Off to work

lots of movement this week in both work and treatment.

The meeting with my oncologist was very positive, the shortness of breath I experienced looks to be coincidental and not linked to the chemotherapy. I have experienced similar symptoms before, my hay fever can sometimes spill over into asthma like traits when the pollen count is high as it has been recently. None the less I had a chest xray and will see my GP about Ventolin inhalers. he (oncologist) has also reduced the level of oxaliplatin by 20% and reduced the steroid I take in the 3 days after infusion following my feedback about the last cycle. I have had the 4th infusion today (Friday) and, fingers crossed, I feel more comfortable than any previous cycles, however its early days.

Stella has gone to Portugal, this weekend, with her sisters to celebrate Kate's (youngest sister) 50th Birthday. I hope they have a great time, times have been a little cruel for the whole family this year and a break, however short, will do them all good. God knows Stella has earned some R&R, still it felt odd to go for my infusion without her 'hand to hold' as it were. Tallulah is the head of the house in Stella's absence, she is more than capable and has her Mother's strength of character.....boys beware!!

This was my first week back at work, albeit on light duties, I have managed to install the remote access (with a massive amount of guidance!) on the laptop and have already started doing some work. I think it will take a while for me to get up to speed with what is happening in the 'borough' but I've broken ground. I feel like a switch has clicked over in me changing from sickness to recovery. 


I went in to Croydon for my return to work interview and to get a brief from Nigel about what I will be expected to do. I want to try and get into the office at Tooting twice a week to start with and work from home for the remainder, of course this very much subject to how I cope with managing the work treatment balance. The picture is me on my first day back almost wearing my uniform. I have since managed to tuck my shirt in without impeding my stoma and bag. I also went to Tooting this week, as I got out of my car I felt as nervous as I did when I walked into Thamesside's (Gravesend Fire station) yard in 1983, I can't really explain this except to say I'd been in the wilderness a long time. There is a saying in the Fire Brigade 'finger in a bucket of water', when you go the space you leave back fills and you are forgotten. I needn't have worried Green Watch couldn't have been more welcoming , it brought a lump to my throat.

Busy week

This cycle I have been quite sensitive to the cold particularly in my fingers I have also experienced some shaking nerves in my hands throughout the cycle. My 'telephone review' ended with me not having infused chemotherapy today (Friday) but having a consultant review on Monday with some peripheral tests to gauge a potential side effects from the Capecitabine. I have felt quite breathless in the last week or so and this may be indicative of of a reaction to the drug, my oncologist has already reduced the daily amount of Capecitabine by 1 gram to 3 grams a day, a significant amount. In general, I think this has made this current cycle more comfortable than the previous two. Assuming the tests are successful I will have my infused chemo next Friday (20 July). I am hopeful that the results of these tests will result in further amended therapy that will make the next few months even more comfortable. Looking at some forums I can see that I don't seem to be suffering as badly with the chemotherapy as some.

There is a definite positive to this change, previously I would have had my infusion the day before Hannah (3rd daughter) and Mark get married in August. I was genuinely concerned that I wouldn't be fit enough to attend the church let alone walk Hannah down the aisle. This schedule change puts the infusion a week after their wedding which means I will be as fit as is possible for the wedding as a consequence I am really looking forward to it.

Also this week I got through my works medical with the recommendation of  'light duties'. I was 'over the moon' with the outcome and to celebrate Stella and I went to Zizzis for lunch we had the sharing antipasti and an excellent fish stew, beautiful company, sparkling conversation and good food; what more can a man ask . I am looking forward to this first step back to normality. I genuinely believe that mental agility is as important as physical fitness and the idea of having a challenging task to deal with is a prospect I am looking forward to. My light duties come with some ties, I have to avoid unnecessary fatigue and exposure to any virus to this end I will be mixing my work pattern between working remotely from home and going in to the office for specific tasks. Attending fires is still some way off but it is, at least, on the horizon.

Another pleasant surprise this week was that I can keep my current lease car until I retire (Feb 2013). I thought with the lease ending in August I would have the complication of replacing it, small but a concern removed none the less.