End of the First Movement

The chemotherapy went without a hitch. The 3 anti nausea drugs they used worked, although I am becoming slightly queasy right now, perhaps a function of the time.

The use of the chest port certainly made things easier. The needle that they used has a barb on it, like a fishing hook. Luckily my skin was slightly anesthetized before it went in and afterward, felt nothing. Although there is an ache in that area right now. They began with some anti anxiety meds followed by anti emetics and a large bag of IV fluids before they even began with the chemotherapy agents. The pemetrexed came first. Then more IV fluids followed by the cisplatin. And more IV fluids. The nurse, V, was from New Zealand and we had several delightful conversations about her country, as I had been planning to hike the Milford Track or Trek this coming January with my friend T from Honolulu, until the cancer intervened. V will be taking of for quite a spell of time in December and part will be a visit to New Zealand. I am envious. But it's merely a postponement.

My friend, A, drove me to Group Health, and my friend, D, joined us about a half hour later in the infustion ward. And they both stayed with me the entire time, ~ 6 hours, and kept me wonderfully entertained. My daughter showed up after she had completed her all-night rotation at UW hospital. She was present for the visit by the oncologist, then left to attend a meeting outside the hospital, but later came over for dinner, which was cheerfully and graciously provided by L, an attorney in my office.

I am deeply tired, but also don't want to sleep because it feels really good to be done with a procedure I've been dreading for quite a while. It has been a very intense, but quiet day and I am glad to have it behind me. But it is just a start.