My ever present friend and other health issues:

 Normal days, side-effects at a low level with even a full night's sleep on one night and only once a night need to use toilet. Easier. Blood test on Monday at Shoreham. Side- effect neuropathy of feet and fingertips. Medications base level Talked with may friends since day 9 and the oncologist appointment.

Best night's sleep for a few week's, around 5 hours and only up once. Not so concerned about the comments about the all of life treatment that the oncologist described yesterday. Conversations with Peter B-D, Charles A and Graham M all helped to put the falling CEA blood marker and stable cancer growth into perspective. It is success. Side-effects reduce to rest day normality.  Neuropathy - feet and finger tips tongue a little sore slight breathlessness Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen  Phone calls with Peter, Charles, Graham, Jack and Luthfa.

Visit to Peter with Ann followed dentist and opticians. New specs are very good. Side-effects Woke up with numb right thigh again. weird, again. Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. improving with Bonjela Lemon urine. Wind! Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Ann, Amanda and Mike.

Super Tuesday: a day of many side-effects as the past couple. A trip to Chichester for Lynda's podiatrist.  Side-effects Woke up with numb right thigh again. weird! Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. improving with Bonjela Mild constipation, improving Lemon yellow urine  Wind! Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen 

Monday, up three time during night but slept in between. Cold weather gain. Side-effects Woke up with numb right thigh again. weird! Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. improving with Bonjela Mild constipation, improving Dark urine early. Wind! Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations normal BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Louise, Luthfa, Emma, Roger C and Ann H..

Sunday, slept better and its cold! Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. Nausea Dark urine Mild constipation Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Raised BP, pulse, temp 37.7c and lower Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Emma and Graham H.

Saturday, winter remains with us so cold outside. Spoke with Emma about papers on Irinotecin. Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. Mild constipation Nausea Dark urine Slept better just up twice for the bathroom visits the second at around 6 am. Meds Anti-nausea last of the post infusion does B12 B6 Steroids last of the post infusion does Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP, pulse, temp 37.4c and Blood oxygen  Phone conversations with Emma and Amanda.

 A quiet day with the 5FU pump, checking the speed of infusion I changed the position of the swan clip which indicated that there was a squeeze ckink in the line.  Slept better with at least 3 hours and only two trips the second at 6 am.  to the toilet. Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness ongoing ulcer on left side of mouth roof. Mild constipation Nausea Dark urine Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Steroids Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP, pulse, temp and Blood oxygen 

The infusion was manged by Sharon, a vegan who talked about issues with milk. She also said that she had been a midwife, then ran a gift shop before returning to nursing. The 60 minutes infusion was to fast cause pains in my abdomen. side-effects nausea mild headache mild constipation neuropathy Poor sleep. meds anti-nausea anti-acid reflux calcium B6 B12 normal bp, temp., and blood oxygen Raised pulse  

Very poor night's sleep, needed 5 toilet journeys and hardly any sleep as trips were about every 60 to 75 minutes. Attended Martin Steele to order new spectacles: Amanda the owner was very efficient and caring about what I wanted/needed. Side-effects  Poor sleep Neuropathy Breathlessness Sore mouth Rough palette Tinnitus Dark urine Mild constipation Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP and pulse. Blood oxygen and temp. Spoke with Jack, Graham M and Ann H.

It's been about my small toes today, uncomfortable. Had an appointment with chiropodist Andrew Jenkins. Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness Beginning of rough palette Mouth sores Nausea Dark urine Mild constipation Disturbed sleep Tinnitus . Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Normal BP and pulse. Blood oxygen and temp. Spoke with Clive J and louise Broken specs so appointment booked with Martin Steele tomorrow. mattress measured and photographed: 200 cm replacement to be made and supplied.

