The title for this entry is intended to be a positive one. I began the radiotherapy yesterday, this was accompanied with the penultimate round of chemotherapy. So I'm into the final 7 weeks of treatment.
Due to the chemo being just one instead of three drugs on this round I requested that I come in to hospital as a day patient rather than having to stay in over night. My request was met, but I was warned that it would be a 'long day'. So, I began treatment yesterday at 8.30am. I was taken down to the Headland ward and escorted to my chair. The Headland ward is clean, bright and very modern, a big contrast to what I've been used to on Lowan.
The next round of Chemo instantly got underway with 1hr of hydration. This is to help protect my liver and kidneys through the process. Cisplatin is the name of the drug being used and carries a wealth of nasty side effects, but is used in this case to help attack the tumour and heighten the cell killing effects of te radiotherapy process.
I'd read a few studies and medical papers that had stated that up until only a few years ago I would have received only radiotherapy in my case. Recent studies had confirmed that the use of Cisplatin alongside the RT gave much better long term effects, giving the patient a far higher percentage of both cure and lack of recurrence over the 5 year remission period... good news.
As I'm sat in my comfy electronic recliner I start think of ways to break up what will be an 8 hr day sat in this chair waiting to be shot at with beams of radio active energy while being pumped full of super toxins. One of the nurses mentions " it's a long day for you, but it's has to be better than staying in", I agree and tell her I'm thinking of it time wise as a flight to New York. She bursts out laughing and says "we've never been compared to air hostesses before!". With that the ninety year old lady next to me replies "that being the case, do you have a gin and tonic?"
I embark on the best time killer of all... sleep. It had been a late night and an early start, so I was pretty worn out, and it could just be phycological, but as soon as they hook me up to the chemo I always seem to flake out. I wake up with the sandwich lady doing the rounds, I take a chicken salad sandwich and scoff ot down, although I kind of know I'll be seeing it again soon!
Two girls in jeans and black t shirts arrive pointing a wheelchair my way... the main event looms. "It's time for your radiotherapy Mr McQueen" one said. I'm placed in the chair and wheeled down the hallway to the RT section. I have a brief interview with a student nurse regarding any concerns I may have regarding the treatment and then I'm taken through the "machine". I'd been given a mouthwash type medication during my last meeting with Dr Collinson, the aim of this was to help protect my saliva output during and post treatment. I took a slug, rised it around my mouth and swallowed it.. eeeghh, swimming pools!
Having met the radiology staff, they moved me over onto the cold metal table. The head RT guy informed me that this will be the longest session of he treatment due to the need to set everything up, run some tests and make sure that all the planning and measurements are correct.
Meat Loaf's 'Bat out of hell' quitely trickles out of the rooms in built in speakers.... better than Diana Ross I guess. The mask is placed over my face and is so tight it feels like my head is going to pop. I can just about breath though my nose and get tiny short breaths through my mouth... Not one for the claustrophobic!, and then the treatment begins. I can't see a thing due to my eyes being held closed by the mask. I can only hear the succession of clicks and mechanical noises as the RT machines moves around me doing its thing.
After what felt like about 45 mins I was released. I was in a fair bit of pain, not from the radiation(yet), but from being compressed into the mask for such a long period of time. I'm assured that future sessions will be much shorter... I hope so.
I' m returned back to the ward to find that I'm the last person there, all the other day patients have had their chemo and have left the ward. I give Bethan a quick call and let her know that they are going to let my go at 6.30. She comes to collect me and we head off...sick bucket in hand.
I'm sick twice on the way home... so I head straight upstairs and get into bed, close my eyes for a second and then make a dash for the toilet, looks like this is going to be a sickie one!
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