CHEMO ROUND 3

Having conceded to cancer in rounds 1 and 2 of chemotherapy, I was determined to put up a better fight in ROUND 3.

In fact, Terry and I were quietly optimistic about the results of the bone marrow biopsy. The prayerful support of so many friends, the intercession of the Canadian Martyrs and my initial celestial intuition that my cancer was Stage 3 all helped to bolster our faith. And heck, the Argos were now 2-7, their chances of a playoff spot evaporating, especially with the firing of quarterback Lemon. There’s that word lemon again! 

It was Wednesday September 7. Terry and I arrived for the 12 noon chemo session a few minutes early, ready for another four hour challenge. However, by 12:50 pm, still in the waiting room, it was apparent that this was going to be a long afternoon. The receptionist apologized for the delay and said that Chair 10, my chair, was not available yet because the current occupant had been experiencing some difficulties with her treatment.

A nurse suggested that we could do a weigh-in to expedite matters (176 lbs again) but I was frustrated that despite having a ticket, the chemo carousel did not have a spot for me. Finally, at 2 o’clock, I was ushered to my chemo chair, next to two other female patients. Terry slipped away for a snack while I had a chance to engage my ‘roommates’ in conversation. Both these women were fighting breast cancer and both had roller coaster stories like me. I also had a chance to talk to a man a few years my junior who was fighting Hodgkin’s lymphoma. He had an engaging smile and a real optimistic air about him. Heck, he was wearing a Blue Jays cap despite the fact that his team had been trounced by the Boston Red Sox 14-0 the previous night.

My nursing care seemed sporadic at best as no one nurse was assigned to my care. Everything seemed to be moving at a glacial pace. With no sign of my doctor by 3:30 pm, I was beginning to feel like ROUND 3 was slipping away. However, my patience was rewarded unexpectedly when a hospital volunteer appeared out of nowhere with a jumbo hot dog.  I gratefully took it off her hands and for a moment felt a reprieve from the oppressive surroundings.

Just after 4 pm, Doctor Goldman appeared, looking tired and subdued.

“I have the results of your bone marrow biopsy. It was negative. Your cancer is not

Stage 4.”

I wanted to jump up and high five him but I don’t think Dr. Goldman ever spent his Monday nights playing floor hockey like me. So I offered him my hand for a perfunctory shake. Then I high fived Terry. The unspoken tension we had felt about this moment for the past two weeks dissolved like footprints on a seashore.

The good doctor explained that the CT scan planned for two days hence would give a better idea of how things were going. He did check my lungs and confirmed that the fluid build up there was minimal, another good sign that my tumors were on the run. Now I felt like asking him about his Caribbean holiday.

By 5 pm, I was the last patient in the unit. One of the nurses casually said, “You’re going to make us late tonight.”

“But you wouldn’t let me on the carousel,” I wanted to shout back before realizing that she was just having fun with me.

Only two nurses remained by 6 o’clock. One was a real veteran, her rounded shoulders suggesting she carried a wealth of knowledge about cancer. She took time with Terry and me to share some of her expertise. She talked to me like a friend, not a professional. She answered questions about diet and exercise and revealed that the Retuxin regime I was on had been introduced in 2003 with good success but that now there was an even better lymphoma fighting drug called Bendamustine. When I asked why I was not on the latest and best medication, she explained that the newer drug would be my best bet if my lymphoma ever recurred. Sobering but reassuring news all at the same time.

We finally left the hospital at 6:15 pm, tired but rejuvenated. My cancer now seemed beatable although declaring victory in ROUND 3 seemed premature. I still had a long way to go but the path seemed a lot clearer now.