Chemo two done and dusted

Hello, thanks you for all your messages of support for my second round of Chemo.  All did not go quite to plan by we got there in the end, I survived and I am feeling reasonable today.

Unfortunately the blood test I had on Thursday for pre-chemo was too low : white blood count of 0.8 and they wont do chemo unless its over 1 (normal range is 2 -7 for white cells or 4 -11 for neutrophils, not entirely sure which they were focusing on).  So when I arrived yesterday I had to have another blood test and then wait an hour for the results.  Due to the huge cost of the drugs, they are made up specifically for each patient so they hadn't made my drugs up just incase the blood count was too low.  Luckily my bloods were up to 1.3 so I could go ahead, but then had to wait longer for the drugs to be made.  Due to this complication with my blood count, I now have to self inject a drug for five days each cycle to stimulate my bone marrow - this apparently causes pain in the large bones (oh joy!).  I'm not too keen on this, obviously, but they don't want to risk the chemo being delayed at all since I am still pre surgery as any delay puts surgery back and we need to get this bad boy out of my body!

So after arriving at 1.30, I finally started having chemo just before 4.  Thought I would treat you all to a pic of the amazing pink drug - epirubicin, this is the evil one that causes the sickness and hair loss.  I have two full syringes of this, one of a clear drug and then a little bag through a drip of the final one (the one that makes my nose burn!).  It's all pretty painless, I get given 4 steroids at the same time so I am pretty bouncing off the walls for 4 hours afterwards until the sickness hits.

I had a different anti sickness drug this time but unfortunately it didn't stop the sickness and I still vomitted most of the night, however it wasn't quite as bad as last time and we were able to control it at home with injections and drugs so, thankfully, I avoided an admission to hospital :-)  I was able to then sleep for a bit and although I still feel very sick today I am sitting up and able to write this, so that is a lot better than I was last time.  Fingers crossed, although the injections wont be nice, they might help me feel better that second week when I had a dip, probably due to low blood count.  Just have to wait and see.

So this is me today, almost bald now but I don't mind, it's just a little chilly!

I have to say, once again, a huge thank you to all the amazing people in my life.  I've had cards, flowers, loads of well wishing messages, mysterious gifts (please let me know who it was - it was from a local postcode).  I'm having meals delivered all this week which is such a help and takes so much strain off Adrian, and we are getting so much help with the children too.  You are all just wonderful and I don't know how I am going to repay all this kindness (but I am formulating a plan ;-))

Lots of love to you all, as you can hopefully see, I am doing OK.
xxxxxxx