5 April 2011 - Cancer Centre, Neurosciences Outpatients Department and Oncology Unit Old QE

Visit for blood test and to see Dr Sanghera prior to start of Deb's fifth cycle of PCV chemotherapy. This was a long day - left home at 09:00 and didn't get back in until 17:30.

Arrived at Cancer Centre about 9:30 but Deb did not get in for blood test until about 10:15. Then the nurse could not find a vein in Deb's arm so after a couple of fruitless attempts they sent Deb upstairs to the oncology unit. The nurse is only allowed to have two goes - after that it could be construed as assault. (The people really skilled at sticking needles into veins are in the unit administering the chemotherapy. They have to insert a long needle into the vein not just prick it to get blood out. And if they miss the vein it has serious consequences; it is not good having very toxic drugs leaking into your skin. They find the vein by touch as much as sight. The large veins you can see are often very deep and not suitable. They find smaller ones closer to the surface of the skin by feeling for them.) Eventually they got some blood out of Deb's left arm. When analysed the results were good. (RBC = 3.23, WBC = 6.0, Platelets = 122 A little low but acceptable).

We eventually saw Dr Sanghera at about 11:30 (appointment time was 10:10) in the Neurosciences Outpatients Department. He was pleased with Deb's blood test results and said she could have her chemotherapy.

Also discussed: Steroids: agreed Deb could reduce dose from 4 mg and 2 mg on alternate days to 2 mg each day.

Next scan: Date of next MRI is set for 14 April at 11:15. We will see Dr Sanghera on 18 April and can discuss the results of the scan then.

Antibiotics: Dr S was concerned that Deb had received antibiotics for a chest infection while she was on chemotherapy. He said she should come in for a blood test before going on antibiotics. If her immune system was compromised by the chemo she may have to have special antibiotics to prevent the infection taking over. It felt like we were having our wrists slapped when really our GP was at fault. He knew Deb was on chemo.

After lunch arrived in Oncology at about 12:30. After sitting in the waiting area for about an hour the sister came out to tell us that they could not find Deb's script for the chemotherapy and they had to get a second copy. The intravenous part (vincristine) has to be made up on site by the pharmacy and this would take another hour and a half. Eventually got into the Oncology Unit about 4:00. More trouble getting the needle into Deb's right arm (eventually the job was done by Irish Nancy who had been to a Kylie concert over the weekend). After the intravenous chemotherapy we had to go to the pharmacy to get the two tablets that form the rest of the chemo. When they came to dispense it, the dose was wrong. (Deb is still on the reduced dose - they tried to give her the original higher dose.) The pharmacy had to get hold of Dr Sanghera and get him to come down and verify what the dose should be. We eventually got home at about 5:30.