One-Third Done and Gonzaga is the #1 Team in the Nation.

It’s been a few weeks, I’m 1/3rd of the way done. And today I received my 3rd chemo treatment (out of 6).

I have a little better understanding of how my body reacts to the drugs. The old cliche is accurate, you really do have to take it day-by-day. In rough days:

Days 1-7 I’m shot from the chemo and don’t feel well. All the medicines have side effects and need managing with other medicines. It feels like your worst hangover (or at least that’s what I’m told).

Days 8-15 my body is coming down from the chemo and drugs so while I feel better, I’m tired. I slept a couple days away during this period in round 2. My white blood cells and platelets are super low during this period so I really need to be careful not to get sick – lots of hand washing and sanitizer. I try and stay out of public places but if I do head out I wear my mask.

Days 16-21 if you didn’t know I was bald because of cancer you might think I’m totally healthy. I feel pretty good in this range. I need to hold back a little and be careful not to do too much. Last week I changed eight light bulbs in the house. You laugh but it required going to 3 different stores and it literally took almost all day (in the old days they were all the same bulbs).

The fact I’m breathing normally through my nose is a good sign that the chemo is working. I’ll be getting a PET scan before I start round 4 to see what has happened to the tumors but the medical team feels positive. Because Lymphoma is a whole body cancer, there isn’t an off-ramp to stop treatment and even if the tumors are gone we are still moving ahead with 6 rounds of chemo. When you have the enemy down on the mat, you don’t let up.

The best news of all is that the Gonzaga Bulldogs have the #1 basketball team in the nation. I’ve enjoyed watching the games on TV and hoping that they play their first round in Sacramento. I get chemo earlier that week but hopeful I can rally for their Sunday game. It will require a ton of hand sanitizer and a surgical mask to watch but I would have to go.

I continue to be grateful for all the prayers and notes of support. They are all appreciated and help keep me motivated. As my sister tells me #StrongTribeStrongVibe. Thanks for all the love.