Score Update

Haven't updated this in over a week!  Looking back at my last post I see that I started it, "I'm now two days out from returning to chemo, and I'm still not sure what to make of this." Well I think I got it figured out now. This fourth cycle reminds me a lot of my first cycle of chemo. Here are the similarities.

1. My first cycle began right when it was kind of rough being home alone in the beginning, but I eventually adjusted. The past month and a half has been great with my brothers home from school a lot due to all of the holidays. But that changed this week, and I had to make that same adjustment again. I just try to keep my mind as occupied as possible. When I don't my mind can travel to places that only will hurt me. So keeping busy is key. The first half of treatment I mainly played video games, listened to music, used my tablet, youtube, blogging etc. Two new things that'll keep me occupied over the next few months will be my arm rehab, and schoolwork. This week I got back to programming (something I haven't done since July). I'm going to at least touch all of the material I learned last year in school(all of the important subjects for my major) just so I don't forget it all. I think it's also important for me to do this because it can serve as a bridge between the end of chemo, and my return to "normal" life.

2. Second wind. I was feeling pretty well by last weekend. Energy was improving, but then on Monday I don't know what happened. My mouth was getting raw. No sores, but my gums were really inflamed. I used the Magic Mouthwash for the next couple days (Awesome Stuff). My mouth feels fine now, thank God. I also was much more tired on Monday than Sunday. Another annoying side effect that I never really mention is the...heartburn? That started on Monday also. Swallowing hurts my chest, and a few nights I was up with pain. I felt like I was going to through up. Took some Tums, and it helped a little. I get that from time to time now. Not sure what's causing it. It's a feeling I never experienced until chemo started. And lastly, and this side effect will not go away until treatment is over, and will continue to worsen: Peripheral Neuropathy. I hate this one. My fingers are just a little numb right now, but like it happened over the first three cycles. It will not improve. I don't really remember having a second wind like this in any other of my cycles, but I'm probably wrong.

3. The side effects. Like my first cycle I was feeling pretty well last Monday before treatment. That changes right when the first drop of chemo goes through the IV. It's a little overwhelming on that first cycle when you're introduced to those side effects. I was a little more prepared this time, but it still is tough to deal with. 

Right now I feel pretty well. No mouth sores. I feel like the arm is at a point where the rehab I'm doing right now isn't going to make it any better. I'm ready for that next step now which will be active range of motion exercises. I'll get the clear for that in two weeks. Hopefully I get the clear to drive too. I mean its not like I drive that often now, but its nice to have the option. I'm a little tired now. I might have overextended myself yesterday, but it was really worth it. I saw Joey's basketball game. It was a good game, but they lost unfortunately.  I think I might be a bad luck charm. I have seen two games this season, and they lost both. Sorry guys. As soon as I got home from the game, I slipped right into bed. One funny thing to say about yesterday was how crazy my mom was with making sure I was dressed warm. Right when we left the gym, she like freaked out on me to have my jacket zippered all the way up. I already had a hoody on underneath anyway, and it wasn't that cold out. Not like it was earlier in the week anyway. I wonder what she would have done had she seen me going outside earlier in the day getting the mail with shorts on, and just a hoody. Whoops!

The scar is looking pretty good

Here's one of the many rehab exercises I do now. These are the spider walks that I mentioned before. I'm really good at them now. They were really tough in the beginning, but after doing them three times a day the past few weeks I now can get my right arm as high as my left.

Keeping up with the theme of my blog: The Biggest Game. Here's the latest update from the game. Team Ewing's is having a difficult time without their star player, Jimmy. What's left of the team is having difficulty playing. They're afraid that they won't finish the game. My chemo is just too much for them to handle. My team played a little dirty at halftime in removing Jimmy from the game, but my team has that "win at all costs" attitude. Team Ewing's had a big head start, but it only went downhill from there. The third quarter just began, and I'm winning now with no intentions of giving that lead up.


Last thing. My friend Julie Mina is now cancer free! Congratulations! I wish you the best.