The 5th Treatment

I had my last treatment on Friday February 1st. It proceeded even though my absolute neutrophil count was low. Neutrophil's fight against infections. Normal is 1,500 to 8,000. A safe level is 500-1500. Mine was 120. Nobody sneeze!

The day started with a Pulmonary Function Test. I have to have one every month to make sure one of the chemo drugs is not thickening my lungs and making it harder to absorb oxygen. If it does they will stop giving me that drug. The tests are performed on two different machines connected to computers. If you want to learn exactly what they test check out http://www.webmd.com/a-to-z-guides/lung-function-tests

The infusion rooms at Mass General aren't depressing the way I thought they might be. The staff tries to make you comfortable and offers you food and beverages and blankets and heat packs. You can choose a chair or a room with a bed. If you choose a chair, you can see two other people. You are close enough to talk to each other if you want. I've met some really nice people. If you prefer, you could pull a screen that provides privacy. The chairs recline.

The needles they use are very thin and pretty painless. Having said that, I've had WAY too many needles lately and I look forward to getting them occasionally again.

Things proceeded normally during the infusion. I made art (watercolor) with the help of the Artist in Residence, Julie Martini. What a great program. It not only made the time fly by but it was fun and sparked my interest in making art. I had to work left handed even though I'm a rightie because I didn't want to move the arm I was receiving the infusion in too much. Any guesses what I was trying to paint?

My mood is good and I'm taking one day at a time. As of Wednesday night, I've had no serious side effects except feeling a little run down. Then again, I just returned from working in Woods Hole for two days.