Just back from seeing the consultant, who has the images from my scan but not the full report. However, one of the radiographers had been down before I saw him to draw his attention to the two bright areas in my groin, which means either they didn't get rid of all the cancer cells when they operated and it is growing again or there is some post operational infection. He is also concerned about my right kidney which also showed some abnormality and that correlates with the lower back pain I have been getting.
Very down about it at the moment, so I am getting it out of my system by writing. Sharon is checking it from the sofa to make sure I get it right. Round 7 of Chemo is going ahead on Monday, so 3 more days at hotel Churchill, hope they have my usual suite available. Need something fun and exciting to do this weekend, any ideas anyone?
My brother is out in India doing voluntary work at the moment and he is blogging as well, so if you fancy a change from the world of chemotherapy and cancer have a look at http://inpondyable.blogspot.co.uk/
Friday, 30 November 2012
Thursday, 29 November 2012
Quietish day
Late start as we had a lie in. Walked across to the doctor's to pick up my prescription and took it to the pharmacy. Penny (my sister) turned up to do Mum's shopping and called to see us.
I read piles of documents in preparation for this evenings School Governors meeting and went out about 4:30 to chair the meeting. Home about 7:30, ate tea and Simon came round for a chat.
Was going to bed early as the District Nurse is due at 8:15, but I have started watching Question Time so it will be late. Consultant at 1:00 tomorrow, let's get a decision.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
I read piles of documents in preparation for this evenings School Governors meeting and went out about 4:30 to chair the meeting. Home about 7:30, ate tea and Simon came round for a chat.
Was going to bed early as the District Nurse is due at 8:15, but I have started watching Question Time so it will be late. Consultant at 1:00 tomorrow, let's get a decision.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Wednesday, 28 November 2012
Home again Home again giggety gig.
After breakfast we walked across to Chichester market, bit of a disappointment, markets aint what they used to be. Then we went up to Chichester Cathedral, had a wander round, amazing building. Back to the car about 11:30 and drove down to the sea at Selsey.
Proper sea, not like the creeks and harbour of Portsmouth.
Took a picturesque cross country drive from there to Winchester, via the South Downs. Some fabulous views and at one point a section of something very rare nowadays, open road without another car in site.
Used the Winchester park and ride, had a wander round town and then walked out to the Cathedral Christmas market. Coffee and cake in the coffee shop and then a walk round the Christmas Market. After that we met neice Jess and took her for a pizza. Jess said it was the first hot meal she had eaten in a couple of weeks. Student life must be such fun. Walked back down, got the bus and drove home.
Think I have done really well over the two days. Walked loads, driven loads and generally felt pretty good. My walking is slower than it used to be and stairs aren't easy at the moment. Think that is mainly a lack of fitness from doing so little through the chemo. Got a bit dehydrated today, making it up now and should sleep well tonight. Came home to a letter confirming my appointment on Friday and one with Radiotherapy on 14/12. Yipee?
Took a picturesque cross country drive from there to Winchester, via the South Downs. Some fabulous views and at one point a section of something very rare nowadays, open road without another car in site.
Used the Winchester park and ride, had a wander round town and then walked out to the Cathedral Christmas market. Coffee and cake in the coffee shop and then a walk round the Christmas Market. After that we met neice Jess and took her for a pizza. Jess said it was the first hot meal she had eaten in a couple of weeks. Student life must be such fun. Walked back down, got the bus and drove home.
Think I have done really well over the two days. Walked loads, driven loads and generally felt pretty good. My walking is slower than it used to be and stairs aren't easy at the moment. Think that is mainly a lack of fitness from doing so little through the chemo. Got a bit dehydrated today, making it up now and should sleep well tonight. Came home to a letter confirming my appointment on Friday and one with Radiotherapy on 14/12. Yipee?
Chichester
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Tuesday, 27 November 2012
Scanned
Got to The Churchill to find a huge car park queue. Left Sharon to park the car, which took her ages, and went in to The Department of Nuclear Medicine. Checked in, sat down in the waiting room and as if by magic a radiographer appeared asking for me.
Straight into one of their little nuclear bunkers to have a vein pierced. Took 3 nurses 4 attempts to get a vein they could get the nuclear tracer into. Evidently one of the effects of chemo is making it more difficult to get a vein. Sat covered in cotton wool and micropore for 90 minutes whilst the tracer spread, then into the scanner.
I fell asleep in the scanner (again!). Over in about 30 minutes. Went to the cafe for a toasted sandwich and then hit the A34.
We were on the top of Portsdown Hill by 3:30. Fabulous view out over Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. Went down from there to the Travelodge and checked in. World first, the Travelodge heating was on in the room!
