22/11/12

22/11/12

OK

At the moment, I'm nervous.

Today they have chosen to do round 2, in 8 hours time. Joe, my oncologist has said the dosages have been lowered by 20%. I am still to be having all 3 meds just a little bit less and that it was the 2 that they gave me in the hospital were the ones that "knocked me out", and the third one in the pump just stops anything and everything from healing.
So time will tell, but that can't stop me from becoming worried about the thought of  having to spend time in the hospital again for 3 or 4 days...

So I'm here, 2 drugs added cisplatin and docetaxel and as before, all is well. The nurse and I have both checked the levels and we can concur that I have been given a lower dose, (here's hoping my body can cope) I feel stronger, knowing what to expect so maybe being in this situation of mine, having had an appalling reaction to round 1, is only going to make me strong enough to ride out this round of treatment. Never the less I can't help the level that my nerves have risen too.

On the plus side, it is not just I that has noticed a difference in my appearance, and I'm not on about the shaved head, younger, fatter, prettier looking me, I mean the visible reduction in lymph node swelling in my neck, the pair of quails eggs that i had been able to spot in the mirror, after I removed my goatee, in the base of my neck, have gone. I don't mean gone down a bit, I mean gone completely. This chemo, for all the crap it gave me first time around is doing what it is meant to do and it's not just my wishful thinking, both Karen (my ENT nurse) and Joe (my oncologist) have noticed as well as my beautiful wife. (Big smiley face)


So as before, I am entering another quandary. When I went through the process of round 1, I did everything by the book and ended up being admitted into hospital for a 3 night stay. Since recovering from that "hiccup" I have got stronger and by watching what I eat and drink, meticulously, I have been told by many that I look really well (now that's a boost to the ego, especially when it's being said by the ladies, you know who you are) keep it up and I do feel well, well enough that last week I gave out a shout and had a thoroughly great evening with a pair of truly stunning young louts (40 years young the pair of them ) now these two have been long time drinking partners of mine although to be fair, it seems to have been a while since I had the chance to have joined these two for a session, so the session was helped along with a 4 pack of brown beer for me, a demijohn of some belly rotting scrumpy for the brothers topped of with a bottle of Sailor Jerry, and a half bottle of Appleton. This of course, resulted in most amounts of merriment and a joyous evening/early morning was had by all this of course included a ceremonious head shaving which I did expect only mine to be shaved but as I passed the clippers to thing 1 to hold as I prepared myself for the cut, he proceeded to instantly carve out a section of his own barnett.  W T F ??  "Dude, what you doin.? you don't have to do that" was my response, laughter, loud laughter was the response of thing 2.
" I know, I wanted to do it with you" was the retort of thing 1. Now that made me realize just how much my friends mean to me and how much i mean to my friends. Thank you Leighton I didn't realize at first just how much that small action of yours lifted me and thank you Roy for being the provider of laughter and back ground ambiance.
So where is the quandary? well that Friday night came and went and on the Saturday there was absolutely no ill affects, none, so tonight before i "go down hill" there's another bunch of reprobates joining us at our home and I feel the urge to join them in a sneaky beer so, "beer or not to beer, that is the question". I feel I may already know the answer.


This is me, Steve Royal. Midway through chemo round 2.

Have a week.