Blogs - Page 55

As you can tell we are on the count down now to finishing! Can't wait. The radiation itself hasn't been too bad or difficult in itself - its just the tiredness that it leaves behind that has been the hardest to deal with really. Erik hasn't had any skin burns or problems or any diarrhea or tummy problems that they said he might get - so I think we have been really lucky.

Sleepless night crawled out of bed some 3 hours later than usual Radiotherapy, hardly had time to get changed and I was on the machine getting zapped suspect the others in the waiting room had not carried out the drink water program but that's their problem

Day 1 officially starts today. Day 0 was the long trip from home to Perth which took some time especially the final section where I carried my luggage from the train station down the dark streets past the hospital and to the place I am staying at. No money, no food, very few clothes, tired and here by myself. Went to Shenton Park to buy some food as I have to be able to carry back what I buy. The need to find a shorter route outside the hospital became obvious as I trudged down some unnamed street back to the accommodation.

I feel so helpless and anxious with how Daz is right now. He is in so much pain with his headaches and the pain meds are making him sick and aren't really doing much for the pain. He has been in hospital because of his headaches and when he came home he felt a whole lot better but it only lasted half a day, now he is worse than he was before. He is staying with me at the moment because his parents aren't taking his pain seriously. They just leave him in his room and don't check on him so he has to find them if he needs anything, not what he needs at all.

Finally met the oncologist and got the news. It is a P something cancer in the tonsils. Treatment will be 7 weeks radiology ( 5 per week ) and chemo on day one of week one , four and seven. A tube will be inserted into my stomach as I will not accept a temporary one in the nose. It will be seven weeks of hell but I need to be positive , certainly more positive than I am now. I was told in no uncertain terms that if I am this positive now and treatment has not even started then how will I cope with treatment. I need to pull my socks up and message has been received loud and clear.

Yesterday afternoon and night were particularly bad. I succumbed to a massive headache and shortness of breath. My wife sensed that I am " submitting " and exhorted me to " fight. " I reminded her of her " pledge " to not make me suffer unnecessarily. She reminded me of my responsibility to her and our two young daughters. We agreed to focus on her getting her driver's licence asap as I starting to struggle to drive and almost had an accident this morning.