9 April 2018 - Ward 621 Out-patients Oncology/Haematology Unit, QE Hospital

View from 6th floor QE Hospital

The visit today was for Deb to have a 'new patient' assessment prior to starting chemotherapy. Over the past few weeks, well actually since the start of the year, Deb has not been very well. She has had a cough which keeps her awake at night, has been very tired (perhaps because of the not sleeping with the cough), weak and her balance has not been good. Last week we went to the GP's surgery 3 times because they were worried Deb had some sort of infection. The GP thought that Deb should not start her chemotherapy. However when I rang the hospital they said Deb should come in for the assessment and a decision would be made then as to whether chemo should start.

We were seen by a chemotherapy nurse Megan. She told Deb what the PCV treatment involved and the possible side effects (that took about half an hour and included risk of infection, anaemia, feeling sick, tiredness, hair loss etc etc.). She took blood from Deb which was then tested. The test results were ok. Throughout the meeting Deb was coughing. Megan went to consult a doctor as to whether Deb should start the chemo the next day. The doctor said she should but he would prescribe some antibiotics which Deb should take if her temperature went up above 38 or she showed any other signs of infection (diarrhoea, vomiting etc.) So the PCV chemotherapy starts tomorrow. Each cycle lasts 42 days and Deb has been booked in for 6 cycles. The dates are shown below:

Date	Start Time	Treatment
Mon 09 Apr 18	15:00	PCV attenuated (v6)
Tue 10 Apr 18	13:30	PCV attenuated (v6)
Tue 22 May 18	14:00	PCV attenuated (v6)
Tue 03 Jul 18	12:45	PCV attenuated (v6)
Tue 14 Aug 18	12:00	PCV attenuated (v6)
Tue 25 Sep 18	12:00	PCV attenuated (v6)
Tue 06 Nov 18	12:00	PCV attenuated (v6)

To put it mildly, Deb is not looking forward to this treatment. It is not helped by the fact that she already feels unwell even before anything has started. But hopefully after 9 months without any treatment, the chemo will do something to slow tumour growth.