You keep ringing, but you can't come in!..

Wednesday 22nd September, Chris Sargent arrived with bags of goodies. She had tried to deliver them on the way home from work on 21st, but could not make us hear the doorbell! Brian had the same problem on 23rd, when he went for his walk - unlike Chris, he hammered on the door with his umbrella till I ran downstairs and let him in! Later on Thursday, Georgie arrived looking fabulous - mainly because she was clutching a homemade fish pie - not only that, but in her bag was chicken soup! Brian and Geoffrey tucked in to that on the 24th convinced that they have discovered their very own Nigella!!

Pat and Jack decided to put the family estate on the market, with a view to downsizing. They're really just testing the market - no doubt they will be chatting about this when Brian's brother Peter brings them over on Monday 4th October.

Brian, Geoffrey and Graham were due to fly to Turkey on Tuesday 28th. With his M.S., Geoffrey was unable to travel without Brian, who obviously can't travel while he's on chemotherapy. Instead, we had a brunch at No. 2 to send Graham off on his solo trip. Nikki joined us as we chatted about the 10 days ahead. I then drove Graham to Gatwick Airport. Brian is in email contact with Nermin at the hotel in Dalyan, and will be living the holiday with Graham!

This morning, Brian and I had our first massage sessions at the South East Cancer Health Centre in Purley. It was very relaxing, I have severe tension in my shoulders and legs, which were relieved somewhat. I had the first session at 10.45, and when I came out Brian was being recruited (almost press-ganged) into joining the craft-making table, knitting and making Christmas decorations for their Christmas Fayre!
Brian went in to his session at 11.30, and looked quite spaced out on his return. Although on Wednesday he started his first week off the tablets, the chemotherapy really started to hit him on Monday and Tuesday, (which were his last two days on), and he is a great deal more tired than usual. We will see what the next set of treatment will be like from next Wednesday!

Ian xx

First week of chemotherapy...

So far, so good! Brian has a funny metallic taste in his mouth, and is a bit tired.
We forgot on the last blog to mention that Brian was asked at his Marsden appointment if he wanted to donate sperm to be stored. He asked if it was considered to be in the National Interest?! It wasn't!! On second thoughts, (as his doctor is quite gorgeous), Brian should have asked if he personally was going to assist!!

After stocking up the larder on Thursday, (26 bottles of Lipton's Iced Tea!), Brian and I went to the South East Cancer Help Centre, situated in the Tesco complex in Purley. They were very helpful, and we have massages booked for 30/9, 7/10 and 14/10.

Yesterday we went to his GP, Dr. Muhundan. Brian has high blood pressure and a fast heartbeat due to sub-conscious stress at the whole cancer thing. Dr. Muhundan said he needs to lose weight, as his colesteral is high, but the Dr. thinks that the chemo might take care of that! All his doctors agree that Brian should not work. It is the responsibility of the GP to provide the medical certificate, which Dr. Muhundan is happy to do on a 2 monthly basis, so that we maintain some contact, although he suggests this should be by telephone or fax, as he doesn't want Brian at the surgery, due to risk of infection.

My cousin Carole and her husband David came to visit on Sunday - we provided the main course, they brought desserts and bagels for later (see pic). Graham, the vicar, popped in yesterday afternoon, along with our friend David Grant. Brian's family are planning to come down from Felixstowe in the next two weeks.

Brian now has breakfast at 8.30am, so he can take his first chemo at 9am; lunch at 1.30pm; soup at 6pm and a snack at 8.30pm ready for his other dose of chemo at 9pm. He is still enjoying his books, although now with the chemo he does tend to fall asleep halfway down the page!

Ian xxx

Chemotherapy started today

It has been a strange week for Brian after the chemotherapy start-date was cancelled last week, but the good news is he has finally begun the treatment! Tests on the tumour took longer than anticipated, and if Brian had a mis-match repair DNA result, it means chemotherapy would not work. However, Brian was not surprised to find out his tumour was a common one, and so chemo could begin! The delay has given him more time to recover and heal from the operation.

Last Wednesday he went with Tony and Geoffrey to the MS Centre in Coulsdon (Geoffrey attends the centre every Wednesday), for a fundraising fish & chip lunch (Brian had a small portion!). On the Sunday before, we all went to Purley in celebration of Tony's friend Erwin's 40th birthday, which was delayed from April! (See top picture.)

Yesterday, Brian went to the Royal Marsden Hospital and has been given his drugs. For those of you interested or in the know with such things, they are called Capecitabine, and is in a group of drugs called Antimetabolites, that are incorportated into new nuclear material or combine irreversibly with vital cellular enzymes, preventing normal cell division. Capecitabine is metabolised into flourouracil, and is administered via the mouth, so not intravenously. He must take four 500mg tablets in the morning, within half hour of food, and then the same dose in the evening. That's a whopping 4,000mg in a day! He's taking each dose at 9am and 9pm. He will take these for 14 days and then have 7 days without taking any, and the course is for 24 weeks total (6 months, roughly). If he has any problems, then this may have to be extended.

