Today saw the final test before the commencement of chemotherapy tomorrow. This was what is called an EDTA test. This test is done over 5 hours or so to ascertain the kidney function of the body: basically a radioactive tracer is introduced into the body, and then over a series of blood tests taken over several hours the results will indicate the kidney's ability to remove these heavy toxic metallic compounds. Essentially chemotherapy is a controlled way of introducing very toxic substances into the body to fight the cancer. It's important to realise that while these substances can fight the cancer they can do all sorts of things to our bodies system and functions which we don't want either.
Not least of these is the destruction of the immune system, meaning that one becomes very susceptible to infection. Part of my daily routine will be to monitor my body temperature: one degree above normal and its on the phone whatever the time of day and into hospital for intravenous antibiotics. With luck it wont come to that!
So we arrived at Canterbury this morning before 9am and reported to the nuclear medicine department. Shown to a waiting area unlike any other waiting area I have seen in a hospital: large comfortable chairs, water machine, toilets, a short walk to the coffee shop, pleasant lighting and comfortable heating! I was soon called to have the first injection, and then we were free till 11am and the first of 3 blood tests. We walked to the coffee shop and had coffee and doughnuts (why not!?) then returned for the first test. Bang on time, and done in less than 5 minutes! 12.30 for the next test so wandered off, bought sandwiches and more coffee.
With the third test left to do at 2pm we got a call from the Viking Day Unit at Margate confirming the start of chemo tomorrow and an additional bit of news: further to a recommendation from the pain management team they are also organising some radiotherapy on my arm too. It seems that the radiotherapy can help with pain relief in bones so the consultant was happy to go with that.
Of course there's always a downside and that is the likelihood that i will become pretty sick over the next couple of weeks but, lets face it: you don't get something for nothing!
For those interested read more about Nuclear Medicine here
Viking Day Centre
The sudden realisation that you have cancer hits you like a sledgehammer. On 9th February after 2 months of tests and all sorts thats what they told me. In more ways than one it's a life-changing moment and your mind goes into overdrive thinking all kinds of worst case scenarios.
Hi ya Paul.. I will be thinking of you at 3 when you start your first course of treatment and wishing you all the best.
ReplyDeleteThis is going to be a tough time but I know with all the support you will get from Jen there is nothing you can't face. :-)
Hope all goes well. xx