My ever present friend and other health issues:

The Fluorouracil infusion is over 46 hours delivered by a small portable pump. The container is about the size small coke can and is totally quiet. I was provided with a small pouch on to hold the container that could be hung around the neck or tied at the waist. The infusion is continuous for 46 hours, day and night, but the container and the fine pipe did not cause any significant issues or discomfort. On the second morning of having the infusion I woke up with a bleed from the PICC Line entry site and phone the hospitals Chemotherapy Help Line. As the bleed had stopped the nurse said that I should come into the hospital as planned for the pump to be removed at 5 pm.  Later in the morning I suffered a leak from the PICC Line site, a clear fluid that soaked the dressing and my shirt. The second call to the Help Line advised that my upper arm be bandaged and that I should get to the Medical Day Case Unit as soon as convenient and if the infusion had been completed, they would remove th

The first infusion appointment for the second chemotherapy treatment was on Wednesday, 14th September at Worthing Hospital. The nurse who gave my first infusion in November also managed this infusion. After the questions about me and my health and the observations, blood pressure etc. it was down to the business of the day. The first infused drug of the trio that makes up FOLFIRI is Irinotecan  and the initial infusion was over 90 minutes. Delivery through the PICC Line was pain/discomfort free unlike a cannula in the lower arm. This is because the drug is delivered in the Vein cava and a much larger body of blood. The Irinotecan was accompanied by a saline drip. The infusion was uneventful and followed by a dose of folinic acid delivered by syringe through the PICC Line. This extends the effectiveness of the Irinotecan. Lastly, the Fluorouracil in its pump bottle was attached and it was time to go home after a three hour appointment.

The 13th September was the day that my PICC Line was installed. Nurse Jackie undertook the procedure, with little discomfort felt.  Told about managing the line, being aware of swelling particularly. Also a blood test. The appointment schedule of infusion on day 1 followed by 46 hour pumped infusion and an appointment on day 3 pm for the pump removal.  The removal appointment includes a line flush and redress. Policy and Procedure for Insertion and care of (bsuh.nhs.uk) Patient guide for a PICC Line installation.

On 1st June I had a blood test that reveal a raised CEA marker. At an appointment with Clinical Cancer Nurse Sue Roberts, she told me that the CEA number was 15, up from 3 in January. A CT Scan was expedited undertaken at Southlands Hospital. At an appointment with Mr Baig, colorectal consultant I learnt that there were multiple peritoneal deposits. An appointment with Dr Webb, consultant oncologist followed on 21st July, and he ran through the scan images. Starting with the liver he showed that none of the deposits were affecting the organs. The 'deposits' shown on the scan were in the lower abdomen. Dr Webb said that there would be an optimal window that had not been reach from the information available in July. As he said the chemotherapy makes patients feel unwell for little benefit. A colonoscopy was next on 9th August and that showed a health colon with the resection scar that had healed very well. A blood test on 22nd August showed a further rise of the CEA marker, up to