I got the results of my CT scan on the 29th October and the cancer is getting worse again. This time the main problem seems to be in my liver, although the tumours have grown in other areas as well. Earlier in the year I had decided not to have any more chemotherapy but, after hearing what would happen if I didn't have it and about the improvements in the chemotherapy itself, I decided to go ahead. After all, if the side effects are really bad I can always change my mind (again!)
According to the consultant, if I don't have the chemo I'll be very ill within 2 months and dead within 6. Also, although I'll be having the same chemo drugs (Carboplatin and Paclitaxel), they will be given in a different way. Instead of once every 3 weeks for 6 weeks (one dose = 1 cycle) it will be once every week for 18 weeks (3 doses = 1 cycle). This means the doses will be smaller, and hopefully that means the side effects will not be as bad.
I have to admit I took the news badly. I don't know why. I knew what they were going to say, and the consultant seemed very positive about it working. Apparently this way of having the chemotherapy has had some very good results. Still, it's a hard choice to make and in the end only I could make it.
I'm feeling much better now and more optimistic. Hopefully the chemo won't be as bad and last Thursday I had a Hickman line (also know as a central line) put in. This will be a great help as my veins are terrible. They never really recovered from the first lot of chemo I had, and the nurses have terrible trouble taking blood and putting needles in for chemo, CT scans etc. The Hickman line will hopefully save a lot of time and make things a lot easier.I'm back in clinic on the 15th November and on the 19th I start the chemotherapy (fingers crossed all goes well).
