Average to poor.

Nothing amazing. Feeling fairly average. It's been a bit of a struggle to push through the day.

Yesterday we all went to Starplex again - Dave to teach combat, girls to creche and I sat in on RPM. I did a bit of pedaling but just took it easy.

After lunch and Elsie's nap I took the girls up to mum and dad's to give Dave a couple of hours to write his sermon for today. We were there for a couple of hours and it was nice to see my folks.

Last night Maesie watched the old animated Disney Robin Hood and I'm pretty sure she liked it. She cracked herself up when Clucky runs through all the guards. It made me laugh, her cheeky giggle.

Today was church and then lunch and then we went to the playground down the road for a little while. That was pretty much the day.

My throat has started to feel weird again, right on time, and I'm back to the RAH tomorrow for more IV chemicals.

These notes are scatty. I'm not up for this tonight.

A hairy update

Not a great deal to write today. I thought maybe it might be time to jot down a few notes about my random side effects. Although my hair mostly fell out and then Dave shaved it early on, it still grows a little bit. I've got a little bit of fuzz over most of my head. I don't mind the lack of hair but it does get a bit cold sometimes. My eye lashes and eye brows are hanging in there at the moment. I'm not too sure if they'll go eventually. Time will tell.

My leg hairs aren't really growing so there's a perk, I haven't had to worry about that for a while which is a bonus during the summer. I never had a great deal of armpit hair anyway but they all seem to be gone for now too. Now, it's probably a bit too much information but it will suffice to say that there has been some logging across the 'map of tassie'. Not completely clear-felled yet, but getting sparse.

The tips of my fingers are still a bit numb and my hands shake more than they used to.

The main, festery, blistering shingles sore on my foot is not raised any more and is starting to get a bit crusty. I can walk barefoot now fairly comfortably. A nice change after having to either walk on my heel or have shoes on all the time - it's only taken two weeks. So far Dave and the girls haven't got chicken pox, so praise the Lord for that because things really would have been crap if that happened. Hopefully they still won't get it.

Other than that, I am tired. Today I have had quite a full day though. I did a few jobs around the house and then went to school to give a talk to a couple of classes of Yr 12s about TEAR Australia because Dave had his big social justice day as part of the religious education program and he was short of people to present the elective components. So I had a go. Not sure if anyone really listened or if anything I said sunk in. I finished a bit early and it was a little bit strange but I survived and it actually wasn't too bad, considering I didn't really prepare very thoroughly.

As I was doing my dodgy preparation last night I realised that things like social justice and inequality and ethical issues and the poverty throughout the world do interest/concern me quite a lot and do fire me up a bit. It is all an overwhelming mess of complex issues that I am not sure will ever be resolved and I'm not entirely sure what I am to do with this information now, but I shall file it away and see where it falls as I attempt to not waste my life.

In other random news, Maesie helped me make purple pancakes for tea - pancakes with mushed blueberries in them. Furthermore, she ate them and liked them. Win.

The last of testicle man.

I have a few bits of news today.

I had etoposide again this morning and it was no hassles.

While I was there I asked the nurse about testicle man. I haven't seen him for ages and I thought maybe he'd finished. Now, I didn't say "Does testicle man still come in?" because that just wouldn't be right for lots of reasons. I did use his name and she was pretty sure she knew who I was talking about. She said she thought he had finished. So I guess I missed my chance to chat further. I hope he goes ok. It's strange having these passing semi-acquaintances.

The trials nurse came to see me today too and she had another treat for me - another bottle of barium concrete and a CT appointment letter to go with it. Turns out I need to have a CT scan and lung function test after Round 6. I thought it was only at the end but there's one a bit sooner, so that'll be interesting to see. I'm not so keen on drinking that sludge, but I'll do my best.

She also told me that she's read my blog. Someone in oncology saw it and told her about it. I'm not too sure how the person in oncology found it, whether she just found it on the internet or whether someone who knows me knows someone who knows someone who knows her. It's Adelaide, it's the internet - the circles are scarily small. Chris said she passed it on to Dr Giri, so now I'd better watch what I say :)

Chris also said that the person who told her about my blog had asked whether I might think about talking to her class next semester about experiences of cancer and treatment from the patient point of view. So we'll see what comes of that and I may or may not end up doing something.

