Last time I blogged about cancer, I had been discharged from radiotherapy at the Christie (where I’d had stereotactic radiotherapy). That means in around 4 weeks time I should be due a scan (no appointment arrived yet) to check and see how successful the combined radiotherapy and heavyweight docetaxol has been - there is expected to be ‘scar tissue’ on the bone, but the hope is that there is nothing else visible on my spine, or anywhere else. I will always be Stage 4 cancer, and never be cancer free, but the hope is for shrinkage (or stability), and best case scenario - NEAD (no evidence of active disease).

Chemotherapy

Thankfully, when I saw my oncologist, we decided that I only needed ONE MORE docetaxol, as it’s the Herceptin and Perjeta I really need (and when I realised the woman next to me in the chemo ward had stopped at one, sometimes I wonder - but it is a powerful drug - so I will follow the recommendations I am given!

My mum managed to come with me to this (final, please, final) docetaxol chemo (although we agreed that she would disappear the day afterwards as just want own head space whilst struggling way through the side effects):

 

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It’s #waitingroomfeet time. Waiting for bloods to come back to confirm OK for treatment. Had ‘denosomab’ (not bisphosphonates) explained - will be having as injection every 6 weeks. Last #docetaxol and #coldcap

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and also, this is the last time (for now at least) that I need to wear the cold cap - as before, it’s worked really well (I think it’s all about the fit), so Nicky gave permission for these v flattering photos of her trying to wedge it on:

 

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So, hopefully the last #coldcap … thanks @scalpcooling - and the time Nikki took to fit the cap well - I really have not noticed any hair loss with #docetaxol #chemotherapy … Onto Herceptin + Perjeta then denosumab, zoladex, exemastane and probably surgery later in year to remove ovaries.

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Also had Poppy and Turkey to one hand … whilst that table in front of me was kept supplied with hot ribena, Costa coffee snacks, and hot chocolate … as well as my iPad (clearing out last few emails before turning it off):

 

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We cleared up the clutter and have left the building … #chemotherapy #DoneWithDocetaxol (definitely for now, hopefully for ever) …

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Managing Docetaxol

Before my mum disappeared, we had to zoom back into the hospital as I was 7 steroid tablets short … these are designed to manage some of the side effects, though leave one a little ‘manic’ - and they had decided to peter out my steroids over 3 extra days to give the rash/acne a chance to not appear, and also try and manage the nosebleeds:

 

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Unexpected pop back to hospital for 7 mysteriously missing steroid tablets. #cancerlife. Thankfully my mum hadn’t quite left so didn’t have to drive self ..

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A couple of hours later … #wasgij #jigsaw finished. Just been looking up the no picture one - might save that for Christmas! Got a couple of others to do - plus a shedload of other stuff I’d like to do …

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Tomorrow I am back ‘working from home’ - had a bit of excitement today pre-ordering stuff for bathroom to be redone in August. House is slowly slowly getting there - including getting personalised with some pics. Just want it all done so can curl up with a book, or go out for a hike (walk/swim/cycle) and not think ‘I should be doing x’.

What Next?

So ‘for the rest of my life’ (however long that is, team is optimistic, but it’s a challenge to live with) I’ll be having hospital appointments minimum of every 3 weeks, and trying to fit everything else around that. Talking to oncologist and nurses about possible travelling, they said it’s possible for 2 of the drugs to be taken (chilled) as injections, and the Perjeta could miss the exceptional appointment. They are very keen on quality of life!!

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