I was in Houston earlier this week for my sixth and final round of chemo. It’s hard to believe that it has been 5 months since I was diagnosed. Like many moments in life, the time has gone by both quickly and slowly. The clock seems to move at a snails pace when your laying in bed and not feeling well from the chemo. At other times I ask myself where the time went? We had Thanksgiving, Christmas, birthdays, basketball season and three plays. I was fortunate to be able to attend most of these events and they really kept me energized during treatment as they reminded me of how blessed I am to have a wonderful family and terrific friends.
We’ll be heading back to Houston on April 24th for a PET scan to make sure the tumor is gone, but since we did a sneak peek 6 weeks ago we are extremely optomistic that the results will be positive. I’ll then need to travel to MD Anderson quarterly for the next two years to make sure there isn’t a relapse.
As it relates to “recovery” and “feeling normal again” from the chemo, I’m dealing with the normal side effects of the “cycle” for the next three weeks and then the doctor set expectations of equal to the amount of time I was receiving treatment. That means 4 1/2 months but I’m hoping that being younger and healthy I can speed that up (a lot).
They also removed the PIC line out of my arm before I left (ok, I threatened to take it out myself). One of the things I’ve been looking forward to the most is a hot shower without wrapping my arm and worrying about getting the line wet.
For my music interlude (in honor of my last chemo treatment) on this post I give you “One Last Time” from the musical Hamilton. George Washington has decided not to seek reelection and he asks Hamilton help him write his farewell address. When you hear it, you’ll also get another reference to the fig tree.
Below the Fig Tree 
Ring that Bell brother!!!
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Tom, so happy you are on the road to recovery. I was able to ring the bell
Two years ago! How sweet the sound! Stay strong and be happy!
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The ringing out was a big thing for me, although i was pretty weak and did not make the biggest ring that could be rung. My wife was expecting a big ring and i just didn’t have it in me. Congratulations on ringing out of there, it is a great feeling. We have found that the quarterly trips are great little milestones in the journey. Just had my 21 month followup with my radiation oncologist, who has become someone i respect greatly.
Do you have any tingling or numbness in hands and feet? i understand it varies greatly with the type of chemo cocktail they give you. It is a bit uncomfortable, but a new normal that isn’t too bad considering the alternative.
So glad you are finished and feeling so optimistic.
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