Last night we were not sure what would happen - but we expected Sue to stay in until the antibiotics had done their stuff, and then she would have the chemo. Needless to say, the hospital had other ideas!
Instead, I am pleased to say that the medical staff have decided to give her a few days break from the chemo, while the antibiotics run their course; so she is home for the weekend (including New Years Day). Then (subject as always to bed availability) she will go back on Tuesday 2nd January 2007 for one or more nights, and hopefully all three of the chemo drugs will be restarted (subject as always to blood test results!).
It's a blessing to have her home again, but the whole process has a depressing emotional and psychological effect - not helped by the chemo-induced hair loss, which is getting worse now. Nevertheless, we trust in the Lord for daily mercy and daily strength.
Friday, December 29, 2006
Wednesday, December 27, 2006
Didn't expect it....
Sometime ago, we had a letter saying that Sue's next overnight stay (for drip-fed chemo) would be on December 27th; then a little later we had an identical letter with a date of January 3rd. We therefore assumed that the later date replaced the earlier, although (true) it did not actually say so.......silly us.
Last night the hospital rang to say that they were expecting Sue today (27th), and that there was a bed free, so did she want to come down then and there? We were surprised/confused, and said so - so the nurse said that perhaps it would be better to wait until this morning, and she would try and look into it.
However, when we rang again this morning, we were told that she was still expected, and the bed was still free - so if she came down the doctors could sort out what was going on. In the past we have had to wait until 10:30 before going in, then wait in the dayroom for a while - so to go straight in, and straight to bed, was actually quite good!
Naturally there was a wait before one of the doctors came round, and before blood tests were done; but during the afternoon the first (expected) bag of saline was fixed up, so (based on previous experience) we expected chemo to follow "in due course". Unfortunately not!
The blood tests apparently revealed "an infection" (what or where not stated); so the saline was stopped, and also the 24/7 pumped chemo that was supposed to run until refill day on Friday 29th. Instead, they will treat the infection - a clue to which may lie in the fact that this evening she had to go for a chest x-ray again.
It therefore seems that this early visit is a blessing, if infection can be caught and treated earlier than we had expected to be there again; but it also seems that Sue will be in hospital for at least 2-3 days rather than just overnight!
A strange providence, but at least we had a quiet family Christmas with catering by two lovely daughters!
Last night the hospital rang to say that they were expecting Sue today (27th), and that there was a bed free, so did she want to come down then and there? We were surprised/confused, and said so - so the nurse said that perhaps it would be better to wait until this morning, and she would try and look into it.
However, when we rang again this morning, we were told that she was still expected, and the bed was still free - so if she came down the doctors could sort out what was going on. In the past we have had to wait until 10:30 before going in, then wait in the dayroom for a while - so to go straight in, and straight to bed, was actually quite good!
Naturally there was a wait before one of the doctors came round, and before blood tests were done; but during the afternoon the first (expected) bag of saline was fixed up, so (based on previous experience) we expected chemo to follow "in due course". Unfortunately not!
The blood tests apparently revealed "an infection" (what or where not stated); so the saline was stopped, and also the 24/7 pumped chemo that was supposed to run until refill day on Friday 29th. Instead, they will treat the infection - a clue to which may lie in the fact that this evening she had to go for a chest x-ray again.
It therefore seems that this early visit is a blessing, if infection can be caught and treated earlier than we had expected to be there again; but it also seems that Sue will be in hospital for at least 2-3 days rather than just overnight!
A strange providence, but at least we had a quiet family Christmas with catering by two lovely daughters!
Saturday, December 23, 2006
How is she?
In the nature of the treatment, there will inevitably be days where nothing much is happening - but some people still want to know how Sue is doing, and how to pray.....
With thankfulness to God for His continued faithfulness, it is good to say that she is not too bad in some ways, but not too good in others. At the moment, she is comfortable in bed; but she finds it quite an effort to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom, or downstairs. She is sleeping quite well, which is a blessing; but she has had quite a bit of pain in the last few days, as a result of which we have been to one doctor, the district nurses have been twice, and another doctor has come here. The latter doctor has also upped her pain killers.
The next hospital visit is on the 29th, to have the reservoir bag changed (we will try and learn from the last visit, and try and get a pager so that they can call us in when it is ready!), and then she will go for another overnight stay on 3rd January when the intravenous drip chemo is due - bed availability permitting.
She is very tired most of the time, which is why she spends a lot of time in bed; and the weariness means that she cannot concentrate for long. As a result, reading is increasingly difficult, and cross-stitch is out of the question - while television holds little interest. Sometimes she can listen to a sermon on CD; and we are reading a portion from the gospel of John in the evenings.
