Chemo Round 2 - June 15

The Cancer Country Club?

Chemo Round #2 - Went ghetto - bypassed the valet parking service and walked the short distance from the parking garage into the warm sunshine.  Passed by a couple of shiny limos lined up at the entrance and walked into the bright atrium to live piano music and a brunch spread with pastry, sandwiches, bagels, fruit, juice, delicious enough to serve in a top day spa.  People gathered around the bistro tables singing along, smiling, toe-tapping.  Volunteers announcing everyone is welcome to partake.  Happy conversations between well-heeled personal assistants, patients, and family.  Perhaps Julie the Cruise Director was on the Lido Deck?  Where is the pool bar?  While I stood in the atrium and soaked up the positivity, I forgot for several moments the real reason I was there.  Even my appointment slip refers to me not as a patient but a 'guest'.  Refreshing...in a strange sort of way.  Completely blows my perception of what a hospital setting should be.

  
Has my Squatter figured out it picked the wrong chick?

Made it up to the second floor, quietly announced my 30 minute lateness (to which the reply was, "you showed up on the right day, so you're not late") and was escorted into the back for bloodwork and vitals.  After another short wait, where another volunteer offered me candies while pushing a cart displayed with handmade hats, scarves and wraps, sat down with my oncologist to discuss side effects, essentially, bone pain pretty well controlled with Tylenol, very mild manageable nausea, only needed 2 Zofran, and discomfort from the surgery, but generally, not bad.  By Day 4 of the first cycle, my energy had completely returned as did my appetite and even did a few light workouts on the elliptical trainer.  Confided in the oncologist that honestly, the worst thing about the experience was the hair loss, but it's gone now, and in a way, nearly everything is better because I have regained some control.  I appreciated his concern for my head as much as the rest of me.  He took a rough measurement of the squatter and determined that it in fact had SHRUNK by slightly more than 1 cm.  THE POISON IS WORKING.  He reminded me that he first measured me about 2 weeks prior to my first chemo so the actual shrinkage may have been more.  IT IS SMALLER NOW.  I nearly ran out of the examination room only wearing the flimsy paper vest....elation!  A tiny, huge, perhaps statistically insignificant but incredible piece of good news for me.  Bring on the toxins!  I am raring to go!  The best news I could have enjoyed with my husband on our ninth wedding anniversary.  A day we will remember.  Sean and I spent the afternoon together waiting for the end of my infusion discussing our plans for our tenth, and as nice as the Cancer Country Club has been for us, Tuscany seems a little nicer.  A plate of little necks and crab cocktail for dinner and a walk through Denville for gelato.  The nicest day ever with my best friend!

This chemo stuff is a bunch of hype - June 18

What side effects?  Day 3 I crashed for about 2 hours, true to form as last time, today is Day 4, no more bone pain, no nausea, just sort of tired.  Actually, really hungry but going light and just grazing all day...although I'm dreaming of bad foods and Dinosaur BBQ.  Dozed for about 30 minutes.  Not really wanting to do much, but not debilitatingly exhausted either.  At peace.  Amazing little people around me.  My amazing large son packing up for Rider University for a week tomorrow.  He has been an amazing help lately.  Counting my blessings;)