16 November 2009 - Appointment at QE Hospital

Visit to QE for blood test and to see Dr Sanghera, Consultant Oncologist.

Blood tests were OK and another month's chemotherapy prescribed. Dr Sanghera asked how Deb had been and she mentioned that lately she had been feeling more breathless which she had attributed to putting on more weight. The doctor did an oxygen saturation test and found this was a little low (reading was 94, normal level about 97). He was concerned that the breathlessness and lower then expected oxygen levels may be due to a clot in the lung (blood clots are a possible side effect from the chemotherapy). As a precautionary measure the doctor thought that Deb should have a CT scan of the lungs to rule out the possibility of a clot in the lungs. Deb was admitted onto a ward at 12.00 but didn't have her scan until 5.30. It was too late to get the results that day and the hospital (as a precautionary measure) gave Deb a blood thinning agent and wanted to keep her in overnight. Deb remembered the last time she was in hospital overnight when she had come out the following day with Noro virus and decided she wanted to go home (She had to sign forms saying that she had discharged herself against medical advice). We returned the following day - the scan was fine, there was no clot. But because she had been given a blood thinning agent (as a precautionary measure) she had to have another blood test to make sure her blood was the right consistency before she could come home.

In brief - everything remains the same. Chemotherapy continues.

Deb will have a further MRI scan in about a month's time. Next consultant's appointment: 14 December.

Reduction in steroids to 2mg per day still going well. I think Deb is sleeping a bit better and is less 'jittery'.