Spring and side effects

Last week, I was waiting to get my "re-up" of chemo.  When a couple of fellow cancer patients, who I met previously months ago at the infusion center congratulated me on my hair growing back so quickly.  Hey, I said.  Ladies, this IS my normal amount of hair.  My hair hasn't fallen out because of a side affect it's called natural thinning.  Speaking of new growth, the daffodils have sprung in Central Park and it's time again to begin planting in our community garden (see map).  Also, Alex and I went to the first day of the Cherry Blossom festival in Brooklyn Botanical Garden last weekend.

Apart from the usual suspects: nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and constipation (at the same time!?) I do have an unusual side effect - mild neuropathy when exposed to the cold.  Neuropathy is a condition that causes tingling or pin prick sensation in certain areas of the body, especially the hands and feet but can also occur in the throat.  Gag!  So I needless to say I avoid ice cold drinks on my chemo days and keep an oven mitt by the fridge.

My routine is I go every other Monday morning I go to the infusion center at the hospital where I get attached to an IV pump via the port in my chest.  Then I am sitting in a big lazy boy chair for about two hours while I receive two types of chemo.  I usually doze off listening to Wait Wait Don't Tell Me on my iPod.  Later the nurse attaches a "to go" pump of chemo which I then wear home.  I return on Wednesday 48 hours later and get disconnected.  The best is that I don't have to return to the hospital for almost two weeks.  So I get one week on and one week off chemo