New regime, Day 2

Yesterday was a great day. In the morning, I had the stitches out of my head. I was expecting the worst, but it was totally fine (I nearly said "lovely", because I had a lovely chat with the two really lovely nurses who did it)! I am clearly Well 'Ard. Just saying :-)

Next we went along to the hospital for my first session on 'the stuff' (the chemotherapy). I had no idea what to expect, this is a new kind of treatment I've never had before. Turns out you sit in a big comfy chair in a little bay for 20 minutes with another really lovely nurse, having another really lovely chat. The stuff goes in through a drip in your arm, but you don't really notice because you're chatting about the new cafe on the high street. The drip drips through, then off you go with your bag of drugs.

So it was all very painless! I have to take more drugs in capsule form for the next nine days (plus the anti-sickness ones to go with them), but then I've got the rest of this six-week cycle off. Ten days on, 32 days off. Not too bad at all!

I am mightily relieved. I didn't know how long it would take, or what the room would be like, how I'd feel as it was going in, how I'd feel afterwards...etc etc. Today, I feel absolutely fine. So far, the main after-effect is a hot tip about the best new cafe on the high street!

I know it's only Day 2, but so far so very good.  Onward!

Keeping going

Well, the saga continues!

The good news is that I've dragged myself off the sofa a few times now, and I'm feeling better and more energetic by the minute. My course of steroids is also complete now (I had to take them for the swelling), so I'm not feeling compelled to consume a constant stream of chocolate (it was the steroids that made me do it, honest)!

The less good news is that we went back to the hospital yesterday to talk to the consultant about the results of the post-surgery scans. The easiest way to explain it is that they got nearly all of the worrying bit (hurray!), but there's still a little bit left (boo), which it was too risky to remove. So this means that there's more chemotherapy on the way. Very disappointing. But as always, I'm glad to have a plan. And even better, the plan is happening sooner rather than later - we start Monday. They're six-week cycles, so I'll do one cycle, then have another head scan, and we take it from there.

I have just one thing to say. I WILL NEVER SURRENDER!

This isn't the first time I've called upon Athena, Goddess of war and Goddess of wisdom. I'm also a fan of her hat.

I'll keep everyone posted. Over and out for now xxx

Hello from "the other side"

Hello from post-neurosurgery recuperation (the sofa!). My world at the moment consists mainly of light novels, Heat magazine and various delicious things to eat, so things aren't so bad at all!! Dr Joseph has had his doctoring kit out, he practised on Panda a bit before turning his attention to me, and his assessment was very positive!

My head and the stitches are a bit tender and I've got a bit of a black eye, and I"m not allowed to wash my hair yet so feel slightly gross, but overall recovery is going brilliantly. And that's because I'm being kept afloat by the great river of love and support from all of you. Thank you.

I'll be back soon xxx