Day 8 Treatment

Hi All,



The sun is shining on dear old Blighty and the world is good. Returned home from Royal Marsden on Wednesday 2nd June. Jimi's hospital/chemo induced purple haze is slowly and thankfully receding (how did people survive the 60's?). Slowly returning to normal sleeping patterns/routines which were all shot to pieces in hospital. Managed to mow the lawn yesterday and go for a lovely walk with the wolf (Bonza) this morning.



He managed to drag (with Lucy's assistance it has to be said) a huge log back to the car on a walk when I was in hospital. The log is installed in the garden and I expect to send photograhic evidence of his amazing sculpting skills in the next few weeks (I reckon it is going to be a squirrel Bob). He is mad as a hatter!



The weather is helping the recovery process a lot. Best of the summer yet with mid to high 20's expected to continue for the next week. I have to say, England in the summer sunshine is hard to beat especially as the sunsets are after 9:00 pm which means you get to enjoy the good weather (when it happens) and BBQ for longer! I also forgot to mention, no need for Aeroguard!!!!!! May even stroll down to the 'Silverstone Beach' later (our neighbour's Sue and Paul's affectionately known pool).



Home is definitely where the heart is and I can honestly say I have never appreciated my family and home more than this week. Lucy and the girls have been rocks. I now have nurse Ella-Rose attending to my every need - temperature twice a day and logged.

If anything, the house was too clean on my return. Chemo apparently heightens the sense of smell and any smells assoicated with chemo can stay with you a long time. Overriding smell of hospital was bleach/cleaning fluids (can't be a bad thing in hospital I suppose!) so any smell of cleaning fluid sends me straight back to hospital -not good. Another good reason to retain the classic Mills 'lived in' look. The nurse and her sisters are currently doing a great job at returning order to Orchard Cottage. One of the hospital nurses suggested Lucy not wear perfume throughout my treatment as it can be a link back in the future. I will have to suffer eau de Lucy for the next few months - could think of a lot worse things!



In respect to side effects so far, nothing major to report - list below;

• No loss of hair or change of colour or straightening yet - taking on a Lord of the Rings theme, the kids reckon I would give Gandalf a run for his money as Stephen the white - time will tell.
• Soft skin. Apparently my skin has taken on a baby's bum quality. I couldn't possibly comment.
• Mettallic taste. Nothing that a mint or two can't solve.
• Occasional nausea. Getting less due to drugs working through the system. kept in check with anti nausea pills.
• Tiredness which comes in waves, although reducing.

The plan is for me to return to the Marsden on 17th June for another 5 night , subject to a bed being available. Am hoping for good weather as there is a small garden where I intend to spend most of my time.

Three weeks from the start of the next chemo session (circa Monday 12th July) I kick off 6 weeks of Radiotherapy. We still need to coordinate our accomodation in London and hope to do this in the next week or so. Many thanks again to everyone who has been so generous in offering places to stay. In particular, a big thank you to; Chris & Michaela, Nigel & Julie, Henry and Sarah and Julian (times two).

Also the home guard needs a special mention as their efforts have ensured that nurse Ella-Rose and her sisters plus Lucy have been fed and watered in grand style. Thanks (in no particular order) to; Sarah, Sara, Elizabeth, Penny, Anne, Amanda, Caroline and Rachel. Just to let you know, Elizabeth's lasagne has scooped the prize for creativity with a picture of me (in tomato sauce) on top. Setting a tough bench mark indeed.

We are very much looking forward to catching up with my sister Pip who is coming to London mid August to lend a hand.

Time to get into the sun. Take care all and enjoy the first Aussie Grand Slam winner (she is amazing) on Saturday for a very long time.

Stephen