The day started off with another trip to the sperm bank. Less awkward this time as was able to run away straight after.
Then there was another blood test. This went fine, painless and no issues. Lovely lady that did it.
Then it was the time for the one I was dreading... Bone marrow sample!!! This was absolutely brutal, I don't want to scare or worry anyone but be warned, it definitely does not tickle! This was also my first time at having gas and air. During the injection of local anaesthetic, I was told to begin breathing the gas and air. All of the sudden, out of no where I began to laugh hysterically! I just could not stop and the two nurses ended up laughing with me. I have no idea what was so funny but yea, I see why they used to call it laughing gas. After 10mins the biopsy started. I don't actually remember much of it, I just remember being in a lot of pain and breathing a lot of the gas and air and I was also gripping the metal bed handle very firmly. I could feel the force of the nurse wriggling the 'corkscrew' tool and it was not pleasant even on gas and air. But it did help to keep my mind off of it. I asked to look at the sample afterwards and I never realised that the bone marrow looked like a worm. So now just need to wait for the results to see if it's been contaminated. If it has, I'm pretty much screwed as chances of survival go down to 10% but I'm sure it hasn't, I can just feel it : ).
Then I had the heart scan which was fine, it was just like an ultrasound of the heart. Nothing painful or scary there.
Then came the final chat with the consultant who wanted to go through everything one last time before chemo started. I ended up mentioning the thing I discovered yesterday about the survival rate for young adults being smaller than children. He said this is not the case anymore as the same treatment is now given to everyone, adults and kids, unlike before so everyone has the same odds. This cheered me up but didn't last for long as he then mentioned that apparently in the end they think they found something on the MRI scan which might indicate its spread to the other side of my pelvis but not as much and it's not clear it is cancer. If the chemo doesn't get rid of it after 3 sessions then they might try to zap it with radiotherapy. We will have to wait till after 3 sessions till we see the scans to confirm what's happening. It's not a big worry at its not confirmed to be anything yet and it's also very small.
I was then all set to start the chemo. First thing that needed to be done was the cannula had to be put into my vein on my hand. I really hate needles and the nurse managed to miss it the first time. Then she suggested using the left hand as I was right handed. Then she missed two more times. I got really frustrated especially coz i hate needles and 3 times was too much. I then asked for another nurse and I didn't want to cause her any offence. She seemed to understand and she got another nurse. The nurse was a lot younger and more friendlier and she managed to get it in the first time and without pain. Was really impressed. She then administered the first chemo. This was not too bad, really scary as I was told if it leaks out of the vein it could cause burns and other damage but it went fine. I have finished 3 lots of chemo at the moment and just about to have the 4th which is the longest and lasts 3hrs. After that its then 12hrs on a drip to combat the side effects. Then whole process starts again tomorrow after 2pm.
I'm feeling OK at the moment. Little tired, mostly as I've been awake since 6am. Hopefully I will get a decent night's sleep.
Loving my room. Private ensuite room with a kitchen area and a big tv. Can't complain, it's like a holiday apartment but with lots of medical equipment : )
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