And today there were the first indications of hair-loss....
We trust in a sovereign God, Who is always a loving and all-knowing Father, and Who will in this situation (as always) work all things according to the counsel of His own will. He is able to heal physically/emotionally/psychologically, of course - but these are the things of time and sense. It is for the spiritual comfort, the assurance of sins forgiven with new life in Christ and a hope of glory, evidenced by a quiet testimony to the grace and mercy of God and that "peace that passes all understanding", that we seek the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are in His hands - and where better place to be?
With thankfulness to God for His continued faithfulness, it is good to say that she is not too bad in some ways, but not too good in others. At the moment, she is comfortable in bed; but she finds it quite an effort to get out of bed and walk to the bathroom, or downstairs. She is sleeping quite well, which is a blessing; but she has had quite a bit of pain in the last few days, as a result of which we have been to one doctor, the district nurses have been twice, and another doctor has come here. The latter doctor has also upped her pain killers.
The next hospital visit is on the 29th, to have the reservoir bag changed (we will try and learn from the last visit, and try and get a pager so that they can call us in when it is ready!), and then she will go for another overnight stay on 3rd January when the intravenous drip chemo is due - bed availability permitting.
She is very tired most of the time, which is why she spends a lot of time in bed; and the weariness means that she cannot concentrate for long. As a result, reading is increasingly difficult, and cross-stitch is out of the question - while television holds little interest. Sometimes she can listen to a sermon on CD; and we are reading a portion from the gospel of John in the evenings.
And today there were the first indications of hair-loss....
We trust in a sovereign God, Who is always a loving and all-knowing Father, and Who will in this situation (as always) work all things according to the counsel of His own will. He is able to heal physically/emotionally/psychologically, of course - but these are the things of time and sense. It is for the spiritual comfort, the assurance of sins forgiven with new life in Christ and a hope of glory, evidenced by a quiet testimony to the grace and mercy of God and that "peace that passes all understanding", that we seek the prayers of our brothers and sisters in Christ.
We are in His hands - and where better place to be?
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
A long day....
Sue went the hospital yesterday for the first of the weekly visits to have the pump reservoir-bag refilled.
In our lack of knowledge/innocence, we thought that it might take perhaps half an hour, or (allowing for busy clinics) perhaps an hour. Not quite.....
In fact what happens is that blood samples are taken first (after a little wait); then the samples have to be taken for testing, and the results reported to the clinic doctor; then the doctor has to prescribe the chemo dosage based on the blood-test results; then the lab have to make up the chemo prescription accordingly. This all takes time - so she got to the hospital just before 10am, and did not get away until just after 5pm. Many hours in a waiting -room chair did not do her back any good - and the car-park fees all added up!
Still, we will know for next time, as we will be going back in 10 days time for the same procedure.
We have seen notices about the loan of "pagers" so that they can contact us when the chemo is ready. However, whether the technology is sufficient to allow us to come home and wait, rather than just waiting elsewhere in the hospital, is something we will have to look into.
We live and learn!
Meanwhile, thank you to all readers who are praying for us. Physically Sue is still not too bad, in terms of side-effects; but there are emotional/psychological side-effects (tears and fears). Pray on!
In our lack of knowledge/innocence, we thought that it might take perhaps half an hour, or (allowing for busy clinics) perhaps an hour. Not quite.....
In fact what happens is that blood samples are taken first (after a little wait); then the samples have to be taken for testing, and the results reported to the clinic doctor; then the doctor has to prescribe the chemo dosage based on the blood-test results; then the lab have to make up the chemo prescription accordingly. This all takes time - so she got to the hospital just before 10am, and did not get away until just after 5pm. Many hours in a waiting -room chair did not do her back any good - and the car-park fees all added up!
Still, we will know for next time, as we will be going back in 10 days time for the same procedure.
We have seen notices about the loan of "pagers" so that they can contact us when the chemo is ready. However, whether the technology is sufficient to allow us to come home and wait, rather than just waiting elsewhere in the hospital, is something we will have to look into.
We live and learn!
Meanwhile, thank you to all readers who are praying for us. Physically Sue is still not too bad, in terms of side-effects; but there are emotional/psychological side-effects (tears and fears). Pray on!
Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Next stage
Thanks to a cancellation, Sue went into hospital on Tuesday 12th (earlier than expected) to have the Groshong line fitted. This is the one fitted near her collar-bone, into which the 3rd chemo drug is sent, and was fitted under local anaesthetic.
