This Tuesday past I started the first cycle of the chemotherapy, and so far the side effects have been quite unremarkable. Of course, I've been taking very expensive anti-nausea pills for a couple of days after being juiced up, so I'm sure that has something to do with it -for the cost of them it should so. Being the first day, Tuesday was really long due to some extra tests for the trial drug, and I've been told future visits shouldn't be anywhere that. We left home at 7:15 in the morning and got back at 7:45PM. I had hoped to take the first cycle in Manhattan and then transfer to a Sloan satellite in very near home for the remaining three. But it seems the oncologist wants me in the city for the first two cycles before I transfer. Could be worse I suppose.
But enough about me. I want to make this week about others and acknowledge everyone who has been so incredibly supportive to me since the news broke. I've had phone calls, emails, face book notes, etc., and I find such warmth from knowing that all these people really care about how I'm feeling.
It's not something you really think about much. You have a group of friends, some you see more often than others, but you don't really stop to think about what they really mean to you, or vice-a-versa. And then something like this hits and I realise that all these people care enough about me to take time out of their busy lives to see how I am doing. I am quite taken aback.
Sue, of course, has been my Florence Nightingale and has been with me every step of the way, and I mean that literally. She's been there for every event and I just don't know how I would have coped without her. She's an angel and I'm a really lucky bloke there.
My son, Dominic visited me last weekend from Chicago, and that was brilliant. I hadn't seen him in over 2 years. We talk a lot on the phone so we are quite in touch, but to see his face coming through the arrivals last week was really quite over whelming. And of course I felt very sad when he left to go back home, but we had a great time during his stay. You know, my granny lived on her own back in England and when we would visit her when my boys were younger, it never seemed to be for very long -there was not much for the boys to do so we used to make little outings. Anyway, she used to tell me that each visit lasted her weeks and months as she would look at photo's and reflect back on the time we spent together. I never quite got it then, but after Dominic's last visit, I get it.
Our close friends Frank and Ritchie have been in constant contact, along with Angela and Oscar, Melissa and Paul, Jeff, Nancy and Glenn, Eric and so many more. If I have forgotten to mention anyone, apologies.
So here I am, one chemo visit down, seven to go. I know there is a long road ahead, but with one step at a time I'll make it and come out the other end.
Be well you all, and thank you for your well wishes.
Chris
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