Finally it was round 4 of chemo I was so excited to get this day over with the infusion is the worst part I was just hoping that I could take the pain that goes up my arm when the chemos going in. It was painful but not too bad that I couldn't cope I tried to sit and watch Netflix but just couldn't settle I just wanted it to be over and ring the end of treatment bell! During my treatment my colorectal nurse rang to inform me that my MRI results were in and my tumour in my bowel had shrunk enough for surgery. I was finally going to have my primary tumour removed. My nurse Jackie honestly gave me the extra strength to finish that chemo I was so happy that I wasn't going to have to have more chemo for a while.
I finally got to ring the end of treatment bell.
The side effects from this round were brutal and to be honest I'm still not over them.The worst thing is the fatigue its debilitating especially when you have a family to look after and house to run. The day after my treatment I had an appointment with my surgeon Dr Atkins and my nurse Jackie to discus my surgery. I was told that I would have a low anterior surgery so my bowel tumour removed along with the pelvis lymph node, I would then be fitted with a temporary stoma so my bowel could heal. I had fully prepared myself that they would say I would need a stoma I just wanted the surgery done. The plan after this is to have scans every 6 months after this to monitor the lesions on my lungs and the rest of my body. The hope is that I will have my stoma reversed after 3 months this is if my biopsy from the tumour comes back with a low number of lymph nodes that were cancerous if this comes back high then I will have to have mop up chemo so my stoma won't be reversed until after chemo. I really hope that I don't have to have more chemo I'm not sure my arm could cope with more infusions iv now got a permanent bruise going up my arm on the vein where I had my cannula put in.
The plan now is to have a 6 weeks chemo break so I can build my strength back up for surgery. Lots of exercise and walking which is hard with no energy lol.
It was time to get ready for Christmas I was really hope to feel better but was really struggling I couldn't even drive the car so Scott had to drive my automatic car for the first time which was hilarious but he did well and managed I did feel a little relieved that he could drive the car being as I'm not going to be able to drive for 4-6 weeks post surgery I was struggling with not being able to do everything that I normally would and it actually got me really down and still is. I wanted to go shopping for all the food and prep and I just didn't have the energy and so many people were getting covid. So I did the sensible thing and stayed at home to be safe.
Unfortunately my Dad and Michelle both got covid they both felt poorly with it and obviously had to isolate which meant that they couldn't come to ours until Christmas Day they was suppose to come before but never mind we were lucky with the fact that they could come for Christmas .
We had a lovely Christmas it was actually very relaxing for me, Scott took over everything he has been amazing with understanding how rubbish this last round has been on me. The children loved having everyone here (apart from their auntie Sarah and their cousins) we went bowling on Boxing Day like we normally do which turned very competitive. It was just so nice to be normal me for a few days with no cancer talk.
The kids went back to school and are doing amazing they have grown so much since my diagnosis and become very mature all wanting to help out and just generally getting along with each other(which is a miracle in itself lol)
They all know that I'm going in for surgery and how long the recovery will be (4-6 weeks) and stoma 12 weeks so know they have to be careful with me.
The scary part now is to wait for surgery and hope that nothings going on or growing inside me whilst I wait. But for now im going to make the most of everything before surgery eat and drink lots and do as much fun stuff as I can before I have to rest and I have Scott screaming at me to sit down lol.
I will keep updated on here as much as I can during surgery and will try and video picture and document what I can.
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/bowel-cancer/treatment/
Add comment
Comments