Month: April 2020

A Little Better

~ Bob Cook ~ 2 Comments

This is the first time this year that I have not had chemo in four weeks. My body was getting used to the dose every three weeks. Now that I’m farther away from the debilitation effects I feel slightly better.

I hoped that on day #22 I would suddenly feel normal again. No. Consulting with the case nurse at Florida Cancer Center she confirmed it would take months to recover. I noticed yesterday that I have not had a stomach ache in a few days. That’s new. My facial hair is starting to regrow and I’m letting it, although it’s pretty scruffy. My energy level is about the same: Sleep for 2-3 hours, awake after 5 or 6. Need a nap every afternoon, sometimes two.

I’m patient because I have the rest of my life to recover.

Jumpy Bob

~ Bob Cook ~ 3 Comments

Alright, now that the cancer is gone, what next?

Yesterday I received my last dose of chemotherapy. At our first meeting the doctor proposed four doses, then the PET scan, and he assured me it would be clear. He was right. But they scheduled six doses to assure all the cancerous cells would be gone. One of the nurses told me of one patient who stopped at four and came back a couple years later after her cancer had returned and the chemotherapy was stronger and longer. No thanks. Hit me now, not harder later.

This dose feels about like the rest. I think they remove my blood and replace it with sand.

The side effects of Prednisone are energy, but not ability. Last night I went to bed at 10 and was wide awake at 12:30, time for breakfast. I see a project I want to tackle but I get dizzy just bending over and standing up. Dragging the trash can to the curb is exhausting. I feel like I have a fever but my temperature is 96.3. All along I have looked forward to April, but May should be the time when I recover.

During the first week after chemo my immune system is gone. Especially tomorrow. This weird box attached to my arm will make beeping noises at 7:00 pm and pump more meds into me that will boost the white blood cells. It’s designed to be administered at home to reduce the risk of infection, assuming no one at home is sick.

So, this Stay at Home order is just fine with me. For the next five days I’ll hunker down and if I need to venture out I have a mask and gloves and sanitizer.