Itches and Other Minor Irritations

My back itches a lot. Primarily between my shoulderblades the site where the cancer returned and where I had radiotherapy. So I am not sure if it the radiotherapy making its presence felt or the chemotherapy reacting with the cancer, either way its itchy and irritating.

As with standard chemotherapy my tastebuds have gone "tilt". Fortunately I have not, yet, suffered from biting my tongue/cheeks etc. which I did last time. However I spend a lot of my time searching for food that not only tastes like it should but also feels like it should in my mouth. So far things that taste tangy seem to be best, such as tomato sauce and ketchup and mayonnaise.

What is irritating is that before all of this started I used to have a couple of croissant and a cup of coffee on Saturday morning. I no longer do this as croissants taste and feel like cardboard and coffee tastes quite sour. So every morning I have a plain yoghurt and a bowl of Honey Nut Cheerios.

Added to the constant search for food that I want to eat is the fact that even if I do find something to eat I find that quite often half-way through eating the food the taste and texture change to cardboard.

One of the things that, joy of joys, tastes and feels right is Robinsons Lemon Barley Water, which I am getting through in industrial quantities.

My quest for hot drinks has led me to fruit teas, principally St. Clements and blackberry.

The joy of food has been taken away from me.

My bowels are nearly under control although I must be the only person to have developed piles while suffering from diarrhoea.

Whilst all of the above are minor irritations on their own, cumulatively they are the most annoying things ever.

I am hoping that the next week will bring me more normality before I start the whole process again.

A Week Is A Long Time In Chemotherapy

So it's just over a week since my first chemotherapy and I have to say it has been the longest week.

Unlike the last time I did chemotherapy where I felt absolutely rubbish within hours and got progressively better as the week wore on, this time round I felt fabulous the day after, thanks to the steroids, the following day my legs started to hurt a lot and continued to do so for the next 2 days. Once this had abated the diarrhoea started and that was at best exhausting.

The hospital says to phone if you are concerned about anything and by and large the hospital are very good at dealing with my concerns. However, after the first day of diarrhoea I called the chemo unit and asked what I should be doing. There then followed a long discussion about my diarrhoea and the nurse, who I feel does not inspire confidence, said I should wait  and see. So I did. Fortunately the following day the nurse who actually administers my chemo called and said that I really shouldn't be putting up with more than 3 episodes a day, irrespective of consistency, and that it was all right for me to take some Imodium. Hooray!

So I take the medicine and things start to settle down, which is such a relief.

At the same time as all of this has been the ongoing nose bleed, which I haven't bothered to tell the hospital about as I'm really not sure what they could do. My nose is sore and breathing gets more difficult as my nostrils fill with scabs and blood clots. Suffice to say that clearing the debris is painful but necessary and it does seem that the bleeding is reducing.

Yesterday also marked my first social outing in a week. I was very iffy about going out as I was feeling fairly rubbish, but mentally I really needed to go. So off we go to my husband's old boys quiz night. Initially I did feel crap and had already warned that an early departure might be in the offing. However, as the evening wore on and fish and chips (well I only had the chips as I couldn't face the fish) were consumed I felt much better. We've been going to this quiz for years and finally this year we won. Definitely worth going out.

Don't Plan - Do

Best laid plans and all that.

When I went to bed last night I had intended to get up this morning, have a shower, breakfast and go for a walk.

That all went by the board as I spent a good deal of last night on the loo with diarrhoea. It wasn't too bad but coupled with the stomach ache I did not have a good night. Diarrhoea is yet another side effect of pertuzumab. I hope it doesn't last for much longer as it compounds my embedded knackeredness.

As it happens I did eventually manage a shower, breakfast and walk, just not until late morning early afternoon and my walk was to the end of the road and back rather than round the block. Still at least I managed something.

It's only been 5 days since I had my pertuzumab but it seems to have been the longest 5 days ever.

I am hoping that this regimen follows the 3 week cycle I did 5 years ago, as I can cope if I know that I'm going to have crappy (quite literally) week, followed by a couple of decent ones.

Another side effect which is that I am suffering from a near permanent nose bleed. It's not a gusher just a chronic constant trickle.

What A Difference A Day Makes

Apart from waking up with the vice like headache the pains in my legs have abated a lot. So much so that my two cats were happily ensconced on my lap last night. The speed at which things change is amazing. I can only presume that these side effects will lessen over time, until I start the whole rigmarole again.

Another side effect is a near permanent nose bleed, which is what happened last time. I'm glad that I don't appear to be suffering from any type of nausea which does make everything easier.

I have also managed to go for another very slow walk, although not a slow as yesterday's. Although it still takes about 15 minutes which is quite slow.  Never take the ability to walk for granted.

Pain, Pain and Yet More Pain

The steroids wear off after a day or so, which is somewhat annoying as I was rather enjoying the very upbeat mood I was in.

Once they wear off I started to get really achy legs. Pain in the joints and muscle spasms are a side effect of pertuzumab. What they don't tell you is exactly how painful is can be. I take painkillers which do help a little. I decide that a gentle very, very slow walk around the block might help, which it does a little.

I wake up with painful legs and a headache which feels as though my head is being squashed in a vice. More painkillers. The worst part of having such sore legs is that ordinarily in the evening one or two cats sit on my lap. This is now not possible as the weight of a cat is just too painful to bear. I am hoping that this side effect will eventually abate, as walking is a very slow and painful process.

Chemotherapy part 2

Ordinarily I will having the umpteen chemotherapy stuff all on the same day, and it will take the best part of a day. However, as this is the beginning I have had to have them over two days just in case I have an adverse reaction to any of them.

