After what can only be described as a fairly chaotic start to my second chemo session– I was at a different location, they were short of staff after one phoned in  sick and  they had a sick patient to deal with — all settled down and went smoothly.

Lou and Bev came with me. Martin dropped us there in the cab at around 11.30 for a 1pm appointment so we took a wander down St. John’s Wood High Street. The boutiques all had big sales on, but frankly even with massive reductions we’d have struggled to justify a purchase!

We decided to opt for an early lunch instead. Not being familiar with the area, we chose a pleasant looking cafe called Harry Morgan. It was only when we were seated that we realised it specialised in good old traditional Jewish cooking. Irrisistible! After salivating over a menu containing salt beef, latkas, chopped liver and wurst and egg to name but a few, we all  three plumped for chicken soup, complete with either kreplach or kneydlech and of course noodles, or lochshen. Bev may not be Jewish but after 12 years with Lou she knew every item on that menu and we all devoured our soup. It’s funny how comforting childhood foods can be and what better to prepare me for chemo than a drop of “Jewish penicillin”?

During the chemo I took up the offer of one of my two free alternative therapies. A lovely, calming therapist called Kim gave me reflexology. I sent Bev and Lou out for a break so that I could completely relax. The chemo was finished and all removed while Kim was still very gently working my reflexology points so I had 15 minutes of massage to finish the whole process. Lovely. Martin arrived just as she was finishing. He asked her a bit about what she was actually doing. I hope he picked up some tips!

We were home by about 6pm. I felt fine.  We had dinner, watched some TV, and at 9pm stuck to our usual habits of Martin heading to the ‘west wing’ as he calls it, otherwise known as the bedroom!  I then watched the last episode of the very watchable adaptation of Great Expectations. After a spot of news, I found myself checking out several websites talking about hair loss and selling a wide variety of hats, scarves, bandanas and turbans.

Lots to think about and to choose from! A new adventure!

I finally got myself to bed at around 11.45 and read for about 20 minutes. Then, despite the chemo, the steroid anti-sickness pills and the tail end of a cough and cold, I slept  pretty well, barring a synchronised coughing fit in the early hours — yes, I can cope with the chemo but we now have, horror of horrors, a man cold in the house!!! Aargh!

Still, whether it was the chicken soup, the reflexology or simply the fact that I no longer lay there waiting for all sorts of imagined side effects to kick in, last night was so very much better than the “Sleepless on Steroids” night ( see earlier post) I spent after the first chemo session. Long may this last!

Related Posts:

• The operation looms
• Life after chemo — reunions and races
• Final chemo — one milestone down!