A chemo picnic with tea

Bandages and dressings

The day started as usual but with a spiritual revelation that never occurred to me that clearly before, it gave me more confidence that the outcomes of all the situations I find myself would be good, better, rewarding, prosperous and fulfilling – if I asked for more, I would get more that I ask or think of.

Just as I went to bed, my right foot just took on this interminable itch, the only option was to take off the bandages and dressings, then get my talons to the annoying areas and scratch them sore.

Well, not that really, I applied Vaseline as one has been advised for the dry skin and massaged the sole and foot for minutes, in the meantime, I got lots of necrotic tissue off and found that most of tender areas were firmer and less painful.

Looking young, fresh and healthy

This morning, the nurse arrived at the usual time of 11:00 AM, I let him in and we worked on the dressings of the left foot – usually, I cut off the bandages and take off the dressings and we both inspect the condition of the foot – he has better sight of it and I use a mirror at times to get a good look.

We had every reason to give thanks, after the first layer of necrotic tissue and skin had been removed, which revealed very tender and raw healthy tissue, I thought the second layer of dry tissue that had formed over the healed skin was going to be the same, but no, it was better revealing young healed skin when we pulled away the dry skin, we took pictures of the foot.

The pictures are not necessarily ready for publication until there is uniformity in texture and colour so that one can see the progression from the original fungating tumour when I sought treatment to the situation where no support or pain is required to use the feet properly.

For teacups without hiccups

My chemotherapy appointment was for 13:00, so like the last time, I made a large flask of Smoky Earl Grey tea, and took my mug; well, one cannot take a teacup and saucer, that would be over the top. With a few sachets of sugar, a teaspoon and bottled milk, let’s say, I prepare for my chemotherapy sessions as if I am going for a picnic, not forgetting a box of chocolates to share with fellow patients and the nurses.

I arrived without a minute to spare, set myself up on the seat, made my first cup of tea and offered my left arm for the chemotherapy infusion, for the first time, I watched the needle go in without feeling a fainting sensation to boot.

Relax! You’re being waxed

At first, they ensure the insertion works by lowering the saline solution to see if blood flows out, suddenly you see the basic laws of pressure and gravity put to use, then the Caelyx solution gets attached after you have answered the question correctly about your date of birth – you then realise, at least in my case that my birthday is in two weeks.

The red fluid then seeped into my system over the period of an hour during which I surfed the Internet on my phone, listened to some New Testament chapters a few times and reclined my seat to adopt an almost horizontal position.

By the time it was over, I am sure I had already had a good refreshing nap and it was time to pack up and leave. For a while, my watch would be on my right wrist until when I pull off the plaster holding down the cotton wool over the needle puncture close to my wrist.

I already know enough about the sensation of waxing with hairs growing in places where adhesive tape is required to hold devices down on the body or keep the medicinal patch in place.

That ended my fourth chemotherapy session, I see the shoemakers, cobblers, or rather the mobility rehabilitation consultants in hospital in 9 days to assess if the in-sole needs adjustments, the oncologist in 17 days and a possible fifth chemotherapy session, the weekend after Christmas in 3 weeks.

Arrgh! I think I will give that a little while more.

It's more chemo on Monday

Funny acting toes

I went back to hospital for my first main appointment with the consultants at oncology. Meanwhile the nurse that tends my foot was concerned that the skin of my third toe on the left foot had peeled back exposing a bigger lesion compared to the original lesion which was at the base of the second toe.

He had booked another appointment to follow that with oncology to have my toes assessed for an opinion and some course of action.

The main lesion at the middle of the foot itself is healing well with the occasional pain, but it is doing quite well.

Chemo again on Monday

After the doctor observed the foot, he brought in the consultant who after observation suggested I undertake a second course of chemotherapy which had already been booked for next Monday before I was discharged from hospital 2 weeks ago.

I really had hoped not to have to take another course of chemotherapy but then I put it down to necessary treatment, I would tolerate it just as I did the first time and prayerfully even better.

Toe inspections and comments

An emergency appointment was then scheduled for me to see surgery just to determine the state of my toes, after taking copious notes; the doctor finally checked the toes and then called in the consultant.

Thankfully, I had taken in some extra bandaging material because after seeing oncology I could not fully bandage up the foot and then undo it for observation at surgery.

The consultant felt the reason the skin was peeling off was because the fatty gauze used to cover the lesions also made the skin rather moist and hence prone to disintegration, we need to find a balance between using the gauze and other treatments.

This would have required another appointment with the wounds nurse who was not available today. It appears when I do go for chemo on Monday, I would get to see the wounds nurse and maybe then they’ll have some new ideas.

However, the consultant did not think much else should be done to the toes apart from the everyday dressing I get.

A swab was taken of the toe lesion and sent for analysis, I just need to lie down, there are a few things that need doing round the apartment but for now, some sleep would come in very helpful.