Round 3 - half way!

Hi Supporters, here's the update of today's hospital appointment...

So we were in early morning for bloods, weighing and caring nursing. Man knew it but it was confirmed that he's put weight on. No surprise really as he's been inactive for 7 weeks. In fact, when our lovely oncologist, Dr L, came in, her very first words were "Oh, you've filled out!" (sic). She is charming and pretty so man took her remarks on the chin :-) She explained that, as a cancer doctor, she was used to her patients losing weight so it was a disguised compliment really. 

The Beckett suite is where the cancer patients receive their chemo. Very often, Man is the only patient in there with 2 amazing nurses to attend to his treatment. But today it was busy, in that Man had lots to take in, needles to be stuck in and long hours reading the paper and drinking the posh coffee (biscuits might or might not have also featured...) In the suite there are 5 'pods' where patients sit in an electric reclining chair with air con, telly and total privacy. God bless the NHS but we're so grateful that we endure the arduous, and sometimes scary, treatment in comfort. Of the other four patients on the ward today there was an alarming common denominator - that was age. We don't tend to speak with other patients, it's kind of like an unspoken law that each respects the privacy of each other. None of us know where the other is in his/her 'journey' so we don't pry and we're never asked. There is often a cursory glance from carer to carer but the unspoken is usually left lingering in passing. 

In terms of today's outcomes, Man had Zometa, a flush, Velcade, dexamethasone, 2 coffees and a consultation with the lovely Dr L. Round 3 has definitely started. Man's limited mobility and increased pain appeared to worry Dr L enough to suggest a more urgent appointment back to Mr M, the bone guy. Apparently the compromised integrity of his pelvis might be more urgent than the planned wait until to November to find out. Also, the Velcade appears to be causing neuropathy (click here for more info) and so the dose has been halved to just once a week - yeah, only one hospital trip per week. Thank you MP for giving us the inside info and making the connection.

Back to the age thing - there was one man who appeared to be about 60, which I consider young as it was the age my own mum bowed out.  And the other three were most certainly between the ages of 40 - 55. Now, I don't know if they were there out of their own pocket or through insurance but what I do take away is that cancer gets everyone. Athletes, mothers, builders, sons, nurses, teachers, actors, shop assistants, train drivers and musicians. My Man is fit and healthy, had a resting heart-rate that a competitive sportsman would be proud of. He ate well, didn't smoke, drink much or has ever come in contact with asbestos - so why him?

We'll probably never know. And we don't need to. We cling to the next appointment, as always, as is going to be our life routine for a while yet.

Big love and thanks for continued support xx