94. Gentle braising perhaps?

Three down, 12 to go. To be honest, the best thing is that I get the weekend to actually sleep to a civilised hour like 10am and slowly adjust to the world. This week’s been early and even earlier and I’m shattered. I’ve never been a morning person and to be eating a sausage sandwich at half 9 is unknown! Today, for only the second time in all our years together, my HAC (Human Alarm Clock aka Dennis) got it wrong and he woke me at 8 when I was being picked up at 8.15. Now we know the advantage of a wig!

The neuropathy is worse today - been not too bad the last couple of days but I felt it creeping on last evening and Dennis said he’d spotted it in the afternoon (my mouth changes - incipient trout pout/lisp). The worst thing is the nerve pain - my breast muscle has been screaming out since the radiotherapy and I shouldn’t be feeling anything at this early stage - so I’ve rung the medical centre and asked them to give the GP a nudge. She said on Tuesday she’d get back to me with suggested pain relief rather than co-codamol (which I shan't be taking again) and I’ve heard nothing. It would be good to have a prescription for tomorrow morning at least. I can hope... Oddly, I found by accident that diazepam eases the neuropathy. My mouth swelling goes down and the numb fingers and feet turn to mild tingles but it’s not a solution I want to rely on.

Meantime, the radiotherapy is problem-free and it’s the early stages (gentle braising) before soreness steps in (grilling) and possibly ultra soreness, blisters, scabs (barbecue sizzling). I’m hoping I don’t get to that stage!

It’s cold and miserable outside so I’m knitting away busily. One cardigan is finished now, so just 2 to go and then the girls’ outfits will be finished. The dresses are so cute. Georgia has just been round and chosen a shrug for me to knit her as a thank you for her help. Her pink wig really cheers me up sometimes.

Actually so does the new jumper, even if the noob is a bit obvious. Judicious placing of a scarf resolves that. But it’s really winter clothing weather for me so I’m swapping it for a chunky cosy thing! Ironically, she ended up choosing the one I’d thought I’d like to knit and, despite her appallingly garish taste in clothes, she (without any hints from me) chose to go with the soft grey (silver) cotton yarn. Honest, no pressure, no hints beyond suggesting something might be a bit garish so it could only be worn with something specific, whereas something more neutral could go with anything.

So I’m not knitting a bright pink garment after all, nor a fluffy or bobbly one. Phew! Right, off t cook Tantrum Stew again. Again? Look, it tastes, it’s filling and nutritious - I’m quite happy with again.

93. Sizzling...

Unfortunately it’s not a heatwave - I’m all cosied up in thick cardigan and slippers. I’m referring to my noob which has received it’s first dose of radiation. It went fine, more or less what I expected except for the little octopuses and other weird creatures decorating the machine. Then I thought about the kids who need radiotherapy and they suddenly seemed cute. I even managed to be awake at 6.15 - the sun was beautiful then.

They’ve been very accommodating and changed several of my appointments so Lisa can drive me there without it getting in the way of the school run. I think once or twice it does require her to ask someone to pick Georgia up from school but they seem fine with that and, if we overrun, I can always get a cab home.

So far, so good. Side effects accumulate so it’s early days. Co-codamol is pretty useless as a painkiller so I just have to stretch that sternum and stay immobile for about 5 minutes and hang the pain. It should be manageable, even for a fidget like me. To be frank, I’m glad I had a full mastectomy. The idea of my breast being zapped like that and the leaflet warnings about how it might affect the nipple have had me cringing so treating a scar seems a better option for me. I wore Mum’s ring for good luck. She had radiotherapy years ago and said it was ‘nothing’ so I just fiddled with it and thought about my mum and found it rather soothing. If you’re up there, Mum, I’m sure you’re proud of me! Yes I know I need to put on some weight and yes, I can see my hands are scrawny but I’m trying my best, I’ve got a whole pizza here!

The next 14 working days are thus mapped out and I officially ‘ring the bell’ on 18 June, a bit later than I hoped as it goes over my birthday when originally I anticipated celebrating Christmas 2018. As for ringing the bell, there actually is a shiny beribboned brass bell opposite the reception desk. It’s just not for me. I’m not a bell-ringing celebrator! Plus I know I’ll still have side effects like the neuropathy and I’ll have to adapt to hormone treatment which I’m not looking forward to (me n side effects again).

However, knowing Lisa, she’ll bamboozle me into it or do it on my behalf! Actually my appointment sheet says 18 June 10.30am Nurse Led Procedures. Hmmm...

