Straight from the Horse's Mouth

Hi, hello. It's me - the butt-kicking soon-to-be cancer survivor. I like the sound of that. Thanks sis for setting up this blog and making it super easy to do. I don't know if I'll be as good at it as Dennis, but one way or another my stoy will get told.

As you know, last Friday was my first day at Camp Chemo. We are calling it that becasue we packed up cards, books, blankets, photos, stuffed animals, and movies like we were going to a fun-filled day at camp. The place where I am being treated is in Brunswick, a good hour and fifteen minutes from home. We started out late of course as we fielded phone calls from everyone wishing us well. The drive started out well, but as I got closer to the exit I started panicking. I got very quiet and nervous - so nervous that my teeth were chattering. It was as if I was going out on stage in front of millions of people. Dennis parked the car and I followed him reluctantly into the building. I didn't want to do this. I didn't feel ready, but I had to begin so I'd know. He held the door for me and urged me into the room. I took a deep breath and went to check in. A beautiful bouquet of flowers was waiting for me at the front desk. They were from Mom and Bill. Oh,no. It was taking all I had to concentrate on being brave. Their sweet, unaticipated gesture broke my concentration and I felt like sobbing, but they were going to call me back there at any moment. I took deep breaths to stop this wave of emotion. Once we started the routine of height, weight, temp, etc. my mind was busy again.

One of the first things Mikee, my RN, did for me once the IV was in place was to administer a sedative. My anxiety was blatant. If I looked stoned in the photos Dennis posted, it's because I was. The first drug was a long-lasting anti-nausea. The next four drugs were the ABVD. Three of them were "pushed", meaning manually injected slowly via syringe. Those went fast. The last drug was a two hour drip. We watched a movie called "Puffy Chair". Then it was over, just like that. I felt nothing but sedated the whole time and my vein held up beautifully (but my IV arm is a bit sore now). Whew! Now the scary unknown is much more known. I can't rest on my laurels though becasue each treatment can be different. Now comes the uncertainty of what my days in between will be like.