Second Chemo Cycle

The past ten days of the first cycle thankfully went very smoothly, and I felt well most of the time, although I tend to tire more easily than normal…and I am trying to learn to listen to my body and not overdo it. This is a very new experience for me – and hopefully will teach me a good lesson for the future!
 

Fortunately, Romy and Lulu were well by Sunday and so Leon, Romy and Dash visited for the first time in what seems like ages. It was wonderful to spend quality time with them.

Mum's arrangement

I started the week with a walk to observe my usual Ikebana (Japanese flower arranging) class, which I usually attend with Mum. My teacher Chris has an apartment on the other side of the Botanic Gardens, so I took a delightful walk through the gardens to the class, spent a short time there and then took a gentle walk back home. It was so good to be able to join Mum, if only briefly, for one of our usual shared activities, and a great way to do some normal activity and exercise without overdoing it.

Unfortunately, Tuesday saw me in the dentist’s chair having a root canal treatment! Not something I had wished for! Before I was diagnosed I had suffered some pain in a tooth with a crown, and the dentist felt a root canal was prudent. After the diagnosis of cancer, I decided that I had enough to contend with over the next 6 months, and as my tooth had settled down, I had decided to postpone the treatment for the time being as I had been pain free. The dentist didn’t think that this would be a great idea, as it could flare up again and it would be preferable to schedule the treatment in my most resilient week of my cycle, rather than risk a fare up when I was post surgery or at a vulnerable time. I intended to discuss this with the oncologist at my next appointment, but my body decided to send me a message – and on the Sunday night I spiked a fever – and my tooth started to hurt. My oncologist immediately started me on antibiotics, and my dentist saw me on Tuesday morning for the root canal. I am pleased to report that the procedure was uneventful (if you can call 2 hours in the dentist’s chair with your mouth open and with that horrible rubber dam uneventful!) – and since the pain has gone, the fever has disappeared, and apart from a few days of jaw pain (resulting from having my jaw open for so long) I had an excellent result. Thankfully it’s now behind me!

 




On the following day, I had a gentle Pilates class in the morning, followed by a lovely massage for both Harry and me in the afternoon (which Gary & Edna had organised for us). 






 Thursdays had previously been my day to look after Lulu, which I hadn’t been able to do for several weeks. As many of you know, Romy and Leon are moving back to New York (a decision which was taken only weeks before I was diagnosed) – so it has been a very chaotic time for them, and especially for Romy, sorting through all their belongings and culling, packing for storage and packing suitcases to take. So, I was pleased that when Thursday arrived I was finally up to looking after Lulu for some of the day so that Romy would have time to do more sorting. It was of course wonderful to have time with Lulu.

 

That night I messaged my delightful hairdresser Neel, to ask if he could cut my hair (booking is normally made 3 months in advance –  only online). My hair had started knotting badly and I was losing a lot -  and was not sure how best to manage it.

Neel was full of care and compassion, and he opened the salon at 9 a.m. the following morning to cut it. I was very touched and moved by his warmth and generosity.

Later that day I did a gentle Pilates session, followed by a rest before our usual chaotically delightful Friday family Shabbat dinner. Harry and the kids have been amazing at taking up the slack – and basically doing all the work. I am so happy to be keeping up with our usual happy routine!

Harry and I spent a quiet Saturday with Mum, which was lovely. We then spent a very relaxed evening with Judy and Phil. Judy it thankfully doing well post bone marrow transplant, although she is quite tired and a little nauseated from time to time. The guys watched the football, and Judy and I chatted whilst unravelling some knitting she was unhappy with.

Sunday, I went for a walk in the gardens while Harry went to the workshop for some well-earned down time finishing off a guitar. Friends visited in the afternoon.

More of the same Monday until Wednesday…a little exercise, some much enjoyed time with family and then last night an early delicious dinner at Barb and Mike’s before Bookclub. It felt like ages since I had been able to attend Bookclub, and it was great to meet with this great group of women again and to lose myself in a discussion about a book (‘Invented Lives’ by Andrea Goldsmith). Their care and support shown to me was also very comforting.

Harry and I had an early start at Peter Mac for my second session of chemo today. I started by weighing in – and I am pleased to have successfully maintained a stable weight. Fortunately, I have not lost my appetite at all.

We were then taken to my ‘home’ for the day. My delightful Irish nurse Emily placed a warm heatpack on my arm in preparation for the drip. Then she fitted me with the ice cap, which needed to be on for half an hour before they started the

drip. 

  




You might remember reading how freezing I was during my last chemo session. In the following weeks, we were overwhelmed by the incredible compassion and generosity of some gorgeous friends who didn’t want me to suffer through another freezing chemo session. Eva and Philip gave me the most incredible electric throw – and amazing invention which I had never even heard of! It is a ‘sherpa’ fabric and has 6 heat settings! 

 
Then independently, Lorraine and Ray brought me another ‘sherpa’ throw – and this one was covered in the most gorgeous pictures of our entire family – all taken from the blog. It is amazing that all the pics came out so clearly – and it is something which I will always treasure. 

 

 

 

 

 

Just to cap the warming off, Karen and Ronny gave me a snuggly pair of slipper socks.

 

I’m sure I was the most well equipped patient in the ward ever!

 

I snuggled up in a scarf, the electric throw, then the family portrait throw, sheepskin gloves, slipper socks and my hummingbird necklace (a gift from Barb and Mike prior to my first chemo session – as hummingbirds are ‘seen as healers and bringers of love, good luck and joy’).    

I am pleased to report that I was comfortably warm all day…a totally different experience than the first time. The first 15-20 minutes with the ice cap are still extremely painful, but I can relax through the pain (with the help of my darling Harry, who patiently counts down the minutes for me). I was then able snuggle into my very comfortable warmth for the rest of the day. The drip was connected painlessly and I was off and running. I didn’t suffer any side effects from the drugs during the day. I was just a little light headed (a side effect of the ice cap) when I needed to get up to go to the toilet.

At around 10 a.m. our beautiful Becky arrived with her bundle of goodies! She had again collected beautiful messages and artworks from all the family – which this time included a hysterically funny and at the same time incredibly moving poem from my very talented, darling brother-in-law Howard and a truly beautiful card from my ever loving and caring sister Netti, together with delicious Rocky Road sent by my gorgeous niece (and baker extraordinaire), Naomi. 

It’s hard to believe that I’m going through such an ordeal when I’m surrounded by such love and care!  

Beck had again brought a delicious lunch of corned beef and pickle sandwiches, as well as iced donuts, chocolate bars and gummy lollies (I think she is worried I’m going to lose weight).

 










 

 We enjoyed lunch together – and were joined by Gary, who came from the Royal Melbourne Hospital whilst on his lunch break. It was so lovely to have him there. Emily, our nurse for the day, said we win the prize for most family support ever! We are blessed! Again, when I reflect on today, the anticipation was much worse than the experience. Apart from the initial 20 minutes of pain, it was a day of joy – and I can only feel gratitude to all the friends and family who have cocooned both Harry and me in a blanket of love and caring – and who help ease our way through ‘to the other side’.

We are now home. I am tired. But I wanted to write before the end of the day – and before I forgot too much. My love to you all for the support and caring; both family and friends.

I also want to publicly acknowledge my long suffering and ever attentive, darling husband Harry. At a very difficult time for us both, he is unwavering in his constant loving attention, and I will never be able to thank him enough.

I will be taking it easy over the next few days. I think I overdid it last cycle and was spent in the first week after treatment. I am hopeful that the coming week will go smoothly, and it will be ‘onwards and upwards’ for the remainder of the cycle. I will keep you posted.