So here’s me with radiation and Lisa’s son Ryan next-door who had one of those isotope CT scans yesterday. Hey, if we pointed our fingers at each other, we might find superpowers!

92. What a letdown

Before I went to sleep last night, I must have rubbed my eye. I woke up again sharpish and proceeded to gently probe upper and lower lids. I could feel stubble. My eyelashes must be growing again. I went to sleep a happy bunny, propped against a bed wedge and 3 pillows to ease my rib pain and feeling guilty for having done my hourly exercises only twice all day - because it just causes more rib pain.

First thing this morning, I grabbed a magnifying mirror and am disappointed to confess I can’t see anything except two stalwart lashes that have held their ground on the left eye and three on the right. No sign of stubble. So I’m guessing it’s the ultra-sensitive fingertips (neuropathy) feeling what’s not there. Some good news would have been nice. Dennis asked what difference did it make. Thus speaks someone who hasn’t spent the last 53 years carefully applying mascara, after early experiments with false lashes and painting my own Twiggy-style. It required a steady hand, a lot of practice and a lot of patience but boy did I feel great!

I feel completely naked without my lashes, rather vulnerable. I forget I only have one boob. I never forget I have bald eyelids!

Back to let downs. The Chevin Medical Practice practice manager, in her apologetic email, said if there is anything I can do to help... blah blah. I went online yesterday to book a GP appointment. I need something for this rib pain and I want to discuss that incident of not breathing because I can’t get it out of my mind (unusual during all this nonsense. What I don’t like, I’ve generally been able to keep my mind away from it). For a practice covering the whole area from Bramhope and Pool to the town of Otley and beyond, with 3 sites, there was ONE appointment available next week in Bramhope and only two in Otley, all clashing with radiotherapy. Three appointments available next week for all their thousands of patients??

The alternative is triage. Ring at 8 and hope you can get through. Then convince the receptionist you are worthy of further attention. Then await a callback from a GP some time before 1pm, then hope they can give you an appointment. Unfortunately, as I shan’t know where I’ll be, it’s not really the best system. I might be in the Bexley Wing lift or having radiation treatment when they ring back - then they think I cant be bothered or that needy and don’t try to ring again. Plus there’s the question of how do I get there? Lisa is not my personal chauffeur and she has a family to deal with. I felt really bad Thursday when I discovered that she’d voted in the morning and had driven me up to vote in the evening as an extra!

Mind you, I’m going to feel even worse when the election results are announced today.

91. You’re only as old as you feel

Right now, mid-80s-90s. I feel decrepit, useless, pretty helpless and generally awful. I can’t say I often feel my age and I’ve had the advantage of not usually looking it - till now.

Today was physio, in preparation for radiotherapy starting at the ridiculous time of 8am. I had to admit to D, the physiotherapist, that I’d done the best I could with the exercises she prescribed but that they aggravated my sore sternum and so, a lot of the time, I didn’t do them. I’m pleased to say I have made some improvement in my arm’s mobility/flexibility regardless of that excuse but we looked at versions that would not affect the sternum. I tried them all, with Lisa from next door making notes and coming up with the horrendous idea of videoing me so I’d remember arm angles etc. Brilliant idea without doubt. Unfortunately I hate seeing even photos of myself! Yes, now I have a home video of one very bony little arm sticking out of a hospital gown and being manipulated to get that breast muscle more flexible. Topped by an apparently bald head (it’s not bald - it’s transparent!). I also have a walking stick - a prop for an arm exercise - but the urge to burst into a Fred Astaire routine was strong. Sadly, I wobbled at the first step so had to rule it out.

I’ll be grateful next week but, by the time I got home, I was in agony. My breathing was laboured. The neuropathic numbness got worse. The neuropathic pain was execrable. I felt awful. I thawed out a bit sitting in the garden reading the paper but I have to be covered top to toe in the sun as my skin is still chemo-thin and soreness from a tiny bit of sunburn feels like flames, as I found out earlier this week when my shins caught the sun. What a waste.

What next? My mind is still set on sailing through radiotherapy now I can get my arm far enough back and can keep still for long enough. I’m not even going to think about sores and burns and damage... My mind is not allowed to go there. Instead I will fret about appointment times and hope the radiographer can accommodate me and move my regular appointment to later in the morning as Lisa has to drop Georgia off at school, then there’s the ‘rush-hour’ that lasts 2-3 hours in Leeds. However, I have a feeling I got the 8.45 slot because everyone else wants to avoid rush-hour too. I may have to rethink my plans but, at over 30 quid a day, a daily taxi isn’t a good option. Occasional, ok, but not 15 sessions on the trot. Mind you, I do get £33 a session from Simply Health as radiotherapy is considered a day admission - so I guess Simply Health can pay for my cabs if necessary.

