Cocktails

Lots of people have been asking about the chemo. What is it really?
The thing to remember - is chemo is actually chemical therapy -  the use of anti-cancer (cytotoxic) drugs to destroy cancer cells. There are more than 50 different chemotherapy drugs. Some are given as tablets or capsules but most are given by drip into a vein or via a central line into the body (which I'm having). The drugs go into the bloodstream and travel throughout the body to destroy stray cancer cells wherever they are. Sometimes just one chemotherapy drug is used, but often a combination of two, three or more drugs is given. In my case - I get three for the price of one - fluorouracil, which is also known as 5FU, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide. The combination is nicknamed FEC.
Look upon it as a 'whole body experience'. It took just one single microscopic cancer cell in my body to divide into two, those two divide & make four, four divide to make eight ...and so on - then multiply in an uncontrolled manner creating a lump called a tumour. The chemo blasts my whole body to try and kill every single cancer cell that ever existed in there. Good luck is what I say!

To check to make sure there is no spreading of the cancer to any of my vital organs - I went for my full body CT scan today.
I knew that I'd be lying on a movable trolley bed, slowly going in & out of a giant Polo-mint like structure - but what I didn't know was how I'd be prepped beforehand! I was given 4 pints of radioactive liquid - with a hint of aniseed - that I had to drink over a period of an hour. It was vile. Vile and a LOT of it. I could however add squash/cordial to each cupful - which the nurse kindly provided, to make it more appetising. So I set about mixing cocktails of radioactive aniseed & lemon, radioactive aniseed & blackcurrant, and radioactive aniseed & orange. Cool. If I sold this at Glastonbury - I'd make a fortune/ be arrested! I hadn't been allowed to eat for a few hours beforehand...so these cocktails were starting to slosh & gurgle in my empty stomach. And because you know you can't have one - I wanted a wee. I really wanted a wee - oh please hurry & come back for me - I need a wee.
I change into a gown & the radiologist takes me into the polo-mint room & sticks a line into my vein. More radioactive dye to pump through my body at given intervals. The only side effect - I'm told is a sudden rush of warmth round my body - oh, and you'll feel like you've wet yourself - but it's ok - no-one ever actually does....yeah...right!
The scan is easy peasy. The bed slowly goes back & forth through the polo several times - while instructions are given on breathing through a speakers from the galley.
That's it. All done.
Mum, sitting patiently in the waiting room, sees a gown whizzing past....'everything ok?' - I hear vaguely...no time to lose...I'm on a mission - get me to the loo...FAST!......unimaginable relief....whew!

No word from the chemo team - so I don't know when it will start. Chase up BCN.
It will always be bloods Wednesdays, chemo Thursdays, shite Fridays.
But not tomorrow.
Because the next day is Friday 16th.
And that's when we lay my father-in-law, Bill to rest....and I do hope he rests. You see - I was given the job of writing his eulogy & if he doesn't like it - he'll come back & haunt me! I've done my very best for him. And even though Mrs Bouquet seems to have fogotten about my cancer & how much stress Gary & I are actually under (she isn't the only one who's hurting) - which apparently gives her the right to give me 45 minuite tirade, knowing Gary wasn't here, reducing me to tears yesterday, over something Gary did/or didn't do - even she approves of the eulogy. I can't be all bad - can I?
I'll be glad when Friday is over.
Roll on chemo.
Let's get this show on the road.
Cocktail - anyone?