Day 66

This has been the worst period since I started treatment.
On Thursday my feet swelled up like a couple of balloons and were very painful.
My eyes were blurred and I couldn't read the number plate on our car outside.
If that wasn't enough I've also got a chest infection.
Added to the constant tiredness and fatigue this has made life really tough this past couple of weeks.

I was hoping that I'd have a few good days after completing the chemo before I started Radiation Therapy.
This is clearly not gonna happen as I start Radiation Therapy on Monday.
All I can hope is that the side effects of the Radiation Therapy are not too severe.

Day 59

This week has been the worst since I started taking the chemo.
I have heard from others that the third course is tough.
So I really feel for anybody who has to endure more than three courses of chemo.

I am tired constantly, unable to do much more than make a cup of tea or prepare a very simple meal.
I can't even manage the short stroll to the corner shop to get a paper.
One day my legs feel like they're made of lead, the next they turn to jelly.

It's very frustrating because my breathing has improved immensely and if it wasn't for the effects of the chemo I'm sure I'd be out now taking advantage of the excellent weather were experiencing.
I've been able to sit in the garden almost every day this week for a few hours which is good but I'd like to be out on my bike or visiting the pub.

Today is another glorious day weather wise so I'm off to sit in the sun.

Day 53

Another two bloody awful days.
For the first time since I started the course I've experienced dizziness and nausea along with the fatigue.
I slept virtually the whole day yesterday and today looks like being the same.

Since I started the course I've had around 8 good days where I've been able to function normally.
Unfortunately 4 of these were spent at the hospital so I wasn't able to make the most of them.

I'm really looking forward to next week when the chemo should start to wear off and I can go to the pub and have a pint or two.
Although I've read that chemo can take weeks or in some rare cases even months to leave your system completely.

I started this blog for two reasons, firstly to keep track of my own progress so that I could plan my days in advance of each course.
Unfortunately chemo doesn't follow a distinct pattern and you have to just take each day as it comes.

The other reason is to give those who will be taking chemo themselves an idea of what to expect and a little advice on how to deal with it.
Obviously though, people are different, and some will probably have a worse time than I did.
Apart from the tiredness I haven't suffered too much but even so it hasn't been a pleasant two months.

Day 51

Still constantly tired, every day really is like Groundhog Day.
Not able to do anything but sit in front of the TV.
This is Day 12 of the last course so I expect to show some improvement around Monday or Tuesday as the chemo starts to wear off and my white platelets get back to normal.

On Monday I start to gradually reduce my steroid dosage and will be off steroids completely at the same time I complete my Radio Therapy.

Day 47

Today I take my final dose of chemo at home in tablet form.

This week has been a little tough, I've felt very tired every day so far.
And I haven't reached the lowest point yet which should be around the weekend.
Then I have a short break before my CT scan on 23rd March.
Then another break until 30th when I start Radio Therapy.

It's now been confirmed that this will be five consecutive days at Maidstone Oncology.
Each session only last around 15 minutes but because I rely on hospital transport it's likely to take up around 4 hours of my time each day.

Day 44

Started my final course of chemo on Monday.
Tiredness set in the next day and I've had three bad days so far.
Haven't been able to do much at all.
Just making a cup of tea is hard work.

I take my final dose of chemo at home next Monday and then it's time for a CT scan to see the results.