Update # 6: Stuck in Time

Unlike Billy Pilgrim, I'm stuck in time. Somewhere between purgatory, limbo, and the twilight zone. I'd love to become unstuck and see what the future holds for me. I'm ready to resume my journey but must live with the uncertainty regarding what's around the next corner. So it is, I suppose, for all of us. C'est la Vie!  Paraphrasing Zorba, "Life is uncertain. Only death is not. To be alive is to undo your belt and face the uncertainty."

Easy for you, Zorba!

If I am to become a long-term survivor of pc, the Whipple procedure is a must. But the surgery will be performed only if the radiation and chemo stop the cancer in its tracks and shrink the tumor. So, I wait.

The preliminary therapy began in earnest on Monday morning, Aug 29th. The chemo consists of four seemingly innocent, peach-colored pills taken twice daily. I hesitated before ingesting that first dose of toxic medicine (oxymoron?), but knew it had to be done. Down the hatch!

Later that morning, the first radiation treatment. Another oxymoron? Isn't  radiation known to cause cancer? So how does it treat cancer? By giving the cancer cancer?  It's a mystery!

Still... so far, so good. Among the long and frightful list of possible reactions to the peachy pills, I've only experienced a mild nausea–for which I have another pill. As for the radiation, no reaction and I've made several new friends–the hospital security guard who waves and opens the gate to the special parking, the smiling secretary at the radiology department, and half a dozen cheerful radiology technicians.

However, the 45-minute drive to and from the hospital five days a week is like going back to work (shudder). Never mind, my "work day" is only 20 minutes long. :-)

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