Today was my week to go on a 'Chemo Date' with dad. Dad has Chemo on Wednesdays all day then he carries a fanny pack for two more days. On Friday he finishes it up with a fresh IV back at the hospital. Dad has been doing okay with Chemo. He is very tired most of the time. At family dinners he usually eats then goes and sleeps for the rest of the time. He is too weak and dehydrated to excercise (unless he does it at the hospital, they have a little doctor monitored gym. Even them it's nothing strenuous), however he does usually get a half a day of work in at the office.
For the week after his chemo he is generally naucious, and the most tired, then he starts to perk up just before his next chemo treatment (every 2 weeks). His chemo is not like your traditional treatment. He has not lost his hair however it is much more thin. It also has changed the texture of it. When he would wake up his hair was pretty much already done in his traditional 'dad do' (he's had the same hair cut his whole life, luckily it's handsome :) ). Now he wakes up and he looks like some teenager with his hair sticking up every which way. It's actually a little funny to see him. It also has taken on a baby soft texture. It's very fine and whispy. The chemo also changed the color of his skin. Along with seeing many more skin spots and freckles, he really does look a little grayish, greenish in color. This is more prominant the first day or two after chemo. Cold water hurts him to swallow and drink, so he usually drinks warm. Chemo therapy makes you very cold, and very sensitive to cold. He also has increased sensitivity to touch. A serious negative side effect has been the swelling in his hands. His hands were bright red after his fifth treatment and swollen up like sausages. at the tips they were literally beginning to split because of how swollen they were. They also were so sensitive that he could not touch the steering wheel of the car because it hurt so badly. When the oncologist saw this he told dad he had to stop chemo until his hands were better. Dad did not like the set back as he simply wants it all to be over. The doctor cut the chemo dosage in half and told us that this should be just as effective as a full dose. We were told that he has not seen anyone have as many negative side effects from this type of chemo. Poor dad.
When you go in for chemo. You find 8 lay-z-boy type chairs lined up with a normal chair next to it. In the recliner you find the patient and usually a friend/family member along side of them. Some of them look like they are on deaths door, some look pretty good (as perhaps this is their beginning treatment), some are bald, some have hair. Some are old, some are young. Admittedly, it's a little disheartening to see people so sick. When I went with dad he was frustrated because he didn't feel like he could think as clearly while he was on chemo and it was affecting his work. He sat in the chair and the nurse came and hooked a line up to the embedded port in his chest. He quickly fell asleep as the chemo dripped into his body. Two hours later he woke up and he and I walked down to get some lunch at the Mckay Dee cafeteria (still hooked up). This consisted of warm soup an iceless cherry coke (for some reason that settles his stomach). While in chemo, you sit and talk with the other patients. Most of the people on the day I was there were going on their second round of cancer. The ones sitting next to us had colon, which years later metastasized to some other type of cancer. This was a little dis heartening to listen to so I stopped talking to them. In fact one man said, "Just because that happened to me, does not mean it will happen to you (referring to my dad)." I self talked to myself and reminded myself that his complete cure rate is 78%, and that there is a special work for him to do here on this earth. He will be just fine. The only reason we are surrounded by the second round of cancer group was because we were sitting in a hospital and all the healthy people are out enjoying their clean bill of health. We finally received our fanny pack at 3:30 and were on our way. As I left I thought, 'with chemo they bring you to your death bed by killing the good and the bad cells, then when you've about had it, they bring you back to life.' That is so tough. My heart goes out to all those patients out there, or family affected by this terrible disease.
Before leaving I asked the oncologist if there was one thing I could do for my family to help us so we don't get cancer what would it be. He told me to eat a low fat diet and incorporate antioxidants into your diet (i.e. broccoli, blue berries). Then he said, but unfortunately for your family breast cancer and colon cancer are genetic so get checked regularly. Thanks doc, I feel much better. I actually did do the colonoscopy thing because I have tummy issues. Lucky for me, I don't have cancer but I am Lactose Intolerant so that has been helpful!
Note: I just want to say that I don't blog this stuff to get a 'poor me' card. I simply blog it so I can remember the times in our life that are hard so we can see when the Lord carried us through.
Dad and I at chemo. He is wearing his cute fanny pack. So fashionable!
This is dad's nurse. I think her name is Annbeth. I think she is so brave and wonderful. To come and help all of these very sick people. She has a strong heart.
Sleepy Dad. Chemo is a tough thing and it's making his body tired. We look forward to having dad back on a bike with us in the fall. Love you dad.
At least one half decent pictures at least!
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