Chemo Round 2

As I only have to have chemo for about 3 hours a day, I have the choice of staying in hospital for 5 days to have it or drive to hospital every day for 5 days.

I chose to go to hospital every day for five days so on Monday we went to have a blood test to see if they were high enough to have the chemo, luckily they were.
Also, after losing 3kg after my first chemo I have managed to put that weight back on again. I always try to keep eating because if I lose too much weight and don't put it back on I will have to have a feeding tube, which I definitely DON'T want!

I had my chemo on Monday and Tuesday and on Tuesday afternoon the side effects had started kicking in. On Wednesday and Thursday, I felt very sick in the morning but on Friday I didn't feel too bad.



I also wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who is following me on TikTok because I now have over 7 thousand followers!
You can now also follow my journey on Instagram. My username on Instagram and TikTok is @sallycancer

Holidays

We managed to get to Cornwall during the half-term holiday. I stayed well and didn't get another temperature. We went to Falmouth, St.Mawes, Truro, St.Ives, The Lizard and Kynance Cove. As I have a Port instead of a Hickman line I got to go swimming! We had an amazing week! Hopefully, the sea air will help me with my chemo next week.

Hair

On Thursday, my hair started falling out. This is because chemo kills any fast-growing cells which is what the tumour is made up of. However, your hair is also made up of fast-growing cells therefore the chemo kills your hair making it fall out. Your nails are also fast-growing so sometimes they can go a bit bumpy.

Just like last time, my hair was really annoying me and by Friday I had decided I wanted to shave it off instead of trying to prolong it. On Saturday Milly shaved my head.

Finally Home!

After the weekend in hospital, my blood results came back negative so I didn't have a line infection and my temperature had kept down so I could finally come home.
I now get two weeks, all being well, at home before I am back in hospital on the 24th for my next round of chemo.

I am feeling so much better and have a lot more energy. I wanted to go into school after not going for the past two weeks but we didn't want to risk picking up any more infections or viruses.

Instead, I had a good time at home getting some fresh air on a dog walk.

Mum's Birthday in Hospital!

Today is Mum's birthday and unfortunately we are having to spend it in hospital.

However, I am feeling a lot better today. I am not as tired so I can walk around more and my temperature has stayed down so I can hopefully come home tomorrow!

The ward that I am on has its own balcony so we were able to all get some fresh air.

For my Mum's birthday the nurse brought us cake! Mum said she had a lovely day.

Also if you have TikTok you can follow my journey using this link
https://vm.tiktok.com/q8dKns/My username is sally_cancer

Temperature and Line Infection

My first chemo finished on Monday and I went home Monday afternoon.

I have been at home feeling very tired due to the chemo and going out in my wheelchair for some fresh air to take the dog for a walk.

By Friday I was feeling extra tired and sick but also hot and cold at the same time!

My temperature was 38.9!   Any reading over 38 is a problem, I may have an infection in my port which can be very serious!

We contacted the hospital and they said bring me in for checks, so off to the hospital again!

Went to triage and bloods taken to check for infection, my temperature was still over 38

I was given antibiotics then taken by Stuart from ward 84 up to ward 83 where they had an isolation room for me, as I could have an infection and not want to give it to the other people having chemo on ward 84.

So here I am isolated on ward 83 (big room to my self)  I'm on fluids, paracetamol and antibiotics and my temperature is going down as it got up to 39.4 over night and this morning is 38.1

I am feeling better but not up to eating yet.

Starting Chemo

Straight after my operation, I started my chemo.
It lasted for about 3 hours each day for five days. The side effects are very similar to last time such as sickness, tiredness, sore mouth and I am going to lose my hair again. (At least that will save me time in the morning!)

Because the chemo isn't constantly going in I can be un-plugged so I can go outside and get some fresh air when possible! This definitely helps the sickness!

Another operation!

In order to have chemo, I must have a central line. Last time I had a Hickman Line.
I couldn't go swimming or get wet because the line was likely to get infected.
This time I have got a Portacth which does the same job but is all enclosed so cannot get infected!

I had my operation on Thursday to have it put in but I was back on the ward in 1hr30mins.


Hickman Line:




Portacath: