Saw the doc yesterday and he confirmed that all seems to be going well.
I've got one more course of chemo starting on Monday.
This will be followed by a CT scan.
If this confirms tumour has shrunk Radio Therapy will start on 23rd March.
Although they had planned two or three weeks of Radio Therapy this has now been reduced to just one week.
Took a walk to the pub yesterday and found I can now manage a normal pace.
Feeling good except for the occasional tiredness which is normal when on chemo.
Wednesday 25 February 2009
Monday 23 February 2009
Day 33
No problems at all the past few days.
Feeling almost normal and able to jog up the stairs.
Not bad for an old guy of 56 with a lung tumour.
Bit of a cough but that's to be expected as the tumour shrinks which it clearly has.
Seeing my surgeon on Tuesday and I'm certain i'm going to get some good news when he examines me.
My advice to anybody who suffers fatigue while on chemo is to force yourself out of bed, take a luke warm or even cold bath and get dressed.
You'll feel better.
Despite the fatigue I have not spent one day in bed throughout my treatment.
I have allowed access to a lot of free downloads from my website which you might also find helpful, they've certainly helped me.
Part of the battle in beating cancer is remaining positive, once you start thinking negatively your body stops fighting.
Self hypnosis could help you, unfortunately it's well known that not everybody is responsive to it.
But when you're fighting such an awful disease anything is worth trying.
Jusat click the link below to go to the website, click through the various links and look for free downloads, there are a lot ranging from self hypnosis to relaxation recordings.
Free Downloads
I've finished my second course now and I have a few days off before I start what I hope will be my final course of chemo.
If all goes well I'll be starting radiation therapy soon after.
Feeling almost normal and able to jog up the stairs.
Not bad for an old guy of 56 with a lung tumour.
Bit of a cough but that's to be expected as the tumour shrinks which it clearly has.
Seeing my surgeon on Tuesday and I'm certain i'm going to get some good news when he examines me.
My advice to anybody who suffers fatigue while on chemo is to force yourself out of bed, take a luke warm or even cold bath and get dressed.
You'll feel better.
Despite the fatigue I have not spent one day in bed throughout my treatment.
I have allowed access to a lot of free downloads from my website which you might also find helpful, they've certainly helped me.
Part of the battle in beating cancer is remaining positive, once you start thinking negatively your body stops fighting.
Self hypnosis could help you, unfortunately it's well known that not everybody is responsive to it.
But when you're fighting such an awful disease anything is worth trying.
Jusat click the link below to go to the website, click through the various links and look for free downloads, there are a lot ranging from self hypnosis to relaxation recordings.
Free Downloads
I've finished my second course now and I have a few days off before I start what I hope will be my final course of chemo.
If all goes well I'll be starting radiation therapy soon after.
Friday 20 February 2009
Day 30
I expected to hit rock bottom today as it's Day 11 of the second course.
But I'm happy to say I've had three good days on the trot.
Took a trip to Maidstone yesterday and didn't sleep at all.
Today has been good so far.
My breathing continues to improve and I'm managing to do more each day.
Feeling very positive.
But I'm happy to say I've had three good days on the trot.
Took a trip to Maidstone yesterday and didn't sleep at all.
Today has been good so far.
My breathing continues to improve and I'm managing to do more each day.
Feeling very positive.
Sunday 15 February 2009
Day 25
Each day now is starting to feel like Groundhog Day, funny enough that's the film we watched last night.
Getting up around 7 am each morning not feeling too bad, just a little tired.
Start to feel very tired around lunchtime each day.
Have a doze on the sofa for around an hour and this keeps me going until around 7pm when I sleep for another hour or so, then watch TV until bed time.
Getting up around 7 am each morning not feeling too bad, just a little tired.
Start to feel very tired around lunchtime each day.
Have a doze on the sofa for around an hour and this keeps me going until around 7pm when I sleep for another hour or so, then watch TV until bed time.
