Getting Into A Routine

Thursday 21st July

As previously predicted this "even" round of Herceptin went without a hitch, relatively, and indeed was considerably quicker than usual. I have learned that Herceptin is put in a bag of saline, the amount of saline is 250ml, obviously the addition of Herceptin increases the amount of liquid in the bag. The pump is programmed to push through the given amount of liquid in a set time, in this instance 90 minutes. Previously, once the 90 minutes was up there was always some liquid left. The nurse who administered to me this time normally works at the Royal Marsden. She said that they always weigh the bag to get the "correct" amount in the bag and then use this figure rather than the nominal 250ml. Quite sensible really. Anyway, she estimated that it would be about 300ml and lo and behold the whole bag was done in the requisite 90minutes. I do hope that someone, somewhere shares this information.

As part of the Persephone trial I have to complete a form detail any side effects if any. The only side effect I seem to suffer from is unbelievably hot, itchy cheeks. My face feels and looks as though I have been deeply embarrassed, however this tends last for approximately 24 hours, so in the grand scheme of things it's not too bad.

With regard to going without a hitch, relatively, the veins in my arm are now in a truly parlous state, the ones in my hand are non-existent. Anyway, the nurse had to do a bit of wiggling of the cannula before she was happy that is was well sited. Consequently I now have the most spectacular bruise on my arm and I think that it might be even better than the one from last time when "tissue" was pushed through.

Those of you who have been paying attention will note that it is almost exactly a year since I was diagnosed. It's very hard not to dwell on everything that has happened over the past 12 months and indeed reading back through my blog there are so many things that I have forgotten about. Having said that at no time have I ever felt that I would be anything other than absolutely fine. I have another 12 rounds of Herceptin to go which will take me to April 2012, two years after I first discovered the lump, which wasn't the problem at all.