And to top things off, the festering blistery sore on my foot has gone down and I can pretty much walk normally. Hooray!

Who knows what tomorrow will hold....

You can't hide your chemo eyes....

Yesterday was the start of Round 5. A friend from church drove me in to the hospital and stayed with me during treatment. We had a good chat in the car and in the oncology day centre. When I arrived in oncology I was greeted with some good news - due to the reduction in the dose of cyclophosmamide I did not need to have mesna, which meant that I didn't have to hang around in order to go back 4 hours later. I won't have to for the next three rounds either, so that's grand.

After chemo it was lunch time so we headed up to Rundle Street to eat before going home. We were torn about where to go and neither of us could choose so we ended up at Cafe Michael 2 where I had green curry chicken again. Still delicious.

I got home about 3 ish and tidied up a bit before Dave and the girls came home. Then I sat on the couch and was a bit spacey and half watched, half slept through Barbie Fairytopia Rainbow whatever the hell it is. Oh, Maesie put it on, not me. My eyes were heavy and I felt a bit funky. I was pretty slow for the rest of the evening but Dave made a delicious dinner and we had a good laugh watching Good News Week. Dave also bought some flowers when he dashed out to the shops and they are delightful.

I was out the front for some reason last night when the neighbour came home and so we had a little chat and she told me one morning when I was out the front watering wearing my hoodie, with the hood on because it was cold, that her daughter said to her "There's someone in their yard. Are they supposed to be there?" and she replied that it looked like it was me and why else would they be watering. The daughter then questioned why I had the hood of my jumper on and the mother reminded her I had no hair. I had a giggle about that story. Just that I look like a bit of a punk or something with my daggy jumper on and the hood on and the teenager next door, who incidentally is verging on emo herself, was concerned that there was a stranger in my yard. Hehe.

This morning we dropped the girls at grandma's and headed into Adelaide again for the day two bag of goodness. We got there a bit late and had to wait for about an hour so that was a bit crap but we had our books and just enjoyed reading for a while. Grandma is having the girls tonight so we did a few jobs on the way home and then tidied up a bit more. There has been a fair bit of tidying to do you may have noticed. We're slowly getting organised and getting rid of stuff and finding homes for things.

On the way home we called into a Salvo's store and they had a suitcase and even better it was half price. So I got that. Then we went to a salvage yard to look for a piece of timber for our benchtop and they had another little case and I got that too. Two cases in one day! I also have a couple of bids on two on ebay. If I win those, that might be too many cases! We'll see.

We ended up having some friends round for tea which was very nice. It was lovely to sit and chat and catch up and feel a bit normal for a while and talk about a variety of things.

This afternoon we booked tickets to see Ross Noble in the Fringe. It's in a couple of weeks and in a way it's a bit dicey because I'm not really sure how I'll be. I could even be in hospital I guess. But I really want to try and go. I was originally aiming for the Wednesday or Thursday show but there weren't any pairs of seats together. We are supposed to be at a meeting on Tuesday and I was in a bit of a tizz about whether to go on Tuesday or not and I got a bit upset because I really want to go because it's something to look forward to in this crap and I want to laugh and feel like a normal person who can go out and do things occasionally. Dave ended up deciding, stuff it - let's just go on Tuesday. So that's the plan. I hope I'm okay for it. Even if I'm not, I think I might drag myself along.

I am also looking forward to my graduation on the 6th of March and am hoping I feel okay for that too. I really don't want to miss it.

Energy for the weekend

On Saturday, I ran. Sort of. I was feeling good, a complete contrast to the previous Saturday when I ended up in hospital. Dave had his combat class to teach at Starplex so the girls went to creche, Dave did the lesson and I spent some time on the treadmill and doing some weights. I walked for most of the time but managed to pick it up to 12 km/hr for four intervals of 30 seconds. I suppose it's good, it's just that I used to do so much more. Anyway, it was still good to run for even a little while. I did a few leg presses and some other bits and pieces. It was good. Home for lunch then out a bit later to McDonalds so the girls could play on their playground not in the sun and for icecreams. After that we went to see some friends and pick up a lounge suite they have passed along to us. Home for tea and once the youngsters were in bed, Dave and I watched the movie "Julie and Julia". We both enjoyed it quite a bit.

