Yesterday I went off and had my appointments at St Thomas'.
Went pretty much as expected, blood tests for Chemo department and then a chat with a nice nurse in the Radiotherapy department then after that I was scanned and pricked with three little dots (permanent ink tatoo's) one on each side of my hip and one at the base of my spine.
Risks associated with Radiotherapy were discussed and I brought home a booklet which covers mostly all side effects of Radiotherapy.
Because I'm having Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy at the same time, my treatment is called 'Chemoradiation'.
They have warned me that the Radiotherapy will probably cause early menopause, infertility (definitely not bothered about that bit), tiredness as the treatment progresses and other bits - but as everyone reacts differently it's impossible to say exactly how I'll react until the treatment is under way.
Felt quite tearful last night - not really sure why but I think it's just because every time I have an appointment it's all getting a bit closer and more 'real'. Whilst there are no appointments I can just take my painkillers and get on with not thinking about it all too much but when an appointment comes around it seems to bring things back to the forefront again.
Anyway, I'll dust myself off and get on with it all simply because I have to - certainly not because I want to!
My first dose of Radiotherapy is on Monday 7th June and will continue Monday to Fridays until 9th July. I also pick up my Chemo tablets on the 7th June after the first Radiotherapy session.
Soooo, I shall be spending my 50th birthday - on the 10th June - having treatment for Cancer, certainly not something I'd planned whenever anyone asked me 'What do you fancy doing for your 50th this year?'.......:-(
