And it's been fairly uneventful. I'm too tired to do much so I've just been enjoying not having to get to hospital. Last Friday was a nightmare as several roads in Battersea were flooded, which meant I had to do quite a lot of walking to catch a bus, which stopped before St Thomas's so that I had to catch a cab. There were quite a lot of delays and congestion, and I was late for my appointment. I had to see both a radiographer and an oncologist before I could make my way home. I tried catching a taxi but roads were still closed all over Battersea. I made my way to Waterloo hoping that the trains were running. They were so I hopped on one, walked home and spent the rest of the day in considerable pain. All this could have been avoided if a radiographer had told me my appointment had been changed from 5.45pm to 10.30am though. But there you go. Compared to Gloucesterhire and the likes we got off lightly.
I'll be having a follow-up appointment in about four weeks time though I received my prescription for hormone treatment, which, as agreed with my oncologist, I won't be taking until I come back from Cornwall (early September). I've no plans until my appointment. I had a friend over from Switzerland for a couple of days and I took her on a bus trip on Wednesday - not the wisest of moves. I'm knacked but glad she got to see some of the sights. I look forward to being able to do little things - it really doesn't have to be much. The good news is that travel by bus for 'poor people' in London is going to be very cheap at £0.45 a go from next month thanks to a deal between London and Venezuela. This ought to mean many days out for me.
Enjoy your weekends.
27 July 2007
20 July 2007
Final session
The final day has arrived at last. I find it a bit hard to think that I've been getting treatment for seven long weeks now, but my breast certainly bears the bruises of being nuked or toasted - some of the terms used by my fellow patients. The whole of the top right quarter is still burned but the boosts have targeted the scar area so that I have an additional big red circle around it. The skin has broken in several places and is peeling, and different skin tissues have reacted in different ways with some areas actually getting lighter. Add to this my two scars and the blue dye injected during surgery and you'll forgive me for feeling like a bit of a freak.
Far more important to me is the fact that my hair is almost back to normal. It's still a bit thin and it hasn't grown as such (I got my Mum to cut off the long fluffy ones), but it has thickened, which means I'll be able to go out without a headscarf very soon. I'll make sure it's dyed red for its first outing. The eyelashes are also almost back to normal but my eyebrows appear to be struggling at the moment. My weight isn't really budging but as a tutor once told me, in the grand scheme of things it hardly matters.
One thing I find quite interesting is that I feel like doing active things - maybe as a result of being housebound for so long and not being able to do much. On the (possible) cards are snorkeling, flying a kite, mountain-biking (gentle slopes only), tennis and good old walking. I will of course have to gradually build up my stamina and that's where my trampoline comes in. I can't wait to get going again - the possibilities seem endless.
Hope everyone's well and enjoying whatever they're up to.
Far more important to me is the fact that my hair is almost back to normal. It's still a bit thin and it hasn't grown as such (I got my Mum to cut off the long fluffy ones), but it has thickened, which means I'll be able to go out without a headscarf very soon. I'll make sure it's dyed red for its first outing. The eyelashes are also almost back to normal but my eyebrows appear to be struggling at the moment. My weight isn't really budging but as a tutor once told me, in the grand scheme of things it hardly matters.
One thing I find quite interesting is that I feel like doing active things - maybe as a result of being housebound for so long and not being able to do much. On the (possible) cards are snorkeling, flying a kite, mountain-biking (gentle slopes only), tennis and good old walking. I will of course have to gradually build up my stamina and that's where my trampoline comes in. I can't wait to get going again - the possibilities seem endless.
Hope everyone's well and enjoying whatever they're up to.
14 July 2007
Broken machines and viruses
The past 10 days or so have been quite eventful as far as getting radiotherapy goes. The broken machine wasn't repaired until Wednesday, which led to quite long delays but also the appearance of friendly faces as people usually treated upstairs were being sent downstairs. Unfortunately no sign of my Italian friends but never mind. I know I go on about how unpleasant the place is downstairs but everyone who's accompanied me agrees. Mum, who kept me company on Tuesday, felt physically sick - and she came on a good day, when no one was coughing up blood and generally the more sickly looking patients were not around.
On top of that I started feeling unwell on Tuesday morning - shivering, with aches and pains all over. I took some Paracetamol and went to get my treatment, thinking I was only tired. I got home, tried to eat something but wasn't hungry at all, and started feeling a lot worse. My temperature went up to 39.7C (103.5F) but I got it under control then. I didn't go for treatment on Wednesday (which now means my treatment ends on 20 July - it really does feel never-ending ) but was told that I should really not miss any other appointments. So I went in on Thursday and yesterday, and got to see the oncologist yesterday. She did say I didn't look well and seemed very tired, but didn't think it was anything to worry about. I had a blood test to make sure my blood count was ok. I'm still feeling quite rubbish, with sore glands, a headache and now red spots all over my body. I phoned my surgery, just as a precautionary measure, but they don't seem to think it's serious. I couldn't have had a hospital appointment but that would've meant making my way to Putney, and I really don't fancy it today. I'm not particularly worried, just tired and generally unwell. I was told to drink a lot of water and eat healthily.
On a positive note I did go and see Harry Potter yesterday - I know I shouldn't have but it did me a world of good. Very enjoyable.
