Mike's Treatment Diary

Saturday 29th April 07:24  Decent night's sleep on the sofa relative to the last 5 days. Cats have had their breakfast and I'm watching a recording of the Friday quali from Baku.  Everything still hurts, the oncologists tell me that this week is not likely to show any improvement as the radiotherapy effect is still working.  The main thing I have to do, however painful, is to get nutrition and calories on board to give the throat the best potential to heal. That's hard work as every mouthful of anything hurts even with co-codamol, a morphine patch and oral morphine solution.

Friday 28th April 06:20 Things to be happy about today: 🥳 Happy Birthday to me, Happy Birthday  to me ... etc etc 58 and still going  Today's LFT is negative so I can definitely go for my 08:45 appointment It's my last treatment of the current (and hopefully only) set, although I'll be back weekly for a while for I ongoing consultations. Tucking into my breakfast porridge before I set off for the North Middlsex at 07:15. All done and we're on our way home. They played happy birthday by Stevie Wonder for me during the treatment 👍👍

Thursday 27th April 08:15 Penultimate session. I now have a morphine patch which 'should' give me a constant slow release and hopefully reduce the constant background pain I've had in my tongue and gums for the last couple if days I did sleep (albeit on the sofa again) until 4am from about 11pm before I woke myself up coughing which is much more preferable to waking evey half an hour. This morning's radiotherapy is at 08:45. All done- ONE TO GO !!!!!

Wednesday 26th April 08:30 Final chemo session today, should be able to have the PICC line removed, if not this week it'll be on Tuesday next week. 13:55 Still in the chemo unit chair, mid way through the (last) cisplatin drip, then 1.2l of salt to finish off before radiotherapy later.

Tuesday 25th April 15:00 The soreness in the throat is pretty constant now, the painkillers aren't doing it. Thankfully I only have three days left and hopefully the pain will start to diminish as the treatment comes to a close.  This morning's session went off without issue, I hope that in the next couple fo days they can get me some pain relief that works.

Monday 24th April 08:10 5 treatments to go, this morning's is at 08:30.  My throat is sore pretty much constantly now even with the codeine/paracetamol and addition morphine. I need to make sure I get the nutrition in me for the next few weeks to ensure that the healing process gets going.

Friday 21st April 08:50 I got here as usual in plenty of time and actually got through half an hour early. Excellent. Now I have to wait for the pharmacy to open at 09:30 for my additional prescription of morphine. Ah well. Last night I slept upright on the sofa & did have a better night's sleep with no real coughing fit. So happier today. This weekend we're off to the Oxfordshire Belfry for my wonderful parents 60th wedding anniversary and my slightly older than me cousin Julie's 60th birthday celebration. Looking forward to seeing all my English and Welsh family together, with love also to absent friends. Until next, AND MY LAST, week of treatment.

Thursday 20th April 09:00 I've already seen Margaret the McMillan Nurse and Nicky the Speech Therapist and apparently I'm doing better than most for the end of week 5. Which is nice. Waiting for my 09:20 radiotherapy then back home. 19:20 Tired again this afternoon, I need to force a couple of protein shakes down me along with whatever I can manage for tea.

Wednesday 19th April 09:30 Sitting in Chemo day unit reception waiting for my day in the chair. Another -ve covid LFT so I'm ready to go in. 14:14 About 500ml left of the salt solution left to go then I'll be off down to radiotherapy  16:20 And I'm home. On the face of it I feel a little better (less tired) than yesterday but I am on steroids for the next couple of days, codeine and morphine ....... Just about ready to watch the second leg of City v Bayern

Tuesday 18th April 08:30 In to single figures, 9 sessions left. My throat is quite painful now when swallowing, we've increased the morphine dose to try to deal with it. I'll be having that after I've driven home. Yesterday I pretty much slept all day, today hopefully I can get a couple of things done weather permitting.

Monday 17th April 08:10 Back in Radiotherapy reception for my 08:45 session.

Friday 14th April 07:50 Back in Radiotherapy reception for an 08:15 appointment.  Yesterday was an afternoon session, Emily came with me and patiently (for her) hung around in the cafe whilst I had my radio and meetings with the speech therapist and specialist nurse. So far I'm doing well apparently, lost a few kilos so need to ensure I can get the nutrition shakes in me alongside what else I'm managing to eat. Taste is awful at the moment and yesterday was the first time I think I've ever been in a McDonalds and not bought anything to eat for myself. Anyway, four weeks down, two to go 👍👍 Finished the radiotherapy session, I have to wait until 09:30 for the pharmacy to open to collect my morphine prescription. 19:45 All done for week 4, 2/3 complete. Weekend to rest and eat.

Wednesday 12th April 11:30 In the chemo day unit for my 4th session. Once we're done here we go for radiotherapy. 

Tuesday 11th April 12:45 All done for today, as it's Easter hols still the traffic is much lighter on the M11 & the journey is currently only about 40 minutes.  Tomorrow's session includes chemo so I'm in for the day there.

08:50 Start of week 4, this morning morphine was discussed with the specialist. We're expecting the pain to get worse as the effects of the treatment accumulate.

Friday 7th April 08:25 No bank Holidays off for the fantastic staff in the Radiotherapy Unit. This is the halfway point of my treatment, it's not much fun right now but only three weeks to go.

Thursday 6th April 08:15 Back in Radiotherapy for my 08:45 session followed by an appointment with the dietician and speech therapist. Today's automotive musings on the drive down to hospital.  Abarth - puts a smile on my face, every low speed corner and tight curve. It grips like a limpet and goes like an angry wasp. Seicento - I need to get the bumper off for light repairs and at the same time adjust the clutch a bit so Luke gets a better shot at gear changes. I also have gear box oil to change and gear linkages to lubricate. Unfortunately the rubbish weather a couple  of weeks ago was my window for doing the work as now I'm not so full of energy.  X1/9 - same weather related problem here, it passed the MOT but on the same day a brake line was found to be leaking. I have disks, pads and brake lines to fit and bleed before I can use it. That would really bring a smile to my face.  For the X1/9 and Seicento jobs I'd really like to get them out on the drive for all ro...

5th April 09:09 Waiting in chemo day unit reception for my 09:30. Should be here for 5 hours or so then off down to radiotherapy later. 15:15 Chemo all done eventually, now waiting for a radiotherapy session.

4th April  08:20 The last couple of days have been much worse than previously.  Over the weekend my throat has become quite sore and swallowing is painful. Paracetamol isn't touching it so I'm hoping to get some stronger stuff today. I've been prescribed nutritional shakes should my appetite drop off. To be honest, everything tastes pretty rank at the moment. If I can mange the pain I can live with the taste. This mornings session is at 09:05 then I can go home.