So now that I had been diagnosed and the got the initial shock of the fact that I had Leukemia I was more or less ready to start fighting it. I was keen to get started with the treatment and get on with things. To be honest if I knew what the next few weeks and months were going to be like I wouldn't have been so enthusiastic.
The Doctors explained to me that I was going to be treated with Chemotherapy and an relatively new drug called Atra which had a fantastic success rate in treating my type of Leukemia.
At this point I was feeling pretty upbeat and ready for a challenge. I had been pumped full of blood products and was feeling pretty strong. It was actually on my first day on the ward in St. Damiens (on the 6th of the 6th 2006) that they officially diagnosed that it was Acute Myeloid Leukemia that I had. This was actually good news as this type of Leukemia is very treatable.
So I was getting to meet some of the other patients on the ward and hearing their stories and experiences which was a very positive thing but also gave me a little insight into the fact that this may not be the walk in the park that I had hoped it would be.
One guy I met there had been through 12 courses of chemotherapy which I now understand is no simple task. To be honest this guy completely reinforced in my mind that I was going to get though this no matter what. When I heard everything he had been through over the last few years I just thought to myself, "well that must be the worst that can possibly happen so I can get through what I have to".
The Doctors were very keen to get me started on chemo but initially felt that my body was too run down to even think about it. For this reason they spent the first few day loading me up with Antibiotics and Steroids. I was delighted with myself when I saw much my chest and arms swelled up after the first day of steroids. The Doctors however we not quite so impressed and took me straight back off them. I really understand now how sports cheats get such an advantage from using drugs.
Both Doctors and Nurses kept trying to explain to me the importance of not picking up an infection at any time during the treatment but to be honest I never quite took them seriously enough I can tell you that I certainly would do now!
Very quickly I felt quite at home on Damien's ward in no small part due to the amazing nurses who work there. They made it as easy as humanly possible for me, and made my comfort their number one priority. I know it is said a lot but, there is no doubt about it, being a nurse is not simply a job; it is a vocation. With the first day of the chemotherapy treatment I really had no idea what to expect. I was told that may feel sick and nauseated. This was an understatment to be fair and I was barely able to eat while on chemo. In fact my nausea became so bad that I was vomitting so violently that I ruptured the blood vessels in my eyes turning them completely red. Now I don't the bloodshot look that you get after too many pints. This looked more like having a thin film of blood over my eyeball. This happened eventually but to being with i was just sick and feeling pretty miserable about it. One thing those who know me will tell you is that I love my food (before any of the smart arses say it... I know I've made up for it since I got out!).
Anyway that's it for today. I know it was short but I'm keeping the good stuff for tomorrow, so check back to find out how having cancer is exactly like being pregnant!
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Fair play to you bud. I've
Fair play to you bud. I've heard some of this, but you're reminding us all about why we should be raising money
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One more on the team ;)
Hi Darragh,
My name's Steven, aged 22, and recently diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia and a current resident of St. Damiens Ward in Beaumont.
Monica was telling me you were writing up some of your experiences and were in involved in some Leukemia-related fund-raising for Beaumont and I was instantly interested. A bit on my story first i guess....
In September 08 I was admitted to Louth county hospital with a fever where i later was moved into isolation due to the severity of the drop in bloods I had. I was stabilised with multiple transfusions of reds and platelets (as you do :P). This was easily the sickest I had ever been in my life having never spent a night in hospital since birth in (at this stage) my 21 years.
I spent 2 nights stabilising in Louth before being moved to Beaumont and after 2 weeks of sickness, a hospital birthday and losing 3 of my 13 stone weight in that period, my bloods miraculously recovered. I was released and observed in the Coleman Byrne clinic at increasing intervals as my levels seemed to go from strength to strength for 2 and a half months.
This is an unusual case for someone of my age. This "false start" of leukemia has been witnessed in children. It is a symptom known as aplastic anemia whereby, blast cells are evident but suddenly clear up for an indefinite period almost as if nothing happened - but due to the lack of evidence to suggest this was possible in someone of my age, it was suggested it was perhaps a viral infection in my bone marrow.
However, you do not cheat fate and on the 2nd of December, sensing something to be not quite right (a sore throat similar to a symptom i experienced in september) i went to Louth County again to get a blood sample taken. This time i was isolated again and transfered the following day. still considering myself to be quite 100% healthy despite being diagnosed with ALL, we started treatment a few days later and i spent xmas 07 and new year 07/08 in hospital. Today i await a bit of leave from the past 35 days of hospital (i have not left the ward once) and have completed my induction chemo on friday.
Up for the fight as usual. I have been heavily focused on getting through this and i feel that despite leukemia's obvious downfalls ;) from the worst scenarios rise the best opportunities and greatest strengthening of a persons character. I know im only starting my journey but this is to anyone who is new to it too - it can be done and i have met many amazing people who are fighting and have fought this
This is very much unedited (as is my username :P) so sorry if i offend but my way of dealing with things (as u learn very quickly your own in a similar situation) is
1. Understand what you have
2. Accept that it can be overcome
3. Then rip the piss out of the seriousness of the situation :)
hope to talk to you soon Darragh, I added you on bebo and have been told to pass on my regards from the staff on the ward.
Steven
Fair play!
Hi Steven! Thanks for taking the time to post your story on here. It is great to hear from somebody who knows the score with regard to this.
As I'm sure you've gathered from my postings here I have a LOT of time for the folks in Damiens & the CKB.
You seem very level headed about the whole thing which is the most important part of getting through it. As you have said yourself, rip the piss out of it and keep the head up. It really is the only was. Its a long road buddy but with the right frame of mind you can keep yourself upbeat.
I am due back in Beaumont on the 23rd of January and if you feel up to it and are in the hospital at the time I would love the opportunity to meet with you. I will understand if you do not want to meet as I remember a time when I was in Damien's that I needed to limit my visitors for my own good.
I've added accepted the friend request on Bebo so feel free to contact me there or here.
All the best.
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