Thursday 29th November 2007

Slept much better on Wednesday so we got up earlier to have more of the winter daylight. Managed to shower all by myself which sounds pathetic but you need to learn the best way to do it with a PICC line and and especially when you are attached to a pump.

We had lunch then went for a 3 kilometer walk in Norsey woods; we kept to the flat easy walk as it was the first time and Phil made very sure I stayed well wrapped up. Home for an hours nap then we went off for an hour or two to see Dad, he wasn't looking at all well but he'd had the doctor in and the district nurse in twice so he's being well looked after. I wish we could do more but he understands the situation and is being very good about everything.

We were both very tired when we got home, Phil said he would have blamed the chemo for my tiredness except he was almost as bad . Supper, then we watched the latest episode of Bones and had an early night, Phil did read me a chapter of the Castle of Adventure though.

Still feeling pretty good and positive about the treatment.

Yours
Jill

Welcome to the new weblog

Welcome to my new weblog, some of you will have followed the link in my last email and you can skip the next section because you already know all of this stuff but to put the entries in context for anyone new I though I’d do a quick recap of the situation I find myself and recent events leading up my starting this weblog.

I was diagnosed with bowel cancer in July 2007 and the surgeon operated to remove the main tumour on 2^nd August. The operation went well and I recovered quite quickly but subsequent events provided the roller coaster which is in the title of this weblog. The biopsy results came back negative but later scans showed that I did have metastatic (secondary) tumours in my liver, in both lobes and too spread to be operable. This took a number of scans so it all dragged on a bit. I was offered chemotherapy at my local hospital and also the chance to go on a clinical trial they were running. I did some research and discovered a different clinical trial being run at the Marden which I though I would be suitable for and asked to be referred, this meant more scans which unhappily showed that I also had some very small metastic tumours in my lung so I couldn’t do the BOXER trail; however they were able to offer me another trial they have just started running.

I had my first chemotherapy session at the Marsden yesterday 27^th November 2007.

Anyhow this may seem an odd thing say after the previous paragraphs but I’m a very lucky bunny indeed; I have the most fantastic and supportive husband who ever was, a very supportive and loving family and loads of wonderful friends who are all rooting for me. Also I’m being treated at probably the best Cancer specialist hospital in the world and therefore have access to first class treatment and wonderful staff.

We’ve been sending out intermittent update emails to friends and relatives but now I’ve started treatment I though I would set up this weblog to follow my daily progress so that anyone who is interested could drop and for updates whenever they fell inclined.

Here is a flavour of this weekso far:

Monday 26^th November – Phil drove us to Sutton for all my blood tests and the form filling in, we were finished by about 3ish and went on to the B&B we had booked locally. Normally we will probably just drive home but as I had 2 days at the hospital staying in Sutton seemed the best option. Poor old Phil stayed in the B&B except for popping out for a quick supper but I travelled in to London for Marita’s leaving dinner. It was a posh restaurant in Chelsea and I really enjoyed a chance to catch up with people I hadn’t seen for ages. I travelled back to Sutton on the train and it was very freaky because we used to live in the same road as the B&B for about 15 years when we were first married.

Tuesday 27^th November – First day of chemotherapy and I was very nervous, Phil was working in London running a training course so he walked down to Sutton Station and I got a taxi to the hospital; he had wanted to cancel the course but I was perfectly happy on my own for the day so I persuaded him that it wasn’t necessary and in retrospect it was exactly the right decision. First I had the PICC line inserted which was the most pleasant sensation but was over fairly quickly, then an x-ray to make sure it was in the right place. More ECGs and samples to take then waiting for the chemo drugs to be ready. On the drip with one drug or another from 1pm till 5.45 but I was lucky that I didn’t feel sick or nauseous at all, also lucky that I’m not squeamish about needles at all. I have to say that the staff at the Marsden are all fantastic, so friendly and patient but also you can sense how dedicated they are and how thoroughly they know their subject which gives the patients great confidence. Phil came to pick my up and we left at about 6ish. We drove home, takeaway supper then bed. I did find it hard to sleep with the pump whirling away but eventually dropped off at about 3ish and then slept through till 9.30.

Wednesday 28^th November – The district nurse came and changed the dressing on my PICC line. Then we had the big outing of the day to Tesco Supermarket, (see how exciting life if when you are having chemo ). Actually I shouldn’t complain because I’ve had only minimal side effects and no nausea at all which is really great.

Then this afternoon I had a real treat, I lay with my head in Phil’s lap while he read to me and then had a nap on his lap, it was amazingly relaxing (I think I could hire him out for stressed executives). Anyway so far so good and I’ll write another update in a day or two.