Chemo #35

The efficient version

My tumour marker’s down from 145 to 119!  I started the final cycle of this round of chemo today.

The full version

Chemo # 33 & 34

After last week’s treatment, I thought I had nothing to share but I do.  It has nothing to do with the treatment – which was as eventful as standing in a short queue at the grocery till point – but with not being a wallflower.

Lazy-aged Side Effect

A new side effect of the drug I’m on (Hycamtin) – lethargy.  I know the feeling.  I’m sure most of you do too.  When I was healthy, it used to arrive if I’d overworked mentally or physically and indicated I needed to rest and recover.

Chemo #32 – Progress!

D-Day.  As I’d promised myself, it’s time to decide whether to abandon treatment.

I’ve had 2 weeks to get familiar with the decision.  Taking the emotion out of it is virtually impossible so during that time I set an objective target (read, ultimatum).  If the tumour marker had increased after yesterday’s blood test, that’d be the 2^nd month in a row and for me, an indicator that the drugs aren’t working.  Then I’d quit – no point suckering myself into treatment simply because it’s the generally accepted action.  However, if the marker had decreased, I wouldn’t be so hasty and I’d have to set new parameters for the next decision point.

Chemo #31

End of cycle 2 today. I have a week off – woohoo! – and then an appointment with the doctor to check up on the tumour marker to see where things lie. Hoping for a dramatic drop in the marker but I’ll forget about it until then and go in with an open mind. Then it’s the first of a line of decisions.

Chemo #30

The start and end of my day couldn’t have been more contrasting.

When I arrived at the oncology centre, I felt pretty flat.  I’ve been feeling it all week.  Actually, I left work early on Monday and spent the day in bed on Tuesday with a knotted gut.  I’ve been eating a lot more iron after last week’s blood results so between that and the stress of the situation, I’ve been hunched over most of the week.  The good news is my red blood count was up this week so the adjusted diet worked.

Quality vs Quantity

You know those movies where you’re inspired to be the best version of yourself and really live?  “The Bucket List” and “Thelma and Louise” spring to mind.  The same thing happens with New Year’s resolutions and we know their notorious survival rate.  The trouble with inspired living is its fade and very quickly habitual life takes over.

Chemo #29

Cycle 2 started today.  I tolerated the last cycle well (at 4mg Hycamtin) so the doctor’s increased the dosage (to 6mg out of the max.7mg).  It’s a slow process of “wait and see”.

Chemo #28

It seems as if I’m aiming for a Perfect Attendance certificate!  3 weeks’ treatment in a row without incident and I’m at the end of the first cycle.

Chemo #27

Easy as pie!  Nothing much to tell which is great!  My bloods were good and as I was plugged in to the bags of fluid, I nestled comfortably into the recliner under a blanket to read and talk to myself…