18-Apr-2011 - VELINDRE for MY FIRST CONSULTANT CLINIC

18-Apr-2011 - VELINDRE for MY FIRST CONSULTANT CLINIC

Hey ho - a strange event to inflict on Lee's Aunt Heather on her last full day with us but she wanted to come and see Cardiff before she leaves to fly back to SA tomorrow on the 19:00hrs. Heathrow to Johannesburg flight and then on another 2hrs. to PE.

So we left arriving about 15 minutes early but it took a while to find parking and by the time I had aimed Lee and Heather at the canteen I was about perfect timing for a 13:45hrs. appointment.

First I get sent off to be weighed and measured!! Just how different can I be to Thursday in the same hospital - well it seems I've shrunk another inch so when queried I grew it back!!! Weight was almost the same - so I guess I can't blame gain or loss on Heather's deserts!!

When I came back to the waiting area Roger & Anne had arrived (his appointment is with Dr. Lester also but at 14:30hrs.) Had it just been Lee and I coming we might well have picked them up en-route as they only live in St. Arvans. They had stopped off for lunch at The Holly Bush carvery and then met Lee and Heather in the canteen by accident over a coffee.

What a riotous life cancer provides!!

Roger has had a bit of a rough time and over the last week had to stop taking his drugs - he is on (was on) 50mg. Sutent - it was making him feel grotty and sleep all the time with no motivation and just depressed - No way to fight cancer, but you can't fight the drug side effects and he has been very lucky, avoiding Sore Hand & Foot syndrome and the mouth ulcers that often go with Sutent.

Anyway then I was called for yet another set of bloods but R&A were still there when I came out.

A short weight and off to see Dr. Lester - allegedly my kidney function results were excellent even considering I only have one kidney.


He believes that if there is a chance with chemo. I have better odds than most as my body has kept the disease at bay, with some mechanical intervention, for 13 years now and I have no other underlying health issues.


I gather realistic odds are around 5-15% and on that one would hardly bet ones shirt on a racehorse in a field of donkeys but I have every intention of beating the odds - I have to date!


Lester asked if I had any questions and did I understand the chemo. leaflet he gave me last time (lightweight and a bit uninformative springs to mind) I did ask why he had removed one of the pages as look as I might I couldn't find the Guarantee Page!


I guess it doesn't work that way ;-)


I also asked if it was OK to take pain killers as my back was giving me a lot of pain, unrelated to the cancer.


I'm not sure how to take his answer ;-o apparently as that is the least of the problems take whatever I want!


Later when I told Roger this he related having asked what he should do about his diabetes diet Dr. Lester said eat what you like we will just control the diabetes for you.


Feeling he might be onto a winner Roger asked whether he could drink alcohol having been off of it medically for 3 years.


Dr. Lester is claimed to have paused - looked at him and said you've had a piece of gut removed, you've had chemo and we have removed a kidney and an adrenal gland and also half your liver and you are on Sutent - what the hell you might as well be half 'pissed' - perhaps a little apocryphal but it gave me pause for thought relative to my doubts about pain killers!

Well the last task was to book an appointment for the next clinic which will be 09-May

So that is chemo on Wednesday 20-April then again on 27-April then 04-May BLANK (Two weeks on and one week off!)

I presume that means back on for chemo on 11-May and then again on 18-May and the 25-May off, with a CT scan and the next clinic around the last week of May.

Eventually we left the hospital and I drove Heather all over Cardiff - even stopping to get some pictures of The Millenium Stadium for her to have for John (her husband). Then on to The Bay which really is deeply unimpressive and one can just imagine how seedy it will look in 10 years time - it is all too childish a statement of insecurity and inadequacy!!

I have always found Cardiff to be a seedy and rather silly City with its desperate pretence that Welshness has any significance or ever did have - anything that is so insecure it has to keep leaping up and down to be noticed probably wasn't worth noticing in the first place. Such a tragedy really as there are some stunningly beautiful areas of Wales to more than compensate for its inadequacy and quite palpable failure!

We then drove out of Cardiff and via a detour up the Rhumney Valley headed around the edge of Newport, yet another spectacularly unpleasant little town!

