2024

10th May 2024 was my "final" chemo infusion.  I knew I had to do all I could to get well before my husbands Big 60th Birthday, which I had been planning since early January (something to keep me pre-occupied) A few weeks after my Chemo, infact a week before Theo's Birthday, I had another MRI to make sure the chemo had done what we all hoped and would then see the Oncologist a few days after the Birthday party.

Saw Professor Davies and he showed us the screen with the MRI images, and from what I could see with the before and after, it looked REALLY good, but then the bomb shell.  Him and his colleagues had a big discussion about my case, and they all agreed that I should have Stem Cell Therapy, because the cancer came back so soon after the 1st round of chemo, they wanted to make sure that they get all the cancer cells, and since they are good at hiding, they are worried that it will come back again, and then I would have to have another round of chemo and it would be better to do the stem cell therapy now rather than wait for it to come back.  I initially said yes, absolutely, lets go for it.  Until... I read what was involved and how awful the side effects are.  I said I need time to think about it, so he made another appointment to see him 2 weeks later to have another chat.  I knew that this was an amazing opportunity, and that I needed to just get my big girly pants on and go for it. 

Besides that, my friend Jackie and I were discussing the treatment, and my consultant said that while I am having the treatment in hospital and having to stay in isolation for a few weeks while in there, I will more than likely pick up an infection, which could make me end up in ICU, have serious mouth ulcers as well as in my stomach, which would make me not want to eat, and may end up having a feeding tube.  Jackie said to me...  Bridge, I am your best friend and I am the only one who can say this to you, but you need to make sure that you have it written in stone, that you DO NOT want a feeding tube.  You need to embrace this darling,  it could be your only chance to finally lose weight. Hahahaha.  We laughed so much.  And this is why everyone needs a Jackie in their life.

https://hillman.upmc.com/patients/community-support/education/chemotherapy-drugs/cyclophosphamide-high-dose-for-sct

So here we are...  It's been a bit of a process to say the least.  I have had tests after tests.  Heart tests, lung function tests, loads of blood tests, xrays and then finally a bone marrow biopsy.  That was by far the least enjoyable, but had the pleasure of having the most amazing African Dr from Zimbabwe who performed the procedure and he was truly fantastic.  We had so much to talk about and he was beyond excited when he heard my accent and asked where I was from and when I told him Zimbabwe, he did not stop talking.  He had the best bed side manner, was so gentle and explained everything so well.  When he was taking the marrow out it was pretty uncomfortable but then he said he also need to remove some bone from my hop as well, that was excruciating, but only lasted a few seconds.  Done!  Yes, was so thrilled, and so grateful for this incredible Dr. and his wonderful nurse.

Another appointment with my Oncologist, and great news, all was fine with ALL the tests.  It's all go with the stem cell therapy.  Such a relief.

26th August. 

I have just had my 1st Chemo, (Cyclophosphamide) this is to get rid of all the white and red blood cells (good and bad ones) which again leaves me with no immune system and will make me vulnerable to catching anything going around. Tomorrow I start my daily injections for 6 days. G-CSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor) is a type of protein called a growth factor. G-CSF stimulates the bone marrow to make more blood cells, and increases the number of some types of white blood cells in the blood.  This will help to stimulate my stem cells so next Monday I can go in and get my stem cells harvested.

29th August. 

They warned me that I would not be feeling too good after the chemo.  This is awful, worse than I imagined.  The nausea, excruciating pain throughout my body, spending way more time in the bathroom than I'd like to and just so tired.  I have slept so much over the last few days, but the tirdeness is crazy, I literally have no enery, everything is such an effort. I am feeling really, really nervous for whats to come when I have to go into hospital for my 6 days of chemo before they put the harvested stem cells back.  Initially I asked if I could have the chemo and come back home and go in again the following days, but the way this is making me feel, I understand why they suggest you stay in hospital.

2nd September. 

Got to hospital early morning, had a blood test to see what level my stem cells were at, got told it had to be 10 or higher, mine was 6. So back home, more injections into my tummy, and hope tomorrow the markers would have gone up.

3rd September.

Early start again, another blood test which showed my marker had gone up to 19 so we were all set to go ahead with the stem cell harvesting.  I knew what to expect, but had no idea what I was in for. It was gruelling, 5 hours of literally laying flat not moving your arms, or it set the alarm off on the machine.  I felt absolutely wiped out when I got home.  While on the way home I got a call from one of the nurses to tell me that they had only managed to get 1.56 million stem cells and they need 2 million so more injections into my tummy and back in tomorrow.

