Day 2 of Chemo

Posted by on August 2, 2005 at 3:28 pm.

So I am sitting here for my second day of chemo and it is about as exciting as the first day. I have to really thank my friends at Sony for hooking me up with a new PlayStation Portable (PSP). I lovc this thing. It plays games, videos, and music as well as hold pictures. I need to go out and buy some movies for this thing or get a bigger memory card so I can put my own movies on it. Besides that not much more going on. I sit here for about 5 hours and have a bunch of toxic chemicals pumped into me. Really looking forward to being done with this. Getting back to work, seeing my old friends, playing baseball.

Anyways, I wish I had more to talk about. Actually getting tired of talking about cancer and my treatment. Everyone here is sick with one thing or another and they can’t wait to talk about it. Today I think I might be the only cancer person here and don’t really feel like sharing it with people. I am the youngest so far over the past couple of days. As odd as it sounds I take a certain joy in that. I know younger people get affected but being 36 and the youngest one being treated seems like a good sign on some level.

Today there are a bunch of people getting blood transfusions here today. I am curious about what their connections are. Bek and I have ongoing discussions about blood transfusions. Because of her faith she doesn’t agree with it and I disagree with that. For Bek, a lot of it comes down to bibilical scripture and how her faith interprets it. Fortunately, chemo wasn’t around when the Bible was written or I’m sure that would have been a mortal sin, in my opinion. The thought of having faith dictate medical decicions always kind of turned me off to a lot of faiths and there are many that do it in some form or another. And they can all point out cases where people followed their faith and their decisions on various issues turned out for the better. You can argue that they are the exception not the rule and point out several cases in which results weren’t so positive, but those conversations go nowhere.

Honestly, when word of cancer first started being used in my case, I told Bek chemo was out of the question. Obviously, that was a premature statement but my experience at the time had been chemo being used to attempt to save people whose cancer had gotten very far along; people whose outlook was bleak but still they hoped that chemo could extend or resolve the problem. In just about every case, a part of the chemo extended life for a little while but the quality of life was terrible. I didn’t want to be that person. But we talked to my Oncologist and we made the determination we were not “chasing” anything anymore. All the tumors are removed; now we just need to try and finish off the cancer in my blood stream. After a lot of soul searching I decided that I would do the chemo and I know when I am at my girls high school graduation I will be happy that I did.

As I sit here and watch these people receive their blood transfusions I wonder what their obstacles were when determining this treatment. I wonder if faith factored in, or a need to be here for someone, or just a desire to live. From the looks of everyone here it looks these guys have made the best decision, they all seem very well.

  • Hilda Hrechun

    Hi Eric
    Hang in there you are tougher than any little whigged out cancer cell!

    To chemo or not to chemo….Hmmmm….it can be a tough decison. We have all heard the horror stories…the cure is worse than the diease, etc, etc.

    All I can say. I have a friend. Around ten years ago, diagnosed with breast cancer. Underwent surgery, under went chemo, lost her hair, felt like crap. But did not give up or give in, slogged through it one day at a time. Keep in mind at the same time she was dealing with a small growing family and trying to work a full time job. (Yikes!)
    Well, she fought it, out witted and out lasted and became a survivor (the most desirable kind!)

    Got on with her life. Decided to change a few things.

    A few years later her “friend” returned. Well back to more surgery and more chemo. Yes, once again the hats and head scarves got a workout. Again she refused to give in or give up and dealt with it one day at a time.

    Got through that one and again decided to change just a few more things in her life.

    Well once again, just last year, yes it again came back. More surgery (total mastectomy this time) and yet more chemo. Got through that one. And yes once again change some things in her life.

    Today I am proud to say that my friend Robin dealt with these obstacles that were thrown at her, overcame them and grew from the experience. She went from a high school drop out to just this past spring graduated from college (working full time and going to school part time at the same time she was dealing with the bouts of cancer, surgery and chemo) and is now activley pursuing a masters. Robin is my hero! She rocks. She is one of the most totally grounded individuals that I know.

