Dirty Dozen Done.

Thursday 17th August saw my 12th and I sincerely hope final session of chemotherapy. Given I've been pretty poor at posting pictures to date, I thought I'd try and make up for it now. Here's a quick idea of what went on at each session. Check out the lack of hair!

Step 1: Weigh-In. This is always the first task



Step 2: Weigh-In (2). How Fat!

Due to the chemo treatment, the steroid drugs I have to take and lack of my normal training, I weighed 80.4kg on Thursday (12 stone 9 pounds). I'm pretty sure that's the heaviest I've ever been. Last year, immediately prior to my Ironman (granted, after 6-months of solid training) I weighed 11 stone...I've got some serious training to do once I get over this last session to get back to that level...


Step 3: Blood Test and Insert Cannula

At this point, I always look the other way...it's not particularly painful, I just don't want to watch the needle!


Step 4: The Drip
This is the dull bit, as it goes on for about 4 hours, with various drugs being inserted via the cannula. Excuse the bored look...


What Next?
I need to catch up with my specialist in the next week, as I'll have to have at least one more scan to check that everything has gone ok, and confirm the findings of the PET scan I had after 6 sessions. I hope (?) I won't have to take any drugs on an ongoing basis, and hopefully will just need to have regular check-ups to ensure the cancer doesn't return.

I'm really keen to get back to my sport - I really miss it (as well as wanting to lose all the weight I've gained).

Many thanks to everyone who has contacted me, whether by email, via the blog, telephone, cards etc over the past 6 months. I really appreciate your thoughts and apologise if I haven't been able to respond to everyone individually.

And Finally - Good Luck Mum...

As if we hadn't had enough bad luck this year, just as I was coming towards the end of my treatment, my Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer... Thankfully at this stage the prognosis is looking good - the operation to remove the lump seems to have gone well, and the cancer has not spread to the lymph system. She will be starting 5 weeks of daily radiotherapy soon. We're all thinking about you Mum.




Livestrong,
John