"It did not really matter what we expected from life, but rather what life expected from us. We needed to stop asking about the meaning of life, and instead to think of ourselves as those who were being questioned by life – daily and hourly. Our answer must consist not in talk and meditation, but in right action and in right conduct. Life ultimately means taking the responsibility to find the right answer to its problems and to fulfill the tasks which it constantly sets for each individual." Viktor Frankl, Man's Search for Meaning, 1946.
Posts: 20687 | Location: The Free State of Arizona - Ditat Deus | Registered: March 24, 2011
The cancer version of ball-and-chain. The infusion ball I'm wearing for the next two days. Which begs prompts the question, "Can this thing be filled with Japanese sake?"
Side effects are different for the drugs used. Chemo nurses are wonderful and they often know more than the oncologist. They know the tricks of what to eat and what not to eat and are quite honest if you want them to be. They can talk about death and dying at length if that is what you want to discuss.
Posts: 18024 | Location: Stuck at home | Registered: January 02, 2015
The "ball" is noticeably smaller today. Woke up a little punky, but anti-nausea meds knocked it out fine.
BTW, the noxious fluid that is being pumped into my heart is toxic enough that if there's a spill, they give you a little hazmat kit so no other person comes into direct contact.
Keep kicking ass. As you sit in treatment, drop in and give us a heads up! Be strong!!
__________________________ The entire reason for the Second Amendment is not for hunting, it’s not for target shooting … it’s there so that you and I can protect our homes and our children and and our families and our lives. And it’s also there as fundamental check on government tyranny. Sen Ted Cruz
Posts: 5269 | Location: Boca Raton, FL The Gunshine State | Registered: July 30, 2002
Definitely sending prayers. Adding you to my nightly prayers ongoing. Thanks for the heads up on GERD and its relationship to the cancer. Praying you beat this and your fight is relatively easier than most fights.
Posts: 6089 | Location: SE Tennessee/Emerald Coast | Registered: February 12, 2003
OK, chemo officially sucks. The day of infusion, fine, the day after infusion, fine, then the second day after- not so fine. Nausea and fatigue, bad but manageable. But far worse was severe stomach pain (actually it was probably the lower esophagus near my stomach, where the remaining lesion is located. But I'll just call it stomach pain). I was doubled over in pain for 4 days. Not sure why the chemo would trigger this.*
Apparently this is common timing for chemo side effects. Everything hits the second day post a session. My oncologist prescribed me pain meds, Toradol, a strong NSAID that is one level below opiates like Vicodin. Hope it works, or it's on to the hard stuff.
*EDIT: Realized that since chemo basically targets fast-growing cells like cancer, it can also affect fast-growing normal tissues elsewhere in the body. That's why hair falls out. The lining of the upper GI tract renews about once a week, which explains why chemo can cause pain in that area. Further, chemo can also trigger acid reflux, exactly what I don't need at this time.This message has been edited. Last edited by: kkina,
Kevin, You have my prayers and best wishes. And yeah chemo sucks be it infusion or oral as there is no free lunch with sometimes horrendous side effects. My cancer (not esophageal) treatment was oral but the chemo almost killed me putting me in the ICU for 8.5 days. Had to have a port put in my neck too which was a real treat. Hang in there!
Certifiable member of the gun toting, septuagenarian, bucket list workin', crazed retiree, bald is beautiful club! USN (RET), COTEP #192
Posts: 16686 | Location: Black Hills of South Dakota | Registered: June 20, 2010
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