“Mike, when do you think I should start feeling better again?”
It’s usually nice to be considered an expert on something. Ask me about building an ice rink, how to respond to a takeout double in bridge or whether the quadratic formula belongs in the grade 10 math curriculum and I’ll have a ready answer for you. But when Andrei asked his simple question, I realized that I’m not much of an expert when it comes to cancer.
Andrei finished his chemotherapy to combat his stage two Hodgkin’s lymphoma a few months ago. His tumours have completely disappeared yet he continues to have an enlarged spleen.
“My doctor doesn’t want to take it out. It seems that many doctors are reluctant to remove the spleen these days. I had a PET scan last week to determine if any cancer cells remain there. Here’s hoping I’m in the clear.”
Andrei had planned to return to teaching at Brebeuf College this month but now it looks like he’ll be on the sidelines until next September. When he was first diagnosed last June, Andrei continued an active lifestyle which included daily jogging as well as weekly tennis games.
For now, he’s put away his running shoes in favour of his guitar.
“The music is a great escape for me. I still play in a band and we’ve had a few good gigs lately. But, I just don’t feel quite right yet.”
Recovering from chemo is difficult business. One doctor told me that it takes two years to get back to normal. Being retired, I’ve had the luxury to take the slow and easy recovery route. But, for my twenty nine year old friend, that’s not an option. Andrei wants to get back in the race.
I just hope he can be a little more patient.
No comments:
Post a Comment