Chemo didnt work

I was transferred from Dr Grays, Elgin back to ARI on the 16th Jun 10. As far as I was concerned, this was going to be to kick off my 2nd chemo treatment. I was taken for a scan the following day and while there was 'measured/marked up' for Radiotherapy treatment (RT).

Now at this point, even though I had apparently been told by the Oncologist and the Dr that the Chemo hadn't worked, I thought I was just getting a break from it, given my bad reaction first time round.

My RT started on Fri 18th Jun and was scheduled for 5 'fractions' but the RT dept dont do weekends so this was going to be Fri, Mon, Tue, Wed, Thu ! I was quite nervous going into the first RT for my chest was covered in permanent pen with various markings which looked like 'cross-hairs' and 'X marks the spot' ! It turned out that almost all of these markings were to get me correctly aligned on the table so that the tumour would be sitting in exactly the same position every time I was treated. It takes longer to get into the treatment room and get positioned than to actually get the treatment.

I think it was on the Wed afternoon after a conversation in the hospital cafe that I finally realised that the chemo hadn't worked ! I was really upset and felt quite stupid for not having understood what had been said to me after the scan last week. I think the staff all thought that I was coping with the news admirably, but the fact of the matter was, I didn't know !

Well, this was to be my last night in ARI Ward 17 for now, with my final RT the following day. Bed shortages meant that I was asked to move down to Ward 16 because another patient need my bed, so reluctantly I agreed. That said, after I got settled in on Ward 16 I discovered that all the staff were just as nice and you got 2 evening hot drinks, one at 8pm and another at 10pm, both with cakes, Mmmmm !!!

I made a visit back up to Ward 17 to say goodbye to a few of the other patients and got quite a surprise to find the lady that had been opposite me for a few days and that was supposed to have been going home, was now in my old bed.