May 27 - The Premiere Show

Good old 4West, I see the view hasnt changed much, just the seasons, Autumn is nice, despite the wet. I am getting better at framing the shots though huh?

On the road at last... today's the first infusion of my experimental drug trial. A chance to see those Flaming Metastases perform on stage. I am hoping it turns into a shit show, with the crowd throwing eggs and tomatoes.

The day started with a medical exam. Joy of joys, chest clear, that damn cough is laryngospasm, and ignored for the purposes of qualifying for the infusion. My bloods were fine, anaemic of course, but what oncology patient isn't? and a bit of blood in the urine, which we could also ignore being on blood thinners. 

My new trials coordinator Leyna (Lee-na) took me through all the reams of paperwork, the nurses Shelley and Georgia efficiently stuck me with cannulas & ECG dots....all good to go

So, I've just had a 90 minute infusion, with before and after bloods & ECG, I have bloods at the 1, 2 and 4 hour marks. If I have survived by this point and not totally anaemic I get to go home. Tomorrow I have more bloods and ECG, again 2 days after that, and honestly I lost track what I was supposed to do next week...I am also supposed to monitor for rash & fever over the next few days

Yeah it's pretty full on isn't it?

Assuming all goes well, the next infusion is in 3 weeks, when all the above is repeated, including  screening tests the day before

Before I get a 3rd infusion, we get a scan. If the Flaming Metastases have gone forth and multiplied, we look for another trial. I suppose that's the issue, there is no guarantee I have the receptor this molecule is seeking, so this chemo delivery system may not work at all (see post April 16) but it's the first actual treatment due to all the delays, since...... January 

Open invite, come to the concert, bring your friends, bring as many eggs and tomatoes you can carry...you have my blessing...go wild, pelt those fuckers