Whilst the CancerBACUP leaflets and consultations with specialists prepared me for my treatment I was still surprised by the post operative pain in my bottom and found sitting down quite difficult. I think this was the only aspect that was unexpected and therefore more difficult to deal with. The Stoma Care Nurse kindly loaned me an inflatable Valley-V cushion that helped to keep the pressure off of the sensitive area.

I had a bit of a scare on my third day home after bowel surgery when I felt a gush of warm fluid from the stitch line of the wound in my bottom This was taken care of by District nurses over the next three weeks. I experienced minor leakage over a period of three and a half months.

My chemotherapy regime was for a series of twelve infusions at two week intervals that began well with treatment on schedule but as my blood counts reduced treatments were delayed and I had a couple of dose reductions. I guess like most people I initially worried about the affect this might have on my outcome. I now realise that this is not unusual. During my treatment week I felt grotty for three or four days and would loose about 5-6 lbs in weight. The following week I made up for it with a high fat high protein diet, so I enjoyed cheese, chocolate, pork pies, etc.

On the 7th January 2001 the day before my final chemotherapy treatment was due I was taken by ambulance to A&AE with severe tummy pains. I had x-rays and blood tests . It turned out I had acute pancreatitis. I spent the next four days in hospital and was given a cocktail of antibiotics; an ultrasound scan showed my gall bladder contained small gravel like stones. This was dealt with by an ERCP after I had my final chemotherapy treatment.
Our journeys all follow different paths and in retrospect are often not as daunting as we might imagine.             
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