Thursday 12 February 2009
Day 23
I didn't make it to the hospital on Monday.
Somebody forgot to organise transport.
So I had to go on Tuesday for the next course of chemo.
When I took the first course I was OK for the first few days but this time the fatigue kicked in within a couple of hours.
And so far it's lasted three days.
I guess that's because I've already got it in my system.
I've found a luke warm bath helps and getting up and getting dressed rather than just lay in bed is my way of dealing with it.
I try to find myself things to do even if it's just working on my website, anything to keep occupied.
Breathing continues to improve and if not for the chemo I think I'd be feeling really good now.
Only a few more weeks to go, then a break before I start radiation therapy.
Hopefully then I'll be able to take my bike out for a ride, that always gives me a lift.
Somebody forgot to organise transport.
So I had to go on Tuesday for the next course of chemo.
When I took the first course I was OK for the first few days but this time the fatigue kicked in within a couple of hours.
And so far it's lasted three days.
I guess that's because I've already got it in my system.
I've found a luke warm bath helps and getting up and getting dressed rather than just lay in bed is my way of dealing with it.
I try to find myself things to do even if it's just working on my website, anything to keep occupied.
Breathing continues to improve and if not for the chemo I think I'd be feeling really good now.
Only a few more weeks to go, then a break before I start radiation therapy.
Hopefully then I'll be able to take my bike out for a ride, that always gives me a lift.
Monday 9 February 2009
Day 20
Had a good weekend, feeling better each day.
Able to walk to the pub without efffort, before Xmas I couldn't walk a few yards without taking a breather.
Felt a little tired Sunday afternoon but fine otherwise.
Able to walk to the pub without efffort, before Xmas I couldn't walk a few yards without taking a breather.
Felt a little tired Sunday afternoon but fine otherwise.
Friday 6 February 2009
Day 18
Another good day.
I'm able to walk up the stairs without a struggle for the first time in months.
So obviously the chemo is doing it's job.
Feeling good apart from weakness in the legs, not sure why that is.
I start my next course of chemo on Monday so will discuss it with the nurse.
Angie happy cos I was able to help her with the shopping for the first time in weeks.
Feeling very positive.
I'm able to walk up the stairs without a struggle for the first time in months.
So obviously the chemo is doing it's job.
Feeling good apart from weakness in the legs, not sure why that is.
I start my next course of chemo on Monday so will discuss it with the nurse.
Angie happy cos I was able to help her with the shopping for the first time in weeks.
Feeling very positive.
Thursday 5 February 2009
Day 17
I woke up feeling good.
Went to Maidstone Hospital for a check up on my progress.
The nurse felt they might need to reduce the dosage of chemo slightly as the fatigue is getting me down.
Will wait and see what the reaction is to the next course which starts on Monday.
Found I'd put on 8 Kilos in weight which was a bit of a shock.
Need to be careful what I eat so the choccy bars are out for a while.
Had to wait almost three hours for tansport home which really pissed me off.
My appointment only lasted 15 minutes but took up 6 hours of my day.
Went to Maidstone Hospital for a check up on my progress.
The nurse felt they might need to reduce the dosage of chemo slightly as the fatigue is getting me down.
Will wait and see what the reaction is to the next course which starts on Monday.
Found I'd put on 8 Kilos in weight which was a bit of a shock.
Need to be careful what I eat so the choccy bars are out for a while.
Had to wait almost three hours for tansport home which really pissed me off.
My appointment only lasted 15 minutes but took up 6 hours of my day.
Wednesday 4 February 2009
Day 16
It's Day 16 and I'm feeling well enough to go out after days of being stuck indoors.
It's a bright sunny day although bitterly cold.
I've got 5 days grace before I visit Maidstone for my next dose of chemo so I intend to make the most of it.
Starting with a visit to the local watering hole for a much needed pint of light and bitter.
It's a bright sunny day although bitterly cold.
I've got 5 days grace before I visit Maidstone for my next dose of chemo so I intend to make the most of it.
