12-Swings and roundabouts
7th May 2020
I’m four days into my radiotherapy and 4/5 of week 1 (round 1) done. I’ve done really well. Larry the Lump hasn’t really laid a glove on me. Not feeling pain or anything.
My radiographer team ask me every day how I am – and yep I’m well upbeat. ‘That’ll change’, they say ominously – ‘but don’t worry Woz, we’ll get you through it’. That comes across 100% sincere and it’s a warm feeling. The connection is already there.
I had a blood test prior day, to check kidney function and this was discussed with me by Dr Grant.
‘Ah, it’s your kidneys Warren’ he says, looking straight at me. ‘They’re getting on a bit – nothing to worry about, they ‘re doing just enough work, but the particular chemotherapy drug we planned for you – Cisplatin, does attack the kidneys’. I understood that – doing just enough work is how I’ve got through many jobs in life!
‘Also, he continued, we’re obviously making risk assessments on all chemo patients regarding COVID-19; the age of the patient and the possibility of contracting the virus, because of lowered immunity due to chemo’.
I’d flagged that up previously as a concern of mine – the sheer irony that Covid might finish me off in the early stages of curing a tumour – because of the treatment, wasn’t something I wanted to consider – although it is of course a very real issue.
‘So on balance, we’ve decided that no chemo is the best course of action in your case.’ Dr Grant continued ‘ The chemo only ever shrinks a tumour – it’s the radiology that eradicates it – and that’s of course the plan all along’.
The old 'uns are best - background to Cisplatin cancer treatment
So it’ll move the ‘wellness slider’ a notch or two to the left, but the long term prospects (kidneys etc) around 10 notches to the right. Swings and roundabouts to a man of simple explanations such as me.
Life and death decisions that my team are making on my behalf.
As I’ve said before, I have complete faith in my doctor and his team. No argument from me, no request for a second opinion – just get on with it Doc, I’m with you 100%
So now I have a clear run at Larry – no chemo to slow me down and 5 weeks to go.
Larry landed a couple of blows of Friday 8th just as the bell was ringing for the end of round1/week 1.
That only winded me, but I felt it nonetheless. Seems to make me feel 20 years older, I’m walking at one-third pace; eating is minimal and I could already win a sleeping-contest.
At least I have the weekend to get some strength back – bring on week 2 😊
Week 1 round-up:
Weight: 127.4kg
Appetite: 70%
Meds:
Fluoride toothpaste 5000 PPM
Mouthwash – Caphosol