Chemo - Day 1, Wed May 5th

Shane:

"That's easy!", Brave Brave Sir Robin from scene 35 of "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" at "The Bridge of Death".

So far so good. Only a strong sensitivity to light (that gives me a headache in strong light, but that's from the anti-nausea drug). Other than that, only a strange feeling of unease, like I know something is wrong but I can't place what. Also, probably for the first time in my life, I am super-hydrated. I have tonnes of energy and I feel very alert. They pumped 1.5 liters of saline solution (slightly salty water, like our blood) into me as well as the chemo drugs over a 4.5 hour I.V. period (plus 3.5 hrs waiting) made for a long 8 hr day.

I kept myself busy by talking with Kaye, playing Sudoku and watching "Angry Lady" across the way from me. At first she made me nervous as she just stared at me with a snear and talked in Spanish about me to her husband (?) and pointed my way with her finger talking about those "hombres" (men) over there in the two beds (me and another white guy), while she's stuck in a chair. I got a bed because all the reclining chairs were taken when I arrived. Then she unfortunately had the nurse forget to press "confirm" on her I.V. pump for her program with a bag change and was delayed for 30 minutes in her treatment. The unfortunate part was she thought they said 3 hours due to a language barrier. "Worst place she's been", she said. On the contrary, I thought the cancer center was one of the best places I've been. I mean, the service (drink, food, comfort) was on par with a good first class airplane seat. Better than many restaurant service, that's for sure. Probem was, she didn't know how to ask for things, like how to put her feet up, a pillow, blanket... etc. I wanted to help (at least to make her stop staring in apparently jelousy) but I wasn't sure how to help. I found that more frustrating than the Chemo (except for the hair pulling at the end to remove the tape holding the I.V... that hurt more than the I.V.).

The symptoms don't really kick in until 2nd day, or so. 6 to 8 days later is when I'll loose my hair.

oh oh... 8pm... starting to feel really nauseous for the first time. Time for the "just in case" pill.

-- Shane