Chemo Cycles 5 & 6 - Knowledge is torture

So cycle 5 happened at the beginning of December and therefore afforded me some respite over the festive period and into the new year. My face remained swollen but apart from that all was going ok. Cycle 6 happened on 5th January and was the final dose for this course of treatment. It's a strange feeling getting to the end, as it's not really, the end that is. This disease has lots of twists and turns and who only knows what's next in store. My brother Scott tells me though "I don't know anyone who could deal with it as well as you have Helen, if it was me I'd still be in the gas cupboard crying!!". I have 2 big brothers, Gary and Scott. Gary and I are most alike (although I’m far more intelligent- according to me!!) and Scott has classic middle child syndrome, first one to throw a hissy fit but first one to hug you too! They’re both very protective of their little sister, even though I’m big enough and daft enough to look after myself!

I've had my moments of course, as you'd expect, but I do have a matter of fact attitude (hence the name of the blog), it gets me through almost anything, so why would this be any different? I think the thing that's been most difficult throughout this whole process is the knowledge and understanding I have coming from a healthcare based occupation. Ignorance as they say, is bliss!! Swollen hands to a lay person might mean tight rings, to me......... heart failure!! oh yes it's not just the minor ailments I attribute my symptoms to, no, no, no! I go straight to the top of the hierarchy of deadly diseases!! Bit hot after chemo, side effect, no, no, no! Neutropenic Sepsis!! I suppose when you've looked after the sickest people in the hospital you can get a one track mind, and what that needs is people to bring you down to earth! Generally its Mark, or Jane telling me to wind my neck in (a Teesside way of saying everything is going to be ok!!), which is just the ticket!.

So, like I say that's me done with chemo, so the plan now? well I will see my oncologist on 21st January and find out what's next. I think I'm going to get a few months of reprieve and she will plan to rescan me again in April time. That means 3 months of just living life, oh how good that sounds :-) x