Week 17 - Thursday 23rd July

Hello everyone.  I hope you're all doing ok.  This blog is going to be a little different, where there will be two posts.  This one is the usual weekly summary blog.  I'll then post another with the FAQ's on.  I'll put the link at the bottom of this post, so you can go straight to it.  However you can find it by just visiting the homepage https://cancerbossfight.blogspot.com/. 

So the last 7 days I have slowly been improving.  The urine infection has finally gone!  The problem when you have cancer treatment that includes chemo, fighting infection is difficult, so this one took longer than your average human!  However, my toilet habits are still the phrase "when I've got to go, I've got to go!", although the frequency isn't as much as it was, and my stools are finally less Niagara Falls (Yes, I've purposely made those descriptions blog reader friendly, not in my standard tone!).

My energy levels are improving, although after each activity I do, I have to stop and rest.  Examples of things I've been doing are, hoovering one room, rewriting lyrics of a song for a friend, playing ball with the dog, applying fresh putty to part of a window.  Only a couple of weeks ago, I would get up to go into the garden with the dog, but would have to sit down, as I didn't have the energy to stay standing for long.  It's really weird, but I've got to build up my mental and physical stamina again and it takes time.  I've used all my energy over the last few months in being positive, and trying to do all the best things for my body.  

Today I took my mind back to before and during treatment, and you don't realise how things have changed.  During treatment I would now liken it to being a walking shell.  My energy would be used getting to and from treatment, as well as during treatment.  I would come home and sit or sleep.  I don't think I noticed how much it effected my body.  I notice it now, as I now have the energy to do things, albeit bite sized chunks.  

This week my appetite has stepped up a notch, which is probably why my energy levels are improving.  However, I'm nowhere near ready for a long walk, let alone work as I still get bouts of tiredness, either through wanting to nap, or have a long sleep.  Yesterday I slept for around 12 hours!

Some of you that are reading this, know I like playing computer games.  Part of me thought that I may be able to finish a couple of games, while I was off, and maybe start a couple of new ones.  I tried playing something on my Nintendo Switch at the start of treatment, and that lasted 5 minutes.  I really didn't have the focus or brainpower to manage it (and it was a very casual game).  In fact, I've not really played anything since the beginning of May.  This week, I did manage to play a bit of a game, but I have to stop as soon as my brain starts to struggle to focus.  Again, I think that's when my energy levels have dropped, and I need to rest.

Another positive is, the F1 and the support races are back, and I've been watching some cracking motorsport!  Again, my energy levels are limited, and find myself drifting off for a nap, and normally woken up by the commentator exclaiming something!  Speaking of motorsport, last weekend would've been the British GP in normal circumstances, and as usual I book it off and go with the masses for a long weekend of motorsport.  It's the one time of the year you're surrounded by likeminded fans, and get to catch up with your friends.  I really will miss it this year, but they've transferred the tickets to next year, and that will be an epic weekend!

If you want to read the FAO, which will cover from before, during and after treatment (and may get updated in due course), click ME and I will open in a new window.

Stay safe, stay well and love to you all x x