Another week, another treatment.

When I was still working a real job (on the fire department), all of my time was scheduled around when I worked and when I was off. Now it is around my chemo treatments. I guess that would normal for most people, but it is a little strange how we schedule our activities around our work schedules, or other events. Maybe not but you know, as Nancy always says, " You always notice things other people would never notice." I think she is right. 

Like last Wednesday while I sat there and they plugged me in to the 3rd chemo treatment,  my eyes wandered around looking at the other 10 or so people getting the same things I am getting (I guess their are), I wondered how did we get this thing called cancer? Was it through our occupations, like firefighters, or was passed down through family genes, or just bad health practices? Who knows. I guess they can tell that from research, someone can do the chemistry or 'geneo' thing to find the origin of the cancer cells to find where it came from. I am not that smart. I have not heard or know how I got it, but I do know I consider myself lucky in a sense because I was told it was found in the early stage.  I was never afraid of getting cancer nor am I afraid of dying. But I don't believe either was or is something I should be concerned about at this stage. I DO feel for some of the people in that room with me that are suffering with this ugly horrible disease. 

As I sit there for about 3 hour getting the chemo, that basically kills my immune system, or at least slows its reactivity. I look around at the  other patients. Some look, like sorta me (older) but look really bad, some that are middle aged and look vibrant and health, and then there are the teenagers and adolescences that break my heart. I feel for ALL of them, but the young kids really get to me. I feel I have had a pretty great life and experienced alot, but those kids have alot more living to do before their time comes. But I am not the one who determines that. I believe that is God's job. 

My mind wanders as I sit there watching people come in, get plugged in and how they react to the treatments. Some get warm blankets because it does make you cold, some take a nap for 3 hours, some play on their phone or tables just to kill the time. I have movies on my table that I watch but occasionally glance up to see what everyone is doing, like patients and the great nurses we have. They bring snacks and drinks around, and sometimes if it is not really busy, they'll stop and chat with you about just about anything. of course they want to know about side-affects I am having or if I feel like I need some hydration (IV fluids). I usually tell them "No I am good"

My side affects are minimal as I know. My sensitivity to cold definitely increased. just getting into the refrigerator or getting a milk jug out makes my finger feeling like pins and needles. I wear an extra shirt mostly, and have an extra blanket on my side of the bed at night. These are small inconveniences but can but irritating to some people. I figure if I am going to get through this there has to be some stuff I just have to endure. I NEVER want to make anyone else upset just because I don't feel good. What is the sense in that?

I know since I retired, firefighters have found that they were not as well protected with our equipment as they thought over the years. Our department, like others, have been hit with many MANY cases of cancer due to the carcinogenic agents we were exposed in our normal shifts which have increased in past years. Our department, along with others have joined with cancer researchers  to find out what we did not do to protect our members better and what we can do to prevent future cases. 

Our Union Local 493 has teamed up with some media people to produce a video about the journey of one very brave firefighter who is fighting his unbelievable battle with cancer and the extreme agony he has endured. I hope, if you have not already seen this, would watch this and understand what we as firefighters do to keep you safe. But also understand what people with cancer have to go through. 

Go to Youtube.com, "Dying to save you". Have some tissues.

Thanks for read this blog. And please follow my journey and leave your name so I know who to answer to in the comments. Take care and stay safe.