Round Three

Here we are again, back in the chemo chair. A little bump in the road for this treatment -- my liver functions are up so we're waiting for blood results to see if I get chemo today or not. (Chemo can be hard on the liver and kidneys so they watch those results as well as the WBCs. I learn something new every visit.)  I guess "stat" at the lab doesn't always mean "stat" so we get to practice patience while we wait for results.

My chemo buddy today is again my dear husband. He doesn't seem to mind these endurance visits now that he has an iPhone and can surf the web while we wile away the day. And if you know my dear husband, you know I couldn't keep him away from these events -- I've had lots of volunteers (thanks dearies, xox), but he won't relinquish the job. I also figured out my wireless connection sooner, rather than later this visit, so hope to have this post ready to go before I leave the chair today.

I feel good calling this the half-way mark of my chemo experience. Cancer treatment is a long process, so it's good to be able to mark the little milestones as they come along.

Work was busy busy this week, and I love to have a little more work to do than time to do it, but by the end of yesterday I was feeling a little frazzled and ready for a break. I treated myself to dinner with the Ms last night -- we had take-out teriyaki, because that's about the extent of my entertaining abilities these days. I can manage that and some wine or beer -- drinker's choice. And I can guarantee wine you like if you bring it with you!  ;)   Though I was surprised to see that I had more of a selection than usual when I checked the wine cabinet -- dear husband included me in a recent Costco trip, which means we bought more things than were on the list (e.g. wine), which is why I don't get included on most Costco trips.

Nurse update -- another 20 minutes before lab results. OK so it took 40 minutes, but my lab results look fine so we're on for chemo today. Now the order goes in for the drugs, and sometime today I should start getting my treatment (pardon the tone, I've been sitting here for almost 2 hours now and am looking at another 3 at least. c'est la vie.)

Hair update -- super thin hair, but still enough to give me a "fringe of hair" look under the hats and scarves, so I'm holding onto it for now. It looks a little frightful when I pull off my hat, but I get a chuckle out of it when I catch myself in the mirror. Not a look I would ever pick for myself, but it's very different, and often amusing. Might as well enjoy it, and hope a stiff wind never blows my hat off.

And in case I haven't mentioned it, my dear husband is a great chemo buddy. He fills my water bottle, fetches me coffee, tea, and soda, helps me navigate my iv contraption to and from the loo (as I just mentioned, I drink a lot of liquids), and shares his delicious piroshky with me. There's a great piroshky place in the first floor of the cancer institute, and every time we take the stairs we're reminded of its presence; the aroma is mouthwatering. I get a bag lunch (sandwich, fruit, and cookie) as part of my chemo treatment, but dear husband has to fend for himself -- well, not entirely, I do share my lunch with him, but remember, it's hospital food -- so he supplements with a piroshky, and sometimes a pastry if there's one that looks too good to resist. I guess they were all resistible this week.

Well I think I'm ready to wrap this one up and let you get on with your day. I've got another half hour in the chair and then will be on my way. I think our timing will work out perfectly to pick up darling daughter from work on our way home. Bonus! We'll see what this round's side effects bring. I'll check in next week.