Back to Chepstow and Heather's last night with us - it is such a pity she couldn't have stayed as she would have been a huge boost for Lee who is understandably concerned about the next few months.


& HERE for John as he waits for Heather to come home:
Image via Wikipedia

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way. .

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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17-Apr-2011 - Casual Reading AS YOU DO!! 'CISPLATIN'

17-Apr-2011 - Casual Reading AS YOU DO!! 'CISPLATIN'

A recent article in the Mich. State University Alumni magazine (Spring 2011)
talks about the late Dr. Barney Rosenberg who developed the anti-cancer drug
Cisplatin (Platinol) and used with carboplatin (Paraplatin)- these two drugs are
rarely used alone.

" They are key ingredients in many combinations of drugs,
radiation and surgery that make cancers survivable, according to the director of
clinical research of one of the world's top cancer hospitals.

Cisplatin became the backbone of combination therapy for testicular,bladder,lung,ovarian,head and
neck,gastric cancers and recently for triple negative breast cancer and a number
of other less common tumors"

according to Bruce A. Chabner in Rosenberg's obituary published in Cancer Research.

The MSU article further states
"Caplatin and oxaliplatin(developed in Japan) have further extended this range of benefit.

The patients cured by these regiments and those that have benefitted from this
therapy number in the millions." Tumors of the kidney are included in the list
of cancers I found out.

& In Reply:

Cisplatin has been around a long time (1970"s) as a cancer treatment.
It is VERY toxic to the kidneys, causes neuropathy and hasn't shown a great response rate in general for RCC-like 17%. But is usedsucessfully for sarcomas so it is more likely to be used for kidney cancer with sarcomoid features. http://annonc.oxfordjournals.org/content/13/1/116.full.pdf

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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WHO - ME - CYNICAL!!! I wrote this in August 2008!

WHO - ME - CYNICAL!!! I wrote this in August 2008!

2008 August 25 – I HAVE THE ANSWER for Cancer Research!

2008 August 25 01:13:35 BST

Posted By: Greg_L-W.

Discussion Greg_L-W.’s Blog

Hi,
I’ve just put this on the Cancer Research comments section on their web site:
http://scienceblog.cancerresearchuk.org … omment-537

Quote: I HAVE THE ANSWER

May I suggest that if you are worried that you have or may get Kidney Cancer and need to claim on your Health Service:-

Make sure you are on a Government QUANGO the beauty of the job is that the Government doesn’t believe in the Health Service and provides all its senior staff with PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE!
Also the Government doesn’t believe in the Public Pension Service so it gives all its Staff prefferential INFLATION LINKED PENSIONS to compensate for the c*ck up they know they will make in Government.
Also Government staff on QUANGOs are not held accountable for mistakes just put all the data you can find on your provided Lap Top and lose it like the MoD do having lost over 700 to date!

If you want more expenses just loose your CD with all the records on them and claim for a larger sum.
Perhaps you have been away for the last month in Beijing with the other QUANGO members and 650 people funded from the public purse who had NO relevance to performing in the tedious and obscenely costly farce.

Join N.I.C.E. or a P.C.T. where you can be sure of no meaningful work, regular long holidays, inflation linked pensions, early retirement, stress related compensation, staff car schemes and of course PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE as of course you can’t relly on or trust the old NHS which is so badly managed it is obviously broken.

Don’t worry your job will be safe N.I.C.E. alone has a budget of £30,000,000 and if you need a pay rise you can take it out of the drug budget and kill off a few more Cancer Patients – they’re a nuisance anyway they just won’t die quietly they are just selfish – next they will start demonstrating but never mind the Government is on your side on a QHANGO so the State Police will be called in under the terrorism laws we can just murder them – woops sorry Mr. Menenez can we have those 8 bullets back!

Cover your risk – join a QUANGO.

The other beauty of a QUANGO or Government job is you get promoted for lies – look at Blair and his lies about Iraq which used so much of the money we could have used for health. Why do soldiers get health care? They knew the risks they should be like smokers or the obese and denied care!
Mandelson lied so often he is now an EU commissioner WITH PRIVATE HEALTH CARE!
On a £2.4Billion Budget I note incompetency and waste has already run that to £9.3Billion and it is rumoured the Olympics will cost Britain over £18,000,000,000 – Howmany people will the Government have to kill to pay for their tedious sport? Already they CLAIM that due to their incompetence they are going to have to kill Kidney Cancer patients!

