Here is the new update with me. I’m not going to Ann Arbor, their clinical trial has ended. So, I’m going to Louisville for their clinical trial. Again the chemo is supposed to shrink the tumors down more, so I can have the surgery again to remove the tumors. I start next Tuesday (29th). The chemo will be administered for 24hrs straight, and then I can leave. Obviously I will be in the hospital overnight. Good thing Louisville is a lot closer than Ann Arbor, and they have private rooms! I should have the drug every 3 weeks, but I don’t know all the details until I get down there.
In preparation of the chemo, I had to go under some surgery today (7/24) to install a metaport under my skin. Metaports substitute (or subsitrate-those of you who know the joke) getting stuck with IV’s. Plus it is a lot safer than IV’s leaking and making your veins hard from the chemo. I was awake and talking to the Dr.’s and nurses throughout the entire process. The procedure only took about 30mins, but I had to wait for 4.5 hrs before hand. That was how far behind they were at Carle. No it didn’t hurt, they sedated me a little, and numbed the area. It was really nothing, I talked to the Dr. & nurses the whole time. Yes, I’m sore and will be fore a couple of days. I will post pictures when I can remove the gauss pads (Probably next week).
And yes, I will make it to the EIU festivities for Ray’s retirement/EIU swim team reunion. If I don’t feel good, then I won’t come. The side effects are just the same as any other chemo. However, I will not lose my hair. But nausea, blood counts, & fatigue are normal side effects. My prescription drugs have been awesome with nausea, so I’m not really worried about anything.
So.. it’s just GAME TIME!! And I’m ready.. So bring it!
p.s. Today, I was a little hesitant in posting about my chemo and cancer stuff. I was questioning myself on what if people see this and judge me on being “not eligible” to work on future projects, get a new job, be active, to date people, or anything really.
After thinking it through I came up with a few things; 1. I already have posted about all the stuff I have been going through. So it would be a pain to delete it all. 2. Maybe this will help educate & help people going through the same thing. 3. If a company or person(s) is going to judge me on this, then they are probably people I don’t want to affiliate myself with them. That is just too bad for them. 4. Plus people come to my website to get these updates
I was thinking about this when I saw Slyvester, running around and chasing his brother (Tigger) and being a normal cat. He doesn’t really know he has cancer, he is still living his life, so why shouldn’t we? Just because we are a little more knowledgeable about this disease doesn’t mean we should stop our life completely. Even though sometimes it feels that way. You just have to keep moving.
