Eight down, four to go. And it seems like just yesterday that I started all my treatments.
At this visit we learned that my platelet counts are low due to the oxaliplatin. That's really a direct, rather than side, effect. The drugs are supposed to kill rapidly dividing cells, like tumor cells, and blood cell precursors happen to divide rapidly. Side effects, like the numbness in my hands and the cold intolerance, are hanging around like bad house guests. So my oncologist dialed back to dose, rather than delay the treatment. He may be concerned that some of the side effects may become permanent at the regular dose, or that my platelet count will be so low that I'll bleed to death if I cut myself shaving. I could solve that by waxing my legs instead.
The infusion went according to plan. I packed my chemo bag with snacks, my laptop, and a DVD of In Plain Sight - Season 1 (who knew there were so many protected witnesses in Albuquerque?) There were no schedule mishaps or drug formula substitutions. It all went like clockwork. Anyway, I have four treatments left and the side effects will only get more intense. But, what else can I do other than suck it up and push through. Anyway, I can be persuaded to lay on the couch all day from June 11 - July 11.
No U8 game this weekend, but last Saturday the boys played another hard-fought game, this time with two subs, but we "lost" by one goal. Nevertheless, we passed the ball well, took a lot of shots, and scored a handful of goals. One of kids even did things that showed he actually listened during practice.
At match time, we did not have a referee, so I reffed the first half. Thank goodness U8s don't use the offside rule. I'm a bit vague on the ref's hand signals, other than pointing which way the possession goes. After all, who looks at the ref during the match? There must be a sign for "shut up" that I could show to the parents who constantly yell "KICK IT!" It's freaking soccer, of course they know to kick the ball. The ref showed up for the second half, claiming that he was stuck in traffic from Baltimore. Must be a long closing-time rush hour, because our game was at 8 AM.
At this visit we learned that my platelet counts are low due to the oxaliplatin. That's really a direct, rather than side, effect. The drugs are supposed to kill rapidly dividing cells, like tumor cells, and blood cell precursors happen to divide rapidly. Side effects, like the numbness in my hands and the cold intolerance, are hanging around like bad house guests. So my oncologist dialed back to dose, rather than delay the treatment. He may be concerned that some of the side effects may become permanent at the regular dose, or that my platelet count will be so low that I'll bleed to death if I cut myself shaving. I could solve that by waxing my legs instead.
The infusion went according to plan. I packed my chemo bag with snacks, my laptop, and a DVD of In Plain Sight - Season 1 (who knew there were so many protected witnesses in Albuquerque?) There were no schedule mishaps or drug formula substitutions. It all went like clockwork. Anyway, I have four treatments left and the side effects will only get more intense. But, what else can I do other than suck it up and push through. Anyway, I can be persuaded to lay on the couch all day from June 11 - July 11.
No U8 game this weekend, but last Saturday the boys played another hard-fought game, this time with two subs, but we "lost" by one goal. Nevertheless, we passed the ball well, took a lot of shots, and scored a handful of goals. One of kids even did things that showed he actually listened during practice.
At match time, we did not have a referee, so I reffed the first half. Thank goodness U8s don't use the offside rule. I'm a bit vague on the ref's hand signals, other than pointing which way the possession goes. After all, who looks at the ref during the match? There must be a sign for "shut up" that I could show to the parents who constantly yell "KICK IT!" It's freaking soccer, of course they know to kick the ball. The ref showed up for the second half, claiming that he was stuck in traffic from Baltimore. Must be a long closing-time rush hour, because our game was at 8 AM.
They have soccer-playing robots...Do you think they can invent a robot ref you could just pack in the mini-van along with the balls, Gatorade, etc? See www.robocup2010.org.
ReplyDeleteIn Plain Sight - Brandi is ditsy but keeps thngs interesting.
ReplyDeleteWorld Cup - only time when we want kids to be Messi.