On Sunday, I couldn't walk. It may have been slightly foolish to run and do a few weights after such a long time away. My legs were quite sore and I had some crazy limp - between the shingles on my foot and the sore muscles moving was hard going. A few people at church asked me if I was okay because I was walking so badly. Ooops. Today my legs are quite a bit better. Home for lunch, a rest for Elsie, Barbie Fairytopia Magic Rainbow for Maesie and I'm not entirely sure what Dave and I did. When Elsie woke up, we headed down to Ikea. It was always going to be dicey taking two under 4's into Ikea but we entered the store at 3:45. The store closes at 5. It's a big shop. We all made it out unscathed with most of the items we went for. The girls were actually very good and had a lovely time going into all the Ikea rooms. Things just started to come unstuck at the end when I was carrying a floor rug, Dave was carrying a coffee table, Maesie was pushing the trolley, Elsie was free to roam and everyone in the store was trying to get to the cash register. Note to self: leave children with someone else when going to Ikea.

After that (yeah, that's not all) we went to Semaphore. Dave and the girls had a bit of a splash in the sea and a jump in the waves. Once they were all dressed again, the girls played and Dave hunted and gathered up Semaphore Road and came back with fish and chips. It was tasty. Icecreams (again) and into the car to come home. We left at 7 and do you think those cheeky things slept in the car? No they did not. But they were happy, so that was okay.

It was a fairly crazy weekend, but I was feeling good so we took the opportunity to get a few jobs done and do a few activities together. It was splendid.

41.8 square centimetres

Today I haven't been feeling too bad, which has been nice. Yesterday was fairly average - I was okay in the morning but then I was tired and wiped out in the afternoon. I think I should be good for the weekend before Round 5 starts.

I took Maesie to pre-school this morning and then went for a blood test. Home for a little while to have a quick tidy up and a cup of tea and then it was time to pick Maesie up again, drop her at grandma's and then go into the city.

We had lunch with the new guy in charge of the formation process for Anglican ministers in Adelaide. Dave is part way through formation and wasn't sure what to expect during our discussion/meeting but it was good to meet him and talk about where things are up to for us. It was a positive time and I am greatly encouraged by the care of us as a family at this level of things in the diocese.

From there it was down to the RAH for my appointment. I am not always the best at deciphering my feelings but I am fairly sure I wasn't feeling nervous about the results of the scan, I was just interested to know. The 'lesions' are measured in area, cm2, and according to the little table they gave me I started with 120.42 cm2 of junk and now that's down to 41.8. So I've pretty much got one third left.

Mathematically and logically, if after 4 Rounds things have been reduced by about 60% then after another 4 they should be gone completely. This is the goal and I am sure it is possible however these 4 rounds are not quite as harsh as the first 4 and mathematics and logic don't always seem to apply to the body.

The doctor was happy with the results so far but when Dave asked what happens if there's some left after the eighth round, he didn't want to say. He said it gets complicated and we'll have to have that conversation if the event occurs.

I am glad that the chemo has been working and that the destruction of the cancer has been significant and not just 10% or some other small amount, but I am not jumping for joy. I still have to do 4 more rounds. I still have to get a cannula put in my arm 4 days out of 21, I still have to have blood tests more days than I care to count, I still can't do many of the activities I used to do, I still have to be wary of infection, I still have shingles, I still have no hair, I still have millions of tablets to take.

Don't get me wrong, I'm glad it's going but I'm only half way through this and I'm tired, tired, tired. And so's Dave.

People have been asking me how I went in my tests and I guess that's fair enough because they are eager to know what the cancer is up to. I don't have any results yet but I can tell you I went very well in my tests.

I did exactly what the lung function man said. He said puff, I puffed. He said breathe in and I did. I aced the CT scan. I drank the barium concrete solution at the right time, I emptied my bladder when they told me to, I put the gown on the right way round, I lay still on the bed. When the machine said "Don't breathe or swallow", I didn't. So I feel like the tests went very well and that I passed with flying colours, it's just the results we have to wait for....

