Ding! Ding! Final Round.....

.....And the winner is....ME!!

I wondered if this day would ever come; when they said I would need 6 months of Chemotherapy it seemed such a long time, but I must admit it has gone quicker than I thought it would.  As I said in a previous post, I have had such mixed emotions as I got closer to this day.  I even had nightmares that the Doctor would say 'No Miss Jennings, you have counted wrong, you still have three rounds left' - needless to stay that this stayed as a nightmare that did not come true!

So, how did the day go?  Well, it was an early start this time; I hadn't managed to get hold of any Heparin (which is a blood thinner which the district nurse flushes my line with every Monday), so she wasn't able to flush my line or take bloods on Monday.  We therefore had to arrive at the hospital for 8.30 and we needed to drop Alexa off at nursery beforehand, so it was a very early start!!  We got there in plenty of time and the advantage of starting so early is the availability of parking spaces; we were spoilt for choice for once!  The Nurse on the chemo ward took the blood and flushed my line fairly quickly, so it was time for coffee and a pastry and to buy the ever important gossip magazines!

This took us to 10am when I had my appointment with my specialist; predictably there was about a half hour delay, but I was pleased to see him and for him to tell me that it was definitely the final treatment, YAY!!  I asked him lots of questions about beauty regimes! He must have thought I was mental; can I start the pill so my skin will clear up, can I have facials, can I have a massage, etc.  I asked about the taking out of my Hickman Line; I was pleased to hear him say that he doesn't anticipate me needing any more treatment so it can come out asap.  He also said I would have a scan in 6 weeks and this would be the baseline scan to which they can compare future scans to.  I will be closely monitored for the next 5 years; CT scans every 6 months and a yearly colonoscopy, and then after this time I can be given the official "all clear". I left the consultants room feeling really positive about the future and slightly emotional thinking that its the last time I will be visiting clinic for a while.

So, off we go to the chemo ward! Ready for the long wait for the chemo to be released.  We waited for about 2 hours or so, and had our traditional M&S lunch whilst we waited. So I finally went in just after 1pm, my bloods were fine enough for the treatment to go ahead.  I managed to get the comfy reclining chair, so I could put my feet up! I was plugged in and the 2 hours started.  As always the gossip magazines made the time go quickly.  The Nurse who put my line in came to see me and as my platelets were low, she wanted to wait until they come back up so she knows that my blood is clotting ok.  So hopefully in the next two weeks I will be able to have it out!!

I did feel emotional saying goodbye to the Nurses.  They really are angels; so attentive and they make the whole experience far more comfortable that you would imagine it could be. I was given lots of hugs and well dones from the staff, and I must admit I did feel very emotional saying goodbye.  I gave them a thank you card, making sure I left before they opened it!! Didn't want more tears in the ward!

So that was it!  All over! I almost can't believe it :).

Thank you all for your support

Much Love Cx