I Flunked the Blood Test

I guess I didn't study enough. 

I went into the hospital yesterday for my 4th chemo infusion.  That marks the halfway point for chemo and a bit of a milestone for me.  I had really been looking forward to this infusion just because of the milestone.  Well, they made me run downstairs and repeat my bloodwork from the previous Friday because my white blood cell count was too low.  Two hours later, they let me know my white blood cell count was still too low.  The good news is my white blood cell count is 1.4 and they need 1.5.  I don't know what the units of measure are but that sounded pretty close to me.  They sent me home and said we'd give it a week so I go into a blood clinic next Monday to repeat the test.

Last week I found out I got approved for the pills at 100% expense coverage.  That's great news as it means I don't need future infusions.  So, based on this and failing the blood test, I asked the nurse if I could get this PICC line removed.  No.  Really?   Next week's infusion will be this bottle.  Odd, I should start the pills next time, not the bottle.  The bottle is on your chart so we'll keep it that way.  Bummer, I was really looking forward to swimming with the kids.

So, when two time Canadian Superbike champ Francis Martin was told by 4 out of 5 doctors that he shouldn't race with that broken pelvis, what did he do?  He consulted a 5th doctor. 

I got home and phoned the hospital.  I got a different nurse and an appointment to have the PICC line removed...the next day.  I will have it out in an hour.  Tee hee!!!



Kate, Maggie and Grandpa.  We had a great July 1st weekend at the cottage.
Odd that the guy who doesn't work was only able to attend for the weekend.
My medical obiligations during the week pretty much snooker me for making
the most of my time off work.  Cancer is my new job.

So, due to this delay and the three week rotation on the pills, my chemo will now end in early October 2012.  That'll make it a full ten months of cancer treatment in 2012.  A year to remember.

Having said that, I feel I'm nearing the finish line.  I have a lot of crap days on the chemo but October is just around the corner considering it's been cancer fun since mid November 2011.  Lots of uncomfortable tests in November and December with radiation-burn-your-ass treatment starting in January 2012.  And, hey, nothing can be as bad as that goddamned surgery in April.  Two weeks ago I started putting on my own socks but my pelvis is still numb.

Maybe at my next post the feeling will be returning in my left fingers.  I haven't felt those fingertips since this began about eight weeks ago.   Thankfully, the feeling returned in my right fingers.




This is the PICC line that enters my bicep and stops about
1 cm short of my heart.  I used to get my chemo treatments
through this PICC line.  Essentially, it's a small hose that acts
to protect my veins as the chemo is injected.  Chemo rots a lot
of stuff, including my veins.  I can't get it wet.  I cover it in the
shower.  I have seven large medical supply boxes at home to
simply deal with the PICC line.  It comes out in an hour. 
Good riddance.