The Infusion Chronicles

I finally remembered to take a few photos to share from my one LONG day at the cancer center. Leave home about 8:30. Arrive at Cancer Center by 9:00. First step is a visit with the phlebotomist to give a blood sample. Nothing unusual there except that I don't get stuck with a needle because I have my PICC tube. Next up is a visit with my chemo oncologist. I REALLY like this guy. When he asked me today about any changes I'd noticed, I pointed at my lymph node and mentioned that it appeared to be swelling.  His reply was "It's pissed off and fighting back because you're trying to kill it with radiation." Didn't know that "pissed off" was an accepted medical term, but I do now.

Next, it's upstairs to the infusion room. I wish I had a good photo of it for you, but, I wasn't sure how all the other infusees would react to someone taking photos. It's a large, high-ceiling, 2nd-story room with two walls of glass facing south and west that offer pretty good views of Pilot Butte and the Cascades. Very bright; even welcoming. There is a balcony off to the south side with lots of shade. Since the temperature was perfect today, I chose to spend most of my time outside. Here's a shot of me and Pilot Butte...

Without the IV tree it's a pretty normal picture, verdad?

Chemo is a 5 hour affair. It starts with a dose of steroids, followed by a long action anti-emetic, then a shorter duration anti-emetic. Next is a full hour of saline with additional magnesium and potassium to flush my kidneys. Then comes the actual hour of chemo (85mg of cisplatin) and finally another hour of saline with magnesium and potassium.  Somewhere in the middle of all this is lunch. Today I had chicken and veggie soup.

It isn't as boring as it looks. With a bit of added salt and pepper it's actually pretty tasty.  Lots of more filling items are available, but I'm not much of a lunch eater. This was perfect.

And no chem day is complete without a visit to radiation. I finally remembered to ask the techs to take a few photos for me. You've seen the shroud photo before. Now you can see me actually penned to the table and ready for radiation.

Although the the shroud does a great job of securing me to the table, the instrument does a quick scan to make sure the table alignment is correct; makes adjustments as necessary and then starts the real work. 

This gizmo moves around me shooting radiation from a number of angles. All the while I get to listen to the music of my choice. Today was a David Byrne day. 

Finally, I retire to the restroom to do a concentrated fluoride treatment on my teeth. And that's where I encounter this sign.

After hours of infusion and a few cans of fruit juice I'm glad I can and pee anytime I want. It's 4:15 and I can go home now. Guess I'm one of the lucky ones.