My foot is getting a bit better I think. It's not quite as puffed up and nasty-looking. It's still not the greatest, but hopefully it won't get any worse.

Apart from the scan results, the next thing for me is my usual pre-chemo appointment with the doctor on Friday and then I'm back to the RAH on Monday for Day 1 of Round 5.

Out of hospital and half way tests

Apologies to those who have been wondering about my whereabouts.....

Yesterday around 11 am the doctor came in with his entourage and decided that I should be okay to go home. I was pretty happy about that and got myself organised to go. Mum was coming past around 3 pm and so she picked me up and took me home.

During the evening though I started to feel really achy and sore all over as well as really tired. I checked my temperature but it only got to about 37.1. I had a fairly average sleep, even though I felt really tired and was still achy this morning.

Today we all drove into the city and Dave dropped me off at the RAH for my tests. He took the girls around town with him while he did a few jobs and then they went to the botanic gardens for a picnic lunch.

I did my lung function test first, then drank my bottle of concrete, got a red cell booster injection in the oncology day centre and then had my CT scan. I might get a call from the clinical trials nurse to let me know the CT results otherwise I'll just find out at my appointment on Friday. I am not stressing about them at all. I will find out in due time. I am too tired to care at the moment. I have to have four more rounds anyway, so it sort of doesn't matter.

Three notes

I've got a few notes from the last few days....

1. Since when do Ian Thorpe's financial difficulties count as front page news? Who really cares? And when you read the article it turns out he suffered a little hardship during the global financial crisis and, oh no, might have to sell one of his three houses. That sure does sound tough Thorpey. Is that honestly what the Advertiser thinks is the best thing for Saturday's front page? Such crap. Tell us some real news. What's happening in the world? What's really going on? I guess I don't usually get this much time to read through the paper and it is probably just as full of junk every week, but it bugged me.

2. Whilst spending some time yabbering to the Lord yesterday, I was reminded of a song that had also come into my mind last time I was in hospital. It's not one of my favourite songs at all but it is still an encouragement. It goes "Jehovah Jirah *clap* my provider, His grace is sufficient for me, for me, for me." I actually really don't like the song so the fact that it pops up feels like a cheeky message from God. My Bible reading this morning was also very applicable and time appropriate. It was 2 Corinthians 12 where Paul writes of his 'thorn in the flesh' and the response he got from the Lord, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Weirdly similar to my non-favourite song.... Then one of the questions in the notes was "What circumstances do I wish God would take from my life?" Hmmm, that's a tough one, let me think a moment. Cancer? Yeah. That's it. The other questions were "How am I praying about them? and What has God said?". The answers to those are a bit trickier.....

3. I have signed up with the Leukemia Foundation for the Shave for a Cure. I've already shaved my head (not much of a choice) but Dave said he might do his to raise some cash. I've put in a link here that will hopefully direct you to a website with some info about it all and you can consider making a donation online too.
Worlds Greatest Shave 2010

Shingle all the way!

Yesterday when I woke up, I wasn't feeling the greatest. I was weak and a bit shaky and couldn't stand up very well, not that I was supposed to be standing up on my festy foot. Anyway, I ummed and aahhed a bit about whether I should go to hospital but Dave didn't want to stuff around and he said I was going.

So unfortunately the ladies at Starplex were left without a combat class (sorry!) and we headed down to Lizzy. My folks had a meeting at their church which is on the way to the Lyell McEwin so we dropped the girls off with them and then headed to emergency where they fairly quickly got me into Rm 28 where I spent some time when I was here during Round 1. It's such a weird room - it's under negative pressure or something like that and everyone who comes in has to have a gown and gloves and facemask on because of my neutropenic state. The ventilation is noisy and the door stays shut so I've kind of felt like I've been in solitary confinement for much of the last day or so.

Dave came past this afternoon though and has saved the day by bringing me a wireless internet thingy-ma-jig so that I feel a bit connected to the outside world. It's a bit sad how much I feel lost without the internet these days, but it's a handy way to communicate and keep busy while I'm here.

