Monday 10 February 2014

Well That Explains It!

In the past few weeks I've been needing to resort to the pain killers more frequently, sometimes every two hours, more often every three.

Last week I supplied a blood sample in time for my scheduled oncology appointment. The result explains why I've needed the increase in pain killers. It also explains why urinating has become steadily more of an issue both in frequency and discomfort.

Today I was told my current PSA score. It has jumped up significantly. As of the latest test it's 740 (seven hundred and forty). Quite a jump and fits with how things have been lately.

I have decided to start chemotherapy and I have a date for the first session, 28th February. So I've collected my first prescription of steroid tablets that I have to take the day before, on the day and the day after. They are to boost my immune system which is likely to take a hit from the chemotherapy.

Still, there is some good news. When I gave the blood sample my pulse rate and blood pressure were checked and both are very healthy (apparently). Having given a blood sample recently I didn't have to give one today (presumably to check for anything that might interfere with the chemo) but I did have to have my nose swabbed for MRSA. I offered my handkerchief as an alternative to the swab but it was declined.

From what I know so far, the chemo sessions will last an hour and be delivered intravenously. The stuff in question is called Docetaxel (Taxotere), Here's what Cancer Research UK say about it:

http://www.cancerresearchuk.org/cancer-help/about-cancer/treatment/cancer-drugs/docetaxel

I only have the first appointment, so I anticipate that after each session, depending upon there being no problems (it seems that a reaction to the stuff is possible), I'll be given the next appointment and another prescription for the steroids. It's likely to be three weeks between sessions as it takes about that length of time to fully recover. That, like the list of possible side-effects, is probably the worst case scenario.

Interesting to find that the stuff was first developed from Yew tree needles.

Reading up has helped me to understand the process. In simple terms, cancer cells all go through a dormant phase. It's when in this phase that the chemo is supposed to kill the cancer cells or at least neutralise them. As not all the cancer cells are in the same phase of this dormancy/growth cycle, the treatment is spread over a long enough period to try and catch them all at some time while they're having a kip.

Time will tell as they say.