Chemo #2

Well Monday I was up at the crack of dawn (god, how do you guys to it - totally unnatural) to get across town to Auckland Hospital for a PICC line insertion. Two hours later (due to really naff veins) and much bruising I came out with a much treasured PICC line and strict instructions not to stuff it up. I must say I was the model patient, forcing them to keep at it when they didn't want to. It was really quite simple, without the PICC line they couldn't do the chemo that day - no chemo, big tumour.

The rest of the day was spent having saline pumped into me so I bloated up like a big bloated, bloat fish. What with this and 3 weeks of steroids I can't even recognise myself in the mirror - have just stopped looking now.

About 10pm the chemo went in - 8gm of Methotrexate - they let that stew for 24 hours and then start on folinic acid to take the Methotrexate out again and help reduce the damage to my body. This continues until the Methotrexate level is <0.05 - then I'm allowed to go home. This happened yesterday, so I'm now happily ensconced on the couch at Mum & Dad's and enjoy the peace and quite of the countryside.

Apart from the boredom of being in hospital the chemo isn't too bad, slightly easier than the last time - doesn't seem to rip my intestines out - so I'm happy enough.

So I now have a week off and return for chemo #3 on the 23rd which also includes another CT scan, which will tell us if this is working or not.