I've been feeling ok really but I have just been in bed resting so I'm not too sure what I would actually feel like if I was doing stuff. But I'm not supposed to be on my foot anyway so in one way it's good that I am here doing nothing.

Last night the doctor did have the results of my foot swab and it did come back shingles. So that's very exciting. There is a chance it could become a systemic infection and really get me but I am hoping and praying that I started the tablets early enough and that my white blood cells, which should be back today and tomorrow, might be here in time to get rid of it. We shall see. There is also an exciting chance that the girls and Dave might get chicken pox. Hopefully this does not eventuate because it would make for a very unhappy MacGillivray household.

This afternoon I was moved up to ward 2C so am now just in a room killing time, trying to get a bit better. I have windows in my room and can see outside which is a nice change from the lock-down room in emergency.

I am not sure how long I'll be here for. I am hoping the doctors here will get in contact with Dr Giri tomorrow and that it'll be sorted out a bit. I am also not too sure what this means for my scans on Tuesday, whether I'll still be heading to the RAH or whether they might be done here.

In other news, yesterday when we met my mum to drop the girls off, she had a suitcase for me - one that had been my great uncle's and then my grandpa's. I was pretty excited about it. I guess it's waiting for me at home.

Gross, eh?

My foot is still festy and my mouth and tongue are still fat and sore. I'm not feeling very energetic either. A bit of a low day.

I've been for a blood test but I don't know the results yet. My guess is my haemoglobin is close to 80 and my white blood count is around 0.04. We shall see.

Anyway, I thought a photo might be nice for a change....

Nice, isn't it? Bloody sore actually.

A festy foot

There has been a new development. For a couple of days I have had a red spot on the bottom of my right foot. I thought it was a fungal infection and tried putting cream on it but it didn't get any better. It got worse yesterday and overnight and today it's about the size of a 20 cent piece and it's all raised and blistery and gross. I called the clinical trials nurse and she spoke to Dr Giri and he asked me to head down to the Lyell McEwen so that he could have a look at it.

The nurse at the hospital took a swab to be sent to IMVS to try and find out what it is. The results should be ready by Monday. Sure don't like to rush things.....

Dr Giri thought it might be shingles and so he wrote out a prescription for some tablets which I picked up from the hospital and have to take for the next 10 days or so. I have to sit with my foot up which sucks completely and Dave is being very bossy about it. I have to keep an eye on it and if it gets worse I need to call Dr Giri and if I feel crook or get a temperature I have to go to the hospital, just like usual.

So my foot hurts and I can't walk. In addition, the back of my mouth and tongue are pretty sore and feel all fat. It's a bit poopy. Dave is worried about me and is fairly sick of the uncertainty of each day at the moment. I'm tired and I'm not looking forward to trying to sleep with this achy foot again. I'm also tired of this whole fiasco. I just want things to go back to the way they were. I'm halfway and it seems there's still so long to go and I'm a bit worried about the results of my scan next week and I'm trying not to worry about the future and what if it comes back and all that sort of stuff but it's all in the mix and this evening I'm not happy about things.

Two books and crazy ladies

So what's been happening since Wednesday? Good question.

Thursday - not much. Just loitered at home. Felt ok. Took Maesie to dance where she sat on my lap the whole time. No more dance.

Friday - still feeling okay. I took Maesie to her first morning of pre-entry at her new pre-school and she was pretty happy about it. I then spent around 1.5 hours visiting six op shops in Gawler in the hunt for suitcases. The old style hard ones to use for storage in my house. I didn't find any. It was very disappointing. Elsie was at child care and in the afternoon we picked her up and took the girls to swimming lessons.

Saturday - in the morning we all headed to Starplex where the girls went to creche, Dave taught his combat class and I did an RPM class. I took it easy and just did what I could. It was good to be part of the class and be blasted with music and get the heart pumping. I have had a number of people comment on my going to the gym and how it's amazing and inspirational. It's not really. I've been maybe once every couple of weeks and I can't do the full class. I'm nowhere near the level I used to be. I'm just trying to keep doing what I used to do, keep my body moving and get a bit of motivation from the exercise and music.

