Saturday 20 July 2013

Ticking away ... Day 996 ~ Lust for Life ...

Here I am, three fifths of the way through my course of radiotherapy. 

They said I would probably feel tired and possibly slightly nauseous. They also said that the pain might get worse before it got better.

They were right. 

Hey, at least I'm not hobbling around quite as much. The limp and/or the lump seem to be less of a problem.

I ... just ... feel ... a ... bit ... rough ...

The actual radiotherapy lasts just five or six minutes ... and part of that time is me hoisting myself on to the couch and adjusting my clothing so that the radiographers can line up on the little marks on my skin around the left side of my groin. The treatment is nothing unpleasant ~ it's just like a long x-ray.

The radiographers have been brilliant. They've been friendly and understanding. When I left on Friday afternoon they all wished me a 'good weekend' ... and not just me but all the other patients too.

For that five or six minutes of treatment there's two hours travelling and a short wait.

Why Lust for Life ?

Well as I lay there for my first treatment on Wednesday, and after the radiographers had left the room, I could hear some background music coming from somewhere in the room.

It was Iggy Pop's Lust for Life. I smiled ... perhaps there's someone with a sense of humour looking after me.

There's a link here if you want to listen to the song. Only listen if you like rock music and can stomach a few scenes from Transpotting.

If you don't want to listen to Iggy Pop [or even if you do] then you can have a look at me [with my fat right leg] sitting in the Peak District Countryside after a bacon and sausage [!] bap on my way home after the first treatment ... 

11 comments:

  1. "Lust for Life" - sheer genius. :D Should be played in every hospital's radiotherapy department. :)

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    1. I think it might have been a coincidence Jenny. I was asking the radiographer after the treatment what the music was [radio or a compilation tape] and she didn't know. She didn't know who the song was by and [in a Grandad-esque fashion] I answered Ziggy Pop ! I couldn't believe it after I'd got out ... I'll put it down to the treatement.

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  2. Good to hear your sense of humour is still intact and the music gave you a lift.A pity they can't do it nearer home the travelling must be tiring when you aren't feeling great.Hope you feel better soon Charlie and the weather isn't to hot for you.Ann

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    1. Thank you Ann ~ someone has been with me each time, either driving or giving me moral support so that helps a lot. It is a pity they can't do it nearer but most of it is done just 10 miles away so that's something. The weather is a bit cooler today so that helps a bit ...

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  3. Ziggy Pop and Iggy Stardust, eh. Keep on truckin' Charlie. I hope you feel better soon.

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    1. Thank you Alison. Setting off for a fourth session in just over an hour. I still can't believe I said Ziggy Stardust. Almost as bad as telling the consultant who diagnosed me that I was allergic to Rohypnol ... when I actually meant Ramipril. Fortunately I realised and corrected myself half an hour later ... and I had just had a biopsy.

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    2. Easily done, even without your very valid excuse! Btw, I have tracked down a couple of early photos of Trinity Chapel via Peter Patilla of Crich.

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  4. One of life's amusing little coincidences, designed to make you smile just when you need it!! Was never a fan of Iggy, so I'll pass on the vid, but I can imagine the bacon & sausage bap very well!! Lets hope the initial period of nausea and increased pain doesn't last long.

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    1. Thank you Mitch. No I'm not a fan of Iggy Pop either though I do quite like the way it was used in Trainspotting. Perhaps I'll get another bap later ...

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  5. You look great, Charlie, but I'm sorry that you're not feeling well. Hopefully when this course of treatment is done, it will give you more energy ... like the old fellows around here say, "wim and wigour" (meaning vim and vigour).

    I was away for a few days and as I was sitting here, trying to get caught up on the news, I discovered that I was signed out of Blogger. Couldn't remember my account name or blog title ... it took about 15 minutes to find my way here ... and I was most interested to see how you were doing. I suppose I would have had to start an entire new account and go looking for you, if my memory had totally failed me!

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  6. Thank you Pet. Yes some wim and wigour would be wonderful. I am pleased you remembered who you were on Blogger ~ I know the feeling. Sometimes, of course, it might be nice to be someone else.

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