Well here I am, 100 days post diagnosis and 20% of my way through my series of radiation treatments. Today is April 22nd, commonly known as Earth Day or Record Store Day.
While I didn't specifically celebrate the former I did take a buzz around town to see what the sparse collection of stores in London was offering for Bargoons! in their selection of specially pressed vinyl.
Sadly I came away with my wallet in the same condition it arrived. $48 for a copy of the film sountrack of Quadraphenia did not seem like a wise investment, and none of the items featured on the UK or US websites seemed to be available.
Considering that my vinyl collection already runs beyond 600 items and my CD collection beyond 1000, I really dont need any more music"platters" cluttering up my life. Considering that I now have 24 hour access to Sirius XM Satellite radio, I dont really need another source of music etc.
As I mentioned before my tangent into music, today also marked the 100th day of my Lymphoma diagnosis and treatment.
Last Monday being "Easter Monday" at LRCC my primary week of radiation did not start until Tuesday afternoon. A brief introduction to the procedure by a variety of staff was followed by my being positioned laying on my back on a surgical table, pants and underwear down but covered by a modest sheet that exposed only the tattooed abdominal markers that would align the treatment.
Some adjustments to my position and then I was alone in the room with the modern day equivalent of a fire breathing dragon which stalked around my lower abdomen planning its strikes. Motionless in foam blocks supporting my legs and strapped to the table I mostly closed my eyes to the sound and light of the procedure, content in the fact that the radiation was eliminating the remainder of any active cancer cells.
12 minutes later and I was free to spend the day as I wished.
The treatments continued for the balance of the week, often at different times of the day but always that same basic 12 minutes from start to finish.
Wednesday's are review days and Dr Velkar ( the Doody Houser of the Radiology team- he looks barely 20) and a nurse map my progress, emotionally, mentally and physically with attention paid to sleep disturbances, energy levels, appetite etc. This week I appeared to have still not fully regained the weight I lost in hospital. This may impact future treatments as weight does affect the total radiation calculation.
Thursday and Friday's treatments did proceed as normal but I was cautioned that things might change the following week if the weight loss continued to be an issue.
I should mention that I had continued trying to work at least half days at my pharmacy, albeit with some difficulty due to my continued recovery from my eye surgery and also my general drop in energy level, shortly after noon daily.
Today, after my brief, Record Store search, I found myself catching some late morning ZZZZzzz's as I waited for my daughter Caitlin to stop in for a visit. Arriving later than planned due to slow traffic on the 401 we had lunch at Archies- fish and chips and then I crashed again while she went in search of an oil and filter.
My afternoon hovered between light dozing and reading my latest Harry Bosch detective thriller.
Becoming bored with that I set out to tackle the back yard and the first grass cutting of the season. Miraculously my 14 year old garage sale mower fired on the 3rd pull and I managed to cut my grass without incident- hopefully the hornets nest from last year was no longer active. The 28 stings I experienced last summer was not a sensation I wanted to repeat.
A barbecued burger for supper and a slice of apple pie will hopefully assist in restoring some of my lost weight and calories. Caitlin went off to spend the evening with a former coworker and girlfriend and I probably wont see her before she heads back to Belleville.
A post supper spell of kidney pain prompted me to take advantage of my "pen" on at least 3 occasions before I was able to drop into a pain free sleep which kept me "out" between 11pm and 4am.
Hopefully sleep will return quickly after I complete this days entry.
Originally, I expected the 100 day mark to be roughly the halfway point of my treatment, and yet now it may indicate much further progress. With my radiation scheduled for completion in early May, I may only need another CT scan or PET scan to declare myself cancer free. However, I still have to rid my self of the rather uncomfortable kidney stent before I will consider myself back on the road to normal.
I still have to consider the prospect of total knee surgery, currently postponed pending the success of the lymphoma treatment. An abdominal hernia is also something that needs to be addressed in the not so distant future. And perhaps more seriously, an update with my cardiologist and a replacement for the Pradaxa which has been my stroke prevention medication for the last 3 years. ASA 81mg is currently offering a poor replacement but will have to do for now.
But I'll take my lumps and consider myself fortunate for the present. I'm still on the good side of 65 for a few more months, which, considering my recent health scares is a big plus!! LOL
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