My Affair With Chemmie

The paragraph above is playing around with a facetious story about my cancer treatments. My lunch dates with Chemmie represent my weekly appointments for chemotherapy infusions.I usually took my lunch and I was told to drink a lot of water and that led to frequent bathroom breaks. Those were the waltzes with the machine still attached to a port over my right breast back to my chair to drink more water.

On October 29, 2010 I went to see my doctor because my right lung hurt when I tried to breathe deeply. A scan showed fluid in the lung which had to be drained. I was weighed before this painful procedure, which produced one and a half liters of fluid. I was weighed immediately after the drainage and I had lost 5 pounds. The fluid was sent away to test for cancer cells. When the results of the test came back from the laboratory, the oncology nurse made an appointment for me to see the oncologist. H diagnosed ovarian cancer. Upon my daughter’s question for a prognosis, he said, “six months with treatment, three months without.” All I said was, “Oh, God.”

This was not the first time I had cancer. In May, 1995 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I did not opt for chemotherapy then because there were no cancer cells in the nodes the surgeon removed or in the liver, bones or anywhere else in my body. This time there seemed to be no option; chemotherapy was the indicated treatment. The oncologist told me that he would see to it that I would have quality of life.

I told my daughter that I was going to fight this ugly thing and win. She said, “Mama, I don’t think you should think of this as a war or combat. Look at it rather as another part of your life, another challenge on your road of life.”

I thought about her words. I focused on my ongoing life, realizing that I am an eternal being. There was no depression, mo tears. My doctors, my family, my friends and I were all caring members of a team, intent on continuing my life.

My oncologist could have been any doctor in that oncology department, but I am glad that he became my doctor and that he is a Christian. I knew that he would do everything he could to make me well. I was impressed when he prayed with my daughter and me at the diagnosis and the prognosis and before every infusion.

I am blessed with a supportive family, many who live not far from me. My daughters or their husbands would accompany me to treatments. At first, I felt better if I stayed one or two days with one of my daughters after the first two or three treatments, but after those early treatments, I didn’t feel so weak and I went home each time. The day of the infusion I would come home and nap in my big chair and didn’t do much those days except read. After that, I could take care of myself and I could drive my car when I needed to do so.

Many blessings came from this eleven month journey. Family relationships were mended. I had daily contacts with family and friends.

In February 2011 I had surgery to remove any cancer that the scans may have missed. I told the oncologist that I didn’t think that was a blessing. “Oh, yes, it is. At your age, I thought you might not be able to tolerate surgery. Your lab reports are stable and I believe you will come through surgery just fine.” And I did.

On September 8, 2011 my oncologist told me I was in remission. Cancer had become a challenge that I had overcome. Faith embraces hope and peace. Where there is faith, there is a positive attitude.

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