Three...

This week is reeeeeeaaaaaallllly dragging past! I knew it would - the last few days before an eagerly anticipated event always do. Even the radiographers agreed with me on this one today!

Treatment went ahead as normal. I think they're trying to catch me out by sending the machine around me in different directions to aim at the four treatment targets, since this morning consisted of the usual starting point - my back - but then the machine did a little dance and moved all the way round me before stopping and delivering treatment from right to left again. Yesterday, the dance was omitted and it simply moved directly to the next treatment target; today, the onset of spring must have affected it, because I could swear it was humming to itself as it tangoed around me!

The colicky abdominal cramps are a bit more frequent today, but apparently that's normal, particularly if "loose motions" accompany the pains. In fact, what seems to be happening with me is that as one side-effect kicks in, the previous one dies down. My legs stopped aching when my bowels began to complain, and now that my cystitis is getting worse, my bowels are behaving!

Unfortunately, what I've learned today is that the side effects will continue for a while after the treatment finishes, 'peaking' at two weeks. After that, I should improve. I look forward to it. Although I've been lucky in that none of the side-effects I've had has been severe, it's annoying not to be able to carry on with a normal life; I can't go anywhere at the moment without considering whether there's a bathroom nearby, and I certainly daren't take long journeys without ensuring that there are frequent service stations with "facilities".

Tomorrow, I see the doctor. I hope to sort out treatment for cystitis (if the culture is back from the lab) and to find out what the plan for follow-up really is; after all the contradictory information I've had, it would be nice to know, since I do feel very insecure about this at present. Finally, I need to remember to do something about getting a letter for my travel insurance company, since, as I mentioned some time ago, it can be difficult to get travel insurance if you've had cancer or treatment for cancer, at least in the initial stages of recovery.

I did have one small triumph today. All this week, my appointments have been early - 08:30 and 08:20. I like early appointments; the hospital is quiet, parking is easy and, despite horrible rush hour traffic, I get home by 10:00 at latest and have the rest of the day to myself. My final appointment, however, was scheduled for 09:20 on Monday. I've realised that "if you don't ask, you don't get", so, today, I asked if there was any chance of an earlier appointment. Joy of joys! I should be completely free of treatment by 08:30 on Monday, 19th March 2007.

Meanwhile...

Three more sessions... and counting...