The actual pump was fitted this morning; it is a box about 5"x4"x1", with a small sac of chemo stuff attached, that sits in a bag that has to be carried round or worn on a belt, and pumps away 24 hrs/7 days. We believe that a weekly visit to the hospital will be required to have the chemo sac replaced. If anybody is interested, she is on a drug combination called ECF, of which further details are at :- http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Combinationregimen
In addition, details of the Groshong line are at :-
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Linesports/Centralline
She is quite sore at present, but glad to be home and back in her own bed. The side effects so far have not been too hard, for which we are grateful to the Lord. Indeed, Sue said that she was quite calm and at peace throughout her stay - so we can testify that the Lord is answering the prayers of His people.
The actual pump was fitted this morning; it is a box about 5"x4"x1", with a small sac of chemo stuff attached, that sits in a bag that has to be carried round or worn on a belt, and pumps away 24 hrs/7 days. We believe that a weekly visit to the hospital will be required to have the chemo sac replaced. If anybody is interested, she is on a drug combination called ECF, of which further details are at :- http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Combinationregimen
In addition, details of the Groshong line are at :-
http://www.cancerbackup.org.uk/Treatments/Chemotherapy/Linesports/Centralline
She is quite sore at present, but glad to be home and back in her own bed. The side effects so far have not been too hard, for which we are grateful to the Lord. Indeed, Sue said that she was quite calm and at peace throughout her stay - so we can testify that the Lord is answering the prayers of His people.
Friday, December 08, 2006
Praise!
After about 24 hours of saline solution drips, the chemo eventually started last night, to be followed by more saline drips until this morning. Then a scan (to follow a chest xray earlier in the week), and after a delay (awaiting the results) she was allowed home late afternoon - weary, slightly sick, and gritty-eyed (known side-effects), but glad to be home.
We thank the Lord for His faithfulness so far, and for that "peace that passes all understanding", as we contemplate a future which is unknown to us but planned by Him who loves us and who works all things after the consel of His own will.
We thank the Lord for His faithfulness so far, and for that "peace that passes all understanding", as we contemplate a future which is unknown to us but planned by Him who loves us and who works all things after the consel of His own will.
Thursday, December 07, 2006
Progress
Pleased to record that - after multiple bags of saline solution to get her sufficiently hydrated - Sue actually had the first doses of chemo today. More bags of saline will follow tonight, and then DV she will be allowed home tomorrow, to rest until the next session in three weeks time (bed permitting!)
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
Patience!
Sue's chemo will be a three-drug attack, and she was booked to have a permanent pump fitted for the one chemo drug on Monday(4th). However, when we visited the hospital last week for blood tests (to assess kidney function), the staff forgot to check the condition of the veins in her arms. These are ok (just) for blood tests, but not for anything bigger - so the nurses on Monday had to send us home as they could not fit the line they were intending to feed the chemo through into her arm.
The alternative is to have a line inserted into the chest-wall, near her collar-bone; but they have no spaces to carry out that surgical procedure until December 15th.
The other two drugs will be drip-fed over a period of several hours for one day every three weeks. The first session was supposed to be yesterday, but when we telephoned to check they had no spare beds on the ward. Thankfully, they have a bed this morning, so she will be going in later today - and then stay for at least one night while they monitor reactions and side-effects.
The alternative is to have a line inserted into the chest-wall, near her collar-bone; but they have no spaces to carry out that surgical procedure until December 15th.
The other two drugs will be drip-fed over a period of several hours for one day every three weeks. The first session was supposed to be yesterday, but when we telephoned to check they had no spare beds on the ward. Thankfully, they have a bed this morning, so she will be going in later today - and then stay for at least one night while they monitor reactions and side-effects.
Saturday, December 02, 2006
God's ways are not our ways
In a strange providence from our loving Heavenly Father, we found out last month that my wife has cancer. She starts her chemotherapy on Monday.
Many verses from the Bible have been brought to us, and many precious promises - and precious too is the love and support of His people.
It has been said that "Faith is always - and can only ever be - tried in the dark". It has also been said that "If you would see the rainbow of God's covenant love, there must be a storm".
We therefore praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that's to come.
Many verses from the Bible have been brought to us, and many precious promises - and precious too is the love and support of His people.
It has been said that "Faith is always - and can only ever be - tried in the dark". It has also been said that "If you would see the rainbow of God's covenant love, there must be a storm".
We therefore praise Him for all that is past, and trust Him for all that's to come.
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