Five...

At the best of times, travelling is stressful. When you're having radiotherapy and you have a list of side-effects to consider, change in routine is even more stressful. Making sure that you stick to your routine as closely as possible while you're away does help. Unfortunately, this meant that I was unable to join colleagues for dinner when they left the hotel we were staying in, just in case I should experience a sudden onset of severe diarrhoea. In fact, I didn't, but I was glad I stayed in the hotel, since I've now reached the stage where I get occasional abdominal cramps, and it's nice to be able to lie down or loiter in the bathroom without having to rush in case a queue forms outside!

By the time I got home last night, I was convinced I was about to go down with a urinary tract infection, so I've come back from the hospital today with a sample bottle and instructions about how to use it. Naturally, I now feel absolutely fine, but I suppose it's best to make sure all's well and catch anything that might be lurking before it has a chance to establish a firm hold.

Everything was on time today. I was on my way home by 08:40 without having to have the x-rays I was expecting. Apparently, there will be an x-ray this week, but not today (my "usual" x-ray day) because of the series taken last week.

Everyone in the waiting room, as I've said, discusses their treatment and its side effects with each other, and I realise that I'm in danger of becoming one of those people who, when asked about their health, provides far more information than you could possibly want! Earlier in this blog, I said, "Don't ask me how I am, because I'll tell you!" At the time, it was (partly) not a very serious comment, but now, I'm afraid, it's true! I hope that once my treatment finishes, I will stop doing this, but it's always possible, I suppose, that I'll turn into one of those frightening people you meet on buses who insist on giving you the details of their latest visit to see the doctor/to the hospital or the operating theatre...

One thing I know - I'm looking well! All my colleagues told me so at the weekend. In a way, it's nice to know that I appear to be fit, but in another, I'm sure I'd get so much more sympathy if I looked faintly poorly!

Never mind...

Five more sessions... and counting...