Round 12…. I did it!!

Don’t ask me how and by some miracle I only missed 2 rounds of chemo I have just completed 12 weeks of treatment… Its been the hardest 12 weeks of my life and when the infusion beeped to tell me it had finished I did have a cry. Relief, pride, achievement, self worth all my emotions just hit me like a freight train. I don’t think you can prepare yourself ever for what I’ve just been through, I can’t even describe how you feel at the lowest, the nurses and consultants talk you through side effects and give advice on some symptom relievers but until you are actually sat there full of medicine, it’s not just the chemo I have 4 pre med Infusions, then chemo infusion then post chemo meds, then injections to boost your immunity, and it’s then when the side effects hit you. Everything the professionals advise you on goes out the window I would of done anything to feel better but there isn’t actually anything apart from time…. And time goes pretty slow when your feeling sorry for yourself.

So quick update from the start of my last cycle I had the two bags felt awful all week I was bed ridden my poor parents took the girls and I hardly saw them all week. I was determined not to go back into hospital so rest was a must and I managed to get through the week… Just. I turned up for chemo last Friday my oncology nurse took one look at me and said there is no way your having chemo today. so doctor review and tests bloods were surprising normal but something came up on my ECG which they weren’t happy with, I was also short of breath, pale and had heart palpitations. I was sent home with full instructions to call for a paramedic if I deteriorated over the weekend and another review Monday morning.

Thank goodness I felt better by Monday so they just putting it down to me being a sensitive soul and thanking my lucky stars that was the last 2 bags I needed. So last week was pretty normal school runs, catching up with some emails at work, batch cooking. It was nice but flew by and here we are final weekly treatment.

My picc line is no longer giving blood so I’m having to have peripheral tests which I hate and they struggle with and i bruise for ages because my platelet are slightly low. My skin is also blistering around the dressing which is so painful. You don’t realise how sore your skin gets when it has no hair on it. The tops of my arms are red I have burning sensations on my legs and itch pretty much all over.

But at least my picc line is still flushing meaning I can continue my chemo with it for now. My next lot of chemotherapy is 3 weekly, it’s bright red, it’s called the red devil because it makes all your bodily fluids red for some time after and it’s a lot stronger than what I’ve just had! I think I’m going to need some more luck to get me through this.

Finally today I had my progress scan and face to face review with my oncologist begore starting the next lot of chemo. So bloods and picc line flush followed by ultra sound scan and progree report.

I still can’t quite believe it and I’m pinching myself that I’m awake and not dreaming but the results showed my tumour has GONE and her parting words were ‘complete response to chemo’ ! I burst into tears I am soooo happy those 12 weeks of crap has paid off. So the plan I am continuing on the next lot of chemo whilst I wait for the surgical team to pick me back up review and plan so its a bit like a mopping procedure at the minute to maintain my current reponse….

So stage one smashed it onto the next lot of chemo 😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍😍