Chemo #7

It is almost 3:00 right now. I had chemo #7 earlier today. My chemo driver was Tammy, one of my friends from our neighborhood. She was PTA President last year and the year before. I was the Treasurer with her both years. We became good friends during that time. We did run into a little bit of a problem. Her daughter is in 6th grade and was getting some awards at the same assembly as Tyler. She really wanted to be there, which I totally understand because I wanted to be there too. We lucked out in that the assembly didn't start until 9:00 so after we both dropped our kids off at school this morning she took me to my appointment then rushed back for the assembly. She made it in time to see Tyler get his awards and see all of the 6th grade awards. I am glad she didn't have to miss it and that David was able to go also. He taped it for me.

Tyler received two awards. He is the male Outstanding Scholar for his class. His friend Rachel was the female Outstanding Scholar for their class. His teacher mentioned to me yesterday that she picked him because he does well in all the subjects that she teaches and she loved his weekly writing assignments. This makes me laugh because it was like pulling teeth to get him to do them. He has a great imagination and is a good writer when he wants to be but he has a "yellow" personality so if he doesn't consider it fun he doesn't want to do it. Because these were assignments they weren't classified as fun in his book. He would submit the bare minimum if we let him but with a little encouragement he ended up writing some interesting stories, granted most were less than a dozen sentences long. Regardless of the circumstances I am still very proud of him.

His second award was even more impressive because it isn't the teacher who decides who receives it. It is based totally on what they actually know. This award is the Certificate of Outstanding Performance on the Iowa Tests. Tyler scored in the top ten percent nationally in "Reading, Mathematics, Core Total, Science, and Total Composite." Tyler and his friend Ethan both scored high in 5 areas. This was more than anyone else in their class.

I actually spent most of the time Tammy was gone waiting at Dr. Gray's office. They open at 9:00 but the receptionist wasn't there. It turned out that her daughter had gone into labor so she was at the hospital with her. She had called in a replacement but by the time she got there they were a little behind. I didn't mind because I wasn't it any hurry and I found some good articles on breast cancer hormone treatment and oncology massage therapy. I didn't realize that there are so many things that you have to be careful of when you get a massage while you are going through chemotherapy, radiation, after surgery, or after you've lost lymph nodes. The article discourages having a full-body regular massage the day of or the day after infusion because it could make you feel very ill. A massage done incorrectly can actually "create lymphedema, mobilize a blood clot, compromise your immunosuppressed state, send the chemotherapy through your body more quickly than intended, or over-tax your already exhausted body." Wow, I didn't realize that it was such a big deal or that there were so many precautions I need to take from now on, especially after surgery when I loose my lymph nodes. What an eye opener.

As usual I met with Dr. Gray first. He said everything looks good. My red blood cells are still low so he asked me how my energy level is. I said it is still good. I rarely ever need a nap during the day. I did accidentally sleep in too long twice this week. He mentioned that if he had levels like mine that he would be tired all the time. All I can say is that it must not be my body that is giving me the energy I need to keep up with what I need to, it is my older brother, Jesus who is carrying me now. Just like in the poem "Footprints in the Sand" there may only be one set of footprints but that is because he is carrying me.

My chemo started about 10:30. I felt bad for Glenda and Susan because they were just running trying to keep up with everyone today. Tammy got back just after Glenda put the needle into my port. Lucky for her that she missed that part. Chemo went great. I wasn't as dizzy with the Benadryl as I have been before. I actually kept my eyes open for part of the time and was able to talk with Tammy and other people around us. One of the other patients that came in after me was the mother of one of my neighbors. I didn't know her but Tammy did so she introduced us. She has breast cancer also and this was her second treatment. Good luck to her.

After chemo we went out to lunch at Olive Garden in Layton. It was really good. Our waitress was training a new waiter. They both took really good care of us. When we first got there they asked us if this was a special occasion. I mentioned that it wasn't that I had just finished a chemotherapy treatment so we decided to go out to lunch for fun. I had a 5 cheese, shrimp and pasta dish that is one of their specials right now. It was great. When it came time to pay the bill the waitress came back and said that she hoped we didn't mind but she told her manager about me. She said that they were glad we had chosen to come to their restaurant today and that lunch was on them. I wasn't expecting that. It was so nice of them. I hope other people that are going through this are experiencing the support from total strangers that I am. I have a plaque that we made at our last Super Saturday for Relief Society that I was in charge of. I didn't know then why I picked that saying but I do know now. It says "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." Little things like that make this easier to handle. So the next time you are on Restaurant Row in Layton and you are trying to decide where to go, remember my experience and consider going to Olive Garden, I know I will.

P.S. I thought up another positive thing about chemo. Actually it goes along with my post from 4/26/08, "#2. Good for your complexion. My face has never felt softer." - Chemo is like a chemical peal for your face, from the inside out. Also someone else made another suggestion about "#7. Saves money." - You don't have to pay for haircuts.