Round Three

Though they classify it the start of "Cycle 2" (each cycle consists of two treatments), I'd feel better calling this "Round 3", as it is my third treatment. I met with Dr. Sierra, who informed me that he is retiring effective June 29. I was very surprised to hear that. I would think that he would taper off on patients before retiring, rather than just cutting them all off, but whatever - it is his call, and I respect him. He has referred me over to Dr. Kevin Weeks within the same practice, who is the oncologist I tried to see in the first place! Everything should work out fine.

I discussed with Suzie, the chemotherapy nurse, how crappy I felt in the days after my last treatment. She told me that most of that was normal, and I would just need to power through it. However, she surmised that the lightheadedness was actually caused by a lack of fluids, so I should be sure to drink more Gatorade and more water in the days after the session, especially with the hot summer here. Duly noted.

I felt worse immediately after than I had in the past sessions. I was feeling very nauseous before we ever even hit the car to drive home. I'm not sure if it was the breakfast I ate (a bowl of Cinnamon Life and some Watermelon) or what, but I'll try and eat something better next time.

Anyway, I got home and took a Phenergen for the nausea, though I don't like those pills at all. The side effects really knock me down - tiredness, lightheadedness, severe headaches, dry mouth. I slept on and off on my new couch (courtesy of Tina!) for a few hours, then forced myself up to watch Game 5 of the Anaheim/Ottawa series. I was stunned that Anaheim mowed down Ottawa so easily, and it brought back a little pain to me, because my Red Wings outplayed Anaheim in the Conference Finals, and had one or two bounces gone our way, we would have been hoisting the Cup instead of that dirty mofo Chris Pronger...

After the game, I watched the highlights on SportsCenter, then went straight to bed. I was asleep by 8:15 PM, hoping that I will feel better tomorrow than I did the day after my last treatment.