Today, Nicki from M&S came and visited him, and Brian would be very grateful if anyone visiting him who wants to bring him something brings a 1.5 litre bottle of Liptons Lemon or Peach Iced Tea, as he is getting through these as if they were going out of fashion! As you can see from the second picture, he's looking well, but it's very early days to know what the effects of the chemotherapy will be on him over the coming days and weeks.

That's all for now, will post more next week!

Ian x

Bit early for an Indian Summer?...

Finally, the sun has remembered how to shine!! Brian has been able to sit in the garden - fear not: no thong - fresh scars cannot be exposed!

I've posted a pic of Brian's niece Joanna, having just read the news of Brian's success in the toilet department on last weeks entry - her expression says it all!

Brian had a visit from David and Chris Sargeant at M&S on Wednesday, Chris had had her roots done especially! Brian was delighted to see her, not just because he loves her, but also because she was clutching bags of staff food from M&S! His required diet is lots of protein, especially fish and chicken. Red meat is not so easily digested at the moment. This can be expensive, and so this donation from "waste" is very welcome!

The Royal Marsden have had to delay Brian's chemotherapy start date until the 13th September. It was meant to be this coming Monday, 6th, but due to delays in receiving the tumour from Mayday, tests on the tumour will not be ready in time. This will give him another week for his body to heal, but it is a little frustrating, as he was psyched up for starting this coming week!

Alan and Ann Brimble (recently retired M&S staff) came over on Friday, and sat in the garden, enjoying Tony's begonias - yes, he had them OUT! (See pics)

Christmas is coming...

Well, it has been a good week. In the toilet department, Brian finally produced something worth shouting about!! He was keen to post a photo on here, but we persuaded him that you would take his word for it, so we've spared you all!

On Thursday he went to see the surgeon who assisted Mr. Abulafi, and at least HE celebrated this news with Brian. He did an examination of the wounds and remarked that he had forgotten how big the final cut was! He was delighted with the healing thus far, though. The tumour was in the transverse colon, (left side) just before it becomes the descending colon. The surgeon assisted Mr. Abulafi in the theatre, and reassured Brian that it had been completely removed. The chemotherapy will just clean up any remaining cells.

Brian is happy that he told everyone about his cancer. He is a great fan of "Mistresses" on BBC1, and he agreed with Jessica when she said "Every time I tell someone else about the cancer, it's like hearing it myself all over again for the first time."

To occupy himself this week, he has been writing Christmas cards - (I know, and even Tony commented "Well, it IS August!"!!!) - but as Brian explained at the Royal Marsden Hospital this week (when he went for his second CT Scan on Wednesday), he doesn't know how he will be feeling later in the year with the chemo, and it is a productive pastime while he is still restricted. He told the doctor that he thought he had a good stash of cards, but not so - he will have to stock up for Christmas 2011!! The doctor replied that it's this spirit that makes Brian who he is - there are many who would not be thinking about this Christmas, let alone being around for next year!!

Time for some news...

Brian has been at home resting and recovering. He has been showered with cards, gifts and messages of support. All of this is FABULOUS, and just what is required to maintain the positive attitude Brian has had from Day One!

He has had very invasive surgery, which of course takes time to heal. The outside scar is healing well, but the inside stiches are still pulling and painful. The post-operative consultation is on Thursday 26th August and we can establish exactly what took place on the inside (i.e. what was removed from his bowel), and we will post this information once we have it.

Brian takes a short walk every day and is eating well, small and often.

On Wednesday 18th August he went for his registration and consultation at The Royal Marsden Hospital in Sutton. The offer has been made for him to begin Chemotherapy, providing all the necessary tests are okay. They took blood samples and ECG. He must also have another CT Scan, scheduled for Wednesday 25th August, before his next appointment on Monday 6th September, when he should begin treatment. This is likely to be tablets only, and all the possible side effects have been explained to him.

His holiday in Turkey has to be cancelled, but he says that when this is all over there will be lots of opportunity to travel.

Scarred for life

Well, Brian had his staples removed from his wound yesterday. Attached are two pics, before and after. The little points you see around his belly-button are from the keyhole surgery that was meant to take place, and the large transverse scar just under his left ribcage is the open surgery scar, which is why it is so large.

Fortunately, the removal of the staples was fairly painless, although Brian said he felt strangely more vulnerable without the plasters. Progress each day is getting better, he's able to do a little more than the previous day. He even managed to sleep on his right side in bed last night. And this morning he had his first proper shower, which has pleased him greatly.

We're still on the strict diet regime, and fruit really isn't good for him at the moment. But things are starting to improve as his system starts to mend, but it will be months before he's back to normal.