11: Chemo Day 1

My alarm goes off, my mindset reverts back to my days at station. Tones drop, doesnt matter if your tired, sick, wet, cold, dont wanna, whatever, no choice, wake up, boots on the ground, today was no exception. I had an army of people pulling for me and I didnt dare disappoint.

The 3 of us all scramble around getting ready to settle in to the infusion center for the next 6-8 hours. Bags, blankets, snacks, meds, clothes, cancer binder, cellphone, wallet, keys, charger, what else? I'm a first timer, so I'm sure i'll forget something. We get to the cancer center, check in at 1020 for my 1020 appointment. Here, much like everything else with this place, we found out things wernt scheduled right, so they have now retroactively scheduled me for labs at 0930. Sure lady, let me hop back in the fucking Delorian and make that appointment time. So we head back down stairs to get labs drawn. Whats really got me heated is I had this port installed so we could minimize my IV sticks and pain. With the port they give you some cream that numbs the area that is supposed to make it a pain free process. The problem with this particular situation, is my labs are being drawn now, so to use the creme would be a moote point. Needless to say Im real pleasant. The access my port, grab my labs, and I head up to meet with Hogan. Its a pointless appointment because we didnt go over any new information. I head downstairs to infusion only to be 20 minutes late to my appointment. Now Im not sure what the fire code is for capacity in this waiting room, but we were ass to elbow, standing room only. Greeeaatt. So another 45 minute delay and I am finally back into my infusion room. A small 10x10 cell, i happened to draw one of the shitty rooms today. It a tight squeeze for the 3 of us and our bags but we manage. Its now almost 1pm and I have yet to even be given my pre hydration yet. So we hit the call light and find out, that the doctor i JUST left, hadnt signed my chemo orders and guess what, no one can find or get him to answer his pages again. After another wait, he is finally tracked down and the orders are signed.

Todays treatment runs like this, 45 minutes of prehydration, then some oral anti nausea meds, a push of some steroids, some more fluids, 2 of the 3 chemo drugs infused over 2 hours, post hydration for an hour and was done. I didnt really feel any side effects during treatment. My first step out of the cancer center however almost sent me down. The muscle fatigue was real, and it was a struggle getting to and from the car. We finally get home at 8 and everyone is pretty cooked except for me because of the steroids. Garrett makes a surprise visit even though I told mom no visitors. Him and my buddies got me some video games to kill all the time im going to be locked down in the house. It was very thoughtful and surprising that my degenerate friends can pull together when needed. We always joked that we were only good at one thing and having each others back is that one thing. He leaves before 9 so I can get some rest. Back at the cancer center at 8am for more chemo.