The fightback has begun!

So, where to start?  Maybe “today" is best, I’ll reflect on the last six weeks later.  At this moment I am well.  I am very well.  Ridiculously well.  The first two-week cycle of chemo (Folfiri) finally began last Thursday, with the 46 hour infusion of flurouracil finishing yesterday - we really feel that we have, at last, started to "fightback".

So far, I’ve experienced none of the anticipated side effects (bar very slight nausea which was rapidly fixed by the prescribed anti-nausea drugs) – maybe my well being is actually due to the steroids they prescribe to counteract the effects of the chemo!  The second cycle begins a week on Thursday – we hope the side effects stay away, although we do know that some of them tend not manifest themselves for a few cycles.

It was a great idea to invest in a Portacath – a small device fitted permanently into my chest, allowing easy access to my “superior vena cava” via the jugular vein(!).  Even though it’s cost us “a few pennies”, it’s turned out to have so many advantages over the standard hickman-line – this decision, along with others we’ve had to make based on the superb advice and support we’ve had from my surgeons and oncologists, has eased my physical situation enormously.

I’ll come back to reflect on the start of this journey another day, and hope to post more blogs as I travel this road over the coming months and years.