Cancer: Yep, still talking about it, folks

This is Bubbles from Trailer Park Boys. He has a cat on his head. I love this picture.

Part Three

Okay, so I promised to tell you about the infusion process in this installment, and I keeps my promises, so here we go: Dr. Waits informed me those ridiculously-high for some reason white cell counts Dr. Vanotti noticed were affecting my red cells, causing a condition called hemolytic anemia. He informed me I had jumped to stage three (gulp) cancer, and those things mean it’s time to treat, like NOW.

So, for the last couple of months, I’ve been spending two or three Mondays (Mondays I just go to the lab for a blood draw) and Tuesdays in Washington for infusions with Gazyva (obinutuzumab), which loooves to snack on wonky white cells. They gradually increase the dose, because like all cancer medicines, it’s a good idea to let your body become accustomed to it over time.

Infusion days are long, usually from 8:30 a.m. until about 4:30 or 4:45 p.m., but I have learned to bring story notes and things I’ m working on for the paper, my Sharpie markers and a sketch pad, games on my phone and an iPad to while the hours away. They serve lunch, which is good ol’ homestyle hospital food. Not quite as good as Greene County’s but pretty close. I can have one guest if I want, but I don’t dislike anyone enough to invite them along for eight hours of watching an IV bag slowwwwlllllly drip into my veins. Until recently, the staff had to stick me with a new pick line every time and my arms are covered in bruises to prove it. Last Wednesday, though, I had an intravenous port implanted in my left upper chest, so now they’ll just pop the IV needle in there, no muss, no fuss!

Today, February 8, I started taking a daily chemo pill called Venetoclax. It’s chemo/not chemo, whatever that means. It’s hungry for dem tasty cancer cells but my hair won’t fall out and I won’t suffer from nausea or mouth sores like with regular chemo. Celebrate the small victories, folks.

This medicine is also slowly increased. The first week, I take 20 mg/day, week two it’s 50 mg/day, week three I go to 100 mg/day, week four I jump to 200 mg/day and week five and for the rest of the 12-month treatment period I will take 400 mg every day.

You have to drink A LOT of water with this regimen because it kills A LOT of cancer cells quickly and their stupid dead corpses can pile up, like in a hallway in the Walking Dead, and cause a serious side effect, Tumor Lysis Syndrome (TLS). This crappy horrifying possibility can cause kidney failure, the need for dialysis and death but preventing it is pretty straightforward: DRINK DAT WATER. Two 56-oz. Containers a day and listen to your doctor’s advice. Dr. Waits had me get labs done two days after starting Venclexta, to see what the small dose had killed so far and if the dead cells were being flushed out efficiently. If not, the doc will give extra IV fluids and certain medications to help.

The good news is, after three infusions, the nurses told me my numbers looked good, and Dr. Waits said my counts had dropped dramatically.

“It’s working,” he said with a grin and what i imagined was a twinkle of joy in his eye. “It’s working really well.”

May the odds ever be in my favor………..

The Infusion Center is comfortable, the chairs are cushy, dancing is allowed (it’s probably not, but I do it anyway). I don’t even mind the drive to Washington, although gas can be expensive and now my car needs an oil change and some other upkeep. Keeping my fingers crossed, though, because maybe, just maybe, I might be able to get some help from the Travis Burkhart Foundation for medical bills, gas, car maintenance and the rent and utilities I’m behind on because I had to buy a car to get to work and Washington. I have to submit an application, which I haven’t done yet because it’s embarrassing…..but I will and maybe they can help some. If I can catch up, I’ll be in fine shape and one way or another, I will.

That’s my cancer story for now. I’m not a survivor yet, but you better believe I’m a fighter. I’ll fight this with all I’ve got, and write about it when I do. Thanks for reading, my friends.

Patti is Editor of the Greene County Daily World. She loves to laugh and also loves kitties. She’s kind of weird but has a heart of gold. If you would like to share a story or just make a friend, she can be reached at pattigcdw@gmail.com.