Chemo Round One

What a 21st century moment: chemo drugs dripping into my veins while I use the wireless internet access provided by the oncology practice. Eager for a from-the-field report on my treatments? Today, I will oblige.

Ben came with me today for comfort and because the doctor will not allow me to drive myself home until we see how I respond to treatment. The treatment room is a large, bright area with a little more than a dozen armchairs paired with IV poles. I came to this room first to have blood drawn. Drawing blood revealed the value of having a port: no vein hunting! Just plug and go.

Then I saw my oncologist. Mostly she asked about the move and my sister (who has the same cancer diagnosis and is in the midst of the same course of chemo). I suppose next time we'll talk about side effects of treatment.

Now I'm back in the treatment room, settled in for a couple of hours while the drugs drip. There are about 10 other people here getting infusions of various durations. I just heard a nurse talking to someone who is going to be here all day.

The nurses are great. They are bright and chatty and upbeat. My nurse told me she's been in oncology for about a year after a decade in neonatal care. She says this is a great job because she feels like she's really helping people. I love meeting people who are doing work that suits them so well. For me it would be hard to cope with so much sickness every day.

I'll go home with a pump to infuse a second drug over 46 hours. Then Thursday I'll return to get disconnected. Stay tuned - maybe I'll even post a photo.