Blog 63 Tuesday 29th November 2011

Last night 6pm, I had my appointment with Dr Macmillan in Northampton. As normal I was asked about the chemo drug side effect symptoms and severity. I explained one new symptom that had materialised and in fact I should have mentioned it on my last meeting at Halloween but neglected to do so..... Yes probably memory again............... Tinitus......... ( loud ringing in the ears)  it has affected me badly, but I did not consider it a side effect of the Chemotherapy drugs.  I had not been told it a possibility, or read it anywhere..

Dr Macmillan informed me that it was a very unusual and rare side effect, he appeared quite concerned. I was taken off Oxiliplatin drug immediately explaining that it was this drug that was the possible cause and it could lead to total loss of hearing if left. Today I went through all the other drugs and was hooked up to my 48hr IV infusion. So far I feel much better than usual at this stage..........................

I have since found that Ototoxicity is a condition of the ear that can be caused by platinum based drugs (Oxiliplatin falls into this category) I have a further appointment with Dr Macmillan in two weeks time to assess the condition after coming off the drug. I now believe I have suffered every single rare side effect as well as the "normal" side effects............................... a medical conundrum
 co·nun·drum/kəˈnəndrəm/

Noun:

A confusing and difficult problem or question. A question asked for amusement, typically one with a pun in its answer; a riddle.

 Guinea Pig comes to mind.....

Wendy's Blog

I always new he was special and that is why I love him so.....however I have suggested that as he is such a conundrum, maybe he should be donated to science one day?

Blog 62 Friday 25th November 2011

Where has 2011 gone ! Its flown past probably because it's been a very busy year. Monday 28th November I'm seeing my Oncologist Mr McMillan again. It's good being able to speak openly and get answers or possible reasons for things that happen as a consequence of the Chemotherapy.

The cold weather is playing havoc with my face and hands. The cold wind on my face, even during the "OFF" week of chemo still attacks the muscles in my face and I look like one of those size one dogs with a size ten skin ......Shar Pei  I believe. Snow forecast today for Scotland, I certainly will not be playing snow balls this year. Sixth chemo session next week six more to go !! I can't wait to get over this sicky headachy lethargic feeling.

I've started  putting together a business plan and web site for a small business venture, for when this is all over.  It's all come together quite nicely and taken my mind off things, it's also stopped me disturbing Wendy when she works from home.  So much for early retirement.!!     

Blog 61 Tuesday 22nd November 2011

Last Saturday I placed a link on the blog to "Seven Seas Immune Defence Health Oils" I have found them good at increasing my blood count so Chemotherapy can go ahead as planned. If the blood count is low the chemo would be put off for another  week.. Seven Seas is a supplement for  Immune defence, the ingredients pretty standard for this type of product. I found it worked for me and I'm sure anyone fighting with cancer would agree, Its a case of grab hold of anything that gives results or hope............................... I have been contacted by a representative of the Seven Seas product company with a very nice email..........

Quote
"Sadly the Medicines Laws in the UK make it illegal for any supplement company to endorse or mention a product linked to serious conditions like cancer.

Most doctors and cancer specialists tend to give very specific guidance on the use of food supplements, especially during treatments like chemotherapy, so we would strongly suggest that you make your doctor aware of anything you are taking other than medications.

We are very pleased to hear you are finding our product helpful, but must make it clear, we do not endorse the use of any of our supplements during cancer treatments and we cannot be seen to promote our products for this purpose".................................unquote

I can understand the above comments as I'm sure that some unscrupulous companies would make some outrageous claims about their products, which could obviously give false hope. All I'm saying is it works for me !!!!  Hhmmmm I wonder if they have anything for..............................  

Blog 60 Saturday 19th November 2011

6am and wide awake then straight into the regime of taking the tablets. Previously I never thought that I would ever be so reliant on drugs. I hated taking tablets and only just managed the odd aspirin here and there. Today and for the rest of next week, I am off the steroids and anti sickness drugs, however I am still taking Lansoprazole which were given to me after my exit from A&E. These tablets are brilliant, the chemo was giving such severe symptoms of heartburn I thought I was having a mild heart attack. A course of these have sorted it.

I have also found that "Seven Seas" Health Oils Immune Defence tablets have regenerated my white platelets and allowed the Chemotherapy to carry on as normal.  I am also eating loads of oranges etc.

Before taking the Seven Seas Immune defence my bi-weekly blood tests were showing that the white platelets were being destroyed by the chemo at such a rate that every three sessions would have to be postponed. Thanks to the above bolstering my immune system, I believe I will carry on and finish my chemo in March 2012 as planned!!! You can get these at most supermarkets. The results are showing in my blood tests these have also got to be good for you sane people as well!!!! Thanks for reading my blog, double click on the cluster map below to see which countries and city's my ramblings have reached.

