The C Word – The Next Phase of Treatment

I looked at the date of my last posting and realized that it’s already been a month!  Where on earth has the time gone? 

For starters, I do go back into therapy.  I returned, at first, to the therapist I saw after Mike’s death as I felt I wouldn’t have to rehash all of my life.  That turned out to be a mistake.  I am not sure what happened in 15 years but in the three sessions I went to, she talked more about herself, her vitamins and supplements and was pushing those on me.  I learned more about her husband’s health than she did me or my husband.  I realized this was not going to work.  Instead, I will now use the LCSW at Cancer CarePoint who is much more familiar with cancer patients and caregivers and in one session was more helpful than three of the other.  My psychiatrist is very nice and the medications she prescribed had me feeling like my old self within just a few days.  It’s amazing what good sleep does as well as antidepressants.  I’ve resumed getting up very early in the morning, relatively rested, and taking a two mile walk just after sunrise and return home to do a few more exercises.  I’ve done it 3-4 days a week so far and actually find that I miss it when I don’t do it. 

For George, after some meetings with the oncologist and the surgeon and getting another opinion from San Diego, he will start chemotherapy in just a few weeks.  This past week he had outpatient surgery to have a port put in.  He’s a tad bit tender right now but that should start easing up soon.  We finally received a call yesterday to schedule the first session – Tuesday, June 12. 

Getting a date was extremely important for me as I had plans to go on a quick weekend trip to Chicago for the wedding of a niece.  This is the first trip since December 2016 when we went to Connecticut.  This trip and all future trips are solo ones for me.  Now, armed with chemo dates in hand, I was able to schedule my flights.  While originally I had hoped for three nights there, it will only be two – but I am grateful to be able to go.  That weekend will be just prior to George’s second scheduled treatment and far enough after the first that he should be doing okay. 

We have no idea what side effects he will have.  There are a host of them but not everyone gets the same ones.  This is the biggest fear for George right now.  He envisions some of the worst ones may happen to him – neuropathy or hand/foot syndrome, dry cracking hands and feet, loss of taste. 

But … we have a plan in place.  

On a much happier note, today I held a yard sale with mostly CARE Angels Creations out for sale.  Due to generosity of some wonderful friends who bought much or donated more, we will be sending lots of money to PMP Pals soon.  It was fun seeing friends and acquaintances as they stopped by.