What do they want - blood?

My veins are knackered - it's official. Shot to pieces by chemo and cannulation. Just been for a blood test. Now even expert blood-takers have to jab more than once to find a vessel that will yield.

Never mind. Not much more of this. Last chemo on Friday - fingers crossed.

Meanwhile public sector workers are avidly awaiting this afternoon's Spending Review announcement, with some Departments facing a possible 40 per cent cut. I predict more blood-letting before the day is out....

It's not a competition

The Post article sparked a mini-debate among readers about funding for different types of cancer. Two people expressed annoyance that breast cancer seems to get more funding - and better publicity - than other forms of cancer. A third person pointed out that this is because more individuals are affected by it and that being the case the funding is evenly proportioned.

What occurred to me on reading these comments was, it's not a case of either/or. Surely any publicity for any type of cancer is good. True, those involved in breast cancer campaigns do seem to be particularly good at it - but there is no reason why this should detract from efforts to raise the profile of other types of cancer. There is no cap on awareness.

Interesting, since I've been diagnosed I've noticed that rarely a day goes by without some form of cancer being in the news. Today's Post features two cancer fundraising events which took place yesterday, the 'pedal  it pink' event (pictured) and a walk in Wollaton Park to raise money for the Maggies centre. And pancreatic cancer got a mention on this morning's Today programme.

While I was disappointed my last chemo got delayed it's kinda nice to have a 'free' week, when I'm feeling ok. We went for a bike ride yesterday in glorious sunshine along the river and I felt refreshed and healthy afterwards. Ok it was flat, but it fuels hope that I can recover fitness quite quickly after treatment is finished. Who knows, I might even make next year's half marathon. If I do I will run it in aid of Cancer Research UK - which raises funds to help all types of cancer.

Fame at last?

When I heard the Nottingham Post were doing an article I envisaged three pars on about page 17 - or at the very most a half pager.

They've given it front page lead plus double page spread inside. Blimey!!!

Here's the links:
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Breast-cancer-blogger-s-inspirational-story/article-2765155-detail/article.html
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Blogging-breast-cancer/article-2765154-detail/article.html

Picture's not bad, either, although I think I prefer the one of seven Alsation police puppies....
http://www.thisisnottingham.co.uk/news/Notts-police-seven-new-pup-crimefighters/article-2766198-detail/article.html

Christmas is coming

Showed up at chemo clinic feeling de-mob happy only to learn that although the neutrophils are up my liver is malfunctioning again so they delayed the final treatment till next Friday (22nd).

Bummer!

Also this week had a chat with the radiotherapy man about the next phase of treatment and discovered I have to have five weeks' worth (25 sessions), not two as I had previously thought.

Radiotherapy is, from all accounts, a doddle compared with chemo, but it involves daily trips to the hospital. This will start four weeks after the last chemo.

Which, by my reckoning, will mean my last ever treatment will be on Christmas Eve. Could be cause for a celebration - liver permitting!

Release day

For me and - hopefully - for the first of the Chilean miners.

Scores on the doors: neutrophils 0.8,
haemoglobin 10.0. Both heading in the right direction so they let me go. If this trend continues I should be fit for the final chemo on Thursday.

Got out late afternoon, and the sun came out too so we went for a walk round Woolly Park. Took this picture looking out across the lake. Autumn is a beautiful season.

Waiting Game

I am patient - in every sense of the word. Still in hospital. Waiting for neutraphils (white cells) to increase; for red cells to stabilise and for my bone marrow to start producing more cells. Production is slow - yesterday I had 0.2 neutraphils. I need at least 1.0 before they'll let me out.


I feel fine actually. Nice ward. Own room. I've stayed in worse hotels. Food leaves a bit to be desired but visitors have been supplementing with fresh fruit, cake and home-made soup.

I've been killing time with frequent forays off the ward. I am getting to know this site quite well. Yesterday John and I made a great escape off the hospital campus to Mill Lakes. It was a gorgeous day, like summer.

Waiting for today's blood results. Fingers crossed I'll get out soon. Just have to be patient....

Weekend on the Ward

I'm sampling hospital hospitality yet again.  Admitted yesterday when they discovered my white blood cells were down to zero again.

Berman 2 offers superior accommodation, spacious private room plus en-suite shower.

At ONE AM they decided to wake me up and wheel me through deserted corridors to Radiography for a chest x-ray.  Reasons unknown!

They wont let me go until my bloods are back up.  Could be in for the weekend.