There has been quite a long pause in my writings necessitated by two unplanned hospital stays due to complications. The last one was a close call, although both were caused by life threatening conditions.
Sometimes the treatment is worse than the disease (at least at present). It’s the “pernicious side effects” that cause a lot of suffering and may kill you...
It turns out that I might be missing an enzyme that metabolizes 5-FU, so the chemo created a cumulative increase in the substance in my body. I also ended up with a touch of optical neuritis due to Oxaliplatin, so I cannot use that either.
The net-net is that I am now enjoying a five week long break from chemo, most of the side effects are gone, and I am feeling “normal” - which is GREAT!
On July the 13th I will get a second opinion from an oncologist at Stanford, who happens to be also a trusted advisor by my treating oncologist - I found that out after the fact. Hopefully, we can come up with a tolerable regimen. I do not want to give up the advantages of adjuvant chemo. With my odds of hitting the negative side of the statistics, I need all the help I can get!
Meanwhile, I will try to fill in all the gaps of the last two months. It’s been adventurous...
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