Hi nicola

Well you've got through the first week! The hospital receptionist used to highlight the days on my sheet and it was so exciting when I turned over a page! It will go fairly quickly now that it has started. Promise!

I had a groshong line for chemo and I had no trouble at all with it. Like you, I had a few problems with the peg at first but I did get used to it and it felt weird when it was removed! Like losing a friend!

I too am so pleased that your anti-sickness medication is working. I was sick several times a day for about three months - real projectile vomiting! Sorry - too much info!

Simon - I am so pleased to hear that you are now eating! And beer too! I still can't drink red wine although I can drink vodka! Phew!

Keep going both of you - we are all rooting for you!

I've got my second PET scan tomorrow to see how things are doing so keep your fingers crossed for me!

Debbie

X

Debbie

Hi Debbie,

Wishing you all the very best for your PET scan. Let us all know how it goes.

Simon x

Hi Simon

Will do although I don't get the results until my next review on 18 December. More scary waiting!

Debbie

Hello everyone,

Well that's the second week of treatment completed for me, 4 weeks left. I noticed on Thursday of this week I had a slightly irritated spot under my tongue and eating has become a little uncomfortable in that I can not open my mouth very wide then today an ulcer appeared under my tongue, however it's on the opposite side to which is being treated so I hope that's normal? I may mentioned this to the Radiographers on Monday for reassurance that its normal.  I've also been prescribed some anti biotics for oral thrush, I have lots of little white spots in my mouth on the treated side, other than that, I'm able to carry on as normal. I was feeling only slightly sick this week after chemo, not as much as last week and a friend sat with me during chemo this week which made it more fun!  I've been prescribed a mouth spray and some artificial saliva! I haven't used these yet but these should help with my dry mouth and its become very dry now and not much taste there.

I'm still super happy to hear Simons good news to week, I hope you start to feel a little better in yourself soon though Simon. A bitter sweet week for you hearing such good news but feeling so rough at the same time but its wonderful that you are on soft foods. I'm very jealous of the beer, I'm not a huge drinker but I have fancied a glass of wine a few times but I've resisted!

Annabel and Garf, that was good advice to deal with one treatment at a time. That's how I'm approaching it and this week was much better in terms of less waiting around. I just hope it continues this way! I'm sure I will be back on here very much for some more good wishes from everyone to see me through, so thank you for supporting me.

Debbie - I will keep my fingers crossed for you for the PET scan results. That seems to be a long wait though which is unfair. I think my worst time during all of this was waiting for my scan results just after being diagnosed. I don't think I will feel like I've lost a friend once my PEG is removed, I'll be glad when it's gone! I'm using it once a day at the moment just for practice as I can still eat but I don't think that will be the case for much longer. I shopped for some yummy foods yesterday which I will try and cram in over the next few days before its PEG all the way! I have been highlighting my list of appointments too and I also get excited when more have been crossed off, it's the little things eh?!

Jo - you are sounding surprisingly optimistic about your liver and another operation. What a brave lady you are. Do you have any further details about it yet or is it a case of waiting to see how you are once chemo has finished? If all has gone to plan this week then you're most probably coming out of hospital today after your chemo, I hope you are feeling ok so you can continue with this at home going forwards. I had my PICC line inserted on Tuesday and the whole procedure was absolutely fine. I had two lovely nurses with me who explained everything and I felt no pain or discomfort at all. My arm was a bit sore for a couple of days afterwards but it's fine now. Just have to keep it covered and not get it wet and I was advised to carry on using my arm as usual. It was a really quick and slick process so I was pleasantly surprised so I'm sure you will breeze through it too. I can imagine after two days of chemo in hospital you're feeling rather glad to be at home but probably rather exhausted too. What a roller coaster this whole journey is for all of us. Keep your chin up as you have been doing, I'm pleased to hear you still sounding so positive xxxx

It's so good to have the weekends off from treatments and have a proper rest! I'm anticipating week three to become tough in terms if side effects so my next post may not be so upbeat but we will see how it goes. Until then, I'm thinking of everybody.

