The toilet paper test

What a difference a week makes.

A week ago, I had improved blood numbers. This week, many of them are lower. Heather, the Nurse Practitioner says that it is normal for numbers to get worse after you have finished a week's worth of Xeloda. We will see. I am back on Xeloda now and if Heather is right my numbers will improve.

What does a visit to the cancer center entail. Well, it may be slightly different for me, but this is what happens. I enter the center to a waiting room and a receptionist. I sign in under a fake name. (This week, it was Mack N. Cheese). This week, I also got told that the sign-in slips are sent to corporate and that I should use my real name. This, after months of using fake names.

After a wait, the blood technician comes and gets you, takes your weight, blood pressure and then takes blood (this week it was from my arm for multiple tests.) I learned that the Snoopy I had given them the week before was now sporting a bandage wrapped around his arm, just like me.

I then visit with the doctor or nurse practitioner prior to getting an infusion of Avastin to discuss how things are. We discussed my hand/foot syndrome, my dry mouth and my mouth sores. And then my possible tooth extraction. There has to be coordination between the oncologist and the dentist when you have cancer treatments. It looks like things will be okay to do the extraction.

The extraction and not extractions? Yes.....I met with the second opinion dentist on Friday and we agreed on only extracting only one tooth for now. I think that is a safer route. I am glad that I got a second opinion because the dentist (Rachel Caldwell) reminds me of the Doctor that I fell in love with at Moffitt Cancer Center. She is smart, attractive and has a wonderful sensitivity to her patients' needs.

Today I was at the extraction specialist for a consult and I know things will be okay. They put the toilet paper on the roll the right way! I was given three prescriptions preparatory to the surgery. An antibiotic, a powerful painkiller and something to help heal my mouth after the surgery. The only issue is that I will not be able to play tennis for a few days afterward. I presume that is because I will not be able to yell (What?) every time the opponents call my shots out.

We have a six hour drive on Friday to Tallahassee on Friday. Since the research manager insists on driving, I will use the time to review the second and, hopefully final edit of the book.  I promise that this is the last time I will mention the Kickstarter campaign (go to www.kickstarter.com and search for Red Shirts and Rubber Duckies.) We still have a way to go to reach the goal and there is only a week left. Thanks to those who have indicated interest already.

Time for a soak and the nighttime routines. I finished the House of Spies last night and so I will have tell the research manager about Deep Freeze tonight.