Now sat in Rosarios restaurant in East Wittering. We have shared Chicken and Chorizo in cream and wine, steak kebabs, deep fried courgette and aubergine with potatoes in a peppery tomato sauce followed by Profiteroles. Excellent.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Straight into one of their little nuclear bunkers to have a vein pierced. Took 3 nurses 4 attempts to get a vein they could get the nuclear tracer into. Evidently one of the effects of chemo is making it more difficult to get a vein. Sat covered in cotton wool and micropore for 90 minutes whilst the tracer spread, then into the scanner.
I fell asleep in the scanner (again!). Over in about 30 minutes. Went to the cafe for a toasted sandwich and then hit the A34.
We were on the top of Portsdown Hill by 3:30. Fabulous view out over Portsmouth to the Isle of Wight. Went down from there to the Travelodge and checked in. World first, the Travelodge heating was on in the room!
Now sat in Rosarios restaurant in East Wittering. We have shared Chicken and Chorizo in cream and wine, steak kebabs, deep fried courgette and aubergine with potatoes in a peppery tomato sauce followed by Profiteroles. Excellent.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Monday, 26 November 2012
Quiet day at home
Taken it easy today in preparation for a couple of busy days. Got a PET scan in the morning and then we are going to the seaside. Well actually a Travelodge between Portsmouth and Chichester. Then on Wednesday we are planning to go to Westminster Cathedral Christmas Market.
Posts and pictures of everything but the scan.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Posts and pictures of everything but the scan.
Sent using BlackBerry® from Orange
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Pleasant weekend
Went grocery shopping twice on Saturday, once for us and once for my Mum. Watched the Grand Prix qualifying and didn't do much else. Didn't have time to do much else because we didn't get up until late. Our Su7nday lunch guests cancelled and for a while I considered a trip to Bristol to watch/marshall on the Allen Trial. Sharon talked me out of it and she is probably right, I wouldn't have coped with being outside that long and I certainly wouldn't have been running up any hills. However, thanks to all who provided info and especially to Michael (ClassicalGas) for the offer of detouring to pick me up and driving me to a section to help Marshall. It means a lot to me that so many people are out there listening and supporting in whatever way they can. Also thanks to Richard for his email, I will reply.
Today our guests had to cancel because Samuel has Chickenpox. Wish I had Chickenpox, so much easier to deal with. So we had an unexpected free day. We braved the flooding and went to Moreton In Marsh for lunch and a bit of a mooch. Excellent toasted sandwiches in Tilley's Tea Room.
There is a Wellington Bomber museum on the edge of the town, I have been driving past it for 20 years and have never been in. So we went there. If you are planning to get there, go quick, not sure how long the curator will keep going. He told us he joined the RAF as a Wellington mechanic in 1940. Lets say he was 16 then, he is 88 years old. The museum is about the size of our front room and is stuffed full of pictures, manuals, a Merlin engine and allsorts of other memorabilia. The highlight of the visit was when we left. The door had been blocked with sandbags to keep the flooding out and making it difficult to step in and out. The curator insisted on stepping outside before me to help me step over the bags by holding my hand. He didn't just do it for me, he did it for all 5 of the people who left when we did! What a gent.
He is also a skilled engineer. Here is his model of a 1930's AutoUnion racing car made entirely from scrap metal.
I know they look like tyres, but they are actually concentric washers welded together. The aerodynamic foil running behind the drivers head is an old wiper arm.
Drove back via Dover's Hill and had a walk to enjoy the view of the Vale of Evesham, could see all the way to the Malverns. We then went across through Shipston on Stour and braved the floods back to Banbury. I think the wading depth on the Polo is probably about 18 inches, it coped with everything today.
Today our guests had to cancel because Samuel has Chickenpox. Wish I had Chickenpox, so much easier to deal with. So we had an unexpected free day. We braved the flooding and went to Moreton In Marsh for lunch and a bit of a mooch. Excellent toasted sandwiches in Tilley's Tea Room.
There is a Wellington Bomber museum on the edge of the town, I have been driving past it for 20 years and have never been in. So we went there. If you are planning to get there, go quick, not sure how long the curator will keep going. He told us he joined the RAF as a Wellington mechanic in 1940. Lets say he was 16 then, he is 88 years old. The museum is about the size of our front room and is stuffed full of pictures, manuals, a Merlin engine and allsorts of other memorabilia. The highlight of the visit was when we left. The door had been blocked with sandbags to keep the flooding out and making it difficult to step in and out. The curator insisted on stepping outside before me to help me step over the bags by holding my hand. He didn't just do it for me, he did it for all 5 of the people who left when we did! What a gent.
He is also a skilled engineer. Here is his model of a 1930's AutoUnion racing car made entirely from scrap metal.
Drove back via Dover's Hill and had a walk to enjoy the view of the Vale of Evesham, could see all the way to the Malverns. We then went across through Shipston on Stour and braved the floods back to Banbury. I think the wading depth on the Polo is probably about 18 inches, it coped with everything today.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)