When three weeks of gruelling radiotherapy concluded after Amanda's first cancer treatment concluded in June 2014, little did I expect to be holding her hand and supporting her through the process just 13 months later.
It's now 5 days since her most recent radiotherapy sessions concluded. While the relief was immeasurable when we walked out of the Cancer Unit at our local hospital last Friday, we're now facing a long path to recover.
One of the side effects of this latest bout has been the need to sleep. Of all the side effects to get, it's perhaps one of the better ones, as Amanda does enjoy her rest. We're talking sleep of upwards of 20 hours a day. take a look at your pet cat if you have one. Ever noticed how much time in a 24 hour period they sleep? This is Amanda's life right now. The radiotherapy has taken so much of her energy that even the short walk to the car to take her to acupuncture becomes her equivalent of climbing Mount Everest.
A typical day for Amanda right now:
9am - Awake for a light breakfast, shower then sleep (Judge Judy on in the background)
12noon - Awake for lunch then sleep (Judge Judy on in the background)
5-6pm - Awake for evening meal, catch up with Judge Judy while resting
7-8pm Time for bed.
Amanda's currently reducing her intake of Dexamethasone, which was given to her following her operation to remove the tumour inside her head and reduces the pressure on her brain post-operation. Hopefully, by the weekend, this dependance will be removed and one of the chronic side effects - the "hamster cheek" syndrome - will start to reduce and she can start to feel better about her appearance ...not that she has to, of course.
As difficult as last year's experience copying with cancer was, this year's has been in many ways even more difficult. The early "life or death" anxieties we faced were just a few weeks ago through what has seemed like a never ending summer. This week, there's managing Amanda's expectations on how long the recovery period will be. She wants to be better....NOW. It's not so simple. We were told by the medical team that the effects of the radiotherapy may mean things will get (slightly) worse before they get better. It'll take however long it takes, but how do you explain that to someone with no patience?
While we're facing our own battles right now, I was glued to BBC1 Wales on Tuesday evening watching "Before I Kick The Bucket", a heartwarming documentary in which terminally ill Rowena Kincaid tries to figure out what best to do with the time that remains. It weaves in and out of stigmas associated with such devastating effects that living with a terminal diseases brings (and in a truly bittersweet way too). While we're not facing the same situation, it brings home all too well the need to make the most of things while you can. If you have the time to spare, watch Rowena's documentary by clicking this link (available on BBC Iplayer until approx 21st August 2015). The documentary, in particular the last 10 minutes, drills home the fact that life is not a rehearsal...this is it".
Acupuncture procedures are very effective than inactive medications for relieving post-treatment pain. Mississauga acupuncture treatments take approximately 25 minutes, but again the acupuncture therapy can vary, depending on the patient's condition.
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