2008-07-01 — More on the chemo-therapy

I was quite impressed with the efficiency of the procedure. Arrived just before 9:00 (my appointed time) and by 9:15 there was a thing in my vein and the first litre of whatever was dripping in. This is a marvel for a hospital where they continually say "Ein bißchen Geduld" ("have a little patience") but they really mean "have an enormous amount of patience". But then I realised there were no Professor's directly involved. So it worked like clockwork.

When each liquid draining into my vein finished, the machine gives out incredibly loud beeping — really annoying — and I have to buzz for a nurse. They come promptly, disconnect the tubes and within five minutes connect the next one. Very efficient.

We were in a room for three that had four beds crammed in. When I got in the room there were already two people there — Mr Happy by the window and Mr Grumpy at the other end. Mr Grumpy was being 'tubed' and he was moaning and grumbling non-stop — not at the nurses and doctor, but at his wife. He hardly ever stopped being rude to her. She just accepted it all and kept trying to please him — to no avail.

I chose the bed next to Mr Happy and we chatted a bit. He was 72 years old, severe lung cancer and was still smoking — "but only 10 a day" — but he seemed pretty jolly about it all.

We were joined by Mr Spoon (actually Herr Löffel, but this is an English document). He was in and out in 20 minutes. Mr Happy's stay was also pretty short. There are different treatments, quantities, durations and frequencies for each patient and cancer variation.

Mr Grumpy left just before me, and left me feeling a bit guilty as he wished me good-bye and wished me well in a very nice way — so not an all bad man — and I am a critical bastard!

Incidentally my newsletter of earlier today got bounced from one English web site for inappropriate language. I replaced "F word" with "a naughty word" and re-sent the message but it still got bounced. So I gave up — actually I didn't; I wrote a silly letter of complaint which I know will get dumped in the waste basket straight away. But it puzzles me as to what was the thing the computer objected to. Machines!

I was told not to expect any bad effects today so took advantage of this to go out in the evening. Not all, but many of you, know I am a member of AA and have attended meetings for more than 12 years regularly. So I went to a meeting — where I was able to share some of my experience and also listen to people with problems that are much more serious than any of mine. I am lucky to be alive and there is so much in each day to enjoy and be grateful for.

Tomorrow I may not feel so good — or maybe the bad effects won't happen or won't be that bad — but for now things are good. So I'll crack open another coffee flavoured yogurt and eat it while watching an old episode of "The West Wing" — one of my favourite TV series ever.

Life is good.