2023

After finishing 6 months of Chemo and getting the all clear, I was going for check up every 3 months with my Oncologist.  By my 2nd appointment (6 months after my last chemo) I mentioned to him that I was concerned because the same two lumps had come back on the back of my neck, he felt them and said, No, I am not concerned, they are marginal, we will check them again in 3 months time.  Well, 3 months went by and during that time I became really ill with a chest infection that would just not go.  Had loads of antibiotics to try clear it up.  My husband insisted that he was going to come to my next appointment.  When we walked in, Professor Davies seemed a bit concerned and sent me for chest xrays, and swob tests, but not before my husband demanded that I have an MRI booked as well, as the lumps were still up on my neck.  which he agreed to. 

A week later, I got a call from Professor Davies, he was actually on holiday at this time, but called me to say.....  Bridget, I am so disappointed, but unfortunately your cancer has come back and its come back with vengence.  It is everywhere.  I was devistated to say the least.  He said he was booking me in for a groin biopsy to see where exactly we were at with the cancer and how we were going to move forward with it.

A few weeks later I was in hospital having my chemo treatment.  I was having to go in for 3 days for them to do the infusions, this time round the chemo was stronger and again I was having to have rituximab as well, which made me feel so ill.  Where's the first time round, I was having two weeks on and two weeks off, this time was 3 days in hospital, once a month for 6 months.  It was brutal and I picked up everything during that time.  Covid... then mumps... and then no sooner had I got over mumps and I got shingles.  Ended up in hospital, I was in so much pain, I can honestly say, I have never felt anything like it.  I couldn't sleep from the pain, I was just beyond exhausted and... Miserable.  Happy to say, after a few loooong weeks, I was on the mend and had my final infusion and was so relieved to have finished it.