Feeling a little off today. Spoke to Mark and Graham Side-effects  Neuropathy:  Hand-Foot Syndrome or Palmar-Plantar Erythrodysesthesia Breathlessness Beginning of rough palette Nausea Dark urine Mild constipation Disturbed sleep Tinnitus . Meds Anti-nausea B12 B6 Anti-acid reflux Calcium Paracetamol Observations Raise BP and pulse. normal Blood oxygen and temp. Phone Conversation with Emma.

Disturbed night sleep. Talked with Amanda and Emma Side-effects neuropathy - feet and fingers tinnitus wind rough palette dry mouth over night headache Meds B6 B12 Anti-nausea Anti-acid reflux Paracetamol Calcium Normal BP, Pulse, blood oxygen and temperature

Better night's sleep: only got up three times and returned to sleep until the final time. Spoke with Louise, Mike and Tim. Received letter for new consultant appointment for 15th December. Side-effects Worst day of this course so far Neuropathy - feet poor sleep excess urination, very yellow excessive passing of stools, but no constipation. breathlessness headache tired, lack of energy tinnitus rough sensation of palette pins and needles in fingers slight nosebleed PICC Line discomfort at time: issues with tubular bandage cover. Meds Calcium Anti-nauses B6 B12 Paracetamol use of trimovate use of Benzydamine mouthwash Normal BP, pulse, Temperature and blood oxygen

Poor night's sleep, up 4 times. Quite uncomfortable with muscular and joint discomfort. Received IV3000 dressings....... at last. Ordered on 11th October, dressing in short supply. Side-effects Poor sleep excess urination headache aching neuropathy - feet Tired, lacking energy. Tinitus end of constipation! Meds anti-nausea B6 B12 paracetamol calcium Used Triomvate cream Raised BP Normal pulse, blood oxygen and temp. phone conversations with Mike, Roger & Sarah and Charles.

Poor night's sleep Side-effects Neuropathy Constipation Dark urine Nausea Meds Anti-nausea B6 B12 Calcium Raise BP and Temp Normal Pulse and blood oxygen

 Recovery and rest days after the fourth treatment cycle. Medications Day 4 steroids Day 4 Anti nausea B6 B12 Calciam Anti reflux Side-effects mild constipation neuropathy dark urine sleep difficulties Breathlessness No major ongoing challenges Conversation with Mark about the effects of treatment. He found the post operative period quite alarming with no opportunity to really thing through what had happened and how the future treatment was going to change life and what the effects would do.

 Had a nosebleed, most unusual and flowed well for several minutes. It occurred at about 9:30, starting when I blew my nose.  Side-effects Neuropathy Tablets Calcium B12 An easy day after a busy week. Blood pressure, pulse, blood oxygen and temperature all normal.

Consultation with Consultant Oncologist Dr Webb as the first chemotherapy course progress check and report. He asked if I had noticed any difference to the cancer issues since the previous appointment. I have noticed that the abdominal discomforts have disappeared.  He said that the baseline CT scan undertaken before the PICC line procedure in September showed that the cancers had grown. He said that the blood test taken after the second cycle showed a slightly lower CEA score. A good sign, but too early to take it as a permanent improvement. Further talked about lifestyle and diet to ensure a healthy ongoing recovery.  Added in the side-effects, neuropathy, and breathlessness. He indicated that the neuropathy is a hangover from the first chemotherapy course and the breathlessness is one of the common issues. The higher blood pressure is caused by the steroids. Overall, a good consultation. Side-effects feet Some irregular heartbeat indicated in blood pressure test some days i...

The side effects that the Folfiri treatment is causing have mostly faded. The lead effect is neuropathy of the feet. The major issue on this cycle was breathlessness that developed from day 2, Thursday and peaked at day 6, Monday.  Constipation was milder during cycle 2 and passed by day 7, Tuesday. The several nighttime trips to the bathroom continues. A roughness of the palette started on day 7 similar to the first cycle. Heightened blood pressure continues with some readings a showing irregular heartbeat. The PICC Line and its dressing remains uncomfortable. Appetite continues to be normal. Only taking anti acid reflux capsuls. Phone call from Sid Jones.