Why did I worry so much about the Port-a-Cath? Well, perhaps it could have been the idea of having a big chunk of metal under my skin which was to be pierced by a needle; but actually it was for nothing that I had a troubled night before last Friday’s second chemo session.
My lovely nurse Ashley carefully removed the dressing and popped the needle through my skin and into the Port-a-Cath device and it didn’t hurt a bit. I suppose they had to tell me the worst scenario as some people might experience pain or discomfort.
I had to wait for my blood test results before they could start. They all came back good and the procedure started as before – pre-meds and the cold cap for 30 minutes then the chemo, which took just 45 minutes to administer, then finally another 90 minutes of cold cap. We were finished at 15:35, an hour earlier than last time.
I felt fine afterwards, a few odd twinges around the Port-a-Cath, which has a dressing on for 48 hours, but that’s hardly surprising I suppose.
Ashley, my chemo nurse, suggested I should get a bottle which makes sure you drink enough water throughout the day. It’s very handy as I have to drink two to three litres which is a LOT for somebody of my diminutive size. Very useful for everybody maybe? Here is the Amazon link to the water bottle.
The next day, Saturday, we went to visit Simon, Kate and our granddaughter Georgie in Hither Green, near Lewisham and Lizzie (Grannie) was there too. We had a lovely lunch and afternoon, but I felt really tired on the way home as I’d had interrupted sleep the night before.
Colin has perfected giving me the injection on the first post-chemo day to help my immunity by boosting white blood cells; this time it was totally painless and there was no blood or bruising. Skillz!
Unfortunately after we got back home on Saturday I had the same horrible indigestion that I had the last time, but now I have more magic pills and have been fine since.
On Sunday I woke up full of energy. The steroids had kicked in and so we had a busy day with our friends Suz and James and their boys here for a Sunday roast dinner which was lovely. Well that’s how it was for me, but Colin was exhausted by my boundless energy and was constantly saying “chill”.
The house was tidy and clean by midday, all my cupboards were organised and the dessert was beaten to within an inch of its life.
The washing-up was a somewhat damp affair I now hear – I had no idea Colin was taking photos as evidence.
Today, Monday 10th December, I decided that my hair has definitely decided to give up the ghost. Lots of fallout, so I went back to our local wig specialists and left there with a wig which I think gives me an appearance very similar to “normal”.
As I said before, the upside of my hair loss is not having to endure the cold cap during chemo. Sadly, that’s the only upside I can see at the moment. Well, apart from not having to worry about my hair when I’m going out – I’ll just “whack on the wig”.
Now, the appointment with my Consultant today. I’ll summarise quickly:
Nothing can be certain, but he is pretty sure that the treatment trajectory, as he calls it, will be very effective. I am “triple positive” meaning that my cancer is oestrogen-positive; androgen-receptor-positive; progesterone-receptor-negative; and HER2-receptor-positive. The worst diagnosis would have been “triple negative” – had the cancer been of this type it could have meant that there was a genetic element rather than it being a random cell mutation. Very reassuring for me, not to say also Carrie and Amy.
The plan going forward is much as before. Chemo sessions to continue. Two more at three-weekly intervals, a check by mammogram and ultrasound in early January, then assuming the tumour is shrinking as expected (a change of “cocktail” if it isn’t) chemotherapy weekly for twelve more weeks including monoclonal antibody therapy (“MAB”) using Herceptin, which will probably go on for a full twelve months.
All-in-all I’m still feeling positive; continuing to feel pretty good with surprisingly few side-effects so far.
We are driving to Scotland tomorrow, until Sunday.
Feeling good about Christmas and the New Year too.
Thanks again for all your positive calls, emails and messages. I’ll post again if anything changes but for now all is well. Next chemo session is on 28th December.
Happy Christmas and a healthy and happy 2019 to all xx