Tuesday, 17 March 2009
Sunday, 15 March 2009
Latest Update - Sorry for the delay
Jo's second week of radio-therapy ended last Friday. Thanks to all the people that gave her lifts everything went very smoothly, transport wise; luckily there was no adverse weather conditions to cause any delays.
Last Tuesday she had a Consultants review for the purpose of checking out any worsening side effects, so far she has only experienced a few minor fits which are now under control with medication. She also feels very tired after her treatment, luckily she has not suffered any hair loss as yet though this is predicted by the third week. As expected the most significant side effect is loss of speech which was predicted but is difficult to come to terms with. She is unable to hold a conversation at all neither is she able to read or write which causes her great distress, we are hoping that this might improve at the end of the treatment but could get worse leaving her unable to communicate at all. She has a speech therapist who is working with her to help ease this problem.
Please bear in mind when visiting Jo you need to be aware of her worsening communication difficulties,
Jo will be receiving weekly reviews of her treatment every Tuesday. Many thanks for your continued support both for the lifts and dog walkers.
Last Tuesday she had a Consultants review for the purpose of checking out any worsening side effects, so far she has only experienced a few minor fits which are now under control with medication. She also feels very tired after her treatment, luckily she has not suffered any hair loss as yet though this is predicted by the third week. As expected the most significant side effect is loss of speech which was predicted but is difficult to come to terms with. She is unable to hold a conversation at all neither is she able to read or write which causes her great distress, we are hoping that this might improve at the end of the treatment but could get worse leaving her unable to communicate at all. She has a speech therapist who is working with her to help ease this problem.
Please bear in mind when visiting Jo you need to be aware of her worsening communication difficulties,
Jo will be receiving weekly reviews of her treatment every Tuesday. Many thanks for your continued support both for the lifts and dog walkers.
Tuesday, 3 March 2009
First Treatment
Jo had the first Radiotherapy treatments today, Peter & Sarah Wilson took us today which was at the Churchill Hospital in Oxford, we had to be there for 1030am, we left home at 0825 and arrived at 0930 we went via the old road to avoid a hold up on the M40 - there were no hold ups on this route - worth bearing in mind for the future lifts!.
She was called in at 0940; the initialappointment was a little longer as there was some paper work to complete and the positioning of the laser markers. The treatment lasted 15mins and we were back in Banbury by 1230 pm.
The treatment will last for six weeks, 5 days a week, the sideffects are severe fatigue,hairloss and nausea plus the speech loss will worsen as will the headaches and general instability.
A check will be done weekly to see if the treatment is shrinking the tumor and to check how the side effects are affecting her. for the first 3-4 weeks she is likely to feel worse, but should improve after 6 weeks.
This period is going to be a very difficult time in our lives, I don't know how she is coping with the uncertainty of it all, it is not easy to try to focus on the positives when your unsure of the outcome.
As for me the whole thing scares the shit out of me and I am very fearful of the next few months, I can only pray for the right outcome.
Contd.
She was called in at 0940; the initialappointment was a little longer as there was some paper work to complete and the positioning of the laser markers. The treatment lasted 15mins and we were back in Banbury by 1230 pm.
The treatment will last for six weeks, 5 days a week, the sideffects are severe fatigue,hairloss and nausea plus the speech loss will worsen as will the headaches and general instability.
A check will be done weekly to see if the treatment is shrinking the tumor and to check how the side effects are affecting her. for the first 3-4 weeks she is likely to feel worse, but should improve after 6 weeks.
This period is going to be a very difficult time in our lives, I don't know how she is coping with the uncertainty of it all, it is not easy to try to focus on the positives when your unsure of the outcome.
As for me the whole thing scares the shit out of me and I am very fearful of the next few months, I can only pray for the right outcome.
Contd.
Tuesday, 17 February 2009
Calendar Instructions
When using the Google Calendar link please note that you will have to sign in. If you do not have a Google account just type in Bernie Jennings. When you have selected your preference please e-mail Mary Street and she will coordinate.
Update from Hospital Visit (16/2/09) Mask Fitting
We went to the Churchill Hopspital for an appointment to fit a mask which is necessary when under going radiation therapy. It was not a very pleasant experience for Jo as it involved dipping the mask into hot water and waiting for it to soften and then molding it to her face (didn't make an improvement). After the making of the mask she had a CT sscan in order to establish the exact points of treatment for the tumour. Which has now grown considerably since last time. It is fair to say that Jo's speech has deteriorated considerably and I have difficulty trying to understand what she is saying complicated by the fact that she can neither read nor write at all now. We have now been given the dates and times for the treatment which commences on 3/3/09. See the link to view these dates (http://www.google.com/calendar/render), this gives access to the calender. If you're able to do any of the runs please contact Mary Street on her email address (mary.street@tiscali.co.uk). If you find you can do any other runs to the Churchill let her know. She is coordinating the rota for Jo's treatment which will last for 7 weeks.
Thursday, 12 February 2009
Update Jo
We took Jo to the Churchill Hospital in Oxford yesterday, it was an appointment to see the Oncologist the purpose was to discuss the treatment and to answer any questions.
The treatment will be radiotherapy and it will last for six weeks, she will loose some of her hair and after two weeks she will start feeling extremely tired with flu like symptoms, it will take at least another 6 weeks untill she starts to feel any improvement.
They say that there will only one go at the treatment as the brain can only take the one dose safetly.
The next appointment will be on Monday, again at the Churchill to make a head mask to hold her head still during the treatment.
The treatment will be radiotherapy and it will last for six weeks, she will loose some of her hair and after two weeks she will start feeling extremely tired with flu like symptoms, it will take at least another 6 weeks untill she starts to feel any improvement.
They say that there will only one go at the treatment as the brain can only take the one dose safetly.
The next appointment will be on Monday, again at the Churchill to make a head mask to hold her head still during the treatment.
Saturday, 7 February 2009
Jo in The Snow. 12.38 Sat 7 Feb
After coming out of hospital on the 22ND Feb, Jo was feeling quite good, she manages to clear out and light the fire every day, and went to Tesco's with Jo Clewley last Wednesday - can't keep her away from the place. Although she really wishes she could walk the dogs, but they are OK as they get taken out every day by members of the Dog Club that she belongs to.
Our thanks to Stephanie Gordon who runs the roster and to all the intrepid members who have braved the weather to walk the dogs every day.
However, over the last week Jo has many head aches , and her speech has got a lot worse, she has started to get two or three seizures a day which seem to get longer each time; as the Tumour continues to get bigger these symptoms will worsen, so the sooner she starts the Radiotherapy the better, (scheduled for first week of March) every week day for six weeks at the Churchill in Oxford.
Each treatment lasts for 15 mins and they will be in the Morning between 10.30 a.m. and 12p.m.if any one would be so kind as to offer lifts we would be grateful as if she has to take the hospital transport it would be a 4/5 hour experience instead of 1 hour 45 mins. As the treatment progress she will become intensely tired.
I will post a treatment plan on the blog after we've been to the meeting with the Oncologist on Tuesday, so if you can spare a day you can just put your name in the box for that day, numerous kind souls have already pledged lifts for which we are grateful.
I will update again after the meeting with the Oncologist on Tuesday. Meanwhile Jo wishes go thank everyone for their get-well & birthday cards she received last week.
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