Quick join a QUANGO and be safe for life.

Join me at http://www.KidneyCancerResource.com where we can fight this clearly non political issue!
‘First they came for the Jews but I was not a Jew so I did nothing….’

Regards and Warm Hands,
Greg L-W.

Have YOU commented? There are loads of ideas there!
Regards,
Greg L-W.

Blog Entry: User:Greg L-W./BlogEntry: 2008 August 25 01:13:35 BST

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Posted under Avastin, Greg Lance-Watkins, Nexavar, Sutent, Torisel

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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14-Apr-2011 - A LONG DAY AS A 'READY BRECK STAR'

14-Apr-2011 - A LONG DAY AS A 'READY BRECK STAR'

Hi,

it has been a long day as I was at Velindre at 08:30hrs. and it is now 02:45hrs. on 15th.

Full marks to the Vampires of Velindre and now that I am glowing like a Ready Breck extra I'm off to bed so I'll come back and write this up later!

Suffice to say THANKS to the Ladies team at Velindre ;-)

#### Addition 15-Apr-2011

Hi,

thats better at least I had some sleep ;-)

Increasingly since yesterday morning my lower back is giving me grief but it is an old injury that comes back to cripple me for a couple of days every so often - nothing to do with this bout of cancer, though my natural spinal lordosis has been exacerbated as a problem by scoliosis (the sideways deforming of the spine) which has been caused by the full nephrectomy wound herniation of my original radical nephrectomy scar!

The weight of the hernia on the left side has marginally and increasingly distorted the spine.

Anyway back to yesterday!

Whether the joys of prostate enlargement, the cancer or just that I knew I had to get up early, something I have never been good at in British weather! eventually awake at 0610hrs. I listened to the radiop until the alarm triggered activity at 07:00hrs.

Never having had to confront the so called rush hour traffic of Cardiff and aware that I had to be at Velindre at 09:00hrs. and not knowing Cardiff I set out at 07:50hrs. to be on the safe side.

Unemployment in Wales must be much higher than the statistics would indicate as if that was the rush hour what on earth did they build the motorways for! No hold ups at any stage and I was also fortunate with parking as there seems adequate in the hospital grounds.

After the tedium of trying to park at The Royal Gwent:

which is a very large hospital with a large footprint on an over crowded site supplimented with permanent porta cabin extensions to provide A&E and the like, Velindre Hospital was a pleasure:

 

I found Nuclear Medicine without much problem and was in the waiting room when the staff arrived at 08:40hrs. and by the time they had found my notes from Dr. Lester's secretary and weighed me in at 97.4kg. plus measured me at 1m57cms. so I have lost about 2 inches in height over the years due largely to damage and injury!

They were ready to give me my injection at 08:50hrs.

The injection was:

Chromium 51 with a half life of 27.7 days! So now for the next month (almost) I shall be glowing in the dark!! So with special film we can make our own 'Ready Breck' adverts!

The carrier used was ETA or EDA - Ethyl Diamin Tetracetic Acid - but since I can't track this 'carrier' down I may be wrong!

Anyway a quick very small injection washing the syringe out by drawing blood into it and reinjecting.

The two nurses on the Nuclear Unit were very cheery - I guess they are used to wandering around at that time in the morning - even when we had the shop the sign on the door was 10:00ish. and I only had to come down a flight of stairs ;-)

Then two hours to kill for the blood to percolate around the body spreading the isatope - so I went off to the canteen and had some breakfast and a coffee.

Coffee has hugely improved in canteens with the new gereration of automatic machines but the food is still strange considering one is in a hospital! Very little sight of anything healthy to eat the eggs were some form of scrambled egg with little appearance of egg and rather more like polly filler they had very little taste and I'm sure if dropped they would bounce! the sausages, bacon etc. were fried and saturated in fat and the toast was, to say the least, tired! But I guess one is already ill if one is in the canteen at a hospital and it does explain why so many of the staff are eating out of plastic boxes they have brought themselves!!

