Saturday, April 2, 2011

Chemo The Day After

Yesterday was round one of the Heavy weight title fight Chalk v. Cancer

I went to the doctors for my 10:30 chemo appointment. I walked into the community treatment room and I immediately dropped the average age which was currently in the 60's.

I took a seat at my chair and set up shop. I pulled out my three different pill containers. Two of them are anti-nausea medication called Zofran and Ativan, because chemotherapy play tricks on your stomach and digestive track. I imagine it to feel like the symptoms of a combination of swine flu and SARS (although I have never had either of these diseases so this is pure speculation). The other jar of pills is a pain medication because one of the tumors is in the lower part of my left lung which causes quite a bit of pain and it is hard to find a comfortable position to sit, lay, or stand.

So after I get my pharmacy set up I took out my blanket and sat down in the chair to get "comfortable." I spread out my blanket to cover me and the lady in the corner says (borderline yells) THAT IS A CUTE BLANKET. Now up to this point in time she had had earphones in which was hooked up to her new ipad (which I was quite jealous of). But anyways, I informed her that it was handmade by my mother and what she used my old boxer shorts for the material.

From then on she felt it was her duty to inform everyone else in the room about my mother-made blanket. For the first time I was the popular kid on the block with the coolest new toy.

I was then poked in the right arm and was administered the chemo. I kept true to my new superstition and listen to Dynamite by Taio Cruz three times (one for each time I have had cancer). From then I was either sleeping or chit chatting with the other patients which seemed to be a club meeting for either the AARP or Daughters of the Utah Pioneers. It was good to have the company to make the time pass.

After four hours of receiving treatment I was heading home to rest for the day. Since then I have basically been in bed relaxing, sleeping and watching baseball to pass the time. The fact that I can watch baseball as I am lazy and relaxing is only another reason that I know cancer knows I like baseball, because had this been just last week I would have had to wait for a week before the new baseball season started.

Well that it is it for now. I will now change the channel from baseball to general conference, although I do not know how effective it will be since I will be watching it while I am in bed.

Needle pokes: 2

Pills: 2

Thanks to everyone for the phone calls, prayers, texts, emails, and positive thoughts. I appreciate all of them. It is good to know that their are people out there who care about me and are pulling for me to get through this fight!

8 comments:

Katherine said...

basguDave, I am rooting for you! You have such an amazing attitude and sense of humor in the face of difficulty. You keep smiling and know that so many people care about you! :-)

amy said...

Hey Dave. I'm loving the blog...
BTW, what chemo are you on now?
Hang in there...
Amy Robins

Lockeblog said...

I love seeing you around campus. Who was that girl that thought you were cute after I hugged you a couple days ago? Way to purservere!!! (I can't spell that word...)

Becky Gemmell said...

Love your blog. I like your writing style. It makes it fun to read. Our family is thinking of you.

patty boels said...

Go Dave! You can do it! Our family is praying and sending awesome thougts for healing your way. You are amazing in every way and I love the attitude and humor you battle your disease with.
take care,
Patty Boles

Patty Boles said...

cant even spell my own name right. Well, it is Saturday...

Ronni Gordon said...

Liked the anecdote about the boxer shorts quilt and the noisy lady. Sounds like your sense of humor is intact, and I'm sure it is helping you pull through!

Liz said...

so can we still submit questions?