Second Cycle of Chemo Underway

My second dose of intravenous chemotherapy went ahead yesterday as planned (There is a medical resume at the foot of the post for the Holby City and Casualty addicts and professionals).

Today, I will be learning lessons from he first cycle and taking things easy.  I went to bed shortly after I arrived home yesterday because I felt very queasy and will be doing my best to avoid a repeat of the nausea that I suffered at the beginning of the first cycle.  Last time I arrived home at 11:30pm, so going to bed more or less straight away was a given.

It all went well yesterday, but is a lengthy affair and I was at the hospital for two hours longer than the longest other person receiving chemotherapy in the Medical day unit.

It's a bit surreal that Kitten and I were dropping the kids off to school early yesterday before a nine hour session at the Marsden, but it is a clear indication that this is a family affair and not just my problem.

Kitten spent most of the day with me and Notoplip came up duing the lunchtime when Kitten had work to do.  I even managed a half hour snooze this time too.

It is much easier receiving chemotherapy a second time because the mystique around it has been removed.  I just chatted my way through the day, read a couple of newspapers and watched a film on the laptop with Kitten in the afternoon.  We looked a right couple of charlies watching the film sharing a pair of headphones, but I think she liked it.  Copious amounts of junk were consumed during this period

I've got a good handle on the drugs that I am being administered and here is a resume from the medics amongst you.


A Day in the Life of  Chemo Chenisovich (A high-brow joke for a change)
8:45 am Arrived at the Medical Day Unit

10.15 am Got started with the saline and potassium / magnesium drip and a couple of tablets to "increase the flow of water" and a flush bag

11:30 am Anti-sickness and steriod injections

11:40 am start the bevacizumab (Avastin) - (Chemo but strictly speaking a targeted Drug)
12:55 pm Epirubicin drip from syringe (chemo)

1.15 Cisplatin drip (Chemo) and Mannitol drip (Diuretic)

5.10  Saline and potassium / magnesium drip and flush bag

6:15 Depart