Starting with a visit to the local watering hole for a much needed pint of light and bitter.
Starting Chemo
The first session of chemo was at Maidstone Hospital on 19th January 09.
For the first three days I had no noticeable effects, although I did have some reaction to the steroids which you take while on chemo.
I was waking at 4 in the morning and I had one hell of an appetite, still do.
For the first few days I was eating a huge fried breakfast every morning. I realised I couldn't keep doing that, no point defeating cancer only to die of a massive heart attack.
So I now have one big blowout on Sundays and stick to cereal the rest of the week.
On Day 4 the chemo started to kick in, I started to feel extremely tired from lunchtime onwards and this continued for the rest of the week.
I got ulcers in my mouth and my lips were very sore.
On Day 7 I took my second dose of chemo at home in tablet form.
On Day 10 I started to really feel the side effects associated with chemo.
This is when resistance to infection is at its lowest level.
My legs felt like lead and I felt like I'd just run a marathon.
I was unable to do much, just getting dressed was a major effort.
This lasted for the next few days until Day 15 when I started to feel normal again.
For the first three days I had no noticeable effects, although I did have some reaction to the steroids which you take while on chemo.
I was waking at 4 in the morning and I had one hell of an appetite, still do.
For the first few days I was eating a huge fried breakfast every morning. I realised I couldn't keep doing that, no point defeating cancer only to die of a massive heart attack.
So I now have one big blowout on Sundays and stick to cereal the rest of the week.
On Day 4 the chemo started to kick in, I started to feel extremely tired from lunchtime onwards and this continued for the rest of the week.
I got ulcers in my mouth and my lips were very sore.
On Day 7 I took my second dose of chemo at home in tablet form.
On Day 10 I started to really feel the side effects associated with chemo.
This is when resistance to infection is at its lowest level.
My legs felt like lead and I felt like I'd just run a marathon.
I was unable to do much, just getting dressed was a major effort.
This lasted for the next few days until Day 15 when I started to feel normal again.
My Worst Nightmare
I discovered about two weeks before Xmas 2008 that I have a lung tumour.
To be given this news at any time would be a hard pill to swallow but to be told while planning a big family get together was devastating.
Worst news was yet to come as if it could get any worse.
The tumour is in the tube at the entrance to the lung so surgery is out of the question.
The only options available are a combination of Chemotherapy followed by Radiation Therapy.
As it was so close to Xmas my treatment won't start until the New Year.
After recovering from the initial shock we were faced with a dilemma.
Do we tell the family or do we try to hide it from them until after Xmas?
My partner made the decision for us, she was too upset to keep it hidden and it didn't take long for our daughter to figure something was seriously wrong.
So we made the decision to tell the family.
Although Xmas could easily have become a pretty morbid affair this wasn't the case.
We put my illness to the back of our minds and for the sake of the grand children we made it a Xmas holiday to remember.
Unfortunately Xmas didn't last forever and once New Years Eve was passed it was time to face reality.
I started chemo in January.
To be given this news at any time would be a hard pill to swallow but to be told while planning a big family get together was devastating.
Worst news was yet to come as if it could get any worse.
The tumour is in the tube at the entrance to the lung so surgery is out of the question.
The only options available are a combination of Chemotherapy followed by Radiation Therapy.
As it was so close to Xmas my treatment won't start until the New Year.
After recovering from the initial shock we were faced with a dilemma.
Do we tell the family or do we try to hide it from them until after Xmas?
My partner made the decision for us, she was too upset to keep it hidden and it didn't take long for our daughter to figure something was seriously wrong.
So we made the decision to tell the family.
Although Xmas could easily have become a pretty morbid affair this wasn't the case.
We put my illness to the back of our minds and for the sake of the grand children we made it a Xmas holiday to remember.
Unfortunately Xmas didn't last forever and once New Years Eve was passed it was time to face reality.
I started chemo in January.
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