2009-04-27 to 2009-04-29 — Antibody and chemo treatment #1

This is a slightly more technical version of the last entry — I didn't want too bore everyone on the email list in an email with some of this stuff.

These three days (two nights) in hospital for the antibody and chemo treatment were the first of six sessions which are planned to be done at two-weekly intervals.

It all went well; there were no immediate side effects which is good. I was warned not to drink beer straight from the fridge as very occasionally this can cause severe throat swelling. As I don't drink alcohol any more I was able to tell them there would be no problem.

The advice was then extended to cover any carbonated cold drinks but again these are things I've not been able to drink since the mouth operation, so again no problem.

I've been put on an antibiotic course to cover any other known possible after effects and I'll be taking that for a few weeks apparently. It's apparently something normally given to babies — what with possible spotty complexion does this all mean I'm entering a second childhood?

Provided that my bone marrow regenerates enough platelets (red blood cells, I think) then the oncologist thinks it will all go well. I might get spotty (and have some creams in case this happens) but he doesn't expect my hair to fall out again — which is lucky as I have an appointment at the hairdresser tomorrow and that's be a waste of time and money if all that is left after my new coiffure promptly falls out.

The main reason the treatment is done in hospital and takes three days (two nights) is one of the components of the chemo part is administered with a machine that runs continuously for 48 hours. It's a really cool device — like a large calculator with a strap that goes round my waist or slung over my shoulder. The liquid is enclosed completely in the device so it is really compact and convenient.

Of course nothing is perfect so there were plenty of other normal drips attached for all of the time —- especially on the second day. The actual antibody (antibodies? anti-bodys? — who knows?) is (or are) administered on the second day by conventional drip feed but there are loads of other drip sessions with things to add vitamins, things to protect my stomach and so on. I asked for photocopy of the three day's schedule but then went and forgot to pick it up when I left — so I have no real idea of what was put into me.

This morning, whilst still in the hospital I made a spreadsheet list of all the hospital stays over this whole cancer period. I had to wait until I got home to fill in all the dates involved and might produce a graph or something sometime, but in the meantime only little data factoid for you:

1. It has been 617 days since the first stay in a hospital (August 21st, 2007 for my mouth tattoo)
   
2. Since then I have spent 145 days and 128 nights in hospital (23.5% and 20.7% respectively)
   
3. Depending on whether you count days or nights that somewhere around a fifth to a quarter of my life in a that period
   
4. Some say I'm a computer nerd for doing this sort of thing?
   

Enough! Will go and watch something light-hearted on DVD

2009-04-29 — Newsletter — Antibodies and chemo

Dear All

This is just a short note to let you know that I returned today from two nights in hospital for the antibody and chemo treatment — the first of six sessions which are planned to be done at two-weekly intervals.

The stay was quite pleasant as on the Monday (I think by coincidence) I regained my 'full mental capabilities' — until then I'd been a bit lethargic after the second lung operation. I felt good and still do back home.

One great help is that they gave me a different pain killer which is much better than the previous one, and so I am not much troubled by the aches and pains from the operations and the nights are also much easier. Last night I slept untroubled for almost the whole night —interrupted only by just one short 'pit stop' break. Definitely the best night in the last few weeks.

I've been put on an antibiotic course to cover any other known possible after effects and I'll be taking that for a few weeks apparently. It's apparently something normally given to babies — what with possible side effect being a spotty complexion does this all mean I'm entering a second childhood?

I was also warned to avoid cold beer and carbonated drinks — things I don't indulge myself nowadays so this is not any restriction.

I have lots of energy right now, and think I might start another spring cleaning bout tomorrow — then again I might just relax and play on the computer for a day or two.

And the other good news is that I am very unlikely to have my hair fall out this time as the chemo component is much weaker than the last series.

Thanks as always for your emails, phone call, visits and prayers

David

2009-04-16 — and home again

Dear All

Well the operation went off well and this morning I got back home. I had to stay a little longer in hospital (10 days) than the last two times for this one as they thought it was rather soon after the previous one and I would need a little longer to recover.

Well, they were right. It was a lot more uncomfortable as it was, and still is really, difficult to find a position to be comfortable in. The other side is still sore (looks and feels bruised) and so I can only lie on my back.

But now I'm home and feeling a lot more comfortable physically and very much better mentally and spiritually. The day after the operation I felt pretty low but that only lasted a few hours.

And the good news is… the surgeon removed five suspicious 'things' and only one was malignant. So there has not been a massive new outbreak — just a small localised one. Both the surgeon and my oncologist are very optimistic about this.

For the future, I start a new course of treatment soon. Antibodies (a bit complicated to explain, but new and there is a lot of hope from it — Margaret is already receiving this) coupled with a milder chemo than last time. It will involve two nights in hospital every two weeks for a total period of three months. So I start on Monday the 27th and it'll go on until about the end of July.

Thank you all for your emails, phone calls, visits and also for your thoughts and prayers. I am lucky to have so many good friends.

Love

David

PS Did not get my skeleton picture even though the surgeon promised to try to find it. Will have to try another approach.

2009-04-01 — And yet another operation

Dear All

Went today to have the stitches taken out and was feeling pretty good physically. Turns out however that they discovered two more small 'things' on the other lung -- they actually found out the day before the operation but thought I'd recover better in ignorance. So now the whole process has to be repeated but on the other lung.

So on Tuesday next week (it seemed a good idea to get it over with) I'll be back in hospital and operated on that afternoon. Should be about a week in hospital as per last time.

Anyway, despite all this my spirits are high and I'm going to enjoy the next 5 days as much as possible!

love to you all

David

PS the surgeon has promised to try to get me the full body scan picture they did last time (shows my skeleton) as I said I wanted to put it on my web site. If that works out you'll all get to see the real inner me!