Thur. 26th Mar. 2009 'Chemo No6 - The Last Time'

Yes, it's here and I just want to get on with it now. I feel ok, probably a bit cross that I have to go through ten to fourteen days of crap again, but at least I'll know it is the last time. I always get dressed up when I go in, but I've made a special effort today in celebration. Also I've cooked Coq au Vin and prepared a Bread Pudding for later which we'll share with Pat and Mike. I have assured them it's cooked this time - ha!

We have to be there for 1.30p.m. today as I'm seeing my Oncologist, so I'll update on how things have gone later (ooh, butterflies now).

Post Chemotherapy: All went very smoothly, but I was told I'd only just scraped through in terms of my white cell count, so I will be taking extra care for the next week or so. I saw my Oncologist who congratulated me on making it through (how sweet). He has suggested I might want to try without the steroid tablets this time, in view of the gastric problems I've had - that's worth a try, it might mean I feel a bit sicker, but I have back-up tablets.

The Herceptin will start after my surgery and I now have more information about it's possible effects. First session will take six hours in hospital as I have to be closely monitored for allergic reactions and side effects. The second is also in hospital but takes two to three hours. After that specialist nurses will come to my house every three weeks to carry out the infusion (for a year).

Shirley did my chemo, she's a wonderful nurse, really passionate about her unit, but really fed up with the amount of paperwork, audits and lack of funding for extra staff. They were really short staffed today, but still managed to be cheerful, chatty and very professional. We took them some chocolates and both Graham's Cd's and I got lots of hugs and good wishes. No doubt I will see them in the future, but hopefully not for chemotherapy!

To finish off the day I invited Patty and Mike for tea - Coq au Vin, which was really nice and made up for my previous disaster, followed by bread pudding and Christmas crackers!. We had a really nice evening and just as they were leaving around 8p.m. I was beginning to feel nauseous and I now have the usual headache. I won't sleep tonight as the IV steroids mess with my head, so I may be listening to Pride & Prejudice on the i Pod.

Thanks to everyone who sent texts and e-mails with messages of support and prayers for today.