Chemo 2.2

   Before I get started, it’s been brought to my attention that a lot of people are reading this from a mobile device and that it looks a bit different on the mobile interface than it does on an actual computer. If you are reading this on a phone or tablet and you want to join the email list, I’ve been told that the subscribe box is down at the bottom of the page and not at the top where I see it on my laptop. And remember, I can’t see the email list, so I can’t send you any spam or whatever.

   5-10

   Our friends have treated us to a weekend on the Gulf coast. This next week I start what I will call chemo 2.2. It will be the second treatment of the second round of chemo. The following treatments will be 2.3, 2.4 and so on until 2.6 which will be the last. So far the side effects have been fairly predictable. Predictable to the point of nothing unexpected or anything I wasn’t told to expect. I’m on a trial drug that has proven effective on other forms of cancer, but hasn’t been proven on this particular type yet.

  5-12

   Today was chemo day. Started with a blood draw for stats on what the chemo may be doing for or to me. The lab was backed up to the point it reminded me of the VA. My guesstimate was over a hundred people there. This includes all of the patients and family, but the normal number of people in this waiting area is about twenty to thirty.  Next was a visit with the oncologist and the nurse that oversees the drug trial. After a review of my side effects it left little doubt that I was getting the trial drug. That gives me more hope due to it’s efficacy on other types. Then it was on to the infusion lab. My time was supposed to be 12:45, but I didn’t get in until 3:00. The drugs that they give me before they start the actual chemo tend to make me sleep for a good part of the infusion and I don’t count that as a particularly bad thing. Finally though, the alarm went off and we were out of there at 6:00 and we caught the shuttle back to the motel and settled in for the evening.

  5-13

   Sat around and watched the clock until late afternoon, then headed back to the clinic for the Neulasta shot. Other than the waiting, it was pretty much in and out and back to the motel. Packed up for the most part, ready to get back home and assess the damage that the rains have brought.

  5-14

   On the way home we stopped to have lunch with my daughter, and then finally home. After a quick look around, the damage is minimal, but you can see in our back yard where the water had been flowing. The rain gauge had overflowed at 6” and there were small ponds in the yard. I don’t know the official tally, but my unofficial one shows over 18” of rain in the past 5 weeks. The lake went from being half empty to releasing 56,000 cubic feet per second in two weeks. That’s around nine tanker loads a second. Yeah, it’s wet around here. If you want to mow, you either pick your times carefully or deal with pushing through the water and hope you don’t clog the machine up or make too deep of ruts.

  5-17

   The last few days I’ve been really tired. I’ve slept late and generally not done much other than a short walk outside or take a nap. If the schedule from the last chemo holds true, then tomorrow should be a bit better and so on.

  5-19

   The nausea isn’t as bad this time, but the fatigue has been longer lasting. I’m losing hair this time and it’s a little creepy. I’ll be walking along and feel something on my neck, reach up to knock off a bug, and several hairs come floating down. We’re wondering what I’m going to look like bald. I’ll be sure and NOT send a picture to everyone.

I know this one is really short, but it’s really hard to write. The chemo tends to leave me in a fog. My next visit with MD is in less than two weeks. We’ll leave either on the 30^th or the 31^st depending on whether we stop to visit someone on the way.