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Monday 23^rd September 2019

Had a good weekend – not as sleepy as the last one and the weather on Saturday was fantastic. We managed a trip out on the 2G’s – just up the lane to the weir.

We foraged a few sloes and hazelnuts (Nigel will make some Sloe Gin and me some hazelnut paste).

It felt really good to be out in the fresh air under a beautiful blue sky in our “green and pleasant land” – though even then I did have a slightly dark thought ‘If this doesn’t work look what I would be missing!’

Today we start week five and only having happy thoughts and a positive outlook.

Treatment went well though the mask was very tight – I had a small panic and now I’m worried – if it’s this tight on a Monday what will it be like on Thursday and Friday – we will see.

After I’d been zapped Carol had another look at my wound and gave me some new Flaminal cream for the red sore bit at the front. She also introduced us to my dietician. One thing I wasn’t going to have was her preaching at me (my past experience of them) but I’m glad to say she didn’t. I told her about Slimming World and Nigel said about slipping the odd cream sundae in – she said he was doing the right thing.

Tuesday 24^th September 2019

I slept a little later today so was late with my pain killers. My neck was painful to move plus it had wept a lot in the night so I was caked up. I dabbed a cold wet flannel – the cold felt good but the wound was pumping white puss which was not nice.

Treatment was brought forward half an hour today so only a flying weighing visit to Slimming World today (shame because they were having a tasting session). I put on two pound this week which the hospital thinks is good – I however don’t (any weight gain is depressing to me).

Parking was a struggle today (worst ever I think) we ended up half on the pavement on yellow lines after playing dodgems around the Car Park for ten minutes.

Got to the appointment on time – another new team. I was done quite quickly but they forgot to bring Nigel back with them – I wasn’t going to move until he came so I asked where he was and I heard her shout for someone else to get him out of the room. They won’t forget next time!

Back home Emma came and gave me a haircut and colour (less hair might help with the mask tightness). She also did a marvellous job on a wig I got through the post – no I’m not losing my hair it’s for a special occasion – more about that on a later Blog.

Wednesday 25^th September 2019

Early this morning at 04.30 I had to take more pain killers and for the first time at that hour I had to give my wound a good clean up – very messy again.

At treatment they told me they would be doing a scan again to refine the measurements for my treatment – I asked them to talk me through it over the Tannoy and not to take too long about it.

Thankfully they kept me well informed so I didn’t panic like last week (no more thoughts of Triffid invasions) and all went well.

My throat is still very red and sore – it still weeps a lot but I have been putting on lots of cream which does cool it down a lot – so all things considered it’s not too bad and there are now only seven more sessions.

Thursday 26^th September 2019

A sunny start to the day – I slept in until 9.00 so even though I was up for a couple of hours in the night I’ve had plenty of sleep – I had to clean up the wound again and put more cream on.

I’m a bit excited that it’s nearly the end of week five.

Another new team today – so we started our training of them. I am always surprised at how the feel of the mask changes from day to day – yesterday it was a bit tight but today not so much.

After treatment we saw Carol – she gave me some cool pads to help with the heat around my wound.

She also gave a bit of a heads up to what happens after my course of treatments completes. Apparently the side effects continue (and may get worse) for about ten days after the last zapping. Then it will be 10-12 weeks before the body has replaced all the cells affected by the radiation and that after that a follow up MRI scan will be the proof (or otherwise) of its success. It may take even longer for me to get back to my ‘normal’ self.

They will be monitoring me regularly during the first part of my recovery at least.

Friday 27^th September 2019

I had a bad night with my wound. I had put the Flaminal cream on before I went to bed but I presume because there are more open bits it was painful and stinging all the time. I got up about 02.00 and bathed it all over. I tried one of the cool pads Carol gave me yesterday but it didn’t seem to work very well. I went back to the Epimax cream which was better.

We had a little wait for therapy today but it passed quickly – Beth (the Receptionist) brought a few After Eight mints to us and we all joined in a conversation about parents and music quizzing.

Treatment was OK – the mask wasn’t as tight today and zapping was short.

So that’s it for another week. Only one more to go and next week I will find out exactly what happens next as I don’t have any more appointments yet for after next Friday.