The Chemo Chronicles - Part VII

     If life is a game show, then I am in the bonus round.  Or at least I got a bonus  treatment.  Turns out that while waiting for surgery to be set up I could squeeze in one more round of chemo. 

    To coin a phrase I've discussed my regular chemo sessions "ad nauseum", so to speak.  Session number seven on August 6th was nothing different than the others that proceeded it.  My energy was good, my appetite was great, I made homemade biscuits  that weekend.  Just a boring session.   The only hiccup I would have was during the 5FU pump removal - no blood return after the disconnect.  My 'turn and cough' routine was not enough to get it working.  I had this chemo thing down pat, but was now thinking about the upcoming liver surgery.

     One cannot have surgery immediately after chemo.  For one thing I was being treated with Avastin, a chemical that inhibits the growth of new blood vessels and would totally screw up the healing and recovery process.  My original surgical date was moved from Sept 16th to Sept 22nd, giving me roughly five weeks from the last  session  to my surgery.  Hopefully enough time for the effects of the chemo chemicals to not interfere in the surgery.

     Surgery.  My second cancer-related surgery would be the biggest of my life.  I was feeling so very confident after passing through my chemo process that initially I was not concerned.  However as I went through the medical process that confidence would be tested. Liver surgery is a big deal, much bigger than my original colon surgery (which was hard enough to get through).  With tumours on my liver however, my options were limited.  Chemo alone could not remove them (although they did shrink).  Up to now I've accepted all the risks and rewards that the treatment was giving me.  Up to now I had followed my plan.  I had to be true to myself, to continue to find the courage and means to follow through with that plan.  

     Following the plan began with meeting my surgeon.  My journey was still mapped in well-charted territory.  My hope was that it would not turn into my own personal Odyssey, I had no desire to experience the medical equivalent of  Scylla and Charybdis.