Two hours reading in a canteen do NOT pass rapidly but then off to find 'Phlebotomy' to have a blood sample taken. With three staff taking samples and their own min reception the bloods unit miraculously works like clock work - literally with each patient having their own sample tray and electronic timer clock The first sample was taken at 10:50hrs. then after more coffee and an attempt to read The Guardian (what a rubbish paper - little news, much opinion and endless propaganda it is clearly written by about 3 people and a team of cut and paste kids from the internet, no wonder they lost £Millions last year).

Finally after my 12:50hrs. sample I was free to go and after a pleasant drive home I can now await Monday and the results of the test which I gather both counts red blood cells but more importantly measures the efficacy of my remaining kidney. I gather this will determine the dosage of chemo.

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

12-Apr-2011 - DEATH by MANAGEMENT?

12-Apr-2011 - DEATH by MANAGEMENT?

Hi,

early screening is a great idea, as one of the great keys to Cancer survival is early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

It does make me wonder that although I have now had cancer for 13 years this latest TCC (Transitional Cell Carcinoma) was obvious during my bladder op. in December - just look at the Cancer Diary and consider the dates!

For more details on TCC CLICK HERE

Having discovered the tumour in the bladder and aware that it MIGHT be through the bladder wall I can only call the 4.1/2 months of delay utter incompetence on the part of management at some level in the idiotic multi level QUANGOcracy that is Britain's NHS of today, as a result of the 13 years of obscene misrule and economic illiteracy of our Government.

Had my surgeon in December been able to carry on and do the obvious by removing a cuff or coin around the site and re-establish the integrity of the bladder at the time would I now be facing a potential death sentence? Would cancer have ever had the chance to spread to the lymph glands?

Would I need chemo. with its consequences and far from wonderfull side effects and poor prognosis?

To what extent can it now be argued that due to the incompetence of the multi layered QUANGOcracy that is the modern NHS and the childish doctrinal weenie waggling of NHS Wales, desperately wasting public money on reforms and rebadging etc. - not because it provides a better service but purely because they can to hide their over staffing and inadequacies as managers or even politicians they end up killing patients.

Just what is the value of spending a small fortune on rebadging The NHS Health Care in Monmouthshire after Aneurin Bevan when he was clearly utterly useless, was arguably one of the first champagne socialists - neglected his constituents in The Valleys and although married to an outspoken Communist used his Ministerial income to buy a farm in Surrey or was it Sussex.

Just what did Aneurin Bevan ever do for Health Care in Britain let alone wales - it was he who was charged to implement the decision made by the previous Government and agreed to by Labour and The Liberals to impliment Lord Beverridge's Plan for a National Health Service and almost all of todays problems in The NHS can be attributed to Aneurin Bevin who seemingly was too stupid to understand The Beverridge Plan and could not resist tampering with it - resulting in it becoming a political football with a massive overstaffing of managers relative to medical staff and medical management - we lack even the ability to train adequate staff hence the huge number of aliens imported from third world countries who can ill afford to loose their most valuable assets!

Surely the cost of rebadging in Monmouthshire would have been far better spent on another CT Scanner and better management of MEDICAL resources - who cares what uniform nurses have or what fatuous badges are on NHS vehicles.

I believe a more available scanner would stand far more chance of having saved my life and ensured that the cancer had not spread than any amount of ego trips for inadequates with what can only be described as non jobs!

Many will find this article of interest CLICK HERE
Which together with this CLICK HERE
indicates it is not just The NHS going off the rails!

We seem not only to have moved into a 'Post democratic Era' where Politicians are an entity in their own right but where we have little or no meaningful say as all too much of our lives is clearly founded on NON Science, NON Logic, NON Entities and NON Jobs functioning for their own personal gain at the expense of the society they are paid to serve yet seemingly believe are merely there to ensure their incomes!

When will a death due to this level of self serving indifference be found to be at least manslaughter if not murder by a Coroners' Court or is that as hopelessly unlikely as a Police Officer being charged with murder when they gun down yet another innocent victim!

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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11-Apr-2011 - Bowel Screening!!

11-Apr-2011 - Bowel Screening!!

