Round Three, The Adventures continue, well I call it an Adventure

Did I tell you guys what happened at the end of round two? No I am being lazy so I am just going to tell you again if I told you, oh and I am doing chemo now so if it is gibberish, blame it on chemo brain, I feel so nauseated, this is a long day of chemo too.

Ok, it is round two and I made it to Thursday without going to the Emergency Room, Thursday night, all I have to do is get through Friday, wrong! Sitting hooked up to my fluids and mesna, something gets the dogs going, and low and behold one of the paws catched the line and rips the access needle to my port out. 

Me I figure no big deal, the mesna was the second dose and I am almost done with it, I can wait to morning to get re accessed.  Jim says call the doctor, which I reluctantly do (by the way, Jim is my son)  Guess what? I have to go to the ER to have my port re accessed and flushed.  So much for the week with out going to the ER. 

Third cycle I'll make it through right?  Wrong, first day of Cycle Three I ended up in the hospital.  I just can't stay away from that place.  What happen you ask?  Well pull up a chair my little one and I will explain.

First day of any cycle they draw blood to test levels, well you are suppose to be able to draw blood from my port, and they couldn't.  Fluid would flow in, but the port wouldn't allow the draw of blood.  OK, lean back, no draw, raise your arms and wave, no luck, lay flat, turn your head to the left, raise your arms, cough hard, no luck. 

Time for the Liquid Plumber for humans.  It is common for a fiber to form on the tip of the port that wouldn't allow for draw, a flap so to speak.  Half hour later, no luck, wait another 30, no luck, a total of two hours, no luck, time to go to the hospital get admitted so they can insert a dye and see what is going on with the port. 

Turns out that the tumor in the lung is starting to let itself be known, it is pushing on the area that the port is in and narrowing the area.  So it was determined that the port can be used to infuse this week, but needs replaced.  Replacement will happen when I go for my first surgery.

Speaking of surgeries, if I am lucky (yes I said lucky) I will get surgery after the radiation.  Never thought I'd be saying having a surgeon have to break a rib and spread my  ribs make me lucky.

Speak of radiation, I go to the Cancer Centers of Virginia, and they set the bar for care for radiation patients.  The entire staff is so pleasant, and always attentive.  Very aware of time, and if they are late, (happened only one time) they are very apologetic. 

That is another thing I find interesting, is how aware all my care givers are both radiation and chemo.  When they access my port they apologise for the pinch of the needle, when they draw blood not using the port they apologise, even in the ER and hospital.  They are so attuned to the cancer patient and discomforts.

I tell them don't apologise, I should thank them every time I get poked, they are doing something that will help me get healthy and prolong my life, they are working to help me defeat cancer, a killer.  No need to apologise to me.

Other than my own body's ability to get me in the hospital, I cannot say one thing, oh I lied I hate waiting in the doctor's office, and the ER,   but other than that I cannot complain one bit about my treatment here in Virginia. 

Actually, I am happy I did move to Virginia, it helped change my view point of things, and I am glad I got cancer here to, it showed me that there are people I can depended on that warmed my heart and gives me hope for the human race.

My family, my friends, the people I work with, the prayers and most people who don't know me praying, the people who have decided to help by purchasing bracelets from Carol, my big sister.

It is all a very humbling experience, one I am grateful for.  For your prayers, support, help, I thank you all.