Monday, April 29, 2013

When Living WIth Cancer Isn't All That Fun

You know I'm a fan of Living with cancer. Not only living with vs. dying from, but I mean truly Living, experiencing life to the fullest. That's why I wanted to take Marcie with me to Paris earlier this year, why I've wanted to run half-marathons at a pace I would have been embarrassed about not long ago, and why I've tried to be a better dad, more present, more involved.

Living with cancer has its downsides, too. It means not using cancer as a excuse when unpleasant things lie in your path. Case in point - I'm writing this from Room 686 at Piedmont Hospital, where my father has been a resident since last Wednesday. He'd fallen 3 times in a week, despite having his walker next to him. Turns out he has a condition called Congestive Heart Failure, which sounds much more imminently deadly than it is. In fact, he's had it for two years now, which was news to me. But that's a story for another day.

He's doing better and will leave here for a two to three week stay in a rehab facility to regain his strength. The unpleasant part is what comes next. The doctors have told him it's no longer safe for him to live on his own. He's 84 years old, has lived in his current house for 40 years and, understandably,  doesn't want to leave.

We've been building the case with him for the last 2 years, and even have him on the wait list at a nearby community that offers both independent and assisted living options. (Waiting lists in a place like that are a rather morbid concept when you think about it.) I want it to be his decision, his choice. But I have to be prepared to make the decision for him, for his own good. It's one of those child-becomes-the-parent situations, and it sucks. Fortunately, I have Marcie and my sister to help.

It can be a bit depressing, watching your parents age less than gracefully. And it's hit me pretty hard of late. But that's part of life, and part of the price I have to pay if I want to keep on Living.






Monday, April 8, 2013

Chemo Myths Debunked

I am the Great Debunker of Chemo Myths. I'm like the Amazing Randi of tumor treatments. Allow me to explain.

Myth #1 - Chemo Makes You Lose Weight

Not always. Since about my junior year of high school, I weighed between 170 and 175 lbs. I dipped down to about 160 after having a foot of colon removed when I was 38, but I quickly bounced back to my normal level, and stayed there until very recently. Last Fall, I began to add pounds, and inches, while on chemo. A couple months ago I topped out at 191. Some of that was probably the lack of exercise, not the chemo directly, but still.

I'm on my way back to my comfort zone, with the latest weigh-ins tallying somewhere in the low 180's.

Myth #2 - Chemo Make You Lose Your Hair

Certainly not all chemo causes hair loss. I never lost a lock during my first year and half of various treatments. And I was thinning in October, when I decided to take things into my own hands, literally, and shave off what was left. In retrospect, I probably could've gotten away with a good buzz cut. But that's not exactly the myth-busting part.

It's my eyelashes. Some of you know that what my genes lack in cancer-fighting ability, they more than made up for in long, thick lashes. But post chemo, something weird happened. My lashes are even longer. So much so that I now can't wear my glasses without my lashes feeling like a vertical windshield wiper, gliding along the inside of the lenses. I've had random people comment about my lashes a half dozen times in the last two weeks. I'm thinking about trimming them. I'll leave the ear and nose hair au natural, but I must manscape my mascara-less filamentous biomaterial.


I know, that's just two myths. Everything else you've heard about chemo is true. Or is it?

Feel free to post your own stories about chemo surprises, or ask me if I've ever experienced something you've heard about. See that way this can be a two way conversation.

PS - Shout out to my favorite members of the diplomatic corps. It was great to see you this weekend, sad reason notwithstanding.