Hi,

Black Humour to the fore:
I was amused today to receive an intriguing envelope in the post today which when opened contained a self help kit for Bowel Screening.

DIY Bowel Cancer Kits are a regular mailing in Wales & Monmouthshire!

You can find full details of the service at CLICK HERE

I was surprised to find that not only is this folder of, quite literally, bumf (spelt thus as it was an acronym emanating originally from Oxford, as I recall, for 'Bum Fodder') entirely bi lingual English and Welsh but the entire back page is dedicated to offering to mail out the entire 'thingee' in 15 other languages:
Information leaflets now available in Arabic, Bengali, Chinese, Chinese (Traditional), Gujarati, Hindu, Italian, Japanese, Nepali, Polish, Portugese, Punjabi, Somalian, Turkish and Urdu.

I presume that those speaking Eirean or The Gallic - both languages spoken on these islands by the indiginous peoples do not count - it is however all too understandable that Greeks, French, German, Spanish, Dutch and various other Continental EUropeans are of no significance relative to including SELECTED Indian languages when we leave out so many that are relatively common such as Tamil or the languages of the Philipines and Thai - I was surprised to note Spaniards are excluded also!

This early screening is a great idea as one of the great keys to Cancer survival is early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

It does make me wonder that although I have now had cancer for 13 years this latest TCC (Transient Cell Carcinoma) was obvious during my bladder op in December - just look at the Cancer Diary and consider the dates!

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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20-Apr-2011 - CHEMO WILL START!

20-Apr-2011 - CHEMO WILL START!

Hi,

I received a letter today from Dr. Lester's secretary at Velindre this morning!

On Monday 18-Apr-2011 at 13:45hrs. I report to Patient clinic at Velindre Hospital to see Dr. J.F. Lester for 'A Chemotherapy assessment'.

My first chemotherapy treatment will start on Wednesday 20-Apr-2011 at 13:00hrs. at The Chemotherapy Day Unit at Velindre.

The battle for a future starts HERE ;-)

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

Related articles

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• Is There a Lifetime Limit on Colon Cancer Chemo? (everydayhealth.com)
• Chemo: Is That All There Is? (everydayhealth.com)
• When Cancer Spreads, Chemo's the Key (everydayhealth.com)
• Understanding and Coping with Cancer Recurrence (everydayhealth.com)
• Celebrities Put Testicular Cancer in the Spotlight (everydayhealth.com)
• Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Resources (everydayhealth.com)
• Thyroid Cancer: 10 Questions for Your Doctor (everydayhealth.com)
• Alcohol linked to risk of cancer (bbc.co.uk)

NUCLEAR - KIDNEY FUNCTION TEST

NUCLEAR - KIDNEY FUNCTION TEST

Department

of

Nuclear Medicine

Information about your visit for a kidney function test

This leaflet provides information about your kidney function test. It explains what this is and how it is performed. It also answers some of the most common questions people ask about this test. If any of the information is not clear or if you have questions not answered by this leaflet, then please ring the Department of Nuclear Medicine on 029 2031 6237.

Your doctor has asked us to perform a kidney function (or EDTA) test. This is a test in which a small amount of radioactivity is used to tell the doctor how well your kidneys are working.

What is involved?
The radioactivity is a small quantity of liquid injected into a vein in your arm. You will then have a small blood sample taken at two, three and four hours after the injection.

Do I have to stay in the hospital?
Between the injection and the blood samples you are free to leave the department and the hospital if you wish.

Will I have to undress?
You will not need to undress although it is easier to give you the injection and take the blood samples if you wear a top with loose fitting sleeves.

Do I need to prepare for the test?
No, you can eat and drink as normal.

Do I need to stop taking my other tablets and medication?
There is usually no need to stop taking your tablets or other medication. If there is, we will tell you in your appointment letter.



Will it hurt?
Only the needle ‘pinprick’ might hurt a little. You should not feel any after effects from the test. It will not make you sleepy and will not stop you from driving a car.

Is the radioactivity dangerous?
No. The amount of radiation you receive is very small (less than you would get from an X-ray examination).

Do I need to do anything after the test?
You can eat, drink and go where you wish.

