Firstly, let me apologies for they lack of posts since 23rd of last month. Theres a lot to tell but I will do my best to condense it into one 'catch up' post.
As I am about to begin the final week of RT treatment I feel sort of okay. I still have severally physical reminders of why they call this the hardest part the treatment, but spirits are pretty good.
The last last chemo was tough, leaving me unable to eat, dehydrated and having to cope with a daily barrage of chemo related side effects ranging from extreme weakness in major muscles to jumping neves and pins and needles in my hands and feet. The jumping in my hands often so bad that using a phone or computer was very tricky. Tha main thing though has been the complete loss of saliva in my mouth. I had only ever experienced this temporarley in the past and knew that it was coming, but I didn't realise the impact it would have. Eating feels impossible
Right now... Which seems pretty weird. The existing saliva I have consists of a very thick, sticky green mucus that slowly builds up in my throat and inside my mouth in the form of hard plates similar on a tortoise shell on my tounge and the roof of my mouth. The remaining 'loose' material blocks my throat and needs to be cleared regularly. I have developed a routine of rinsing and mouth washing with different chemicals to help cut down the very worst of these symptoms.
I was going to publish this post yesterday, but didn't get to it. Just as well as I have just had an un planned meeting with Dr Colinson following my treatment today. He asked me how how it was all going, but I could tell by his responses that he had read upon my files and knew all there was to know. He ran through the states we must go through regarding scans and seeing the full results of the treatment once it's complete. I asked him "so, knowing what we know, how are thinks looking for me?" I know he can't answer this huge question with 100% certainty, but he looked me straight in the eye and said "this is highly, if not one of the most treatable forms of cancer In the head and neck reigion. I feel certain that things have gone very well at this stage."
I think I needed a bit of positivity from medical side of things as the last few weeks spent feeling really weak laying in bed with all the wires and tubes and stuff hanging out of me has had me feeling pretty low to be honest. We drove back home and all I counld think about was riding my bike, paddling a surfboard and piggybacking the kids in the garden... Its all so close now, I can barley stand it.
