Wednesday 24 July 2013

Ticking away ... Day 1000 ~ Man of the Thousand Days ...

First, please allow me to ask that no one writes "here's to the next 1000 ..." I can only think along the lines of one day at a time.

So, what news ?

I've finished my radiotherapy ~ and this is my first free day [other than last weekend] for a while. I feel good, well ... ok ...

I was warned that I might be in more pain for a while after the treatment than before but when there's no real reaction after the first couple of days then you tend to think [well, I do] that that's the way it's going to stay.

The note I was handed when I finished my treatment mentioned that "radiotherapy reactions continue to build up for a week or two and should then settle down over a few weeks ..." ~ we'll have to wait and see but so far I am in some discomfort. I feel as though I've been kicked in my left buttock by a donkey.

The only piece of music of merit that I recall from the last two sessions was Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen. It's difficult keeping still when that's playing and on that particular day it was playing loudest of the five days. The line that stuck with me from the song [for some reason] was " ... nothing really matters ..." ...

Yesterday, on the last day of treatment, I thanked the radiographers and technical staff in the room and said how they had helped me through the experience ~ they were marvellous.

So, now we wait and see how it's all gone. I have another four-weekly follow-up appointment a week today. My, how time flies when you're having ... treatment.

Finally as you can see one thousand days has passed since I was diagnosed. I can't believe it. Thank you whether you've been with me all along or just picked up on my ramblings recently. All your comments make a difference. 

There's talk of a little celebration this evening. Let's hope I'm up to it. So far I don't see any reason not to be there ...

Once again, thank you.

17 comments:

  1. I've been waiting for the "Man of the thousand days" post for ... well, almost 1000 days! I'm afraid that I have the movie "Anne of a Thousand Days" stuck in my head, so it just stood to reason that you would be similar in title.

    I hope that you will feel improvements from the treatment, Charlie. And enjoy the celebration.

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    1. Now, here's a funny thing. I thought it was 'Anne of a Thousand Days' too but apparently it was 'Anne of the Thousand Days'. Well it was in the UK according to Google ! I couldn't believe it.

      Anyway, our minds were working in a similar way and, yes, Day 1000 has come and gone Pet. I've been looking at the note I was handed when the treatment ended. It does sound as though I might be feeling the effects of the radiotherapy for quite a few weeks. Perhaps I'll be one of the lucky ones. In the meantime thank you for your good wishes.

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    2. Wow, I would have bet money that the title had "a" in it ... good to learn something new! And, of course, continued best wishes.

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    3. I couldn't believe it myself ... and thank you for the continued good wishes.

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  2. Ah, gowon (as Mrs Doyle used to say on Father Ted), you're worth it. ;) Radiotherapy seems to me to be a weird thing in the way the effects work and it must be odd to hear what might happen whilst having to wait and see what does happen. Hmmmn, kicked in the buttock by a donkey, eh? Well, I've been kicked in the thigh by several horses at different times and that was very definitely not a comfortable experience, so I hope it all settles down rapido. You sound a little down in this blog post, Charlie. Like as though you're completely fed up to the back teeth with going in to that flipping hospital every few days - and who could blame you. Maybe you can take all the good wishes that are coming your way on this your thousandth day and use them to carry your spirits up to that punching the air place that a thousand days is worth. Celebrations? I should say so. :D

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    1. Yes, perhaps the blog was a bit down. It may be that I rushed it to some extent. I wanted to get it out on the day and I wasn't sure whether I would have been inclined to tackle it later in the evening. I'm feeling about the same today as I did yesterday Jenny. Thank you for your support throughout too.

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    2. You are very welcome. Keep smiling. :)

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  3. Enjoy your celebration tonight Charlie,I can't believe it's been a thousand days we have been following your treatment.You are an inspiration to us all,and I'm sure you have helped many people with the same illness.Ann

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    1. Thank you Ann ... it is hard to think it's a thousand days isn't it. Well, if I;ve helped one or two people that will be something. Thank you for your good wishes too.

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  4. I had heard somewhere that the effects of radiotherapy are cumulative and aren't necessarily immediate. I hope it isn't too long before you feel some relief.

    It is hard to believe a thousand days have already passed, it seems like only recently you told us of your diagnosis.

    Enjoy your celebration, you deserve it.

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    1. Yes, Mitch it seems to be cumulative and also delayed to some extent. Ah well, I'll see how it goes. Thank you for your good wishes and support too.

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  5. Fancy 'Nothing Really Matters' sticking in your mind, when it could so easily have been 'Scaramooche, Scaramooche. Will you do the fandango?' Anyway the Queen song could have been worse... I can't imagine you wanting to join in with 'Don't Stop Me Now. I'm having such a good time'

    Like Mitch said it's hard to believe its 1000 days. Good on ya Charlie. Enjoy your celebration, and go and kick that donkey in the butt.

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    1. It must be the cynic, the pessimist, rising up in me Ian. I was happy with Bohemian Rhapsody to be honest ... at least it wasn't William Shatner's 'You're Gonna Die' ~ though I would see the funny side of that.

      I would attempt to kick the donkey as suggested but undortunately I can't get my leg that high just yet. If I had to run to save my life, I would die.

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  6. Here's to the next day then. Oh, that's over too. Hope the celebration involved lots of bacon baps. Good luck as the radiotherapy settles down anyway, Charlie.

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    1. No bacon baps at all Neil ~ I had a chicken tikka masala !

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    2. Thank you for your good wishes by the way. I spoke to the radiotherapy department earlier about a swelling and they said I should start to feel better about this time next week ...

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