I suspect there may be longer pauses between blogs for a while. I can’t pretend and the blog is for my own benefit (it does help writing my misery down) but there have been too many pitiful entries lately. Odd, I expected things to really look up once chemo had finished. Well, it seems the tentacles of chemotherapy are long and unpredictable - and I’ve not been having much luck so far have I? Stop there Jan. You’re cancer-free and alive.

90. I’m published (lol)

I mentioned recently that I was a Reader’s Choice in a recent competition All About Me. Here’s the link : https://didcotwriters.wordpress.com/blog/  though it doesn’t say anything I haven’t said on here.

I was very amused to see they expanded my 20-word author bio to mention that I’m in their published anthology “Compositions,” as if reading about the cancer experience is going to send everyone rushing to buy their little book. However, it is an enjoyable read and easy to dip into. Me, a published ‘author.’

The peripheral neuropathy is getting worse, which is very depressing. Joyce collected me after tai chi so I could join them for their lunch at Cookridge Hall and Sue brought me back. Such kindness is heart-warming. It was so good to get out and about. But I wasn’t feeling great and am right off my food, which I can’t afford to be. Waking in severe pain isn’t a good way to start the day. It’s swings and roundabouts: I do the exercises to strengthen my stretch ready for radiotherapy and I unavoidably aggravate my healing sternum/ribs. The PN intensifies the pain and I feel like I have a dozen knives slicing into me (no, I’m not exaggerating). But it comes and goes. This morning my fingers and toes and lips were numb and tingly. Right now, at 9pm, my fingers and toes are almost normal, only my top lip feeling swollen and uncomfortable - but my sternum is on fire! Why did no one warn me? I really feel cheated that I haven’t gradually felt better after finishing chemotherapy, and in fact in some ways I’ve felt worse. To read that recovery can take many months or years (and that the PN might never go away) is more than depressing. Grrrr.

My new car came today. Now I have to work towards being able to drive it. Rib pain makes it too risky right now but therein lies my freedom. Now, who do I ask to take me to physio on Friday?

89. ‘A change is gonna come’

I was going to call this ‘Feeling cheated’ but that’s too negative, I confess I’m feeling a bit negative but, like I decided early on, that’s not going to get me through. Well, I’m nearly through so here’s the last verse of one of my favourite Sam Cooke tracks :

There have been times that I thought I couldn't last for long
But now I think I'm able to carry on
It's been a long, a long time coming
But I know a change is gonna come, oh yes it will

I know he was writing about civil rights but it seems appropriate for now. So, rather than whinge about everything that’s wrong with me, here’s a list of changes I’m anticipating, solely in the order they spring to mind:
1. I will get back my own tongue so
2. I will stop lisping and producing vile foamy saliva so I’m reduced to acting like a tobacco chewer (ie spitting a lot).
3. I will be able to taste things rather than going by smell and either saltiness or sugariness. Hopefully I’ll want to eat better, though I think I’ve done a good job in the circumstances - it’s not easy eating when sometimes the food won’t go down because your muscles feel a bit numb. Bacon sandwich and Easter Egg top the list.

4. The numbness will wear off. Right now, it’s getting worse by the day despite not having had Paclitaxel for almost 3 weeks. I’m told it’s peripheral neuropathy (PN) which sounds grand but feels crap.
5. The roof of my mouth and my soft palate will not feel vaguely numb so I won’t have to pretend it’s not happening for fear of having a panic attack.
6. My feet and tips of toes will stop tingling
7. My fingertips will stop feeling numb. I’ll be able to manage buttons, put in my earrings and open things like the top of a water bottle.
8. My skin will not have numb patches. My skin will repair itself and not be so scarily thin and I’ll slather on factor 30 and get my pathetic tan again.
9. My insides won’t feel numb so I won’t have disasters like last Saturday’s spasm and
10. I’ll have more warning when I need to use the loo.
11. My eyelashes will come back. Right now I have three over my left eye and two thin patches over my right, with no lower lashes. Judicious use of eyeshadows, hiding behind glasses, mean I don’t feel as ghastly as I expected.

