muga scan you have 2 injections they can both go in the small paediatric cannula half hour gap between each, you lie down and are strapped in there is a bit of noise and it takes about 40 mins. I get cannualted in chemo suit.
Hope this helps.
Love Debsxxx
If debs doesnt mind I will add a bit to that. After the 2nd injection at the Marsden they do a quick ECG. Once you lie down on the MUGA bed they put a couple of stickies on you with electrodes. The strapping! consists of a large rubber band round the wrists to keep the arms down beside you. I usually ask for a knee rest to go under my knees and an extra padding under the pillow. The scanning plate is just over the chest area.
Dawn
xx
Hi Debs
We have just moved house so no internet connection for a while just been trying to catch up.
Congratulations on the new baby its so exciting really good news. Its lovely being a Nan.
Looks like I will be starting on Vinorelbine (or maybe something else) soon just finishing last lot of Taxol but just had scan and looks like more progression in liver although Onc reckons it could be healing he said it depends who is looking at the scan (bit confusing) anyway really p… off and also tumour markers were going steadily down they went down to 94 and last blood test had gone to 121 really scary. Anyway see what happens this week.
Take care Debs and everyone.
Love
DebsH
Hi Debs,
Hope the vinorelbine works for you. I had 12 cycles before it failed, and the tablets were quite easy to take. I used to have bloods done one day and then take tablets next morning at home after anti-sickness. Had to be ondanseron, the only one that worked for me. Bur certainly easier chemo than the gemcitabine/carbplatine I am on now. then had neulaster injection to boost bloods after second cycle on day 8.
Sorry to miss you at lunch to-day, always assuming I get there myself.
Grandchildren are great, I have two 4 and 6. The 6 year old knows all about my prognosis. last autumn when I was given 6 month to a year, she came into the hospital and said " I knew it was your hair thing Granny" and is very matter of fact about the whole thing. Certainly lightens the mood.
ove Marmite xx
Hi Debs
Good luck on the new treatment keep cheerfull,GREAT news about the new baby.Congratulations to you all.
Look after that berry !!!
Hugs
Jackie
Hi Debs
hope the new treatment kicks in very soon and does its stuff…many congratulations - what wonderful news!..hope the season of mellow fruitfulness disappears…jaynex
Hi Debs
Don’t be silly you’ve got nothing to apologise for, we all have to have goals that we want to get to, it’s what keeps all going.
I’ve never heard of a MUGA scan before reading this, what does that do that a CT doesn’t?
Diane
xx
Diane it is for your heart, women that are on herceptin have them.
I forgot the ecg thingies Dawn thanks.
Love Debsxxx
I also wanted to know what a MUGA scan was thanks for that Debs
Hope you are not feeling too bad
Thinking of you and sending love
xxxxx
Thank you for all your replies.
My berry is getting bigger and bigger will be able to sit on it if it carries on growing, it’s a bit like a cussion, I have cut steroids back to 2 a day eyeballs feel like gobstoppers on pogo sticks, could not sleep but could only plan jobs for Ian to do so I have cut them down to be kind to him!
Hope you are all doing well I go in for second lot of tablets tomorrow and then we have s.i.l. & b.i.l. here for the weekend.
I am abit sad as it is my eldest daughter Samantha’s 40th birthday party in Manchester Saturday night and I can’t go so anyone in the White Lion Deansgate go and tell her mummy loves her.
Love Debsxxx
Debs
I walked along most of Deansgate this time last week!!!
Sorry to hear your fruit is still growing but due to all the rain we’ve had it IS a good year for soft fruit. Jam makers will be out picking the huge crop of blackberries over the next month. Lots of crumbles will be landing on kitchen tables, yum.
I hope yours falls off the branch soon and is kept in a jar in a lab for posterity and I doubt you’ll be seeking “access rights”!
Next time I want to say “pain in the butt” to anyone I will restrain myself in view of what’s been visited upon your “asset”.
I’m sure your daughter will have a good time and be thinking of her lovely Mum.
Best wishes
D
Aahhh Debs - I wished I lived in Manchester, I would have been delighted to deliver such a message, - still I hope all the Manchester folk here will - without scoffing too much of the buffet, or stopping to tell all their cancer stories.
I think Dahlia’s story re: soft fruit would have me very worried if I was you. I should certainbly be cautious of people poking about in the hedges!
Oh no Debs …
are you watching your berry grow before you eyes?
I did laugh about you finding jobs for Ian to do that what I do to my other half…
or I start sorting and chucking things out!!!
