chemocutlery.com

What's this about?

This is a collection of short blog posts, photos, scans of artwork, etc. I started putting it together after a somewhat unexpected diagnosis of cancer. I am in my early 50s, and even though this is the age range in which this kind of thing can start happening to people, I was quite surprised: I had otherwise been very well and active, feeling super-healthy, and leading a clean lifestyle (with no family history of cancer or any other serious health issues).

So, it turns out that metastatic colorectal cancer did not really care about any of those factors. Here we are.

1. It looks like, between neoadjuvant chemotherapy and surgery, the medics looking after me are talking about curative intent, so there is light at the end of the tunnel. There is a strong emphasis on the duty of candour here in the UK, and in my case that may be further encouraged by the fact that I do not find sugar-coated or overly optimistic news particularly helpful. So, it feels as though there is a reasonable chance of getting out of jail, barring any further slips on the decision tree of life.
2. I have been quite lucky with side effects, which have mostly consisted of random episodes of tiredness (particularly on days 4, 5, and 6 of each cycle), some moderate gastrointestinal effects, and a particularly noticeable, weird, temperature-dependent metallic or mud-like taste that is worst for foods and drinks a little colder than room temperature. So far, I have managed these with temperature control, hard candy, and regular toothbrushing, either to take away the weird taste or, somehow, cover it up.
3. For the first few cycles (4 out of 6 at the time I am writing this), I have managed to get back to something approaching normal before the start of the next one. Day minus 1 actually feels quite good, if a little tired. Food tastes good. Sleep is good too, and my general energy levels are within a range that somehow seems connected to what I expect to regain with rest after the final cycle.