  

Blog 59 Thursday 17th November 2011

Just waiting for the nurse to turn up between 3pm and 3.30pm it's 3pm and I'm glad the 5th chemo session is nearly over. Same old same, cant sleep, nausea's etc etc equipment is soon to be detached by the nurse, so at least I will be properly mobile again. Not having to worry about an attached pink bottle on a slightly too short tube, which just so happens to be intravenously injecting 2.5 mls of toxic poison into my body every hour for 48 hours. MMMmmmmmmmmmm. I have gone completely off alcohol, my taste for hot hot curry has diminished, as in I can't take the chili heat any longer, and coffee makes me feel bloated  maybe I'm mistaking old age for chemo side effects!!!!

Blog 58 Monday 14th November 2011

Not sure where the weekend 12th & 13th went, time just flew. Had blood tests this morning and eagerly await the results. If the white platelets are low, as I suspect they will be. I may have to have a blood transfusion, according to the nurse. I think it will just mean that the chemo is deferred a further week. I am sure that blood transfusions are kept, just in case of low blood count and infection. The Lansoprazole as previously mentioned was fantastic immediately got rid of the severe heartburn I was experiencing and to date it hasn't come back.  Do not defer  my chemo I want to finish in March 2012!! Good result for Wendy her colonoscopy came back clear, as I recently reported bowel cancer has effected her family in the past so a great result. 

Later ......................... Yey!! bloods have come back OK so 5th chemo session here we come I really shouldn't be so pessimistic I've been popping some Immune deficiency natural tablets and loads of Vitamin C must have done the job brilliant !!!!!

Blog 57 Wednesday 9th November 2011

Miserable wet and cold days in England now, clocks have gone back to daylight saving, but still dark evenings and mornings. Makes me wonder why we ever moaned at the heat of the southern hemisphere. I had an appointment yesterday with Mr Waller (thoracic surgeon) he has ordered another CT scan towards the end of the chemo. It seems ages away but I'm sure the time will fly. Mr Waller came up with his thoughts of why I had chest pains that saw me at A&E and being admitted to Kettering hospital  Cardio-oesophageal reflex or Acalasia this can cause severe pain in the sternum not unlike a heart attack. A recent blog stated that Gaviscon was my friend, with the prescription that I have been given; Lansoprozole 30mg  hopefully, I will not need the Gaviscon. The above is just another severe side effect of the chemo drug Oxaliplatin and not very pleasant. Only 8 more sessions to go !!!!! Yay. Fingers crossed for next monday when my blood cells are counted to see if my next session will continue. 
 

Blog 56 Friday 4th November 2011

This week has been a sad time for all of us but especially my wife Wendy, as during the week she lost a very dear "Uncle John" suddenly in Bloemfontein South Africa, today is his funeral. Wendy's folks travelled yesterday from Durban, Amanzimtoti to Blom and will read wendy's reminisce out at the funeral. Unfortunately Uncle John never got to meet our daughter Hope.........and we never got to say goodbye..................

End of the fourth chemo session, I've  been sleeping all day, but have managed to get out and take our  dog "Jack" for a walk in the woods. We got our labrador retriever "Jack" last year on Halloween night (Jack O Lantern) so he has been with us exactly a year. Jack seems to know something is wrong and would sit or lay by my side all the time if I let him. Jack still trys to get onto my lap as if he was still a pup (he is now 35kg's)

Warm bright sunshine but menacing black clouds all around. I'm feeling extremely lethargic probably due to the fact that my blood is being destroyed by the Oxaliplatin chemo drug. My white platelets have been reduced from a count of over 200 to less than 88 in 3 sessions, if this continues my next session will be deferred as the platelets will be less than 60 and no match for any infection that waits to invade. I have March 2012 in my mind as the end of the Chemo but if every three or four sessions get deferred I am looking at April or even May. Just got to remember the good that it's doing.

Blog 55 Wednesday 2nd November 2011

Haven't slept at all last night. My connected Folfuser IV fell on the floor twice which pulled on the Porta Cath, I also have quite severe indigestion and heartburn which is a reported side effect ("Gaviscon" is my friend). I am quite nausea's this morning but have yet to take the tablets. I could go on, but I don't want to bore you with the ailments or side effects, especially as certain friends seem to think I have an annul fixation. All I said was get yourself checked for bowel cancer if your over 45 cause thats when it started with me. I don't call that a fixation, get a colonoscopy!!! Guy's get yer undercarraige checked, Prostate cancer kills a man every hour in the UK !!!! Testicular cancer primarily affects younger men and is the most common form of cancer in men aged between 15 and 44.

 Ladies in a previous blog I mentioned that my first wife is being seriously effected by cancer of the ovaries and bowel this all started in her early fifties this has also devastated my three sons and family. Early diagnosis is vital to effective treatment. Please check out the Cancer research UK website for signs and symptoms for early diagnosis.

Wendy's Blog

Got home today to find that the postman had dropped off a lovely padded envelope for me. Excited  until I opened it and found "Kleenprep". Here I thought I had up to 2 months before my colonoscopy and it is Saturday week....... John's turn to laugh at me!!!! The reason why I am going for a colonoscopy is because bowel cancer runs in my family. My mom had 13cm removed from her colon, thankfully she has been clear for 11 years. My Gran also had it as well as a few other family members.
Good thing I can work from home so I know where I will be on the Friday!
Iain looks as if I am going to have an annul fixation for the next couple of weeks!!!