The Alien Within: 45 – Pumped for Cycle 3…

Date September 7, 2015 Author By RLG Category Journal

Sitting & Fitting…

How much I have missed my little toxic attached friend?  Unusually, I was booked in for 0900hrs this morning for the commencement of Chemotherapy Cycle 3.

This included the intravenous steroid and Chemo boost, among other cocktail ingredients and finally, the  fitting of my 5 Day Pump containing the 24hr drip of Vincristine and Doxorubicin.  It all went without hitch, although, for some reason, during the early stages of infusion, I could not keep my eyes open and found myself drifting off in the chair.  This is odd, because one of the first ingredients is the steroid infusion, which should have the complete opposite effect!

Not only that, but when I did, finally, get home, I sat down for something to eat and drink and immediately afterwards I just dropped off.  Next thing I know, it is nearly 1700hrs and I have not even walked Benson.  He did not mind going out a bit later, in fact he slept as well, so would not be bothered.  I am reliably informed dogs have no real sense of time, they are just ruled by their bellies and how empty they are.
Hopefully, the rest of the week will conform to the previous two and not, as it has started, throw up any more norty surprises!

Anyway, I digress, the Day Ward was under immense pressure today!  I was very pleased to be in an early slot, as some of those arriving later were being subjected to two and three hour waits, simply because the unit was overbooked, overstretched and under-resourced.

Bizarrely, this had a positive effect on some of the unfortunates coming in for treatment of one sort, or another.  Because of the ‘seat’ shortage, those taking up precious space did not experience any delays in their treatment as the wonderful staff tried their best to seat them, sort them and get them on their way to free up the seat they were occupying.

Not quite the same for me, my Monday treatments is a five to six hour session anyway and that cannot be speeded up.  Conversely, it could easily be extended with time delays between the various stages the cocktail is infused.  But it wasn’t…

Tomorrow, I have an appointment with the finance department, of my work place, in London to discuss end of period reporting, and a catch up with other colleagues, some of whom I have not seen since the treatment started.

Such fun…

NEXT: Cycle 3 – Day 1