Chemo and chemo

I was asked yesterday by R why I was having chemo again.  The best way to explain it is there are two sorts of chemo.

The first lot you get (something along the lines of FEC or Docetaxal) are for tumour shrinkage and obliteration.  They are to get rid of the cancer or shrink it to a managable size.  They have loads of side effects and are a tough regime.

The Eribulin that I am having is to stop the cancer growing and spreading any more, as the obliteration stuff is not working.  The side effects are minimal - I should get to keep my nails - YAH!  This SHOULD give me an extra couple of months, if it works, maybe more.

As I say, this isn't a curative regime, it is a management one.  It takes five minutes, as opposed to 2 hours and so far, has had no noticeable physical effects on me.

Hope this helps, R.

I love the NHS.  I love the care they are giving me.  I hate the tick boxing.  I have two weeks on and two weeks off in this regime.  The "computer" says that I have to come in during my two weeks off to fill in a form and be seen by Dr W.  Dr W is on holiday during that time so I said to Helen couldn't we do it over the phone, her and I.  She looked at me as if I was a 5 year old, smeared in chocolate, saying it wasn't me that ate the last biscuit.

"No."

"Have you read this and please can you give it to Dr W?", I said.

I gave that thing about doctors dying to the lovely Helen yesterday for her to pass on to Dr Woodward. She was last seen engrossed in it, as she gently bumped her way out of the day unit, telling me (with a vague wave, I might add!) that she'd be back to book me an appointment to come in and fill in the form.

I am the QUEEN of distraction.

Just saying