What happens to the results of the test?
The information we get from the blood samples is sent to the doctor who sent you to the Nuclear Medicine department.

Is there anything I should tell the staff before the test?
Yes. Please tell us before you have your injection if you:

• are taking any diuretic (‘water’) tablets
• are, or think you may be, pregnant
• are breast feeding

We hope you have found this leaflet helpful. If you have any questions or want further information, please phone the Department of Nuclear Medicine on 029 2031 6237.

Velindre Cancer Centre
Velindre Road,
Whitchurch,
Cardiff,
CF14 2TL

This leaflet was written by health professionals. The information contained in this leaflet is evidence based. It is reviewed and updated every 2 years.
To view the original leaflet CLICK HERE

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Chemotherapy - Leaflet!

Gemcitabine and Carboplatin Chemotherapy - Leaflet!

291 and 322

Information leaflet on gemcitabine
and carboplatin chemotherapy

This leaflet provides information on a course of chemotherapy called gemcitabine and carboplatin. The leaflet will explain what this is and when and how it will be given. It will also tell you about common side effects that you may experience. Contact telephone numbers and details of how to obtain further information on this chemotherapy are given at the end of the leaflet.

This leaflet should be read alongside the ‘General information for patients receiving chemotherapy’ leaflet. If you haven’t received this leaflet please ask your nurse for a copy.


What is gemcitabine and carboplatin chemotherapy?
This is a chemotherapy treatment which consists of two drugs which are given in a drip:

• Gemcitabine
• Carboplatin


Why am I having gemcitabine and carboplatin chemotherapy?
Your doctor has prescribed this chemotherapy because it has been found to be effective in treating your type of cancer.

How often will I receive my chemotherapy?
For this treatment to be most effective it is given at specific time intervals. These intervals are known as cycles. It is usual to have a cycle of carboplatin and gemcitabine every four weeks for up to six cycles. Your doctor will discuss with you the exact number of cycles you will receive.

In each cycle you will receive chemotherapy twice, these are known as day 1 and day 8 treatments. The gemcitabine is given on both day 1 and day 8. Carboplatin is given on either day 1 or day 8. Your doctor or nurse will explain this in more detail.


How often will I have to visit the hospital?
Your chemotherapy treatment will usually be on a different day to your clinic appointment. You will usually need to visit the hospital three times in every four week cycle:

Clinic appointment – at this outpatient clinic appointment you will have a blood test and we will check how you are feeling and discuss any problems you may have. This is so we can check how the chemotherapy is affecting you. If your blood results are satisfactory, your chemotherapy will be prescribed. This appointment is usually a few days before your chemotherapy appointment.

If you live far away your chemotherapy may be arranged for the same day as your clinic appointment. There is always a delay between seeing the doctor and being given your chemotherapy. If your chemotherapy is on the same day as your clinic appointment you should expect to be in the hospital for between four and six hours.

Day 1 chemotherapy appointment – you will spend up to 1½ hours in one of the day case treatment areas. Please allow 30 minutes longer for your first visit. We will give you anti sickness medicine and your chemotherapy.

Day 8 chemotherapy appointment - You will need to allow 2 - 3 hours for this visit. You will have a blood sample taken. The result will be checked before pharmacy can make your chemotherapy. We will give you anti sickness medication and your chemotherapy.

You are welcome to bring someone to stay with you during your treatment. Space is limited in the waiting areas and treatment room so there is not usually room for more than one person. Treatment areas are not suitable for young children



How will my chemotherapy be given?
Your chemotherapy is given through a drip into a vein in the back of your hand or arm. Alternatively it may be suggested that a fine tube called a PICC is inserted into one of the large veins in your upper arm. This line can remain in place for the whole of your treatment. Your doctor or nurse will discuss this further with you.

We have a leaflet that tells you more about PICC lines. Please ask your nurse for a copy.


What are the possible side effects?
There are a number of possible side effects which can occur with this chemotherapy. The doctor, nurses and pharmacists can give you advice or answer any questions you may have.

Hair loss
You should not lose your hair with this chemotherapy. However, a small number of people experience some hair thinning. We have a leaflet that tells you more about coping with hair loss. Please ask your nurse for a copy.

