Month: October 2015

So yesterday I said that I had my last cannula inserted, today I was made a liar!

As I mentioned, I had flu like symptoms and went to bed early.  I took a couple of paracetamol to take the edge of the joint and muscle pain and snuggled up to sleep it off. Unfortunately my body had other plans.  I spent the night alternating between sweats and chills and in a lot of pain in my shoulders, neck, breast bone and back making it difficult to move.  Needless to say, I didn’t have a good nights sleep.

When Dr Alexander told us about the cancer in my bones, she also told me that this brings with it a risk of Metastatic Spinal Cord Compression (MSCC).  She gave me a card with key symptoms to look out for and back pain features heavily.

Although I thought that the symptoms were probably a side effect of yesterday’s bone strengthening treatment, I was in a lot of pain and thought I’d better talk to the acute oncology team. I gave them a call.  After we’d talked about my symptoms the nurse asked me to take my temperature, it was 38.4, it hadn’t been above 36.6 before, ‘I think you’d better come in to see us’ she said!

Several blood tests, a throat swab, some intravenous paracetamol and a couple of hours later we left the hospital armed with antibiotics and steroids.  The acute team there are brilliant, so caring and supportive, they instantly put you at ease.  I do have an infection but the main symptoms are the side effects of the bone strengthening treatment. Apparently the first treatment can be a bit brutal – I certainly hope I don’t have to go through that every 4 weeks.

I am however delighted to report that I am already starting to feel much better. The pain is subsiding and I am back to the normal temperature swings, a great improvement on the extremes of last night 😉

Here’s to a good nights sleep!

Talk to you soon

Lots of love Mand xxx

 

This morning we were at the hospital just before 10 ready for my first zoledronic acid session.  This treatment is to strengthen my bones where the stealth cancer had snuck in.

I call it stealth cancer because it had not been evident on my original CT scan back in April or on the bone scan that was carried out at the beginning of May in the awesomely named Nuclear Medicine Department.  The analysis of my last CT scan did identify it.  Fortunately, the chemo has done it’s work and halted the progression of this cancer however, damage has been done and that’s where the zoledronic acid comes in.  This treatment can also be used for people suffering from osteoporosis to strengthen the bones.

The drug will be given to my by intravenous drip every 4 weeks.  I had previously been reluctant to have a port (portacath) fitted when Dr Alexander offered it to me when I was nearing the end of my chemo because it was like admitting that I’m ill.  At that time we thought that would be the end of IV treatment for a while.  The veins in my arms are so sore and now that I will be having this treatment every four weeks I have accepted that it is the right thing to do.  It’s a small plastic port with a tube that goes into the vein.  The whole thing is under the skin so all you see from the outside is a small bump.  then when we need to take blood or administer drugs, a needle is simply pushed through the skin into the port.  That’s booked in to be fitted on October 16th.

So today was the last time I have to have a cannula put into my hand. Of course, it had to be my left hand for two reasons, the first is that my right arm is still more sore than the left and secondly, I have my beautiful henna on my right hand!!  I made this promise out loud to my veins as my hand was soaking in the warm water trying to get one of them to play ball!!

My nurse was Sam who I had for the chemo session that my Mum came to.  The veins listened and she got a good one first time.  25 minutes later it was all over. That was it, no drama or fuss, just the way we like it!

I have been trying to stop having a nap in the afternoon but I needed one today.  Adrenaline really zaps the energy… now I feel as if I have been battered.  One of the possible side effects is flu like symptoms with aching muscles and joints and chills. I am wrapped in my snuggle blanket, Phil is just making me a hot chocolate and I’m off to bed  🙂  Tomorrow I’m sure I’ll feel better.

Talk to you soon

Lots of love Mand xxx

 

 

We have concluded a fabulous birthday weekend with a lovely relaxing day bathed in sunshine.  My cousin Will called in with his girlfriend Jane on a rare visit to Norfolk, we drank tea and ate birthday cake out in the sunshine.  It was really lovely to see them.  We took a ‘bald’ shot to see if there was a family resemblance – you decide!

Tomorrow at 10:00 I have my first  zoledronic acid session to strengthen my bones. Two weeks later I will have a port fitted so that it is easier and less painful to administer intravenous medication and take blood samples going forward so just one more vein hunt!!

Once I get a few sessions under my belt I’ll be able to get practicing on my fab new roller skates that Bryony, Chris and Amelie bought me for my birthday – awesome!!

I’ll let you know how it goes ?

Talk to you soon

Lots of love Mand xxx

 

Well there it is.  Yesterday was my birthday and I have now reached the ripe old age of 45!  Who would have thought that would be a milestone worth celebrating.

Anyone that knows me will know how excited I get about my birthday, I always love them but accepted that I could only get others that excited about it when there’s a zero at the end of it once I’d passed 30!  This one was different.

The last six months have been pretty tough but there has been so much love and support from so many people that has really helped me through.  There is a small group who I refer to as my ‘super cheerleaders’ who have gone above and beyond the usual level of support.  As my birthday marked what I thought was the end of my treatment, I decided to have a small celebration to thank some of those special people.

We gathered at 11 this morning at home along with my new friend Hajira and we had a morning of henna, chat and laughter followed by a fabulous lunch prepared by my most awesome supporter Phil.  We had coffee out on the deck in the sunshine to complete one of the best birthday parties ever.

There are still a few ‘super cheerleaders’ for me to thank personally and I’m working on it.  For now, Teens, Gabi, Donna, Kerry, Yvonne and Claire, Pernilla and Sarah, thank you for being such an important part of my life, love you all 🙂

Talk to you soon

Lots of love Mand xxx

OK.  So we’ve had a rubbish night’s sleep, and then a day of sunshine to get our heads around this and we’re back.

As I said yesterday, we always knew I wouldn’t be free of cancer and the aim was to get the tumours into remission and hold them there for a long time.  The fact that it is already in my bones doesn’t change that, what it does change is my treatment.  It means that I will have to attend the hospital every 4 weeks for the foreseeable future.  We had thought that now the chemo is complete, we wouldn’t have to do that, at least for a while.

But of course, it brings positives with it.  We feel less alone, we will have the routine of visiting the hospital along with the comfort that seeing the team of specialists on a regular basis brings.

Anyway, it’s my birthday tomorrow so it’s impossible to be anything other than excited 🙂

Talk to you soon

Lots of love Mand xxx