Today I start Cycle #9 in the 17 cycles of chemotherapy for Ewings Sarcoma.  We are, officially, half way!!!  Wheee!!!
Of course it all started before the chemo, there were a few months of figuring out what that lump was, waiting for confirmation of the diagnosis, and additional tests to make sure there wasn’t anything that was missed.  Sometimes it feels like you are poked and prodded all the time, but it really is only a small percentage of time.  Just to see, because that’s the kind of girl I am, I counted up the poking/prodding to date. From the time this all because (Thanksgiving, 2014) until yesterday, these are the numbers:
28 – doctor appointments (really not to bad when you think of it)
6 – medical procedures (surgery, biopsies, etc.)
14 – scans/tests (MRI, PET, CT, combos of those with procedures above)
47 – blood draws (most of these are via a port so my arms are good)
32 – days in the hospital (this is why I know and love the staff on 4 South so much, we have significant time together)
24 – days of chemotherapy
5 – pints of blood
All this over a period of about 9-10 months, it’s really not too bad.  Most significant to me is the 32 days in the hospital.  Most of those were for chemo treatments, and it’s important to note that I generally feel good during treatments in the hospital. I’m up and walking around, or I’m in a chair with a table in my makeshift office that I set up each time so I can telecommute from there.  The staff often talk about how their patients are more like family. This is why. They see us repeatedly, we keep track of each others lives (babies, graduations, etc.), and have a good amount of time together to become somewhat attached.  Always professional, but you can help but become attached to individuals you care for so frequently.
Reaching the halfway point, for me, is huge. Today it feels wonderful. It’s all downhill from here, right?  I reserve the right to grumble later about how flippin’ long this is taking. But I’m feeling like we’ve learned some things that make it easier to handle.  We’re better at predicting how a treatment will make me feel, when dehydration occurs, when I’m more susceptible to fevers, and when resting is more important than doing. We’re also recognizing that effects are cumulative. It takes a little longer to recover after a treatment, particularly red blood cells, and they aren’t likely to get back to normal-people levels until this is all done. So, I move a little slower and with more purpose, I stay off ladders, and I refrain from spinning around in circles. To be fair, the ladders and the spinning weren’t common occurrences for me, but you’d be surprised how a quick turn from the stove to the sink can make a person dizzy.
For the second half of the chemo adventure there are distractions to help make it feel it’s moving quickly. I’m relying on on them for that purpose, anyway.  We’ve got a new Great Nephew, and I find I’m a little bit grateful to have to sit still and be home more because I can do those things with him and time means nothing with such a cutie to adore. We’ll have a holiday season (and holiday music!!) and birthdays to celebrate. And I’m hoping, if all stays on plan, we’ll be done in March. The Easter celebration in 2016 should be outstanding.
So, raise a glass to the Second Half. It’s on!