MR. BAD GUY (ENGLISH VERSION)

LITTLE HIGH LITTLE LOW

The chemoembolization, in principle, was a reasonably simple surgery. There were two clear goals; on one side, sending a high chemotherapy concentration to the tumour, injecting drugs through the hepatic artery preserving the rest of healthy tissue and on other side blocking the blood circulation with which the tumour was feeding. That blocking of blood supply destroyed also the cancer cells; that was the embolization.

As doctor Deacon had explained with his usual graffic and clarifying way, the liver was a singular organ. It had two systems of blood supply: an artery (hepatic artery) and an important vein (the portal vein). An ordinary liver received its 75% of blood supply through the portal vein and just 25% through the hepatic artery. But when it grew a tumour in the liver it received nearly all its blood supply through the hepatic artery.

The chemotherapeutic drugs injected in the hepatic artery reached to the tumour directly and didn't damage the most part of the liver's healthy tissue. Then, when the artery was blocked, the blood didn't reach to the tumour, but the liver kept receiving blood from the portal vein. That let also a higher concentration of anticáncer drugs could get in touch with the tumour a longer period time.

Enzo submitted again to the n th analytic of his life to check out his hepatic and kidney function and his coagulation.

The surgery took place in a radiology room because the procedure wasn't invasive. They dosed him a drug to help protecting the kidneys against the chemotherapy. Some monitors controlled his beatings, the blood pressure, the levels of oxigen and the pulse. Once sedated locally, they made him a little cut and slid into a small catheter.

After one hour and a half procedure, they took off the catheter putting some pressure to stop the bleeding. They used a locking device to seal the small hole in the artery. That would let him move faster. The wound was covered by a bandage with no need of stitches. He had to stay there six hours.

It was successful and Enzo stayed there two more days to check out the puncture spot to prevent infections, bruises or swellings.

He was discharged with antibiotics, painkillers and medication for nausea. Enzo suffered the postembolization syndrome so violently. The tiredness and his loss of appetite were symptoms of hepatic impairment, owed to the less blood supply to his liver.

- Deaky, I'm knackered. That's how I'm feeling.

John came Enzo's home to visit him a week later to check himself out things and how bad were his side effects.

- It's normal. They are signs of a normal recovering.

- You were right. I'm a total wreck, I got no strenghts for anything.

- You have to be patient. The symptoms might last a week or two longer. The procedure has been a total success. Luckily the tumour was placed in the right lobe and not the left one because otherwise you would have to do another chemoembolization within a month.

- Oh, what a lucky boy I am. How about your daughter's biology exam?

- I can see your memory isn't damaged at all -he smiled moved with Enzo's always tender details. He was all wrecked up and nothing could escape him-. She wasn't very satisfied.

- Oh, I'm sorry hearing that. Duncan, darling! Could you bring some Quality Street chocolates for Linda? She used to love them, right?

Enzo had a never ending storage of all kind of supplies of food. Funnily enough such a frugal man with his own feeding, he had the obsession of storing a great amount of food and drink to survive several civil wars. And always found something right for every person.

- They say there's nothing that chocolate can work out -Enzo said with weary smile.

- How are you doing with the breathings? Did you get the knack of it?