Yesterday (Monday Aug 10th) I was scheduled for yet another transfusion of life-giving agony but received a reprieve at the nth hour. Where once my blood analysis numbers were too high for life to go on, now they are too low to accommodate more chemo. This is good! I have an entire month to strive toward normalcy. In the meantime my only concern is infection. No visits to China, no classrooms with coughing children, no necking in the back of the theatre.
I hope my brush with cancer is coming to an end but my connection to it is forever. I've never been more aware of the trauma it brings to people's lives. I've had an open search for the word 'lymphoma' on Twitter for several weeks. The number of mentions is staggering. The interference in lives depressing. We may be stuck with this disease for generations.
A couple of days ago I went paddling in my kayak to raise money for cancer. I felt privileged. I'm sure I was the oldest paddler and probably the only one doing chemo. All twenty-four boats had special loved ones they were paddling for. The day was wonderful. The inlet was a sheet of glass. The sun came out late in the morning. We couldn't have ordered a better day from Amazon.com!
I've had a lesion on my nose for about a month. I found a reference in the 'instruction pamphlet' that came with my last set of fludarabine tablets. "Reversible worsening or flare-up of preexisting skin cancer lesions has been reported to occur in some patients..." No doubt this was me. I'd been scheduled to have the same spots removed just before the chemo started but had to postpone. It's been a month since the fludarabine and the nose spot is finally healing. Ah! The power of the chemicals. The GP who saw me on my last clinic visit looked at the lesion and suggested it was healing because of the chemo rather than being enhanced by it. I have my doubts. Time will tell.
Last night we had a man over for dinner. We'd never met him before but he knew of my chemo. As he took my hand he said, "Oh, I wasn't sure if I should shake your hand." It took me aback. Maybe I should flash white silk gloves and wear a face mask.
I just discovered the short paragraph "Loose Ends" I wrote almost one month ago to the day but for some reason didn't post. It's part of the 'chemo record'. May I never forget!
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5 comments:
Dave, Dave, Dave! I don’t think a white silk glove and mask would help. There are a lot of people with only one name…Madonna, Cher, etc. But, I’m sorry to tell you that ‘David’ is already taken. He’s got a nice head of hair, as you do, but, well, he’s nude!!! And, we wouldn’t want you to be known as ‘the other David’, now would we?
Anyway, your news is fantastic! Way to go with the blood analysis & the kayaking! What an accomplishment all round.
Cheers!
Sharon
Dr Yee just called and said that we would go through another rituximab session, but he did drop the other R word: remission! You can't imagine a more beautiful word to us! We are very excited.
With a month off, we are contemplating destinations for quick holidays. Of course, Blarney is now a consideration, so we'll probably go somewhere in the wee trailer. Sister Mary has kindly offered to take Blarney if we go away, too, so, maybe that's a possibility. I don't think we'll go far, but it's nice to imagine not staying quite so close to home.
My "word verification" for this response is "ablers" That has to be a sign!
Joan
Yo, Chemo: I thought you always wore a mask -- are you telling me you actually look this way?(!!!). I'm sure you were the oldest guy out kayaking, (it certainly wasn't moi)...but you failed to mention that you were the second kayak back after a 5 hour cruise...nice going (over $11,000 rasied for cancer research). I'm going to miss that little thing that was part of the side of your nose for so long...but all good things must come to pass. Great to know you don't have to keep your cocktail up for awhile.
Remission is my new favourite "R" word. I am doing my happy dance and can imagine how absolutely elated the two of you are. Dave cause he will soon be back to necking in the theatre and Joan cause her man (that's you Dave) will be able to stay awake in the theatre.
I second the doctor who said the chemo is healing the lesion on your nose - you are getting 2 benefits for the price of one as I believe time will prove.
So many people I know who have successfully treated their cancer have used the word privilege in connection with their illness experience. You are in that group Dave.
Happy feet in Gordon Head
Minna
Great Blog! You are a credit to the cancer blogging community. I have added you to my blogroll, “Cancer Blog Links” with over 600 other cancer blogs at www.beingcancer.net, a cancer networking site featuring a cancer book club, guest blogs, cancer resources and more. Please stop by and visit. If you like the site, please consider adding Being Cancer to your blogroll.
Take care, Dennis
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