Working Hard

I always thought that I was pretty tough when it came to handling all the cancer drugs and their harsh side-effects. I know the nurses often seemed surprised how strong and energetic I was. I'll always remember the specialist at the University of Pennsylvania walking into the room and being taken aback before saying, "Wow. You look really good."

It hasn't been easy. But I have worked hard.

Until Friday, I had enough. I slept almost all day long everyday. I felt like I was just curled up in a ball on the floor. Ironically, the drug that got the best of me was a drug meant to boost the immune system and not a chemotherapy.

I expected a drug meant to boost my immune system to make me feel good, make me feel strong. Ugh, that's not the case at all. The more I learned about Interferon the more I learned how difficult it is to handle.

After not being able to attend Thanksgiving with my family, after not being able to visit with my cousin Lynn from Florida, after getting tired of living life as one constant nap, I skipped the planned Interferon injection on Friday.

Last time I saw my oncologist one thing we discussed was taking a "drug holiday." On Friday morning I called the hospital and let them know that I wouldn't be coming in today. This morning I'm going to leave a message with my oncologist letting him know what I've decided. Then I will leave a message with the chemotherapy nurses as well.

I can't say that everything feels better after being off Interferon Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday. But I am going to be working hard to try to get back to speed. I've lost 20-pounds and have become very weak, and I want to start turning that around. It actually feels like some of these drugs make metabolic changes to your body. They change things. And it's not just going to take a day or two for all of these things to just change back.

How long does it take to work the effects of over three-years of continuous chemo out of your body?

Am I setting new records?

They did tell me in radiation that I now hold the record for most Gamma Knife radiation treatments.

Ugh. What a record.