Monday, 18th August

Friday was 4 months since Jimmy was diagnosed.  Gosh....it already feels like a lifetime ago.

On Tuesday when I last updated the blog we had received the go-ahead from the medical aid to start the new cycles of the new chemotherapy and we were waiting to hear from the chemo clinic as to when the pharmacy would order the drugs and treatment would start.  Jimmy had his first treatment this morning. I hadn't realised how going through to the clinic twice a week had become a part of our lives.  Everyone missed us!  Even the porter came and gave me a hug while I was waiting for reception to open a file for Jimmy and wanted to know how Mr Smith is doing.  The staff at UCTPAH are so amazing.  We hadn't seen Eric for a while as the staff do shifts and swap around where they work and when we were last at the clinic, Eric was doing his time in F4 (this is the isolation ward for transplants).  It was nice to see the old familiar faces and our friends who are also diagnosed with cancer, getting their various treatments.

The new cycles will run the same as the last ones, this being chemo twice a week (but on a Monday and Thursday this time around) for two weeks, then miss a day and start the new cycle on the next chemo day.  Jimmy has to have 4 cycles in all.  Prof has discontinued the Endoxan which he received on the first day of each cycle, and replaced this with Doxorubicin which will also be administered on the first day of each cycle.  Velcade and the balance of the drugs remain the same.  The Doxorubicin is a much bigger bag than the Endoxan so treatment takes about at hour longer now too.  It is bright red and commonly referred to by all the staff as 'the red devil'.  I have done a little research and had a chat to Dr Fine this morning and there are definitely some extra side effects compared to the Edoxan such as pain along the site where the medication is given, nausea or vomiting, low blood counts, mouth sores and hair loss.   But, as we all know now, chemo affects everyone differently so let's hope for the best.

The Red Devil

I've just had a look at the calendar and this means that Jimmy's 50th birthday is slap bang in the middle of these cycles and there is a big possibility that he will be in isolation for Christmas.  On the positive side though....we get to start the new year with all this behind us which, to be honest, doesn't sound too shabby :)

A big thank to Rohan & Patsy and Billy & Colleen for a lovely lunch yesterday, we had a super afternoon with you guys.

My prayers are with my sister Debbie who lost her step Dad very suddenly to a heart attach on Friday....our thoughts are with your family xx