Nothing in this world can take the place of persistence.
Talent will not; nothing is more common than unsuccessful
people with talent. Genius will not; unrewarded genius is
almost a proverb. Education will not; the world is full of
educated derelicts. Persistence and determination alone are
omnipotent. The slogan 'press on' has solved and always will
solve the problems of the human race.
--Calvin Coolidge
Welcome to Chapter Three in the Mighty Cancer Fighter Series
Chemo three was on Tuesday. The first thing they have to do is pull a bunch of blood out
of me to check cell counts. Now, that should be a no-brainer. I am a 14 gallon blood
donor, and have veins that nurses wish for. I would walk into a blood donor center and
they immediately bring the trainees over to stick me. I kept waiting to see if they would
bring in a wino to see if HE would miss. He wouldn't - it was easier than trying to get a
Yugo into the Holland Tunnel. Until now. I think my veins heard the word "Cancer" and
decided to sit this one out on the beach in Baja... I am not sure HOW my blood gets
through my body. I keep picturing red blood cells lined up in front of a transporter saying
"Beam me down to the liver, Scottie!!" and a rogue Scottish white blood cell at the
controls saying "Aye, aye, Cap'n!" Anyway, the worst part of chemo is just trying to find
a vein to pull blood from.
Things have gone well with the chemo so far, and the results have been beyond their
wildest imaginings. A good sign, to say the least. Chemo itself has not been as bad as I
expected. There have been a lot of minor side effects, but nothing that I and 347 different
medications can't handle... I am to the point of having to use Microsoft Excel to figure out
what meds to take and when!
The doctor checked me out and was amazed at the progress. It was only THEN that they
told me just how bad off I was when I came in. The cancer was in every major organ in my
body, and a lot of other places too. Thank heaven the chemo is working so well. It was by
my heart, in my spleen, lungs, kidneys, liver, bowels, everywhere... In a way, I am glad
that I didn't realize how extensive it was until AFTER we knew that chemo was working!!
Based on the observed rate of growth, I have had this growing in me for long time... If I
have any advice to anyone, it is that when you can't do what you used to do, don't
rationalize it - get yourself checked out. If I had, we would have caught this much earlier.
Anyway, I still have a long row to hoe with this chemo, but it sure is worth it. (If the
lymphoma should come back after chemo, would that mean I am a lymphomaniac?)
I had a lot of side effects since the chemo, which is why this is so late, but nothing I
couldn't handle. I have finally stopped the hot flashes and night sweats, thank heaven. I
wouldn't say that I felt like I was going through menopause, but as soon as they
disappeared so did my urge to go to shopping at the mall.... And it looks like I am going to
have to start wearing hats - my hair seems to be deciding to join my veins down in the
Baja.. (Hope they aren't using my credit cards!)
The people at the hospital are wonderful - it is a very intimate experience with doctors and
nurses who care. That makes it easier - much easier. I worried about going to the VA for
care, but had no choice. As it turns out, it was the best choice I could have made.
Journal Three- My Veins Go To the Baja.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |