We saw the specialist nurse, but she didn't weigh my friend so we don't know whether she has put on any weight and she is too concerned to try the scales at home. There was one concern as she may have to have a blood transfusion due to her blood count being low, but we are waiting until the next blood test 30th August in the hope that this won't be necessary.
My friend was put back on the steroids that help her to eat, because as soon as she stopped taking them her appetite started to fade. Now she is back eating fairly well, but not such large portions.
This week 24th August she has had a week off from chemotherapy, much to her delight, but unfortunately she is back next week and then another two weeks of chemotherapy before a C.T. scan. The scan will show whether the chemo has had any effect. If it has then the chemo will probably continue. If there hasn't been a change or the cancer has got worse then my friend has said that she will not continue.
Today 26th August, my friend has felt quite good and managed to do more than she has for some time. Only little things, but things non the less.
Looking back over the past few months we are in a better place now than we were, but we still take each day as it comes as tomorrow could be very different.
Another two weeks down the line and another two chemotherapy sessions behind us. Since seeing the specialist nurse two weeks ago my friend has improved still further on the eating front.
Now fancying all sorts of things,(some of which in the past she has hated and wouldn't even try), she is now eating close to normal size portions of food and has been for about 10 days.
Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be much improvement in her weight and she still looks painfully thin, however she is seeing the specialist nurse again next Friday 17th August and she will be weighed again, so we will see.
Still gets very tired and even with food still can not do very much. What little she does manage quickly exhausts her and she has to sit down. She is in bed by 6 pm and doesn't normally get up until 10am the following day.
Still we mustn't grumble, we are better off now than we were a month ago!
The chemotherapy session took place on Friday 27th July. We had to wait for ages before the treatment began because earlier in the day the computers had crashed and put everything behind as blood results etc. couldn't be accessed.
Now normally my friend feels terrible for the first few days, but not this week. What's more she is beginning to fancy food. Some of it is a little strange but no matter, she is eating more than she has eaten for weeks. Still not normal size portions but it is normal food.
So far she has fancied fish finger sandwiches, pate on oatmeal biscuits, poached egg on toast, chicken and roast potatoes, ham, new potatoes and beetroot. We are only talking about a portion that fits onto a tea plate, but it is better than a mouse or a cup of noodle soup.
Also yesterday 30th July, we managed a trip to the supermarket. I pushed her in her wheelchair and she took control of the basket. A triumph.
Today 31st July my friend is having a bit of a setback as she has a lot of pain, but hopefully this will pass now she has taken some medication.
It's not over yet, we will keep fighting all the way.
Unfortunately my friend's forth session of chemotherapy didn't take place on 20th July. This was due to a low blood count from the blood sample taken on 19th July. In some ways this turned out to be a good thing as it gave her body a rest and time to adjust.
On 24th July we attended a clinic where my friend was weighed. She had lost another 6.6kg roughly 12lb. No wonder she has been looking so thin. However she was put on some more medication and put back on some medication she had taken before all this happened for 'reflux'. The combination of medication and a break in treatment seems to have improved things a little.
Lets hope the next chemotherapy session takes place.
My friend is still going for her weekly chemotherapy. This Friday 20th July will be her forth session. She still feels nauseous, this now continues on and off throughout the week. She remains very weak and is spending even more time in bed now.
I can't see that the Chemotherapy is achieving anything. I just see my friend getting thinner and thinner, eating less and less and becoming weaker and weaker. I can't see how it is or how it will improve her quality of life. But then who am I? I'm not a doctor. I just see my friend getting worse and wonder if she would have been any different or better had she not have agreed to the Chemotherapy.
It was her decision to try the Chemotherapy and it will be her decision to stop it. Whatever she decides and how ever long she has on this earth plain, I will stand by her.
