Kicking Cancers A** ~ One Week Down…Six To Go…

I last blogged on the first day of chemo and radiation for Greg before we left the house…it was my way of therapy…but the moment we got in the car the nerves started going at it again. I kept staring at the hubs face {I’m sure he is going to get tired of me doing that} to see if I can find any sign of how he was feeling. Heather drove down with us and Sam met us there so talking in the car wasn’t awkward…for the most part…we had a morning show on and would switch to some music to help his mind at ease…well I hoped it did…and also so no one can hear my heart pounding so loudly it was going to jump out of my chest…I have to be the strong one…I can’t even imagine how he is feeling.  I hate not knowing…and the feeling of being so helpless.

We arrive at the chemo floor and the hubs signs himself in…I feel a bit of relief because we could just “wait” for a few…we all chat…talk about this and that…the hubs is pacing…he won’t sit {he’s the lucky one who gets to for the next 6 1/2 hours 🙁 NOT} But the moment I let my nerves calm down “Mr. Campbell” has been called…here we go!  We arrive in a room…rather small for all of us but we don’t care ~ we will make do…we brought sandwiches, munchies, and some things to drink…and GAMES to help the time pass by. The nurse gets him all settled in and hooked his 7 bags of “goodies” and explains what each one does and what he can expect “afterwards” and so on…we all intently listen…again I wonder if anyone can hear my heart pounding…and continue to stare at Greg…he just smiles and talks with his girls which calms me down…phew…okay I won’t breakdown and lose it…

After a few hours {which I have to say went by fairly quickly because the nurses switched his “goodie bags” here and there…but once the “chemo” bag started we had 3 hours to kill…so what better way then to play a game…Heads Up was Heather’s choice and I’d have to say it was a good one…it was FUN… we were laughing and giggling…actually being quite loud…the people in the hall are walking in to see what was the fun and would join in…for a bit…but overall…very stressless…they took care of him…made him comfortable…and always checked on him and asked if we needed anything… I was thinking wow…this isn’t that bad…then the main “goodie bag” was done and we had just another 2 1/2 hours left for the IV with some extra fluids for him…we continued to play…made up some games and before you know it ~ he was done!  Boom…chemo #1 was complete…now onto radiation…

…Now radiation is Greg’s biggest fear…so again I stared to see his expressions which seemed pretty positive…my heart no longer pounding through my chest…the hubs and Sam sat across one side of the room and Heather and I on the other…chit chatting here and there when all of a sudden Greg is not feeling well…3 shades of white…I mean white…feeling dizzy and nausea… this grew everyone concerned…they take his vitals and immediately lie him on the bed…again I am not that concerned yet because I hear chemo can be awful. The doc is now concerned…oh boy…why? They won’t even do radiation today…they say ~ tomorrow! They say this is unusual…they call a team of people in…I feel l am in the way…Sam is with me as well…they’re doing a EKG making sure everything is okay…crash cart comes in…heart is pounding now…I’m wondering if anyone can hear it…can Sam hear it?  Sam leaves…I remember oh good…she doesn’t need to see this…they have Greg sit up…he is shaking violently…I think he is having a seizure…they ask me to leave…oh great…just remember to breathe… take a few breathes…you will be fine…Greg will be fine…

I’m out in the waiting room to tell the girls I heard they are taking him to the hospital via ambulance {I’m thinking aren’t we at one?} A nurse runs out and hands me a parking pass {Apparently the hubs was more concerned for getting the parking paid then what was going on with him…oh that man}.  I try so hard not to cry…I remember thinking of what to say first before it comes out of my mouth…and it worked…who has time for a breakdown. the 3 of us find directions to get to the emergency room and must have looked pretty pitiful because the ambulance driver said…screw it you guys are all riding with us…but don’t tell anyone {I wonder if this counts as telling anyone}…we arrive in the ER and only 2 of us are allowed to stay…so we take turns…I stayed and Sam and Heather went to the waiting room…I step out to see if one of them wants to go in…Sam is upset…she is not feeling good…and crying…Heather…doing good…I bring Sam back with me because Heather doesn’t want to be in there if “Dad’s going to puke”… I totally understand…told her we would be back in a few.  Needless to say our 8 hour day turned into an 11 hour day with an hour left yet to travel home…oh I sure hope next Chemo goes differently!  They say his vitals are good to go and he can go home…he slept all the way home…he slept the moment he reached the couch…and he remained on the couch until the next morning…and then slept again for 4 more hours…those were some good drugs I’m thinking.  This is the time I breakdown…thank goodness that is over with! But he still has to do radiation…I make him something to eat…give him his required meds…and on our way we go back to the Clinic to start radiation…

Mr. Campbell is called…we calmly walks in…5 minutes go by and the doc and his nurse come out…oh boy…he panicked…he will need more anxiety meds to continue radiation…he waits another 20 minutes for it to kick in {I feel terrible there is nothing I can do for his fear of radiation…his face literally sits inside a custom made mask while a tube is in his mouth holding his tongue down WHILE the mask is clasp to a table so he cannot move an inch…this is why is has medication…to calm those nerves).  10 minutes pass by after they call “Mr. Campbell” again…and here he comes…the hubs…with a big smile on his face…HE DID IT…he is so proud of himself…chemo one is done and now first radiation is done {only 34 more to go ha ha}.

The rest of the week went without any problems…although they will do a blood test every Wednesday and Friday to see his blood levels…and today they all checked out okay…except for his levels for his kidney functions…so 2 more bags of IV’s were waiting for the hubs…I couldn’t go with him today and I had such mixed feelings…knowing that he went with Sam was no issue…but just the fact I want him to know I am here with him during this entire journey…and then when I heard he needed more fluids it just broke my heart I wasn’t there with him.  He also go weighed today…down 17 lbs.   WOW that is going down fast…he is expected to lose 40-50 pounds by the end of this and I worry because if he loses too much weight and won’t eat and drink enough a feeding tube will be no other choice!

But overall, I have to say the week went by fast after Tuesday…we drive up to the valet… they know us now…they literally park our car next to the door and have it ready by the time we are out…no waiting!

Each time the hubs is in radiation the doc’s nurse comes and chats with me…the time flies by and the next thing you know we are on our way home!  For the first two days to be just awful and unsettling I have to say I am so happy it is done and over with!  Just six more weeks to go!!  Phew!  And the support from friends and family have been so wonderful…it keeps us going!  I have to say we are very lucky when it comes to our loved ones…I honestly do feel blessed…now just to get through the next 6 weeks…and the healing process can begin…

It is amazing how many patients {sad in reality of it all} come and go in the course of one day…its like an art on how they do things…

I normally post in black and white for this subject because I feel it shows the true emotion of it all…but had to share his pet scan…purple is cancer.. this is sliced right in the middle of where this little shit is

{well not so little}…

We did have fun during the chemo treatment…making light of it helped with everyone’s mood and made the time go by more quickly.

You can see his smile when she was taking the IV out and telling us we are ready to head over to radiation.

This is where he started feeling the adverse effects of chemo…