Week 5
27th August – 3rd September
The emotional departure of Viv’s brother back to South Africa left Viv with the realisation of how important, and how good it was to have him around. He was someone Viv could talk to openly about how he was feeling – something that was very important.
“You really need to be able to talk to people about what’s happening.”
Avril had been continuously at Viv’s side, helping him eat and administer the medication, not to mention trying to run her own busy life at the same time. In this respect having another member of the family there made a heck of a difference. It had enabled Avril to have a rest, and get a new haircut – which Viv was particularly fond of!
“If you want my advice, if a member of the family offers to come over to help for a few days jump at the chance”
Avrils best friend from South Africa is coming over on the 16th September, near the end of Vivs treatment. Viv believes Avril will need someone at that stage for moral support, or a shoulder to cry on. By that stage there will have been a long, emotional strain on her. Viv, not having a very big family appreciated any help offered to himself or Avril.
Session 20, in the fifth week, again started where the last one left off. Viv was feeling reasonably ok, but had now come to accept the constant 24/7 pain he was experiencing in his mouth. He explains that the pain is not excruciating, but was wearing him down at times. However there was a surprise waiting for Viv on Monday. Viv thought that this week the radiotherapy intensity was be reduced. Well, something was ‘lost in translation,’ because it now seems the intensity has doubled, taking about 30 minutes to administer. The usual long blasts to three different angles, then – Viv’s left shoulder is clamped to the table, causing his burned, blistered skin to “hurt like hell.” He’s zapped again for another 40 seconds. Viv says he always counts every application to pass the time away. Needless to say he was very relieved when the clamp came off and it was over for today.
Later that night Viv discovered that an uncomfortable, itching sensation he had been experiencing under his arms, was actually a huge rash that had developed under both his armpits. “It was as raw as a Bangladeshi-backside after a vindaloo dinner.” It seems that due to the sensitivity of the skin in that area he’d become allergic to deodorant spray. So would now have to go around smelling like a rugby lock forward. He says that anti-histamine cream is not the best form of deodorizer.
During the rest of the week there was no let up in the intensity of the radiotherapy applications, the clamp on the left shoulder was used everyday of the week, and because his skin was so tender it caused bruising around the area where the clamp was being used.
The weeks treatment went according to plan if you consider the double doses, and Viv was learning to live with the radiation burns, constant sore throat and pain in his mouth. Viv’s voice had almost completely gone by the end of the week. From here on in it was liquidized meals only. Some days he explains it is more difficult to swallow than others.
On Friday he was taken to have the three-dimensional mask of his head measured once more, to compensate for more swelling, and to set up the computers in readiness for the change in therapy.
The technicians explained that they had now finished treating the larger fields of his chest and sides of the face. The 6th week would target much more precise areas. They told him this with a smile, as if he should be relieved. But Viv wasn’t convinced just yet. He knew that these last 2 weeks would be the most difficult. But optimistic as ever he smiled back and told them he trusted them, and obrigado.
Viv is continually stressing the importance of keeping yourself busy, and your mind active at this stage of the treatment. People are always asking him why he doesn’t spend more time at home, relaxing. But Viv firmly believes his time in the office everyday is therapy in itself.
This weekend, the 5th since the start of the treatment was the worst for him. The area around his mouth, neck and chin are extremely burned and sore, so much so he can not sleep on his side, and his mouth is now extremely swollen. He says he looks and feels like he has gone ten rounds with Muhammad Ali, or Cassius Clay as he was known. And after a day watching the sports channel on Saturday, sitting around doing very little, he was feeling absolutely exhausted.
Sunday saw Viv’s confidence spiral downwards. Laying in bed until midday, it was the first real occasion he really didn’t feel like eating anything. The longer he lay in bed the sicker and more exhausted he got. The only relief from the radiation burns was to put ice-packs on his chest. He seems convinced that if he’d been in work for these two days he would not have had the time to sit around, dwelling on his condition and feeling sorry for himself. Just goes to prove that being active and having people around you is so important.
Week 5
At the end of his 5th week, he’s lost all his excess weight and thinks he now looks quite dapper. It’s the first time he has been able to wear those slacks in about 6 years.
He is now at his optimum weight of 79kg. Except for the red burns on his face, you would never know he was sick.
Nebulizer
Viv takes a tug on his latest toy – the nebulizer. It is used in this case for lubricating the airways and producing liquid to act as saliva. With Viv’s saliva production almost completely packed up this is a vital part of day to day life.