A Breath of fresh air?

Got back yesterday from a short 2 day ski trip, may seem a bit of a trek to some, but It was great to spend a couple of days with the guys, as usual skid the arse off it and had plenty of laughs, so every ones a winner.

Any way back to reality, the journey to Bexley wing is just about auto pilot, and once again have to sing the praises of all staff in Radiotherapy room '5'

I am amazed that my average journey time is about, 45 mins, and by the time I have parked, checked in, treatment is less than 10 minutes, I am back out on the road to Guiseley, all in all a 2 hour round trip.

When I arrived tonight there were 2 male radiographers, and although I only remove my trousers, lie on a bed face down, it is a little daunting knowing that while one of them is setting the coordinates for zapping, the other is pulling down my undies, and drawing felt pen on my rear end, now not many guys can say that they have experienced that?

Early days of treatment but at this stage no signs of any side effects other than little more tired than usual (put that down to the skiing) and certainly no soreness on lower regions, Sharon is adamant that cream application is not her domain!!

One side effect that I have experienced is a massive increase in wind, I didn't think the human body was capable of storing so much, and I don't need to explain how risky and reluctant it is at my age to think you can just 'let go' without the need for a complete change of clothing, and a dry cleaners?

Any way all so far so good, just got an e-mail yesterday from an old friend who is now living in Kent, and she is planning trip back to Leeds in February with her now very grown up children, looking forward to that.

Obama has just started his inauguration and it appears to be a breath of fresh air for the people of America, no such fresh air here, I've just let one go, excuse me!!!

speak soon

Kev.

Day '2' All is well

Day 2, and decided to make journey to St James's on my own, had been advised to prepare a full bladder prior to radiotherapy, so I drank 1.5 litres of water en route (maybe not such a good idea)

On arrival and check in, have to once again comment on the wonderful staff, who in my eyes are the most attentive, caring, concerned people I have ever met.
This doesn't excuse them from lining up my backside to critical expert coordinates and zapping my nether regions with high speed radiotherapy, while they hide in a 4' lead lined secure booth, capable of withstanding a nuclear attack!!!!

Any way, zapping complete, quick dash to loo and on my way home, Euros purchased, skiing in Les Gets Saturday, back Monday is all I can think of.

Session at The Ing's with freinds and colleagues, always a great way to finish off a week.
Everyone I spoke to (including Sharon) was so genuinely pleased I had decided to go skiing, even for just a couple of days.

Not yet packed all arrangements made, musn't forget Aqueous cream, (wonder if I could get one of the guys to apply, maybe not!!!!) and tablets for Monday!!!

Have a great weekend.

Kev.

1st Treatment Day

Thursday 15th Jan

Start of 5 week regime, 1,800 mg of chemo in tablet form - 3 x 500mg + 2 x 150 mg taken after breakfast, just about finished fruit 'n' fibre, not looking forward to tablets, massive apprehension about possible side effects, but hey I have to accept they know what they are doing!!!

Sharon (my resident nurse) has prepared the tablets and glass of water ready for me, I have promised to buy her a proper nurses uniform, but that's another story!

Tablets taken at 8.30, getting ready for run around Otley Chevin, and off to St Jame's for 12.12pm, for first session of radiotherapy, I promise not to post any pictures of me receiving this, unless any one makes a special request?

As I mentioned yesterday in my first post, my intentions are to keep the blog factual and provide all information and up-dates, as some of the detail will be retrospective for anything that happened within November '08' and up to early Jan '09' I will set any historic info in another colour typeface, e.g. following on from my original post yesterday.

After my visit to GP, he suggested just to be cautious a check up at St Lukes in Bradford, appointment made 28th November @ 8.40am, I thought nice and early get it out of the way and back home for say 10.00?

Once again, little did I know what was to be revealed?

First installment

Wednesday January 14th - '09'

Just got back from Leeds St Jame's Bexley wing, very informative meeting with staff nurse (Linda) who provided information on possible side effects associated with chemo radiotherapy which starts tomorrow @ 12.12pm!!!

Looking forward to the sore bot?

It was Sharon (she is my Wife, who has been an absolute rock, but more about her later) who suggested me doing this blog, for 2 reasons:-

1) It will give me something to do, and more importantly!
2) I would like any other people who may be going through similar events, to gain any help, understanding, positive belief and full recovery from my story.

It all started back in November, a healthy fit outgoing 50 year old (that is me by the way) always keen to take up the challenge for anything that would test my physical and mental abilities.
I had noticed a change in my, what used to be pretty regular toilet patterns, rather than going at set times, say first thing in the morning and evening, I was going sometimes 4 & 5 times a day, sometimes the signal sent from my bottom to my brain saying "Kev you need to go to the loo in the next 1hr or so"?? would become, "KEV YOU HAVE TO GO TO THE LOO, NOW"!!! and apart from one potentially embarrassing out in public situation, (one pair of undies less in my wardrobe) I did manage to keep all under control, never the less I still knew there was something that wasn't quite right?

Sharon suggested going to see my GP, so an appointment was made, which for me was at this stage a perfectly innocent case of tummy upset / food poisoning or infection?

Little was I to know the reality of what was going on down below?

Over the next few days and weeks I will up-date the above post outlining all information from my original diagnosis to my treatment progress to date.

I am positive, have every faith in all of the staff, nurses and consultants I have met to date, and without sounding 'Anal' (no pun intended) have the following 4 point plan.

1) Diagnosis - confirmed December
2) Treatment - Starts January
3) Surgery - estimated March / April
4) Recovery - May / June

Kevin.