I am writing this at Mount Alvernia Hospital while having my regular and now very routine three-weekly antibodies infusion (Perjeta and Herceptin). Only three more sessions after this one. Where has the time gone?
We spent a lovely month in Cyprus with unusually warm sunny days for the time of year. When we arrived there on 10th November the daytime temperatures were in the high 20’s Celsius but it cooled down gradually to the low 20’s Celsius in the week before we left. During our stay we had a couple of electrical storms and some overnight rain but the sun always returned quickly to warm us. Very different to the cold, grey and wet in the UK but unfortunately the pool was way too cold (16 to 18 Celsius) for either of us two softies to swim.
We arrived back from Cyprus last Monday (9th December) and the following day I had an appointment with my Consultant Oncoplastic Breast and Skin Cancer Surgeon. He examined me and asked how I had been since I last saw him six months ago. I explained that I had been feeling discomfort and tenderness in my right breast, which was worrying me, and he said this was most likely due to the three weeks of daily radiotherapy I had received in July. He suggested massaging the area with Ibuprofen gel but no more than five days in a row; then just to use a moisturising lotion.
I also mentioned that both my feet had been feeling like I was walking on small pebbles and that the tendons in my toes felt very taut. He explained that this was undoubtedly caused by the Taxol chemotherapy in the first half of the year and that it was a common side effect. It may improve with time or maybe not, the nerve damage could be permanent.
It wasn’t of much comfort when the Consultant told me that he was also suffering some pain at the moment having fallen down a hole recently – he had cuts on his hands and bruises too, poor man. Of course I know all about silly accidents like that and I was able to empathise!
I thought I would have another mammogram this time, but the Consultant said it was too soon after surgery. I will have one during my next visit in six months’ time, on 2nd June 2020; after that he will be seeing me annually each June for the next five years to assess how things are going.
I am happy to report that the itchy skin I have suffered since May seems to have stopped being an issue. I am still taking daily antihistamines so whether or not it is the general build-up of the drugs which has caused it to stop I don’t know. Whatever it is I am very thankful!
Unless there is anything to report in the meantime, I will post again after my last antibodies treatment on 21st February.
Thank you as always for following my blog and we both hope everyone has a wonderful time over the festive season – We wish you all a Merry Christmas followed by a happy and healthy 2020.