Sickness
Nausea and vomiting are uncommon these days as we will give you anti-sickness medicines which are usually extremely effective. If you are sick more than once in 24 hours despite taking regular anti-sickness medicine, you should contact Velindre Cancer Centre for advice. The telephone number is on page 7 of this leaflet.

Infection
You are at an increased risk of picking up infections because your white blood cells which help fight infections can be reduced by this treatment. Contact Velindre Cancer Centre immediately if you develop any signs of infection, for example flu like symptoms or a temperature above 37.5°centigrade. The telephone number is on page 7 of this leaflet.

Diarrhoea
Diarrhoea is not common with this chemotherapy. However, if you have four or more bowel movements in 24 hours above what is normal for you please contact Velindre Cancer Centre immediately. The telephone number is on page 7 of this leaflet.

Tiredness and fatigue
Chemotherapy can make you feel more tired than usual. It is important to listen to your body and rest if you need to, but carry out your normal activities if you feel able. Some people find it beneficial to take gentle exercise as well as taking rest.

Sore mouth
Your mouth may become sore or you may notice small ulcers. Please follow the advice on caring for your mouth in the general chemotherapy leaflet. Your doctor may prescribe mouthwashes or medication to prevent or clear any infection.

Flu like symptoms
Approximately 20% of patients may experience flu like symptoms in the first 48 hours following gemcitabine treatment. This is usually mild and short lived. Symptoms may include fever, chills, muscle aching, headaches and tiredness. If your temperature is above 37.5oC please contact Velindre Cancer Centre immediately. The telephone number is on page 7 of this leaflet.

Skin changes
Gemcitabine may cause an itchy rash in some patients. Medication is available to treat this so please tell your doctor or nurse if this occurs.

You may also notice some swelling of your ankles. This is usually mild and will stop when your treatment is completed.


Allergic type reaction
A small number of patients experience an allergic type reaction to carboplatin. If this occurs you may feel hot or flushed, itchy, light-headed or generally unwell whilst receiving your carboplatin. This can be easily treated. Please tell your nurse immediately if you experience any of these symptoms.

Other side effects
Some patients experience some discomfort along the vein when gemcitabine is being given as a drip. This problem may occur more frequently as you have more treatments. Having a PICC line inserted will prevent this problem from occurring. If you would like more information please speak to your nurse or doctor.

Women sometimes find that chemotherapy treatment can affect their periods. They could become heavier, lighter or even stop altogether.

It is important you do not become pregnant or father a child whilst having chemotherapy treatment as chemotherapy could damage the unborn baby.


Manufacturer’s patient information leaflets
Copies of drug manufacturer’s patient information leaflets are available from the Velindre Pharmacy, or on the internet at www.medicines.org.uk These leaflets provide detailed information about individual drugs. They are not given out routinely as they do not usually provide information on combinations of drugs, and can be difficult to read. Please ask if you would like a copy.

Contact telephone numbers

Velindre Cancer Centre 029 2061 5888
Ask for the chemotherapy pager if you are unwell at home and need immediate attention at any time of the day or night. For example you should phone if you:
• Are sick more than once in 24 hours
• Have a temperature of 37.5°C or above
• Have diarrhoea


Pharmacy department 029 2061 5888 ext 6223
Monday - Friday 9am - 5pm for queries about your medicines


Tenovus freephone 0808 808 1010
cancer helpline
Monday – Friday 9am – 4.30 for general queries on cancer



This leaflet was written by health professionals. The information contained in this leaflet is evidence based. The leaflet has been approved by doctors, nurses and patients. It is reviewed and updated annually.


Prepared September 2004
Reviewed September 2009

For the original posting CLICK HERE

For leaflets on other Chemotherapy leaflets CLICK HERE

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

. If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order. . Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar. You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help. . YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way. .

