Chemo Treatment

Those of us who have had or are having chemo therapy treatment take it for granted that everyone knows what we are talking about when we say, “Another chemo treatment down, two to go…”

Let me take a little time to describe just what a treatment involves. Yesterday our appointment was at 11:40 am. We showed up a few minutes early and waited to get my blood draw. That would tell the doctor if my blood counts were high enough for my body to tolerate a chemo treatment. We didn’t have to wait long for the doctor to come out and fetch us for our consult. Dr. Cho is so personable and easy to talk to. He says my blood counts are still within acceptable range although I am a little anemic; nothing to cause a delay in treatments.

SIDE BAR; He expressed his regret that he could not endorse medical marijuana for me but said he had no objections to it if I could find a doctor who would support it. Maybe my primary doctor, Dr Barker would be amemable. I left a message for Dr. Barker, but no return call yet.

After meeting with Dr. Cho and having a brief check up, I’m ready for chemo. The waiting room is crowded with chairs and puzzle tables. Patients come and go with various cancer evidence to identify them as fellow cancer patients or caregivers: water bottles, bags of things to distract them during treatment, shocked faces, resigned faces, bald heads, wigs and scarves. Some of us are puffy from the steroids that go with the treatment, some are gaunt with depleted systems showing on faces. The “professionals” whiz by us at twice the speed most of us can muster. The caregivers try to maintain solicitous concerned demeanors through the boring wait time. We waited quite a while before tentatively reminding the nurse that it was two o’clock and we had bee there since 11:30. After a flurry of activity to find my “lost” file, we were finally escorted into the chemo suite. This is a large room with a big work table in the middle for all the many necessities of chemo. There appeared to be two technicians/nurses on duty and they double teamed me getting me set up with an I.V.

For once, we had a semi private chemo area. The room had originally been set up with chemo stations around the room with partitions between each station. Over time, the stations had been converted to contain two and then three chairs. Previously, we had been consigned to the third (middle) chair with scarcely any room for the staff to move around, let alone have Chuck sit comfortably beside me. We felt like we had graduated to this higher status at last.

The first part of the procedure is to find a working vein. That takes a couple of tries. Finally “we’re in” (“we” are not happy with the multiple sticks, but are glad to be done with the search for a free flowing vein). I’m hooked up and ready for the initial saline drip. Chuck asks for a blanket and pillow and tries to make me comfortable.

They still haven’t found my missing file with the orders from my treatment. They are working on it. The orders finally arrive and I get my Emends which is a terrific anti-nausea drug. It’s in the collateral drip and things are finally under way. This calls for a root beer popsicle. Next comes the Cyclophosphamide (Cytoxin) and then the last thing is pushing two vials of doxorubicin (Adriamycin). The nurse can’t get “a good return” so has to find another vein to push this last dose into. After that a little more saline and we are on our way.

I remember my friend Donna called Doxorubicin the "Devil Drug". I'm not sure if that was because it is red or because it made her so sick. The only think it does to me is make my urine bright red. Disconcerting the first time it happens. Donna lost her battle with ovarian cancer some years ago now but not due to any lack of will or effort. She fought like a deamon and could walk and talk faster than me on her worst days. I still miss her.

Finally, I am full of drugs and popcicles and still feeling pretty good. It's hard to complain after a treatment is finally over. We just want to get out of there. Still, I wish the center had a more spa like atmosphere and I wish no one had to go there, but other than that, things are fine and life is good.

Three down and one to go…

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