Yes, Sweetie was there for my Hodgkins Lymphoma in 2016 - very welcome support.
I was chatting to the clinical haemotology nurse on Wednesday wondering if the first cancer was related to the second; she said probably not, but once you’ve had one cancer you are probably more likely to get a second.
The chemo for that cancer was easy to get through - virtually no side effects; this one is quite a bit tougher and more to come as an in-patient on Wednesday.
I have an MRI appointment on Monday the 14th and am hoping I’m in just long enough so I can get it done there and then. I wouldn’t relish being discharged on the Sunday then having to come back - probably fatigued - the next day.
It would be useful if they could keep you in for your MRI scan Ffosse, save you a separate journey and you will be more relaxed. My next scan is a CT at Scarborough on 22nd of this month. Not looking forward to it!
We have a hospital in the town where I live but bit by bit wards are being closed and services moved to other towns even though we have a huge summer population with holidaymakers. For scans and chemo we have a 40 mile round trip to Scarborough.
That is awful for you Val. The expense added to the trauma!
You must feel shattered after that.
I cannot understand why mobile units could not be used for chemo. We have ones for Breast Screening and Dentistry.
Chemo is much more serious than Breast Screening or Dentistry, because they are putting poison into you body and nobody can be sure whether you will have a bad reaction to it. I had to be treated at a cancer specialist hospital in Manchester and my sessions were 1st day, six and a half hours followed by 2 days of two and a half hour sessions and this happened every 3 weeks! For me it was a 60 mile round trip and as I was on my own but couldn’t drive I had to have transport by ambulance or taxi each day. The good thing was that, if anything had gone wrong, I was in a cancer specialist hospital so a bed would have always been available.
Chemo nurses are highly trained for their job and few want to stay in the job for long as they do all the awful work but never see the pleasure of a cured patient… it takes 5 years to be in remission. I suspect that is why they don’t have enough nurses to work on mobile units!
CT scans aren’t so bad - at least you’re not fully enclosed in a loud, clanking machine. Pity you’re a 40 miles round trip from your nearest, though.
I used to be able to walk to the hospital - it’s only 2.2 miles and on the flat. I just don’t have the energy, though. And I definitely couldn’t manage with 2 heavy bags.
Speaking of energy, I seem to have managed to scoff halfway through my Tesco delivery already. I did buy healthy food, salads, fruit etc. and I have the makings of a bolognese and a beef stroganoff to fall back on.
The hospital had free wi-fi in 2016 but they seem to have scrapped it so any posts I make will have to be done by mobile data. I think I’ve got around 1GB left so won’t be going on the internet much except to post here.
I did a clothes washing and all my things dried hanging up in the house yesterday with the windows open. And today I’ve done some ironing. I don’t want to take too much or too little into hospital with me on Wednesday but hopefully it’ll only be the 5 days that I was told. Getting out on Monday evening would be fine with me.
I got a letter back from PIP saying they have all the information they need to make a decision. First time I’ve claimed anything in years. I do hope I get something, though, I would think I’d score highly in the mobility section. Getting 2 taxis to the hospital and back is around £15 each time. And I think I am spending a little more on my Tesco shopping by doing it online. It’s so easy to click on things. As a single person, I wish I didn’t have to have to get £40 of stuff without incurring a £4 charge. Delivery and packing is reasonable at £2 to £3 though.
I’ve not been able to concentrate to do much work lately - I lose concentration after 20 minutes or so and I have to be exact.
Twink was right, I do not know enough about chemo. I do know it is a poison, and I think in the very distant future that generation will be shocked.
True also about the lack of nurses.
It is a long day Sweetie, we leave home 7.30 am and don’t get back until around 4 pm. The expense isn’t too bad as we have our own transport and no charge for hospital parking.
Twink, I thought I spent a lot of time on the chemo unit but you spent even longer, still if the outcome is good then it is worth it. I had an allergic reaction on my second cycle of chemo just before I was due to leave for home. I was pleased to be in Scarborough, it just seems such a shame that those same facilities are no longer available in our local hospital.
At least that is something Val.
I attended every chemo with my Mum. She lived on the Isle of Wight, I live in Bournemouth. It was difficult, a train, a ferry then a taxi. But I am glad that I could support her.
Ffosse, I’m eating a lot at the moment too, but I think that is a good thing. I was previously on a diet and lost a stone, but have now put a lot of the weight back on, but better than losing more weight. Could you not place your food order two weekly to save you delivery costs. Many foods will keep in a fridge for two weeks at least. I appreciate that when you are not picking your own food you cannot check use by dates. I always keep some long life milk in case my fresh runs out and those part baked bread rolls are a good standby with a good use by date.
I had 9 days between my 2 orders so far; I’m going to try and stretch that out to 2 weeks and buy slightly fewer items that have close sell- buy dates.
It’s hubby’s birthday today and we’ve just been out for coffee and a huge piece of cake each. We sat out in beautiful gardens in the sunshine. Perfect. Just been invited to a barbecue at son’s house this evening so it gets even better!
