Cycle 6, Day 8 // Cycle 5 Day 20// Cycle 4, Day 20

The alleged Jack Kerouac has left me. Put it down to a difference in lifestyle. The only similarities will be the confusing prose and amount of drug consumption. It’s midnight. My computer clock says 05:31 and I don’t know how to change it. I’m desperate for bed.

I realise, though, that I haven’t updated for a while, so I want to get this out of the way, so I can get on to more pressing issues like sleeping/watching Mad Men. You may notice there are 3 dates above. This is because I started writing with longer posts in mind before becoming distracted. I figured I’d leave what I’ve written before, to help you understand my brain a bit/confuse you a lot. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs in this time that I can’t remember as well. I realise that reading long blogs is boring, and reading old news is a waste of time, so I will keep the newest at the top - short and sweet, as ever !

Part 1 – Cycle 6, Day 8

It’s Day 8 of Cycle 6 and I’m doing surprisingly well. Fatigue has set in but none of the other side effects except bowel issues and brain fog. Steroids hit me hard last Wednesday so if I had written this blog then I would have been high as kite and it would have made for interesting reading. Thursday and Friday were smooth, as was the weekend. I’m taking is easy this week. I'm feeling good though -  maybe my best cycle so far.

This should be my last round. I should have a CT scan Monday and an appointment Wednesday to let me know how the chemo is doing. Next update will (should) be then. No more chemo (except mitotane – is it chemo?) until 2019 and surgery would be early 2019. And that’s your lot for part 1!

Part 2 – Cycle 5 Day 20

My memory is poor of this period. What I had written here is no longer relevant and to be honest I can’t remember and can’t be bothered checking what’s been happening. So rewritten, the main points:

-  I think the week of Cycle 5 in hospital went well.

- In the second week I had a fever and low immune system so spent five (uneventful) nights in hospital on various meds and IV to make sure I was alright. I was.

- In the third week blood tests showed my magnesium and potassium were low, so I spent another three (uneventful) nights in hospital on IV getting this back up. I’ve learnt Imodium is my friend.

- I had an excellent 30th birthday, both the day itself including a lovely meal at Hutong at the Shard with my mum and sister. I think I’ve mentioned my sister multiple times for how great she has been, but I haven’t mentioned my mum. I try to keep mentions down as otherwise the list never ends but she deserves a name drop – she’s been amazing in all of this and its probably been as hard for her as it has for me. Thank you for everything you’ve done. On the weekend I celebrated at Hawker House with a few friends and it was a great night. Again, I am hesitant to name drop but Smith effectively organised this for me as a surprise and although it wasn’t a surprise by the end, a lot of credit goes to him. Thanks to him and to everyone that came.

Not all the people - I'm surprisingly popular! Even when I don't want a fuss made. 

- Cycle 6 of chemo was postponed for a week due having a very low immunity. This was probably a good thing as it gave my body an extra week to recover. I’ve started taking GCSF injections to boost my immune system when necessary, as well as the list of drugs I need to take, but that worked well except for leaving me aching all over.

Part 3 - Cycle 4, Day 20

A follow up from the actual last blog post – my oncologist spoke to the surgeon and confirmed what he had originally thought – two more rounds of chemo which will take me up until mid December (and having a lovely 30th birthday, which to be honest I’m grateful that I’m likely to make), followed up hopefully by surgery. This will be decided primarily by the liver specialist as this is the trickiest part of the surgery. I am speculating, but I imagine surgery wouldn’t happen until after the new year – firstly to give my body a few more weeks to recover, secondly to give me a nicer Christmas, and thirdly as I imagine surgeons don’t work much over the holiday unless they have to. Recovery would be around two months if things go to plan. I think overall this is the best scenario, so long as the chemo keeps working, although I’m really not looking forward to the next two cycles.

Post note: I've already had 2 more rounds of chemo and surgery, if it happens, will be in the new year.

….…So there’s your update. I will try my best to keep them shorter and more frequent from now on. Use of tenses will also be improved. Q&A below please, not whatsapp/facebook. The Look Good, Feel Better charity story will have to wait for another time as well. Happy Diwali/ Thanksgiving/ Bonfire night/ Halloween/ anything else I’ve missed. Enjoy December. 

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