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

Related articles

• Dry Skin and Chemotherapy (everydayhealth.com)
• A Second Helping of Chemo (everydayhealth.com)
• Pancreatic Cancer Treatment Side Effects (everydayhealth.com)
• Coping With Chemotherapy Treatment for Bladder Cancer (everydayhealth.com)
• Understanding and Coping with Cancer Recurrence (everydayhealth.com)
• Celebrities Put Testicular Cancer in the Spotlight (everydayhealth.com)
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BONE SCAN - NUCLEAR

BONE SCAN - NUCLEAR

Department of Nuclear Medicine

Information about your radioisotope scan

This leaflet provides information about your radioisotope scan. It explains what this is and how it is performed. It also answers some of the most common questions people ask about this test. If any of the information is not clear or if you have questions not answered by this leaflet, then please ring the Department of Nuclear Medicine on 02920 316237.


Your doctor has asked us to do a radioisotope ‘scan’. This is a test which uses a small amount of radioactivity to produce pictures of bones, organs and other parts of the body.

What is involved?
Usually a small quantity of radioactive liquid is injected into a vein in your arm. However, for thyroid tests the radioactivity may be given as a capsule or a small drink. For lung scans we may ask you to breathe in an aerosol, which does not make you feel ill.

You will have a wait whilst the radioactivity travels to the part of your body that is being scanned. We then take pictures using a Gamma Camera.

How long will I have to wait?
The waiting time depends on the test. It will vary between 5 minutes and 72 hours. This time will be clearly written on your appointment letter.

Do I have to wait in the hospital?
You will be free to leave the department but we may ask you to drink more than usual before the pictures are taken.

How are the pictures taken?
We will ask you to lie on a bed (or possibly sit in a chair) whilst the pictures are taken using a Gamma Camera. It usually takes between 30 minutes and 2 hours to take the pictures. There may be a short delay whilst the pictures are shown to a doctor to see if any further tests are needed during your visit. You are then free to leave the department.

Will I have to undress?
No, but you may need to remove metal items, such as belt buckles, money, keys or jewellery. It is easier to give you the injection if you wear a top with loose fitting sleeves.

Do I need to prepare for the test?
Your appointment letter will tell you if you need to do anything special before your test (for example, stop eating or drinking). You can usually eat and drink as normal between the injection and pictures.


Do I need to stop taking my medication?
For most tests there is no need to stop taking your medication. If there is, we will tell you in your appointment letter.

Will it hurt?
Only the needle pin-prick might hurt a little. You will not feel any after effects from the test. It will not make you sleepy and will not stop you driving your car.

Is the radioactivity dangerous?
No. The amount of radiation you receive for most Nuclear Medicine tests is at most double that which you get every year from natural background radiation.

Do I need to do anything after the test?
Usually you can eat and drink as normal and go where you wish. We may ask you to drink more than usual to help clear the radioactivity from your body. During the test we may give you some medication called a diuretic. This will make you want to pass water more often.

We may ask you to avoid long spells of close contact with children and pregnant women for the rest of the day or for several days. This will depend on the test and the amount of radioactivity you have had. This will stop them receiving any unnecessary radiation.

Who will give me the result of my test?
Your consultant, or someone who works in his/her team, will give you the results of the test. The Nuclear Medicine Department staff will not be able to give you the results of the test.

Is there anything I should tell you before the test?
Yes. Please tell us before you have your injection if you:
• are, or think you may be, pregnant
• are breast-feeding.

Velindre Cancer Centre
Velindre Road,
Whitchurch,
Cardiff,
CF14 2TL

This leaflet was written by health professionals. The information contained in this leaflet is evidence based. It is reviewed and updated every 2 years.

To view the original of this leaflet CLICK HERE

I just want to say sorry for copping out at times and leaving Lee and friends to cope!

Any help and support YOU can give her will be hugely welcome.

I do make a lousy patient!

.
If YOU want to follow my fight against Cancer from when it started and I first presented with symptoms see The TAB just below the Header of this Blog. called >DIARY of Cancer< just click and it will give you a long list of the main events in chronological order.
.
Thoughts and comments will be in chronological order in the main blog and can be tracked in the >ARCHIVE< in the Right Sidebar.

You may find the TABS >MEDICAL LINKS< and also >CANCER LINKS< of help.
.
YOU are welcome to call me if you believe I can help in ANY way.
.

Posted by: Greg Lance-Watkins

tel: 01291 - 62 65 62

of: Greg_L-W@BTconnect.com

on: http://GregLanceWatkins.Blogspot.com

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