<a href="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/chemotherapy5.jpg"><img class="alignright size-thumbnail wp-image-2157" src="http://pigyard.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/chemotherapy5-200x150.jpg" alt="chemotherapy5" width="200" height="150" /></a>Yesterday, Monday, was the fifth cycle of chemotherapy for Jane. As always the infusions cannot take place if her blood is not at an acceptable level. For those of a medical bent or who have been through the experience her levels were: Hb 127; WBC 4.8; Plts 302; Neuts 3.46. This is not much different from her previous tests and therefore her body continues to spring back after the chemotherapy which is very good news.

We arrived at the hospital at 11.30 am and as expected Jane didn't get called into the chemotherapy suite until 1.20 pm so nearly a 2 hour wait, the reason this time was because they were two nurses down but they're always "nurses down" so why they don't allow for this is a complete mystery (no it's not a mystery, it's just poor management). It's only at this point that they request the first drug because they need to be mixed and used within a short space of time - Pertuzumab 420 mg, Trastuzumab 336 mg and Docetaxel 110 mg. Each infusion takes up to an hour to administer and there needs to be a saline wash through and a half hour wait before the next can begin. Jane eventually emerges from the experience, smiling as always, at about 6.15pm and we're home shortly before 7 pm, in time to listen to the Archers.

Today, Tuesday, she has lost her appetite (feeling mildly sick) and her sense of taste is all over the place but generally she feels ok, sufficiently ok to walk into town this morning and to go off to her art class this afternoon. What an incredible woman!