On Saturday afternoon we went to the park with Dave's sister and her family. The kids enjoyed a play on the playground and then we headed home with an extra child as we had one of the cousins for a sleepover. The night wasn't the greatest sleep ever but it wasn't too bad.

Sunday - still feeling ok. Church in the morning then home for lunch, naps, play etc. We ventured out later in the afternoon to return the cousin but that was about it. Not a great deal to report.

Monday - I got a ride into the city with the same friend as last week and we had another good chat on the way. Once in the city I went to the IMVS for a blood test and had to wait for a while. By the time I went in to the nurse, I was due in oncology. Nevermind. I finished one book waiting there. I headed up to the day centre and told them I'd just had my test so then I had to wait again until they got the results. I eventually got started and had my IV drugs no worries. With the possible exception of having to sit next to some annoying people. The patient, who had actually had treatment a couple of years ago already, was a youngish lady. Perhaps my age or a little bit older. She had with her an older, 'helpful' friend. The friend was just a bit of a nutter I think and between the two of them, they were freaking me out. I did feel a bit sorry for the patient though, having to be back after a couple of years and they were talking about her having to have a stem cell transplant, which is a whole new world of crazy. Needless to say, if I see them again, I will be giving them a wide berth.

I finished my treatment, met a friend briefly in the carpark to pick up some food (thanks!) then waited for a ride from the Leukemia Foundation car. I hadn't used their service before but thought I'd give it a try. I had to wait for about 45 mins so I finished my second book for the day (the books were both started before yesterday - I'm not that fast at reading) and was writing a few bits and pieces when my friend from last Monday, Joe Blogs, and his wife came into the foyer to wait for a car too. They were heading to Andrews Farm so we wondered if we might be all traveling together. It did turn out that way and we all piled into a car driven by a slightly crazy old lady. We got about 10 minutes out of the city and then Joe started to sweat and feel woozy and have chest pains. We turned around and took him back to the emergency department of the RAH. That left me with the crazy lady all the way to Gawler. It wasn't too bad and we ended up chatting about gardening. Turns out she hasn't had any luck with her tomatoes this year either.

I ended up getting home around 3, only shortly before Dave and the girls came home. Dave's folks came round for tea and then took the girls back to their place for a couple of nights sleepover so I don't need to worry about them for the next couple of days. I can just rest when needed and take it easy.

I looked up Joe's number in the phone book and rang later in the evening. He was home and okay, which was good news.

Options for the future, don't waste the present

Through all of this I have been thinking about what I'm going to do once this is over. Assuming, of course, that all goes well and that the lymphoma is gone after treatment is complete. There is part of me that acknowledges there is a chance that it may not all be over, but that's a different scenario.

Anyway, I've got a few options and I'm not sure what to go with. Do I go back to engineering for a couple of days like before? Do I do something with my recently completed Grad Dip and look for some sort of ministry work? Do I attempt to write some sort of book about something (this sounds very vague and in some ways it is, I just have a few thoughts about different books/topics that could be done)? Do I teach? Do I study some more? Do I do a combo? How many can I squeeze in? What's the best use of my time and skills?

I read an article by John Piper (a Christian preacher/theologian) who had cancer and it was thought provoking. It's called "Don't Waste Your Cancer" and I shall attempt to include a link....
Don't Waste Your Cancer :: Desiring God Christian Resource Library

It's a fairly short article of ten points for why/how the experience of cancer should not be wasted.

As I move through this phase of life and all it entails I do tend to agree that there are opportunities for my own growth, but also benefits for others that I shouldn't waste. Only thing is, I can't quite work out what they are or what I should be doing or how to ensure that this experience isn't wasted.

Any ideas would be greatfully received.

Stay tuned.

A bottle of concrete for the 16th

I've been in for my day three etoposide and it all went smoothly. I got my appointment information for my CT scan - it's on the 16th of February. I also got a bottle of concrete (barium contrast) to drink before the scan. That's something to look forward to. I picked up some more potassium tablets today and I also got a print out from the trials nurse of a summary of all my blood results so that I can put them into excel at some point and plot them to see the pattern of how my white blood cells fall and then come back up. Should be a fun little activity.

