Ding ding!

Twenty-one days.  That’s the magic number.  The ideal amount of time between rounds of treatment. Today is day 20.  Tomorrow we start round 2B.

Physically, I’m as strong as I’ve been since this whole process began back in December.  The past 20 days have been so good that, honestly, it makes me nervous.  I’ve been able to ride my bike nearly every day, and on days when I don’t ride, I run, or walk.  My cheeks are full.  My appetite is good.  My labs are good.  Is this how it’s supposed to be?

I was hesitant to ask my doctor, “Should feeling good be a cause for concern?”

He reassured me: Pain and suffering is possible, even probable; but it’s not a prerequisite for effective cancer treatment.  Thank God for that!

I feel like a boxer in the middle of a fight.  The last thing I want to do is to get complacent, start feeling good about myself, drop my guard, and get knocked out.  Yes, this round has gone well, but tomorrow the scoring starts over. And tomorrow is 2B.  And 1B pretty much kicked my ass….so I need all the strength I can muster.

It’s hard to anticipate how things will go.  The doctors told me that reactions to chemotherapy are hard to predict.  They could administer the same drugs at the same dosage four different times, and my body might respond differently each time.  So, I’m cautiously optimistic; enjoying the present moment while preparing for whatever comes next.  Confident and scared, all at the same time.

Your positive comments, prayers, and support have been a source of strength and inspiration for me.  Here’s hoping we can carry this positive momentum through the next round.  Thanks for being in my corner!

–T