Confessions of a spice addict

I’ve just got the slow cooker on the go. This is usually the Fox’s area of culinary expertise but for once I’m having a go.

So what am I tackling? A beef chilli mole. At one point in the preparation I had a taster. It’s certainly going to be hot to eat in more ways than one. I’ve given my hands a good wash & scrub in the hope I don’t get chilli in my eyes whenever I blow my nose – the spiciness is already doing its best to clear my nasal passages.

I have to confess I’ve had a bit of a panic since I’ve been reading about chemo & radiotherapy. You’re not supposed to be able to cope with spice. It’s to be avoided.

 So it is I encouraged the Fox to make us a lamb mince curry yesterday, & I’m doing a chilli today. Indeed most of this week’s food includes spice. Admittedly spice shouldn’t have much effect on radiotherapy. It’s mainly chemo that causes the problem &, as I said yesterday, I’m still thinking of just accepting the bone strengthening therapy, not the rest of it, so hopefully I should be able to continue to enjoy my spices.

The thought of 6 months without spice was a nightmare!

Chemo/no chemo?

On Monday we went to see the oncologist about the possibility of chemotherapy. Two lots were offered to me, one of which I think I will accept, the other I won’t.

The lot I’m thinking of accepting is designed to strengthen my bones. As I used to have osteoporosis, & even now have to have calcium tablets to stop my bones getting any weaker, the radiography which I will have will almost certainly cause my bones to thin & I will have osteoporosis once more. The only side effect seems to be a bit of initial pain in the lower jaw bone but that should ease off. Essentially the chemical being offered is the one that makes the difference for treatment for osteoporosis & just extra calcium.

The other chemical combination I’m inclined to refuse.  This is where the real adverse side effects, some long term, are likely to arise. At the end of the day the chemo is only likely to increase my chance of not getting a recurrence of breast cancer by 5% over a 10 year period. It doesn’t seem much when it is likely to make my kidneys & pancreas worse again. It’s also likely to leave me with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as I already have fatigue from the arthritis & this will only make that worse.  I’m also likely to have breathing problems (I’ve had pneumonia before now) & anaemia (which I’m also inclined to), be more subject to infections (as it is, my colds last months, even turning into pneumonia once). There are a string of other adverse side effects.

All of these add up to a lot of trauma for what seems a very small advantage. I had quite decided to go ahead with treatment before seeing the oncologist & getting the odds of improvement. I was shocked to hear the probabilities were so low. As the Fox pointed out my odds of being knocked down by a bus in the street are probably higher.

I confess I do feel a certain relief at the idea of shortening the period of post-operative treatment. I’m trying not to let that cloud my judgement but it is there.

Next week I go back to the hospital to tell them my decision. I will then be sent on to radiology & find out what they have to say. In the meanwhile I’ll have a look on-line to see if there is anything there that will make me change my mind.

Onto the next stage

The Friday trip to the hospital went reasonably well. They are pleased with the way the op has gone. The tumour proved smaller than thought so there was a much larger area of healthy tissue removed than they’d expected. The lymph gland that was removed showed no sign of cancer cells so clearly nothing can have spread to the rest of my body.

The next stage is a visit to oncology to discuss the possibility of chemotherapy. There are possible complications with this as I have Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) & have had a problems with my pancreas, all organs that can be adversely affected by chemotherapy.

I’ve more or less come to the conclusion any short-term adverse side effects, may be worth enduring for the long term gain. However, if there are going to be long term side-effects I may have to think again.

I gather at the meeting they fill in an on-line form with my various medical conditions, medications, medical history etc., & then they get back the probabilities of advantage from the various chemo treatments.

I gather from my breast specialist that the whole process of chemo, then radiotherapy is likely to take another 6-9 months, during which I’ll be making frequent trips to hospital & possibly suffering various adverse side-effects e.g. nausea, fatigue. Holidays will have to be put on hold until then. We may just manage a few days away in Britain if I’m feeling not too bad. It seems a long period of treatment stretching ahead.

Meanwhile we’re still impressed by the difference the new Bay Gateway has made to the trip into Lancaster. Even going in for 9am, & passing several schools on the way, we made the trip to the hospital in about 20 minutes, rather than the usual hour it has been for years. We’re even thinking of allowing just 30 minutes next week for the trip. Thank goodness the new road has opened up if it means the trip is going to continue to be so much easier, especially now we seem to be having to do so many more trips in.