Sixth Treatment - Wednesday, November 4, 2009

This is it! The last chemo treatment ever, in my book. The usual things happened this morning at work. I tried to finish all my paperwork while managing a number of situations requiring my attention. Toward the noon hour it seemed like my time ran out. I had to rush home and actually arrived a little late at the oncologist’s office. The place is so busy that I do not think they noticed. During this appointment, the doctor told me that I did a lot better than even he expected. He said that he did not know if it was because of my constitution or because of the supplements I have been taking. I answered that it was due to God first, and the vitamins second, to which he agreed. After examining me and discussing the latest batch of minor side-effects, he told me to forget all about this office, enjoy myself during my upcoming trip to Rome, Italy, (more about that later) and that he would see me in April, 2010.

By the time my sister and I made our way to the treatment rooms, the semi-privates, which are my favorites, were completely occupied. So I settled in the "sun" room, a cheery place surrounded by floor to ceiling windows. Since it was a bright day outside, it was even more pleasant than usual to sit in there. After about a half hour, the room cleared of other patients and we had the place to ourselves for the duration of my treatment time. However, this cycle was more difficult than the others in regards to falling asleep. The effects of the Benadryl, which usually make me both restless and sleepy for about 30 to 45 minutes, seemed to last longer today. Every time I would begin to drift off, the familiar knee-jerk reaction of kicking the chair would occur and I could not relax. After about an hour and a half, I fell asleep and the next thing I heard was the nurse whispering in my ear that I was finished. Only this time I was not just finished for the day but completely finished the protocol. Even though I was half functional, somewhat like an intoxicated person, I imagine, it felt really great to finally be finished.

On the way home, I talked to both my brother and my best friend for a bit while still trying to become fully awake. Then, I had the brilliant idea to call Marilyn, the produce department head at Martindale’s. I started the conversation by yelling, "I’m done, I’m done, I’m done!!!" Then my sister and I sang "Arrivederci, Roma" over the phone to her. Those are the only two words of the song either of us know. I found out the next day that Marilyn had me on speaker phone and her daughter, overhearing our singing, questioned if something was wrong with me. She must have been worried that I was drunk and concerned if I was driving. Unknown to me, Marilyn also shared the story of my conversation with the staff. When I arrived at work they wanted me to sing that song for them as well. So in the backroom of Martindale’s I belted out the two words of that song I remember. We all had a good laugh. (Then I must confess that I got right to work because I know my bosses are reading this blog!) You may wonder why I would sing this particular song or rather phrase of a song. Well, it reminds me that I can now think about something other than cancer and chemo, something pleasant like my upcoming trip.