Speak soon,

Nicola xx

So good to hear from you Nicloa,

It sounds like you managed your second treatment fine. That sounded like a really good idea to have a friend for company. Certainly a friend helps to take your mind of things.

Sorry your mouth is sore, but it is not so surprising, your treatment will probably be the cause of that and your regular use of mouthwashes and artificial saliva should help you out.

It's funny how we all fancy/want something we cannot have. A glass of wine sounds great and I shall drink one with you over the net when you can celebrate with one, something for us to look forward to. We should perhaps toast Simon on his good news too.

Well hun look after yourself, keep up with the mouthcare.

will be sending lots of good wishes over the next few weeks.

One week at a time,

Hugs

Annabel xx.

Hi Nichola

Just wanted to say good luck in your treatment

You are doing so great Hun xxxx

Hi Nicola,

Good to read that week 2 is done and dusted and you had a friend with you. It does help to have someone with you ( even if like me and my partner, we sat in 'companionable quietness' during my first treatment)

I hope your mouth problems settle down with the help of the mouth spray and artificial saliva.

I had my second round of chemo in hospital and was discharged yesterday afternoon ( home well in time for a lovely shower and a delicious home cooked meal whilst watching Strictly!) easily pleased me!!!

This session on chemo went so well! I've had some minor side effects (tingling fingers and numb arm) but no where as severe as the first lot. I hope that I don't experience the inflamed bowel that hospitalised me last time! Touch wood, so far, so good! I have been popping anti nausea tablets though!

My appetite is good and I have to say, the hospital food was lovely (a different hospital to where I had my surgery)

Thank you for reassurance on having the PICC line put in. One lady (patient) I was talking to said she wouldn't have one because of the infection risk, but I chatted to one of nurses at the hospital and she said as long as you look after it there should be no problems and the benefits far outweigh the negatives! Especially as a lot of the patients I was in with, were having their inpatient appointments altered and one lady will now be having having her chemo on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! At least I can have mine at home!

I empathised when I read that you fancied a glass of wine! On the day I received my liver news, I took my partner to the local pub to treat him to a late lunch and a well earned pint (neither of us are big drinkers) and I just fancied half a lager! So I had one! Hardly the most sensible of things to put my liver through! But, boy it tasted great! I'm saving my next treat for Christmas!

Well, honey, you sound upbeat too! I'm sure by approaching things step by step is the best way forward. As Annabel said, one week at a time!

The bigger picture is a bit too big at times!

Keep going, Nicola, and do let us know about week 3 when you feel able.

Hugs to you and your little girl, Jo xxx

P.s. Nicola, sorry my posts are as long as yours! What a rambler I am!! Apologies! xx

Hi Nicola,

Just a quick note to say congratulations on gettiing through the first third of your treatment.  ( I think that's right as my mental maths isn't always the best.)

How utterly uncomfortable you must be feeling with mouth ulcers and what-not but I am pleased to hear that you are feeling less sick this time around.  That glass of wine must be so tempting but with your taste buds being the way they are maybe continuing to fight the urge is a good thing until you can really appreciate that first sip.

Sorry for the short post but my best wishes are still sent to help see you through.

All the best Nicola.

Garf. x

Hi Nicola,

Two weeks down - wow, and well done!

From what you say you are roughly how I was after two weeks. I too had the white spots on the tongue which I took to be ulcers - I still have some at the moment. My cancer was base of tongue and the ulcers were far from the actual primary site so I wouldn't be too concerned at the location of the spots. It is good though to chat these things through with the people performing the radiotherapy treatment - sometimes we forget that they will have seen all this before and they are best placed to understand whether anything is not as it should be.

I remember that the chemo days were a bit of a drag - if you have a tablet device or even a smartphone you could do as I did and take a couple of movies to watch. The real laugh on the chemo day was having to measure my pee in a little jug so that the nurse could calculate how much fluid had passed through my body. I have to confess that I mostly forgot and so I 'estimated' the results.

One more week and you'll be halfway!!!!!!!

Good luck, Nicola - we're all behind you.

Simon xx