Be good
On top of that I started feeling unwell on Tuesday morning - shivering, with aches and pains all over. I took some Paracetamol and went to get my treatment, thinking I was only tired. I got home, tried to eat something but wasn't hungry at all, and started feeling a lot worse. My temperature went up to 39.7C (103.5F) but I got it under control then. I didn't go for treatment on Wednesday (which now means my treatment ends on 20 July - it really does feel never-ending ) but was told that I should really not miss any other appointments. So I went in on Thursday and yesterday, and got to see the oncologist yesterday. She did say I didn't look well and seemed very tired, but didn't think it was anything to worry about. I had a blood test to make sure my blood count was ok. I'm still feeling quite rubbish, with sore glands, a headache and now red spots all over my body. I phoned my surgery, just as a precautionary measure, but they don't seem to think it's serious. I couldn't have had a hospital appointment but that would've meant making my way to Putney, and I really don't fancy it today. I'm not particularly worried, just tired and generally unwell. I was told to drink a lot of water and eat healthily.
On a positive note I did go and see Harry Potter yesterday - I know I shouldn't have but it did me a world of good. Very enjoyable.
Be good
07 July 2007
Main treatment almost over
Because Monday's appointment was canceled I haven't quite finished the main treatment, but from now on I should be getting boost sessions which target the area around the scar. And about time too, I'd say, as my skin is quite badly burnt and I have a couple of very small blisters. I was told to keep an eye on the whole area as the skin could break and might need special care as a result. The inflammation has also meant that my breast has swollen, which translates into longer treatment as my tattoos are no longer aligned with the machine (or other way round). So we're talking minor inconveniences rather than anything serious. I'm also very tired now and not really able to do anything. And so I shall enjoy the tennis this weekend, and I might watch some of the Live Earth concert but I'm not that fussed by it. Liverpool have their first pre-season friendly against the mighty Wrexham, the game being shown live online, so that's another possibility. Enough to keep me entertained, basically.
The machine treating me broke down on Thursday and was still not fixed yesterday. This means that I was sent downstairs, which in turn led to delays. I wasn't too bothered by this but I wasn't able to say goodbye to my upstairs friends, as I'll be treated downstairs from now on. Mind you, there's always the chance that they'll be sent downstairs for treatment as the machines seem to be quite moody these days. I hope I get to see my Italian friends as he's good fun. People were discussing how hair loss was more difficult for women and he said that in Italy baldness in men was a sign of having lots of good sex so he didn't mind losing his hair. He's such a gem.
Enjoy your weekends.
The machine treating me broke down on Thursday and was still not fixed yesterday. This means that I was sent downstairs, which in turn led to delays. I wasn't too bothered by this but I wasn't able to say goodbye to my upstairs friends, as I'll be treated downstairs from now on. Mind you, there's always the chance that they'll be sent downstairs for treatment as the machines seem to be quite moody these days. I hope I get to see my Italian friends as he's good fun. People were discussing how hair loss was more difficult for women and he said that in Italy baldness in men was a sign of having lots of good sex so he didn't mind losing his hair. He's such a gem.
Enjoy your weekends.
02 July 2007
Day off
I got a phone call this morning telling me that the machine had broken down and that they'd therefore not be able to see me - which was a bit of a relief as it was a late afternoon session and they're not my favourite. This means they'll be adding a session at the end of my treatment I think.
I had the lump in my other breast checked out last week and it turns out it appears to be a lump of fat - with the breast specialist adding very quickly that it didn't mean I was fat. I begged to differ but decided not to be pedantic about it. So that's good news. They didn't mention me needing a scan so all's good.
The waiting room was quite entertaining last week. On Thursday, two people, within the space of ten minutes, spilled their glasses of water. The first one spilled it on the floor but the second one spilled it on the person sitting next to him - splashed him to be more precise. Which led to rows of people trying to laugh discreetly but failing miserably. It really feels like nursery school sometimes. A woman then walked in and gave me a one penny coin she had picked on the floor to bring me luck, which I thought was very sweet. And on Friday, my Italian friend brought me a jar of home-made sun-dried tomatoes, which I absolutely love. They are delicious. This is my last week at this place and it's safe to say that I will really miss all these people. They have been my companions on this particular stretch of treatment and I couldn't have asked for better people. I'm actually feeling quite upset by it.
On a happier note, my friend Liz has taken a week off work - unpaid leave - to keep me company. She's come down from Newcastle for the privilege so a big thank you to her. Hopefully she won't read this before she's back up norf or I'll get walloped. It gives my main carers a break and boy do they need one - can't thank them enough for everything.
I can't say I'm pleased about having to go to St Thomas's, which is just opposite the Houses of Parliament (for those who don't know). Do you think it's acceptable to say hello and play with sniffer dogs? Didn't think so...
Be good.
I had the lump in my other breast checked out last week and it turns out it appears to be a lump of fat - with the breast specialist adding very quickly that it didn't mean I was fat. I begged to differ but decided not to be pedantic about it. So that's good news. They didn't mention me needing a scan so all's good.
The waiting room was quite entertaining last week. On Thursday, two people, within the space of ten minutes, spilled their glasses of water. The first one spilled it on the floor but the second one spilled it on the person sitting next to him - splashed him to be more precise. Which led to rows of people trying to laugh discreetly but failing miserably. It really feels like nursery school sometimes. A woman then walked in and gave me a one penny coin she had picked on the floor to bring me luck, which I thought was very sweet. And on Friday, my Italian friend brought me a jar of home-made sun-dried tomatoes, which I absolutely love. They are delicious. This is my last week at this place and it's safe to say that I will really miss all these people. They have been my companions on this particular stretch of treatment and I couldn't have asked for better people. I'm actually feeling quite upset by it.
On a happier note, my friend Liz has taken a week off work - unpaid leave - to keep me company. She's come down from Newcastle for the privilege so a big thank you to her. Hopefully she won't read this before she's back up norf or I'll get walloped. It gives my main carers a break and boy do they need one - can't thank them enough for everything.
I can't say I'm pleased about having to go to St Thomas's, which is just opposite the Houses of Parliament (for those who don't know). Do you think it's acceptable to say hello and play with sniffer dogs? Didn't think so...
Be good.
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