What’s good, fam??
I know, I know, I’ve been slacking on the updates. Just over here fighting a little cancer, you feel me? And actually, if you really want to know, I’ve been hanging with my friends any chance I get and hopping around from game to game...Can’t let the social life go down the drain too!
Sooo…Week 10…Did you catch that?? WEEK 10, 10….I should probably stop there. Channeling my inner Billy Bob (you know, from Varsity Blues?!). Mom isn’t supposed to know I watched it so we will just move right along.
Okay, down to business. Overall, treatment has been going well. I am fighting like everyone hoped and thought I would. I seem to be tolerating the chemo like a champ with a little nausea following my VDC (2 day treatment) and not much, if any, nausea after the IE (5 day treatment). I’m going to go out on limb here and say I might just be the GOAT😉. So even though I feel kind of blah on my short weeks, I don’t let it slow me down. It’s those long weeks though – being in that dang place for 7 days just flat out sucks. Mom and Dad try to make it better, but time just can’t pass fast enough. I am thankful that when I do bust out, I don’t feel too terrible so I try to hit the roads and make up for lost time with the gang.
Do you recall that ‘ol drug I raved about early on….Benadryl….yeah, that one. It’s like a four-letter word to me now. It just hits different…and not in a good way. I kicked it to the curb. Made me feel like poo. I went through my last two treatment weeks without it and I feel good about my decision. Didn’t have any extra nausea without it so I told the nurses don’t even think about bringing it up. Sometimes you just gotta take things into your own hands!
We did have a little trouble here and there with this dang port. Couldn’t get blood return a few times. Turns out, the port is slightly tilted and if they don’t access it at the right angle, it can cause some issues. Another reason they may not be able to get blood return is if there is if there is a clot in the line, in which case they inject meds into the line (TPA) and let it sit for some time to break it up. The port is a big thorn in my side. I almost fired a couple nurses and told them I’m fidna have to start accessing my own port if we can’t get this figured out (not their fault, of course). Regardless, Ima be accessing ports and writing treatment plans up in here before you know it! I do give my nurses a hard time, but I also keep them laughing so they can’t be too mad at me.
Remember my bye weeks? Well, we still go into clinic to check my levels, maybe pay the cardiologist a visit if it’s the week prior to VDC, and really just grace them with my presence😊. My labwork determines whether or not I need extra blood, platelets, or if I need to stay home under lock and key. My hemoglobin (red blood cells) got a liiiiittle low the past week, but I was able to fight back and avoid a transfusion (told you I was the GOAT). Throughout all of this, my ANC (immune system marker/level) has been great which allows me to continue to go places and be around the peeps. The shot I receive following each week of treatment boosts my white blood cells and therefore helps to prevent infection. It also causes a little bone pain, but it’s worth it if it means I can cruise the streets!
Blaire still helps play nurse and makes sure I stay ontop of my meds, but bruh, she’s getting a little busy with her basketball career. Sure she’ll forget about the *not so little* people when she makes it big, but she still finds time to take care of me in between her intense training and game schedule…for now.
What else? OH - BIG NEWS…this week is scan week! It is my off week so we will go in on Thursday for my normal labs and then head across the street for another PET scan. We will meet with Dr. Sims after that so I’m thinking she should be able to give us an idea of what she’s seeing. The scan will be sent off to Memphis and then we will know next steps. Basically, this will determine whether or not I will need surgery and/or radiation. I aint scurred. I can tell you…I’m killing it. I just don’t feel like I will need radiation, and I really feel like this chemo is doing it’s job, but we shall see! Now, I have thought about all the adventures I could take up in Memphis if I did have to have radiation, but how much fun would that be with your Mom or Dad?!? For real, cuh. I’ll save that for later.
Before I go, I would like to ask for some prayers for a fellow sigma alpha. He was at the hospital for a while trying to figure out why he kept having these episodes of passing out. He may not want y’all all up in his business so just know his rockstar parents found him a facility outside of BR to figure out what is going on. Sounds like some real deal ‘House’ stuff to me! Please pray they find answers and get back to being a dang kid.
I promise to keep you posted on all the things. Until then, you can find me on Teams for class, crashing out on Fortnite, riding the 4wheeler or at the Catholic football games. Hit me up!
Later,
Beau
