Up and Down

Started practicing pitching last week – the neck is still painful, but improving by the day. On the Tuesday I went to the putting green and got in a few more pitching practices, then on Wednesday I did 18 holes of pitch and putt. The week rounded off with a full 18-hole competition on Saturday. Many thanks to Bill for driving. I did an 8-mile bike ride on Sunday. This week I drove myself for the first time in ages and did another 18 holes with Alan. A LONG way to go before I’m properly fit.

So that was the up.

On Friday I got myself right worked up. I’d spent the previous day reading about other peoples’ experiences with the treatment I’m about to have – those horror stories, combined with not knowing exactly when treatment will start and finish, meant that I couldn’t file everything away in my mind.

And that was the down.

On Monday, 2^nd September – blimey, 2/3rds of the year gone – Row and I had an early start to get to Mount Vernon hospital for a few appointments, starting at 8:45. First up was the EDTA – actually it’s CR-51-EDTA which is ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid plus radioactive Chromium-51. This was injected in my right arm just before 9am. A few minutes later they ran a Geiger-counter over both arms to see that a) it really was in there and b) it was going round my body. Then at both 11am and 12noon, they took a blood sample from my left arm.

Whilst waiting, Row had a cooked breakfast. With no teeth, all I could manage was a coffee. We also visited the Macmillan centre and got some answers to the long list of questions I’d prepared.

At 12 we had lunch. Yes I managed a Moroccan lamb stew with turmeric rice. Then went to the Radiotherapy department where first I had my green mask fitted – you’ll have to go to Facebook if you want to see the photos – this involved having a load of x-rays taken and lines drawn on my face, neck and chest. The mask was put into hot water and clamped over my face onto the table I was lying on. It was then pressed and smoothed by hand so that it fitted snugly and then it was left to cool. Afterwards a small tattoo was etched on my chest so that everything can be lined up later. Finally, a cannula was put into my right arm for them to first take another blood sample, then by remote control, inject an iodine dye while the technicians were out of the room and the CT scan was being done.

Lastly, we saw the nurse assigned to my case where most of the remaining questions were answered. Those that she couldn’t were referred to Dr Moule who is overseeing my treatment and he was able to answer those. The nurse removed the cannula and we were free to go.

I also came away with a bag of very expensive mouthwash which is for the excruciating pain that I’ll have in my mouth and throat once treatment gets underway, and tubes of aqueous cream to sooth the agony of the burning of the neck.

Here’s a quick rundown of the next steps:

Thursday 19^th. Dummy run of the equipment involved in the radiotherapy. Followed by a two hour session to explain the possible effects of the chemotherapy.

Sunday 22^nd. Check-in to Mount Vernon Ward-10 in the late afternoon.

Monday 23^rd. It starts. The first Chemotherapy begins just after midnight and I get to come home round about 6pm. In between times is the first Radiotherapy session. THANKS to Aziz for agreeing to give me a lift home.

24^th – 27^th. Next 4 radiotherapy sessions. I plan to drive.

30^th. Radiotherapy plus first of the weekly review meetings with doctors, clinicians and therapists.

1^st-4^th October. Next 4 sessions. I plan to drive if I can.

7^th through to 18^th repeat of previous 5 days. From here on, I will start to suffer.

20^th October, check in to Mount Vernon again for the second chemotherapy session on 21^st and again, home at about 6pm.

21st-31st. Radiotherapy continues on weekdays.

Final radiotherapy is on Friday 1^st November.

Each of the next three Monday’s I have to go back to Mount Vernon so that the team can check on progress. After that, checkups can be done at Lister Hospital, Stevenage. Also, the pain stops getting worse now. But may not reduce for a while.

And on 19^th December I see Mr Mochoulis who is the ENT consultant. At some point in March there’ll be scans to see if it is all gone and healed properly. This will be the end of treatment and the start of the 5-year wait for the all-clear.

I still haven’t got the forthcoming trauma put into a cozy compartment of my mind. Thank you all for your support. It enables me to be more cheerful than I might otherwise be.

Frank