Matt's Cancer

Chemo Round 2

Page 15

02/09/2020
Dr Szita phones me, to see how I’m doing, this is really kind of her. I tell her how I’m coping with the chemo treatment, she answers any questions or any concerns I have.

04/09/2020
Chemo Round 2 Week 1
First day of round 2, Mum & Dad took me to Burton hospital.
I’ve got my tablet and headphones with me, I have films to watch and my music to listen to, or I can listen to the music they play on the ward.
The nurses offered to put a line in me, this would be inserted in my chest. This would stay in me until after I have completed all my chemo treatment. I would have to return once a week to have it flushed.
I said “no thanks” as I knew my chemo treatment will only be three rounds at the most. I was happy to look away as they inserted the cannula.
If I was having long term chemo, I would agree to having a line in, to avoid my veins collapsing.

11/09/2020
Chemo Round 2 Week 2
I spoke to a nurse, told her while at home, the first few days after chemo, I needed the loo every fifteen minutes, day and night. As I got towards the end of the week, I was needing the loo less frequently, as the effects of chemo seem to wear off, I asked if this could be the chemo aggravating my bladder.
The nurse told me, this could well be the case.
Now I’m thinking I have this to look forward to every week.

Days after my chemo, I’m visiting the loo every hour, day and night. This is still aggravating my bladder, but not as much as round one, so there’s some improvement.

I also had a raging toothache for a few days. I phoned the chemo ward for advice. They told me to phone the dentist, but I can’t have anything invasive done, while on chemo.
They also asked if I could pop in, as they wanted a blood test and a wee sample.
My wife comes with me, we go to the chemo ward at Burton hospital.
A doctor tells me he wants to have a talk with me in a room, where there’s a bed, I start to worry.
The doctor asks me to lay on the bed, now I’m really worried, I’m thinking he wants to fit me with a catheter, as I have mentioned the treatment has aggravated my bladder.

As it turned out, the doctor just wanted to see my rash, I had a rash under my stomach, as my bladder was aggravated, the rash was at one point angry red, but not at all itchy or sore.
By the time the doctor saw this, the rash had faded, but still visible, as the effects of the chemo seem to wear off, the rash faded too.
Both my samples were fine, so I was ok to continue with the chemo treatment as planned.

The only other side effect I have this time is pain in my hips, this only lasts for 2-3 days.
I later found out this was caused by the injections I’ve been taking, to boost my immune system.