I finally put a photo of myself in my profile. Sorry there aren't many other photos, I know I still need a couple of my headwear options. I haven't forgotten.

My nails have gone a bit funky. They've got white horizontal lines across them. I did read that chemo can have that effect and in one book I read, the author lost some of her nails completely. I hope that doesn't happen to me because she said it was quite painful. She was a bit weird though.....

A good day with another nice lunch

Another day of feeling normal. Nice.

I think today was the fastest ever. I got there around 10:20 and was out by 11. No chit-chat with friends today, it was quiet in the day centre.

Dave and I then went to the central markets to pick up some lunch items. That was a bit traumatic because I love the idea of the markets but always feel overwhelmed once I'm in there. I feel disorientated too which doesn't help. I feel like there's secrets about the best place to get bread, the best place for cheese etc and I don't know them and I want to. Plus I end up cris-crossing and doubling back in my effort to find just what I want. Anyway, we both survived and after a little debrief in the car where Dave gently pointed out that he thought I was worse than usual and that perhaps chemo was getting to my brain and making my indecision worse, we headed to a friends place for lunch. Lunch was splendid.

Lunch, a bookshop and a new friend

Although it seems quite contradictory, today (as the first day of round 4) has been a very good day. I enjoyed a ride into the city with a friend and walked - or rather strolled/meandered - through the grounds of Adelaide Uni in the cool of the morning remembering good times past to arrive punctually at the oncology day centre. I claimed a chair, made myself a green tea and got a couple of biscuits, nodded 'Hi' to testicle man and his wife who were in the bay near the kitchen, chatted with my nurse-o-the-day and got started with my IV cancer-killers.

Everything ran smoothly with the exception of my cyclo reaction which was less today due to an antihistamine at the start and a slower pumping rate however it still burnt my face off and was unpleasant. I finished around 12:20 which meant I missed the lunch wagon. Ordinarily this would not not impress me but today it was fine because I was heading out to meet friends for lunch. We dined at a nice little place off Rundle St and enjoyed a good chat and a few laughs. After we parted ways I had around an hour to kill so I headed to Mary Martin bookshop and whilst browsing, dreamed of enough money to purchase many books, followed by dreams of either enough money to purchase much shelving and/or a bigger house to hold aforementioned books. I left empty handed, picked up a Fringe guide from the pub across the road and went back to East Wing, Level 7.

Back in the same corner chair (you can observe more from the corner :) ), the lady on my right and the man on my left were still getting pumped with who knows what. I don't think they'd been out for lunch. The guy, I shall call him Joe Blogs (only to protect his privacy, I do know his name and in fact his hospital record number. I tell you, I can't help but hear and remember. It is my superpower) was old enough to be my dad, but not my grandpa, I didn't quite catch his birthdate. It was his first day and his wife and daughter were with him and while the nurse bombarded them with all the info about what drugs he had and what they were for and when to take them and to get a thermometer etc etc they were both busily writing it all down. I'm not sure why the duplicate was required but I guess better safe than sorry. I usually don't butt into conversations but they were talking about the white cell booster and whether they could work out to do it themselves or whether they'd come into the hospital. I piped up and said it was easy, fairly pain free and hard to get wrong. We then had a little chat. Turns out he has B-cell lymphoma. I haven't had a chance to look that up yet but I will. His skin was kind of pasty and greeny-yellow. It was kind of weird. Anyway, I hope he goes okay and that his first couple of days are better than mine were.

I finished my mesna, met my mum on North Tce (not a chance meeting, it was my arranged ride home) and chatted to her on the way back to Gawler, arriving home in time for evening chaos, which perhaps only rated a 3 on the chaos scale tonight.

This evening I have watered the front yard, watched Good News Week, laughed at Ross Noble and toasted some muesli. It is now very late and I should have been in bed a long time ago however Maesie is awake and has been calling out every now and then for the past hour or so.

So it's been a good day. As I type however, Elsie is hollering so the night might not match the day for enjoyment. Such is life I guess.