Thanks for taking the time to visit my website. I'd like to tell you a little bit about myself. I'm a wife and mother of 3 young children, Matthew 13, Ellie 10 and Freddie 6. I was first diagnosed with Breast Cancer in 2001 at the age of 36. Following Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy, I was in remission until a chance MRI scan in Feb 2005 for an unrelated problem, detected that the Cancer had returned. I was then diagnosed with Secondary Breast Cancer. The likely prognosis given in February was 18 months to 5 years. I then had to undergo aggressive Chemotherapy, but following the results of a recent bone scan, it was found that the Cancer is still spreading.
The treatment in Germany will cost thousands of pounds and for most people like myself, the opportunity for this is a dream. Many of my Family and Friends want to make this dream a reality and are making tremendous fund raising efforts, because without them, I would not be able to seek the treatment that I so obviously need and which is not being offered in this country.
Day Care day at Sue Ryder
Spent another day at the Day Care Centre at Sue Ryder. I had some reflexology which was lovely. The nurses are all so nice and make me feel really comfortable. I'm able to chat to them about anything. It's such a relaxing day away from all the stresses of homelife.
I feel like I've been punched in the ribs which I think is a side effect of the new chemo's which say that I may experience aching muscles and joints. It really hurts when I turn over in bed. My chest is also hurting and has been for the last 2-4 weeks.
Nosebleeds
The nosebleeds have been really bad since the chemo. I thought they weren't good after each Avastin but they've got worse since starting the chemo. It's a nightmare, I'm getting through loads of tissues. They're worse in the morning and seem to settle down eventually but can start up at any time so I can't go anywhere without some tissues.
Still really tired
Although I had the blood transfusion yesterday I was still really tired today and didn't manage to get out of my PJ's till tea time. Everytime I did anything, even walking up and down the stairs I had to sit down and catch my breath and rest. The Haemotology nurses said it would probably take about 48 hours for the blood transfusion to make any difference.
Blood Transfusion
Arrived at the Berks at 8.50 and had to wait about an hour before I was hooked up with the first unit of blood. Following yesterday's blood test, my Haemaglobin level has dropped to 7.9. This would account for why I was so tired yesterday. I was so lethargic I just didn't feel like doing anything. The Haematology nurses who were administering the transfusions thought I ought to have 3 units of blood rather than two, each unit can take approximately 2-3 hours to administer so this ended up being a long day.
1st chemo of new regime
Started my new chemo regime today of
Gemcitabine and
Mitoxantrone. (Click on links to see common side effects) Had my usual Pamidronate and Avastin and then the chemos. Gemcitabine is a 1 hour infusion and the Mitoxantrone is given as an injection over about 20 minutes. It's bright blue in colour so I might find my urine change in colour in the next 24 hours.
Again it was another long day and I was really tired by the end of it. Although I've been prescribed anti-sickness and more steroids I'm hoping I don't need them. The chemo nurse said that this combination wasn't necessarily a sicky chemo regime.
Cancer Clinic appointment
Didn't get to see Dr Barrett but saw her new Registrar Dr Hill. My bloods have come back okay for chemo but my haemoglobin is low so she thinks it would be sensible to give me a blood transfusion as the chemo may impact it more and then I'll be very tired and lethargic. The chemo is scheduled for tomorrow as the chemo suite is so busy on a Wednesday. Dr Hill also wanted me to go for an ECG as one of the chemos can impact my heart. Just another thing to fit in this afternoon including my CT scan.
Haemoglobin - 9
wbc - 5.73
Platelets - 108
Neutrifils 3.70
Following my clinic appointment I had to rush off for my CT scan booked for 1.15. I arrived at 12.30 so that I could have some lunch which I was assured yesterday would be okay. I thought I'd check anyway about eating, the receptionist wasn't sure. Yesterday the receptionist said it was a new machine and I could eat but today because I double checked, the receptionist wasn't sure. After a 15 minute wait I decided to eat and then got told 15 mins later that I shouldn't eat. Well, she shouldn't have taken 30 mins to tell me, I was starving. Then she had to go back and ask and they just said don't eat anymore. I then had to drink a litre of water for any hour and during that time went for my ECG.
