These days it seems like even the simplest of things is a huge task. My moon sign must be out of orbit or something similar because I just can't seem to get things going right. The bright light is that I'm getting more comfortable with the baldness and took my hat off in the store today:) Other than my new-found elfin ears, I'm kinda diggin' the bald thing. I went to my hairdresser and had her take off the remaining patches. She said I looked more like an inner-city squirrel than a mutt - so there ya go!
I went to the cancer institute this morning to meet with Dr. Genest. The receptionist took my health card and hospital card and noticed that they didn't match! I've only been using them for months without anyone saying anything. Off I trot to get a new card and then back to reception. She takes both cards again and now there is no file for me. This is strike two. These things come in threes - what will be next? "We'll fix it", she assures me and off I go to complete the ISAAC form on the computer. I go through all the questions and press print and nothing happens. I manage to locate one of the hospital volunteers (who are really great there) and tell him my problem. "Oh, this printer hasn't worked all week." [Note that I didn't point out that it was 08:50 Monday morning - so I'm working on the assumption that it didn't work all of last week] "You can't do it again b/c the system will tell you that you've already completed the questionaire and won't let you do it again. At some point this printer will probably print a hundred sheets. Don't worry, we'll shred them." Okay, so how about putting up a sign indicating that the printer isn't working? I wonder what the lag time is for something like that. Anyway, off I trundle to wait for the doc - more relaxed now that all three things have happened and I'm still unscathed! I'm rocking the bald thing these days - just trying it out and enjoying it. Even at the cancer clinic I'm getting alot of stares however.
So I sit, eat my apple and get an awesome joke (posted at the top of the blog). I'm sitting giggling and getting more stares. Apparently my giggle is rather loud! I start reading my book. Time passes. I'm thinking this Genest is really off his game if he's this late for his first appointment. About quarter after the RPN comes out and calls my name. "Did you have difficulty getting here this morning?" "Nope, I was here at 08:45" "Oh, no one told me you were here. I just got your file now!" Ah, they couldn't find my file when I arrived. So, we forgive each other and slag the receptionist:) It must all be her fault. All good now.
The RPN, Debbie, is a hoot. We sit in the examination room and chat until the doc comes in. He's very French and has difficulty believing me when I tell him how to pronounce my name. During the exam I ask him if he's not going to tell me what a wonderful job the surgeon did. Everyone else says it's awesome, I explain. He starts to laugh. Remember - tres francais. He tells me, "I once told a woman that she had very nice breasts - meaning this same thing - but her reaction was quite shocked so now I never say anything!" Poor bastard! I can just imagine! Now I can't sit still because I'm laughing too hard.
We had a brief chat about my white cells and the Neupogen that I take to try to increase bone marrow production. He told me that when Neupogen first came on the market it was very expensive. Now, my Neupogen, over the course of chemo will cost $20,000. He told me that was nothing - it used to be about $10,000 per treatement - or about 4 times the price! Some nurses calculated that it was cheaper to let the patient get infected and then bring them into the hospital and treat them for a week than put them on Neupogen. I just stared at him and replied, "Sure, if patients' well-being has no cost."
This is how radiation will work. I won't start until a month after chemo is finished. (yay) So, if all the chemo stays on track then I will start radiation in early May. It will be every day for four weeks straight, but each session takes only about 30 minutes. I will become even more tired. He poo-pooed my concerns about burning, saying that if I use the creams and everything that it won't be too bad. I like the every day thing. I can walk there and back and get some exercise. The doc asks how far away from the hospital I am and when I tell him he tells me I can't walk that far. Huh? Sure I can. It's only about 45 minutes each way - it'll be perfect and not minus 20. Anyway, you know that I'm going to do it every day come rain or shine just because he said I couldn't.
I bought some new make-up on my way home and then had a nice nap on the sofa. I pretended to read. Mom dropped off a big casserole of homemade mac and cheese (yum!). This was Syd's request but sadly she's not having any. She got sick at swimming tonight - actually threw up so she's come down with something. She called me from the pool hysterical, thinking she couldn't come back home b/c she might give it to me. The poor babe. I told her she could come home and I would come and pick her up. I have masks and we can both wear one so that I don't catch what she's got. When I told them not to sick or I would toss them out - apparently she took that to heart:)
Anyway, not easy - but all is well at the homefront. We are eating comfort food through masks but we are all still living at home:)
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