Soon I’ll have nothing left!
AND of course there is always the shopping channels and internet.
Have you tried sleeping tablets?
Altough saying that I took a bucket load lastnight and was still wide awake at 2.30 this morning. joys of steriods!!!
I hope your daughter has a great birthday and I’m sorry you can’tbe there its just another reminder of this dreadful diease.
Best wishes
Tess.x
Hi Debs, I so enjoyed your blackberry story. Reading all the letters of support cheered me up too. I hope the problem gets sorted out soon. I always find the “waiting” for results much worse than the actual “knowing” and although you are sharing the srory I am sure you must be rather worried. However we are all rooting for you hoping that it is sorted soon. Your new friend, scottishlass. X
Welcome to scottishlass and hi to all,
well I had my second lot of tablets yesterday bloods were good. I find that strange as I feel so weak God knows what I would be like if bloods were bad!
Ian’s sister and hubby arrived for a coupe of days it is nice to see them as we only saw the or about half an hour at Christmas. This is the problem when you live so far away.
I am in bed trying to keep awake they are all downstairs trying to help catch up jobs. They are scraping the paint off some kitchen tiles and told me shout if I needed anything. It is a bit like a scene from The Royal Family. Me in nightie shouting for water them all down stairs chatting, scraping you get the picture none of them hear me so I stagger downstairs for a drink. ‘Oh you should have shouted us’ ‘Why dont you have a baby alarm or intercom?’ Well we do and I did!!!
We are going to Carbis Bay hotel for cream tea later if I can stay wake.
I feel I need to celebrate as my two daughters will be having drinks in the Hilton Manchester before Samantha’s 40th party kicks off.
Hope you all have a lovely weekend and are out and about having fun.
Love Debsxxx
Glad to hear you were up to having your tablets this week Debs - sorry you’re feeling rubbish though. My daughter frequently texts me when I’m downstairs and she’s up in her bedroom - the joys of unlimited text messaging - maybe you should try that instead of shouting!
Cream tea sounds lovely - hope you can stay awake for that. Hope your daughter’s party goes well, she’ll know you’ll be thinking of her.
I’ve messed around all week and not done any work which now means that because it’s due in on Monday I shall have to spend the best part of the weekend working 
Will try to get out for Sunday lunch tomorrow though, can’t work and cook lunch.
Have a good weekend everyone
Lesley x
I am sorry you are feeling so week. I can totally empathise. I have been anchored to the sofa for the best part of two weeks now. But I know it is because my bloods are crap - haemoglobin is 8.3 (I would have had to have an emergency transfusion if it had dropped below 8) and my platelets are low. But it is so frustrating feeling that I might not have long to live and can’t seem to live in the time I have left! I so want to be sea kayaking or jumping off a sailboat into crystal clear waters in the med. INstead I am sitting here watching the athletics and all those fit people rippling with muscles and energy.
Carbis Bay cream tea sounds wonderful. I love it there. Hope you enjoy it and aren’t too knackered after your trip out!
I too recognise the stuck upstairs with nobody knowing you need something syndrome. I can’t shout loud enough to get anybody’s attention! I do tend to text my son or even call the house phone from my mobile if I need something. But what a lovely family you have, looking after all the jobs.
Much love
Deirdre
Oh Deirdre
I so know that feeling of not being able to live in the time I have left. My left arm is now so swollen and numb I can’t really use it at all. Pain is difficult to keep under control ao I’m just getting used to using a wheelchair and being pushed. I have got into a pattern of waking in really bad pain at 6.00am. Hard to dress myself let alone comtemplate a city break. My cancer is prob. not immediately life threatening unless I have a stroke, but day by day I feel the impact. I don’t think caelyx is doing much…I’ll probably do 3 cycles and then get the dreaded scans.
As for living…I’m trying with the people I love to focus on memories from the past…that can bring joy and sadness without the pressure of thinking we have to create new memories. Does that make sense?
Debs I think you’ve managed a pretty hectic weekend…congrats.
Jane xx
Since my last post I have been asleep Ian has taken A & A into StIves I have a new goal of if I can get up and showered we will do it later.
‘Do it later’ seems to be my new mantra the problem is the later bit is getting alot shorter than is fair or comfortable.
Jane, we chat and laugh all the time about what we have shared and things we have done but it soooooo makes me sad to think I may not do much more.
Love Debsxxx
Jane,
I just feel so sad to visualise you as you describe. I am very aware that the last time I saw you, was the day your voice started to go.
Weepy Jen (for all of us)
xx