Well today was my first chemo treatment. What an emotional day it was. While traveling, lab work, and hook up, I cried a few times, not out of pain, but out of the support we have received from people. My phone was blowing up with texts, emails and messages on Facebook. Everything hit me in that moment. There was a bit of anxiety, but honestly I was moved to tears with all the love and support.
The day was long. We arrived at 9:00 am at OHSU Knight Center in Tualatin. We met with my doctor, accessed the port that was installed on Monday, did some labs, and connected me to steroids, folic acid and some other fun stuff before the chemo even began! The routine of meds were some pre-medicine, like short term and long term nausea medicine, folic acid (this is to help the chemo drug be absorbed by the body) along with oxaliplatin which was infused for the next 2 hours! Anna and I left the clinic around 3:30 pm.
During the infusions I was able to get up to walk a little. If you know me you know I don’t like to sit for long. The bummer thing was I was not allowed to go outside so I paced the clinic racetrack a few times. Tried to nap a few times but a visitor with the patient next door kept bumping my chair through the curtain, which prevented me from sleeping. After my walk, we scootched the chair, which immediately got the nurses attention and they asked if I needed help.
If you pull the curtain around your chair you can take you mask off while you’re connected, which we did after a bit. Anna packed some snacks for us and we both attempted some reading and work, as well as answering some messages.
Before leaving I was given a pump that is pumping a drug called 5FU or Fluorouracil over the next 45 hours. Fun stuff! Here is me holding up my man purse carrying the lethal cancer drug….you are on notice cancer…you WILL BE KILLED!!!
It was a big day to get started-everything before was leading to this day which is also why it was such an emotional day. We continue to be floored by the extraordinary nurses who have been caring for me and also checking in with Anna. Our Nurse Navigator, Lisa has been especially helpful and full of empathy. Our nurse Sarah walked with us from our time coming in yesterday, doing the blood work (dealing with my flinching and sensitivity from just getting my port installed), and then walked with us throughout the treatment procedure. These ladies are extremely gifted with the ability to care for patients in such crazy stages of their lives and through scary diagnoses’.
When we did our laps around the room, you could tell many people were there in varying stages of their disease and some were receiving IV treatment too. Almost every patient had someone with them keeping them company. Some were able to take naps during the treatment, others played games or read a book.
Many times over the last few days people told me it was okay to be emotional and if I was not they would be a little worried. The team of professionals that the Lord has brought around us is incredible and I am forever grateful for their love and care for not only me but Anna and our kids as well. Anna has been a trooper and I could not ask for a better partner going through this. My love for my wife is deeper than it has ever been. Love you, sweetie.
I have experienced a bit of the neuropathy symptoms as a response to the chemo. I can’t eat or touch cold things or even put my hand in a fridge or freezer and I get a weird sensation in my extremities. We are keeping gloves by the fridge in case I need (a suggestion by our nurse). I’m only drinking room temp water. I’ve been through a few plastic water bottles, but yesterday, Anna started filling mason jars with water from the fridge and leaving them on the counter to get to room temp. I cycle through those and am really trying to stay hydrated. So far my stomach has been mostly good and I’m grateful. I’m tired and often fall asleep on the couch. Getting rest is really hard for me sometimes, as I like to keep active, but this is sure humbling me to know I have real limitations.
I think having the kids see my new set up and my new man purse was a bit alarming for them. But we are making sure to have lots of conversations and check in’s as we go. I know it’s hard when a lot of people have a certain perception of cancer and it’s side affects because we all know people who have had cancer. We’re juggling the opinions and suggestions and experiences with our own and assuring the kids that just because they overhear someone’s experience, doesn’t mean it is ours. Cancer and it’s affects can definitely vary per person. And while people obviously mean well, it can be a lot for little ears to hear.
Thank you all for the love, prayers and support. You are all part of my team as well and you are so much needed in this journey!
Talk soon,
Josh
Into The Mind of Josh 
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