Febuary 24th Cycle 2
I was to stay on the ward again as the Rituximab would be given slowly to avoid any reactions. They said it would take 25 hours in total and would go on all through the night.
Stashed with nibbles and water, I settled in and let Richard go as it was not much fun for him sitting around. And he had our girls to look after.
There was nothing much to report on this one except it took a long time, and I had to be careful through the night with the cannula trying not to knock it. However, I did have my phone and everything to hand. It was nice to get to know the nurses more as they were all regular on that ward.
Fortunately, I had no side effects this time, so I could go home when Richard came in the afternoon.
We were starting to hear so much more about a Virus called Corona that’s spreading around the world like wildfire. It was a Pandemic (Little did we know at the time where it would take us)
I started to Zwift again, only a few miles at first and then five, then ten to keep the legs going and try and get some muscle back, my weight had dropped considerably for once I was thin.
What is Zwift? For those that don’t know it’s indoor virtual cycling at its best, click the link to find out more. There will be more on this under my Cycling blog.
I did start to get drenching night sweats, and then I’d be freezing and shivery. People with Lymphoma get this quite a bit, and it is normal. I’m just glad it wakes me up so I can walk around while it passes. On occasions when I’ve not woken up I end up very damp! During the day, they aren’t so bad, and I bought a portable fan to cool me off and a cosy fleece to warm me back up. There’s a way to deal with most things!
March 16th Cycle 3
A couple of days before chemo, I would get my blood taken and checked to ensure the levels were ok to continue treatment.
It was another overnight stay for me, and they were still being cautious about reactions.
However, they did try this one slightly quickly, over 18 hours. I was off the drip by bedtime with no problems.
My eyes were starting to get a little fuzzy, this can happen when on chemo and they say it’s best not to change your glasses as it will settle back down.
Things had changed regarding the Corona Virus, and Richard was not allowed up to the ward with me. The hospital had stopped all visitors. We were heading into lockdown.
It was concerning here I am like many thousands of people going through cancer treatments with a compromised immune system, and here we are with a deadly virus that we have not seen before and had no vaccination for it.
I was due a CT Scan on March 30th. I rang due to concerns that the hospital was now treating COVID19 patients, and I wasn’t comfortable going into that environment. It was agreed if I felt well, then they would cancel it. I was, so they did.
I managed 34 Zwift miles, I was delighted. It was great I could ride my bike without leaving home. As outside cycling was no no for me if I came off and got the simplest of gravel burn it would compromise me as my immune system would not be able to fight it and if infection took hold, well let’s not go there.
April 13th Cycle 4
We are now in complete lockdown in the UK and many other country’s too, this Virus was worldwide. Only essential workers allow out, the rest of us working from home or not at all. Something that has never happened before; schools, non-essential shops, pubs and restaurants are all shut, the planes parked up no travel allowed.
Being venerable, I was put onto a shielding list. So we ensured we got our food delivered by the supermarket and did everything we could to avoid catching this virus. Hand washing and using hand sanitiser, wearing masks and not seeing many people was life!
Our friends stepped up and did some shopping for us where we couldn’t get it delivered it’s so strange not to go to the shops. Also very strange as items were disappearing from the shelves, toilet rolls, flour, both became hard to get hold of.
So, Chemo 4 is now in the day clinic but at a different hospital. It is a more extended trip for us. They moved the whole Haematology ward away because the current hospital as it was now for COVID patients. I drove myself as Richard had got severe sciatica and wasn’t able to move. My friend was on standby in case I couldn’t drive back home. No needed to have worried I was ok.
The nurse voices were familiar, they were wearing more PPE, including masks; they were under pressure, however still chatty and caring.
I feel like I’m in big school getting my chemo done in a day. It took 4 hours, impressive, eh. But, it was still a long time to be sitting still. It’s nice to chat with patients and compare notes, but sometimes they want to be quiet and sleep which I understand. I was managing to do some work off my phone which kept me busy. There was no point taking the laptop with me as I needed to keep the cannula hand still otherwise the drip alarm would be going off all the time.
This time they sent me away with injections to stimulate the bone marrow to make white blood cells, to help you fight infection. They are given to those whose ability to produce white blood cells has been reduced. I have to inject it into my tummy every day for five days. It was ok, not painful, just a sharp scratch, that’s what they say!
Taste buds are hellish after chemo for about seven days, everything tasty like metal, just yuck, but it does get better. I found fizzy water with Ribena and chewing gum worked for me. And the sickness hasn’t been too bad at the end of the day, I think I’ve been very lucky with side effects being manageable.
Zwift is going well, and a friend has joined me, it makes the time fly by as we can text chat through the app, I feel stronger now, and my leg muscles are coming back.
May Cycle 5 & June Cycle 6
These two cycles went well, I still drove myself down and back. I am amazed that we are at the end of the 6 cycles of chemo it has gone quickly, of which I am thankful, and yes, we stayed safe and away from COVID19.
I knew the treatment was working as all the lumps I could see and feel were gone but I had no idea what was happening on the inside!
I am thankful for the good weather through the summer, as we could have friends round to garden for coffee and chat without comprising me, and keep the virus away. Everyone was so understanding. Having a weakened immune system from chemo meant we just had to be careful.
June 23rd CT Scan
It was a later appointment and was at the hospital I had been attending for the last chemo cycles. It was all straightforward and I would get the results pretty quickly.
July 3rd 2020 Heamatology Appoinment with my Consutlant
Richard was allowed to attend with me, and the news was fantastic, my lumps had indeed gone down and there was no sign of the bulky diseases that it had become! My Consultant was very happy and talked about the future treatment. He reminded us that I am not cured and the chance of it coming back is high. However, I would now go on to a two-year maintenance plan. This would consist of Rituximab every two months.
That’s definitely doable and I get my life back this deserved a wee glass of bubbly or two!
LifeTides 