My wife asked me what does chemotherapy feel like? I had to think. It starts with needle pokes. One in the arm to draw blood. They pull three vials to get the full blood panel. Within 5 minutes they print out a full page report and focus on red and white blood cells. Once they see that I am fit to receive the chemo (I’ve recovered from the last round), then into the treatment room.
This room is the largest in the building with many windows, lots of light and a lot more chairs. Comfortable lounge types. About 60 of them! Each one has side tables and an IV pumping station on wheels next to it. I had to ask “Are these all for chemo?” The nurse explained some people come there for infusions of iron or vitamins and they are there about an hour. But the majority are for cancer patients.
Next comes another poke. “Accessing your port” is a jab of one needle into the surgically implanted bump in my chest. It creates a tube that all the chemicals will pour into. Like a hose, they unscrew one bag and screw another for the next dose.
Finally the last poke. They save this one for the last. This medicine is the prime reason why I don’t feel any nausea or vomiting for five days. It gets stabbed into my belly just beneath the skin. “Sorry but it’s a large gauge needle.” Now I know where they recycle railroad spikes. It hurts going in, then the medicine feels like battery acid, pumping for a few seconds. It even hurts coming out. The worst is over.
The first bag of liquid connected to the port is benadryl to prevent an allergic reaction to the second bag. So for a few hours I slept as they continue to switch bags for six more hours. I was a little hungry so for lunch I enjoyed a sausage McMuffin.
I feel tired and my heart rate is up there but my blood pressure is normal. Home now, I’ve been munching on celery, crackers and dip and cherries. The injections are not done yet though. I have that strange box taped to my arm that will deliver one more dose Saturday at 7:30 p.m. It will cause a flush of white blood cells to grow and replace those that were killed today. I’m instructed to take Claritin right afterward to avoid muscle and bone pain.
So, why go through this pain and discomfort? Why persevere through months of weakness? Because I hope and pray that this treatment will heal me. Hope is my desire. Prayer is offering my desire to God and submitting to His will.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2.
Lumpy Bob 