12. My eyebrows will return; maybe I’ll see a beautician because the spider legs that have resisted all chemo must be like superbugs, resistant to anything. They will need a neat trim at the least. However, I’m not complaining. I have only recently resorted to using eyebrow makeup and, with such wobbly hands and numb fingertips, my efforts are a bit amateurish.
13. Nasal hair will grow, I just pray it’s not in the same way as the hair on my head which, I’m warned may come back thick and curly. Then I will stop sniffing and stop having an almost permanently sore nose.
14. My buzzcut hair is already growing but not thickening, so my hair will regrow to its former silver glory (!).
14b written next day - how could I forget?? The much-despised but underrated pubic hair will regrow. I shall feel like and look a woman again and get no surprises when I have a pee. I didn’t know there were so many wrong directions it could take!
15. I will no longer experience burning pain at the slightest touch (part of the PN, I’m told). I folded the end of a plastic tube of toothpaste and just holding it felt like a knife had sliced my hand.
16. The wobbliness caused by the PN will go. I shan’t walk like a drunk, stumble and I shall be able to do gentle exercise to build up some stamina and some strength.

17. My friends will stop insisting on carrying my bag. Yes it weighs a ton but I feel naked without it.
18. All the soft tissue will repair itself. I won’t get my gums back to their former level but they will fill out and do a better job than right now.

19. My breast muscle will respond to the exercises I’m doing and the searing pain will go away.

20. I’ll get my prosthesis and some pretty bras and be able to wear my former wardrobe because

21. I’ll regain the lost weight, get myself back to a size 10 at least, preferably a 12.

22. I shan’t feel institutionalised, everything dependent on hospital appointments and friends available to offer me transport and their time and support.

23. I shall be able to read the mountain of books I‘ve accumulated and return to writing flash fiction AND I’ll be able to focus well enough to do some more online learning. I had to abandon Forensic Psychology as I just couldn’t concentrate for long.

24. I shall want to celebrate getting through all this crap.

88. Moving on

Today I got my tats. And very disappointing they are. Three tiny dots strategically placed around my noob to guide the radioactive beams precisely. It better be precise - I’ve already been warned of the risks (like the oncologist was talking about items on a menu): Might, actually probably will, hit part of the lung but that’s nothing to worry about (this to a woman bent double coughing) and, if I have a chest X-ray in future, tell them there will be a shadow... Might hit a tiny part of the heart. They use a strong shield but it does still happen and, if it does, it multiplies the risk of angina in older women. OK. Will cause burning, even through to the back, so expect soreness front and back. Otherwise it’s just fatigue. Well, I’ve got that in spades so might not even notice.

The ‘basement’ of the Bexley Wing is rather different from Oncology on Level 1: spacious, light, comfy chairs, chandeliers, quiet gardens outside, calm with little hustle and bustle. Since I have to be there five days a week for three weeks, it could be nice and relaxing - apart from the fact that I am likely to be a zombie. My first appointment is 8am!! The others are 8.45. Rush hour travel grrr.

The CT scan was uncomfortable because I’m so bony (see remarkably pointy elbow below but remember what I’ve been through!) but we managed to get my arm elevated properly and I managed to keep still. There was a little throat clearing but not a coughing fit as I feared so I should be able to manage the short treatments easily. The coughing fit came later, when my voice disappeared too.

Stage 1 home physio....(noisy)

 Stage 2 home physio (blissful)

My ribs are now exceedingly sore. I’m not taking the anti-inflammatories in case they were linked to the spasm on Saturday - certainly the leaflet lists several breathing difficulties as common. Apart from that, my ego hurts. A young woman sat in an easy chair next to us and was chatting. She referred to Kiera as my daughter. Well, the Methley Park nurse referred to Marilyn as my daughter so that’s quite a family I had between the ages of 2 and 6! It’s the white hair. At least, I bloody hope so!! Thursday I have an appointment with the breast/oncology physio to help improve my breast muscle, ready for therapy to begin. I guess it won’t involve frozen peas. I’m predicting it will be pretty painful but it’s essential to stretch all these muscles so I can get through the radiotherapy without anxiety.

So, moving on... I no longer have T as my oncology liaison nurse, though she contacted me Thursday and arranged the physio as well as recommending the DIY in the pictures. Apparently I’m back with C, the Macmillan breast care nurse who showed me round and wooed me to St James’s. At least there’s someone. There is so much that’s not been covered regarding actual breast care and I feel a bit in limbo.