The Mirror’s Linda Nolan sheds light on the nausea, nagging low mood, and knock-the-stuffing-out-of-you fatigue that are all part and parcel of undergoing cancer treatment
If you’d stepped into the MRI room in my Blackpool hospital this Tuesday morning you’d have heard the dulcet (or not so much) tones of Blood Brothers’ Bright Blue Day coming from The Tube Of Doom.
That was me having a panic attack. You’d have thought I’d have got over my claustrophobia by now. Seemingly not.
Somehow, if I just keep singing I can drown out the fear. I’d already caused a fuss when I arrived with a dislodged cannula and a hand covered in blood.
I almost didn’t make the appointment at all. I kerfuffled my dates. I’ve now got Denise checking my emails, like a PA.
This is the reality of life with cancer treatment. Scans – and panic attacks – bloods, chemo, then recovery. Then go again. In between trying to tame hair that now resembles a dandelion clock.
And I’m someone who’s never had a bad reaction to the drugs, and yet I still suffer nausea, nagging low mood, and knock-the-stuffing-out-of-you fatigue.
Seeing King Charles this week perform his first public engagement since he began his cancer treatment I can only imagine he feels the same, and that’s if he’s reacted well, as we are led to believe.
Powering the smiles and small talk there will have been a lot of rest – before, and after. Possibly anti-nausea tablets.
And anxiety, I imagine, over making the final call early that morning as you never know what kind of day you’re going to have. With the added pressure of global speculation. Maybe he even looked like a dandelion, too, before he reached for the mousse. I can imagine Camilla whisking him back to a garden chair afterwards, in the face of accusations of mollycoddling (me? I say more mollycoddling, please).
I’m full of admiration, his visit will have meant the world to those chemo patients. If he visited me having mine I’d be thrilled.
It’s so dull. And he knows. He might be having treatment in a beautiful private room, but it’s the same medicine.
He’ll be the biggest inspiration as Cancer Research UK’s new patron.
What he’s already done for early diagnosis awareness is fantastic.
But he best look after himself now. He’ll be needing a nap. Camilla’s orders.