We arrive at the appointed time, there is a delay due to the teaching thing that the nurses are doing overrunning and the fact the the drugs had not come up from the pharmacy, however my nurse calls me in anyway. I have the usual weigh in, blood pressure, temperature and blood saturation checks. All are fine eventually. I must remember to breath and deeply.

The first task is to remove the stitches from my portacath. This is not too uncomfortable although it did feel a little odd. What hurts more than anything is the initial removal of the large plaster which is covering the portacath site and then the cleaning of the area with alcohol, which stings beyond belief. It would appear that I have developed a slight allergy to plaster. I think it might be the changing of the plaster over the last week or so from the same sight has just removed the very top layer of my skin, either way I have a very sore chest, Savlon to the rescue.

Last night I read up all about the various drugs I am having and discovered that yesterday's ones are not vomit inducing, so I am a little nervous about today's treatment. The drug I am being given has a vomit rate of 2% so I am really hoping that I am in the majority. Also hair loss affects about 10% so again I am hoping to be in the majority. I do love statistics.

I have had my various steroids and anti-emetics beforehand and so the treatment starts. It takes about an hour and so far so good. The final drug is to strengthen my bones and this takes about 20 minutes. Again so far so good no obvious side effects. I have a slight headache, but then I have one of those most of the time.

Once again I cannot praise the portacath enough. Apparently, in some countries having a portacath fitted is a matter of course for breast cancer patients. It would certainly help those who have a needle phobia.

We are released just after lunch and I bounce out. I know that it is the steroids but I feel full of energy and my walking pace is back to its normal speed. My various aches, pains and stiffness have also abated.

So far the only reaction I have had is the one I had last time to the herceptin which is slightly red itchy cheeks. This time it is much less as my cheeks are as red or itchy and I am banking on the fact that last time it lasted about 24 hours/

All I have to do for the next week or so is avoid getting ill so I will be crowds and the great unwashed which suits me fine. I will also, weather permitting, be going for daily walks around the neighbourhood. My mood in general is good and as I said I do feel much less knackered. I love drugs.

Best Laid Plans and The Wonder That Is The Portacath

So we arrive in plenty of time for my appointment. A loading does of Herceptin.

I am expecting to be in all day, which we were, I do not expect that I have other chemotherapy and that my next appointment, rather than being next Tuesday is in fact tomorrow.

I'm not entirely certain what the other chemotherapy I had was. I am given intravenous steroids, anti-emetics, so given I had the steroids after lunch I am told to expect a poor night's sleep, which to be honest is what I have had for the past umpteen years, so it's not really a problem.

The other chemotherapy given and once I have been flushes and an anti-coagulant is given I can go home. The total stay was from about 9.30am to about 5.30pm. As I write this, having taken an anti-emetic tablet, I am feeling considerably better than I did the last time I did chemo. So some improvement. Which is good.

The Wonder That Is The Portacath cannot be understated. The needle going in genuinely doesn't hurt and is leaves both my arms free, which means doing crosswords, eating and going to the loo are just so much easier.

Here's hoping that tomorrow's trip to the chemo unit is as unexciting as today's

Post Portacath Update

I spent a fairly uncomfortable night on Monday as I could feel the catheter that runs from my neck to my heart. I thought at that point that this was going to be a very annoying thing. However the human body's ability to get used to anything never ceases to amaze me. By Tuesday evening it was hardly noticeable and today, three days later I am completely unaware of it.

The most annoying aspect of the insertion is the itching of the stitches and bruises, but even this is abating at a delightfully speedy rate.

I am still suffering from sudden and overwhelming fatigue, but I am taking fewer painkillers, which might explain this. In general I am not so much suffering from pain as general stiffness. I know that if I do a bit more gentle exercise, principally walking, that I will reap the benefit.

Also according to the Daily Mail, so it must be true, gentle exercise whilst doing chemotherapy helps the chemo work better and more thoroughly, at least if you are a mouse.

My Portacath Insertion

This portacath insertion is a short procedure.

We arrive at 8.45am shortly before the first member of staff.

The intervention unit does portacath insertions, biopsies, angiograms, angioplasties and other similar stuff.

The staff are all unfailingly lovely.

I could be sedated, but then recovery takes longer, I would have to stay on the unit for about 3 hours and I won't be able to eat for a while afterwards. I opt not to be sedated. Getting home quickly is my aim.

The surgeon is Italian, quick and has done thousands of portacaths. He explains everything that is going to happen.

I have the ubiquitous cannula put in my arm.I walk to the theatre, all of 10 yards, hop onto the bed, which is very narrow, The staff all introduce themselves and other important stuff is discussed between the numerous staff.

I am covered first in betadine, then a large sterile sheet with a hole where the procedure will take place.

I am told that the local anaesthetic will sting as it is injected. They are not kidding!

The first part involves inserting the catheter into my jugular vein. This is really uncomfortable but not painful. My vein is quite small and a bit collapsed as a result of my not eating or drinking for hours and hours beforehand as instructed. I have to pretend to strain as if on the loo as this expands the vein making insertion easier.

Next more local anaesthetic in the site for the actual port, just above my right breast. This really, really stings and I need loads as I am such a wimp. The surgeon then starts making the pocket for the port, in spite of the local anaesthetic this hurts, but a delightful radiographer holds my hand and talks to me about my children and other stuff to distract me. After much tugging and pushing etc. the portacath is fitted and tested. I am then sewn up, cleaned up and wheeled on my bed to recovery. The whole thing took about 30 minutes.

I am kept an eye on, blood pressure monitored etc. The surgeon tells me I can go home - hooray.

I get home, take copious quantities of painkillers, a late breakfast and then a well deserved afternoon snooze.