WSCD? Let Cycle 3 Begin!

What should Christian Do?

On Sunday evening of last week, I got a call from my oncologist giving me the option of either delaying treatment during the week of Thanksgiving or proceeding according to schedule. Because the "day spa" is closed on Thursday and Friday, I would need to receive treatment in the hospital on those days, which would require some hoops to jump through.   Officially, I would need to be admitted to the hospital, but I would be able to go home at night.

We debated it, but the choice seemed fairly clear.  While I love the Thanksgiving holiday (it could be my favorite) and didn't relish spending it in the hospital as well as being sick the following weekend, I wanted to proceed according to the schedule for various reasons.  First, I didn't want to delay treatment and risk lowering the efficacy of the treatment.  Second, if I delayed treatment a week, I would have chemo during Christmas week, just like last year.  I'd rather sacrifice Thanksgiving so I can be home with family during Christmas week, although chances are I'll be sick.  Finally, I feel emotionally and physically up to it ad frankly, just want to get this over with.  I'd be hard pressed to think of a better Christmas present than knowing I was done with treatment and should be feeling better with each day.

So, I began cycle three yesterday.  We met with the oncologist before hand, all my blood work looks good and we were off to the races.  I took my little fanny pack home with my 24-hour drug and am back in the "day spa" getting some good hydration.

The last ten days have been adventurous.  The week following chemo I had a fever, abdominal cramps, back pain and the strangest combination of diarrhea and constipation. I'll spare you the details on that last one except to say it lasted for a good two weeks straight.  It appears to have finally disappeared yesterday.  The last week, I have generally felt pretty well, but it seems I always have a "big but".  I feel good but... 1) see aforementioned bowel movement challenges; 2) I developed a cyst along the incision scar from a year ago.  It was pretty annoying actually.  It hurt to bend over, had to keep my belt higher, could only sleep on a certain side or on my back and that required keeping my hands carefully positioned to keep the elastic band from hitting it.  Thankfully, it popped/opened/release the alien inside on Sunday morning and feels so much better.  3) Current challenge is with the bladder.  One of the chemo drugs is notorious for damaging the bladder.  Mine has been painful since Friday, but yesterday afternoon around 4:45, I was speaking to a client when jabs of pain began.  Enough to take your breath away.  I got up to make some copies (thankfully everyone in the office had gone home) and it struck again so strong I fell to my knees.  It kept coming on and off.  I managed to make it home and everyone knew something was wrong.  Thankfully we have those wonderful opiates at home.  I spent the rest of the evening in the recliner giving thanks to whatever pharmaceutical company had synthesized the drug and for the doctor in the hospital who had prescribed it.  I honestly don't know what I would have done without.  Ironically, with the diarrhea gone and the pain meds making me sleepy, I got the best sleep in week's last night!

So that's the latest and greatest.  Thanks again to all your love and support.  Words cannot describe how grateful we are.