    Why did this happen to her? Who knows? Did she do anything to deserve this, I don’t know , I certainly am in no position to make any kind of judgement. I do think that what helped her the most was her sense of purpose and the fact that as each setback occured, she just set herself a goal that she just had to overcome the illness to attian the goal (get the GED, get the AA degree, get the BA degree).
    I guess what I am saying is that it sounds like your head is in the right place. Try not to focus on the illness. It is mearly a hindrance to what and where you want to be right now. Focus only on the goal, on getting that gold ring as the merry go round spins and spins.
    You will be there for the girls when they graduate.
    You will be playing ball again before you know it.
    You made the right decision to do the chemo.
    Personally, I would look at it as an insurance policy as opposed to chasing after something.

    I also totally understand your statement about getting tired of talking about it. Yes, so search out the normalcy, routine and mundane in your life and celebrate each and every dull and boring moment as yet another opportunity for you.

    Do you know why we call the current now time frame “the present”? Because you are in the now, not the past not the future, but now and it is a present to be opened, savored and enjoyed and celebrated.

    So twirl your noise makers, and toot on your party horn!! Let the world know that you are here and you intend to stay!!

    Love and hugs from me , your wacky Auntie!!!

  • Andy

    Hey Buddy

    Hang in there..glad you got a PSP…too bad i can’t get games for ya anymore. I look forward to getting back out on the ballfield with you soon!
    Just wanted to check in with you. I’m keepin positive thoughts and lots of prayers! Talk to ya soon E

    Andy

  • Anna

    E…. I have to say you’ve gotten very deep in your old age of 36… it’s nice to see that your are reflecting on everything and making good of it all…. Bek will be Bek and you will be you…. remember faith, religion and God’s word are all different things…. find your own truth… listen to what God puts in your heart…. things happen for a reason…. and these life changing things that happen are out of our control…. but God knows why and in the end He will show you why… just keeping on giving thanks in the good and the bad…. and love Bek with all your heart…. something like this can either make or break a marriage… it’s looks to me that this has made you all much closer… Bek is a champ….

    take care and I look forward to reading what else is going on with you…

    besos
    Anna

  • Nancy’s Husband

    The road to recovery is filled with pot holes and side tracks. And, it is times like these that one learns the true meaning of patience. Patience is something that is learned one hour at a time, and tested one day at a time. Its sad there is no maps to give you a smooth passage between sickness and health, which is why there is hope. May your dreams give you hope, and your your family give you love, because there will be moments that you will need reminding of this, and thats what friends are for. Feel loved. Have Hope. Get well.

  • Stephanie Smith

    Wow,after reading Hilda’s comment,we should all learn a few things.I believe that if I had to walk in your shoes I would put my faith in my Dr’s recommendations.Most of us will walk in your shoes one day and I hope to have the emotional strength you have provided all of us.Keep your chin up and know that you will look back on this one day and say to yourself,”now I know I can make it through anything.”Love,Stephanie

  • http://paclearn.com Dan

    E.,

    I’ve been following your blog since you posted the address on the SDABL site. Thanks for keeping us all informed – great job on the site, BTW, it has been quite an education. I really didn’t understand all the medical terms, I had to put it into baseball cliches to really get a handle on what you are going through, something like…

    Big E. steps to the plate. He hasn’t seen this big, nasty, pitcher before. First Pitch, he gets knocked down by some chin music. Second pitch, a swing and a miss on a hard slider. Next pitch, E. takes a massive cut at a knuckler… it’s not looking too good for Big E. Nasty goes for the jugular with a hard curveball that starts out over the plate but winds up in the dirt. E. doesn’t bite, he’s seeing the ball now. He fouls the next couple of pitches, just misses the left field pole on one… he’s got this guy figured now… it’s just a matter of time.

    When you knock the next one out of the park, kid, don’t forget to “touch em all.” The stands will be full of admiring fans and we’ll all be on our feet clapping for you.

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