4th September. 

Today has been a really, really hard day.  They tried to put the canula in, unsuccesfully 4 times, 5th time lucky.  Every one of the attemps was so painful, I just broke down, and once I started crying I couldn't stop, it was like I had been holding it in for so long and once the water gates opened, that was it.  I was so morified, and kept apologising to the nurses, and they couldn't have been sweeter.  I went and composed myself before I got hooked up and to be honest, it was such a relief, I felt so much better after that.  Got a call on the way home to say they had in total: 3.6 million stem cells.  Woohoo.  Never been so happy to know I didn't have to go through that again.  Now just a few more tests to be done before I head into isolation in hospital for a few weeks to have my rounds of chemo and stems cells put back in, once they have been cultivated.  Reflecting on what lies ahead, I am feeling really apprehensive and nervous about the next round of chemo and stem cells put back in.  I have been told in no uncertain terms by my consultant that I am in for a rough ride.  But all going well, it won't last too long and once I am done, I can get back home and do all I can to get better as soon as possible.

23rd September:

Had my picc line inserted.  Had an amazing Nurse, who clearly had done this before :) It was a breeze, and I felt just about nothing. https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/picc-line/about/pac-20468748#:~:text=Overview,be%20placed%20in%20your%20leg.  So grateful to this wonderful Lady who made the experience a easy one!

Then off to see my Oncologist for a final chat about my next stop:  Hospital for a fews weeks to have chemo and stem cells put back in.  I walked in and was told, we have a room ready for you tomorrow.  Shit!!  Was not expecting that, I was not prepared, but once I was on my way home, I felt a massive sense of relief that I didn't have to wait anymore and that there now was light at the end of the tunnel.

24th September:

Daniel came down from London, and we all went out for dinner, I only needed to be in hospital in the evening.  At dinner the discussion of losing my hair came up, and I said to Dan, I would like to be in control of that process, could we get the clippers out when we get home, before I head to hospital.  I didn't think it would be a big deal, but how wrong I was.  I had Theo and my two boys with me, and I was fine, until the end, and as sweet and kind as the boys were, when I looked in the mirror, I just burst into tears, I now felt like a "cancer patient", and looked like one.

25th September - 30th September:

Start of chemo.  6 days of a gruelling regime of 4 lots of chemo pumped into me from morning till late at night, with a bit of a rest bite inbetween.  Grateful for the various drugs they give you to hold off of actually vomiting (for now!) but because of all the steroids, my blood sugars are through the roof, so insuline injections twice a day and also blood thinners (they sting - Ouch)  They are hoping that my blood sugar will settle down once I am off the steroids, which won't be for a week or so, but the insuline seems to be doing the trick.

I have been here a week now, and its really odd just literally been stuck inside a room, not allowed to venture out for a little walk, or anything.  I had one blip of a day, where I woke up on Sunday morning, and I was sooooo grumpy, so much so, I had the full grumpy outfit on, socks included.  I felt so frustrated because I was tired, hard to sleep properly when you are have your vitals taken all the time, and prodded and poked, and I just wanted to be anywhere but stuck in these 4 walls.

1st October:

Stem Cell Day.  The Big day has finally arrived.  Was feeling a little nervous, not knowing what to expect, but was reassured by my lovely Nurse Hayley that all will be fine!!! 

I was all medicated up with everything going, and a large dose of antihistamine, which I can say I do not cope well with at the best of times, but necessary incase I have a bad reaction to whatever they put in the stem cells to preserve them. 

I had a bad reaction, of course!  My oxygen levels went down and I was feeling so awful and dizzy, that in turn made me just go into panic mode, and as much as Hayley was telling me its fine, she was dashing about getting the consultant and putting me on oxygen, as well has having to get 6 bags of my stem cells put into me, which had to be done without delay.  Once my oxygen levels came up I was feeling better, but it took some time.  The whole process took an hour and a half, and that was that.  Now its time to let my stem cells do their thing.

https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/procedures/autologous-stem-cell-transplant

https://cancer.ca/en/treatments/treatment-types/stem-cell-transplant/after-stem-cell-transplant