Vaccination date set

 This morning at 8 a.m. we began the process of trying to get an appointment date.  I had 3 appointments at the Duke Cancer Center so I was unable to man the phones but rather scanned the internet while waiting for the various appointments.  Steve meanwhile, was on the phone impersonating me, calling Duke, the Durham County Health Department and our pharmacy.   As he called each and was told to get on their waiting list, he texted me and I registered on each site.  By the time I got home, I was on 4 different waiting lists.  Within 30 minutes of getting home, our favorite place in Durham, Triangle Pharmacy, called with appointment options and I took the first one:  Friday, March 19 @ 9:50 a.m.   WooHoo....and it's the one shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.    So EXCITING!

Radiation, Coronavirus vaccine, Hormone Therapy and Stress

Radiation, coronavirus vaccine, hormone therapy and stress.  Which is the most debilitating?  Maybe one by itself wouldn't be so bad, but added together and it is kicking my butt.  However, lets go one at a time.

First: Radiation - If anyone who has done the 6 1/2 week radiation treatment cycle says its bad, they typically are talking about the daily trip there and back.  That truly is the worst part of the treatment itself. There are however, the side effects.  Depending on the type of cancer, those side effects can vary.  Most everyone experiences some level of fatigue.  The fatigue may be the result of the 6 1/2 weeks of preparing, going, doing, returning on their Monday thru Friday schedule.  Regardless of the cause, there is a level of fatigue that creeps in.  The other side effects are really dependent upon where the radiation is being targeted.  In my case, the beam is very close to gastrointestinal areas.  With that in mind, my main side effects have been bloating, diarrhea, increased urgency to urinate and blood in both urine and stools.  All very normal per my care team and expected, albeit unpleasant, side effects.  Last radiation treatment as of now is scheduled for March 29.

Second: Hormone therapy - The name is quite misleading as the injections are not a therapy at all, but rather a hormone blocker.  Specifically testosterone.  Side effect - decreased muscle mass, weight gain especially in the mid-section, and fatigue.  There are some others, but I won't go into those in an effort to not get too personal.

Coronavirus vaccine:  Or lack there of.  Steve got his vaccination along with all our siblings since they are all older.  I however have never wished to be older in all my life, but alas, as of this typing, I'm only 63 years old.  Next month I will be 64, but that still doesn't get me vaccinated any quicker.  The only bright spot is that the Governor has indicated that effective March 17, I will be eligible since I have cancer (a co-morbity).  Needless to say, I will be on the phone all day on March 17.

Stress:  All the above, brimming over, ready to melt down on some days.  My blood pressure issue has never been worse.  My PCP has changed my blood pressure medications 3 times since December.  Each Monday after radiation treatment I see my radiation care team (Doctor, Nurse Practitioner, Nurse) which means that vitals are taken.  They clearly are concerned each time they take my blood pressure - even though masked the eyebrows usually go up - and many times they re-take it after telling me to relax.  That statement always makes me laugh inside a little.  I'm at the Duke Cancer Center receiving radiation treatment for cancer, I'm unable to qualify for a vaccine due to being 63 years old, regardless of health, each day I am in a waiting room (a large waiting room where everyone is socially distant, but still) with many people that I have no idea who they are or how they conduct their lives outside of that room, my blood pressure is sky rocketing, and I'm getting fat!  Sure, I'll just relax.

Not that I'm counting but I have 10 more treatments as of this writing.

Radiation Begins Feb. 11th

 Since meeting Joe Lupton, February 11th has had a special meeting - his birthday.  Of course, his death did not make that date seem any less important but has been an even more special day as all that loved him continue to have a day to celebrate him.   This year, 2/11/2021, has tripled in it's importance.   This year, Steve will get his 2nd COVID-19 vaccination on February 11th.  This year, I will start my six (6) weeks of radiation on February 11th.   

Hopefully for years to come, I will celebrate February 11th as the day that Joe Lupton was born, the day that Steve was safer from the virus, and the day that I hopefully began my cancer recurrence cure.

Fingers crossed.  Prayers being said.