I got to go home last night.  An hour post chemo! 

The chemo went really well over all.  They had to give me the drugs very slowly, as it was my first time, and because I reacted to the first drug, called Rituximab.

Rituximab is an antibody designed to target B-calls in non-Hodgkins lymphoma.  It is a clever drug that can trigger the body’s immune system to attack the cancer cells, and can sometimes cause the cells to destroy themselves!  I like the idea of the cancer cells killing themselves…  Anyway, after an hour so of slow IV infusion, I started to wheeze, and cough, so they slowed the infusion and gave me anti-histamines and corticosteroids, after which I was fine again.  The only other side effects I had were sleepiness from the anti-histamines and sweating. 

They gave the drugs individually, one by one, not all at the same time as I had imagined.  They had a strict protocol that they followed, adjusting it to me, how I was feeling.  The other drugs they gave me intravenously were: Cyclophoshamide; Doxorubicin (used to be known as Hydroxydaunorubicin); and Vincristine (originally known as Oncovin).  The whole collective of the drugs are named R-CHOP after the initials of the original drugs.  Obviously, I also had had my usual drugs, like steroids, paracetamol, anti sickness, tramadol, etc that morning.  I have no idea how my little body can take so many drugs?!

The whole procedure to infuse all the drugs took 8 and a half hours!  Some of them were infused slowly, and the last two very fast.  My first cannula did not last until the end, they had to insert another one in my other arm for the last two drugs.  They had to be very careful that the drugs were not leaking onto my skin, as this can be very harmful.  My advice would be to inform how you feel all the time, any pain, any new sensation can be vitally important.  But, like I said, I got to leave the hospital one hour after everything, and I did not feel too bad. 

This morning I woke up feeling rough though.  I had my usual breakfast, porridge with soya milk and banana, followed by the usual drug cocktail.  Afterwards, I had to go to bed to sleep, and I did not get up until after midday.  I am definitely more tired, and generally run down than before the chemo.  I am doing a simple fatigue diary from Cancerbackup that Minna gave me.  Hopefully, it will highlight when I am feeling the lowest, and the brightest, and give me clue when it is good plan activities, and when not.  Today, I can safely say, I need sleep.

Here we go! The chemo has just started.

The Rituximab.

I went to the toilet, and when I got back, Suzie had got me a little present: a bag from the 'Friends of the Royal Marsden-shop'. It has been designed by Lulu Guinness, exclusively for the hospital! Apparently, she lives around the corner from the hospital.

Looking rather tired after 8 and half hours of chemo...