good news, it was the best news we had had over the last couple of weeks and we now knew there was a light at the end of the tunnel.

The next appointment was to see Mr T(not that one) the consultant. He was straight forward and professional as expected and explained in full where the tumor was and what the operation involved. Apparently he’s very well thought of and is at the top of this particular field, good to know in in good hands. Actually the NHS have been fantastic so far letting me know what’s going on as regards results and getting me quick appointments, keeping me in the loop etc. Mr T also explained the op would be keyhole and I’d have 4 small incisions as well as a larger one to remove the affected tissue.

The same day we were introduce to the  Research Practitioner for the Oncology Clinical Trials Team, also L so ill call her L2. I was asked If I would like to take part in the Foxtrot trials, an international research study of drug treatment for bowel cancer. I had already come across this on a web search for my condition and thought if asked I would take part. On the trial you are put into the computer and one of three courses of treatment are prescribed. I am going to be having Chemotherapy (Oxaliplatin) intravenously  for six weeks which consists of two courses three weeks apart, alongside that a course of Chemo tablets (Capecitabine), eight tablets a day for two weeks then a week off them before the second course of treatment. The plans changed slightly when my Oncologist decided to put me on a more intensive course of treatment as originally it was three courses of chemo before the op. Anyway three weeks after the last chemo  I go in for my op, and after that I’ll be on another course of chemo for 18 weeks.  So hopefully that will be that, sounds easy and barring any complications I hope it is, but as with everything so far we will have to take what comes, and we are definitely not taking anything for granted.

Yesterday 14^th January I went in for my first course of Chemo, there were quite a lot of other people in the waiting room and again I had one of those moments where it all becomes very real and quite daunting on what’s in front of me. But saying that it seems everyone there is just getting on and coping, it was quite a nice atmosphere really. Two lovely ladies were constantly walking round offering tea anc]d coffee, biscuits, toast, sandwiches etc. The nurses were great too all full of smiles, which is always a good thing in a hospital situation.

The nurse plugged me in as it were and the drug took two hours to go in. no real issues with it although it was very sensitive around where the needle went in and I had bad pins and needles on and off throughout, nothing major though. The worst thing about all of it was having the big plaster near the needle taken off, IT WAS REALLY BAD, excruciating what with my hairy arms. I am definitely shaving them next time, I might get some funny looks but I am not going through that again. God knows why women get waxed they must be mad.

So finally I’m at home and Dawn is looking after me. Not feeling to bad at the moment either. I had trouble sleeping last night so feeling tired today and a bit lethargic, but I’ll try and not have a nap today as I did yesterday, I don’t think that helped. My arm is still a bit sore and sensitive bit its nothing really. I’ve not had any side effects as  yet, and  no dashes to the loo for emergencies from either end(sorry). I’ve had the first dose of the chemo tablets this morning and am just waiting to see how I go with them. 

I’ve rang work and informed them I’m available to work for the next two weeks and hopefully that will be the case. So its onward to the next treatment, I hope the the cancer is enjoying the Chemo HA!!!

Thanks again for reading .