# I start my chemotherapy tomorrow **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [November 15, 2016, 9:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099 "2016-11-15T21:42:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/81 "2017-03-30T09:48:16Z")
Well, I’ve finished the six rounds of chemo, and I’m much better. The cancer is not gone, of course, but it’s markedly knocked back. I’ve regained an appetite, pain is far, far less than it was, and in general, I don’t feel too bad. At this point, I get a break from chemo for at least a couple months. I’ll keep seeing the doctor from time to time, and have a CT scan every couple of months. When chemo starts again (and if it is the same regimen or a different one) will depend on how I feel and how quickly the cancer bounces back. So, overall, that’s all good. But . . . Friday I had a small stroke or TIA. My only symptom was difficulty talking. I had no problems with the rest of my body, nor with thinking nor reading, but I couldn’t form the words I was trying to say. I didn’t realize it at first because I live alone. It wasn’t until I went to my folks and tried talking that I knew something was wrong. Two days of tests in hospital found no immediate cause–no blood clots in my legs, or heart, or carotids. They suspect it is related to the chemo, but can’t identify exactly what is happening. So I have to give myself shots of a blood thinner (which is much easier to do than I expected) and take an aspirin every day. It’s kind of scary but I’m dealing with it. Many of you have emailed and PMed me expressing good wishes. I haven’t responded to all you. Nevertheless, I’m very grateful and appreciative of those good wishes. Thank you. ETA: I still have hair on my head and my beard, but it’s extremely thin. You can see my face clearly through what’s left of the beard. I hope it recovers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/82 "2017-03-30T10:10:07Z")
Frank, my mom’s hair came back after her chemo and radiation treatments. She’s coming up on her 85th birthday too! I’m glad to hear you are feeling better, especially the appetite. I love to eat, and losing that desire would get me down. Thanks for the update, and when you feel like it tell us further how things are going. ---
**Author:** ![Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mean_mr.mustard/32/3865_2.png) [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/83 "2017-03-30T10:32:40Z")
I hadn’t seen your OP until now, Frank. It is full of courage. It makes me happy that you are doing well. mmm ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/84 "2017-03-30T10:44:36Z")
Wow, glad that there’s improvement! Kick its ass, **Frank**. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/85 "2017-03-30T11:09:36Z")
I’m very sorry that you are facing this, Frank, and I’m hoping that you will beat the odds. ---
**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/86 "2017-03-30T11:24:19Z")
Good to hear you’ve finished this bout successfully. There is a lot of good in the respites; make sure to live them as well as you can. ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/87 "2017-03-30T11:36:58Z")
Nice to read the **update** , Frank, and even better to see that you’re in good spirits. We’re all pulling for you!! ---
**Author:** ![hajario](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hajario/32/171_2.png) [@hajario](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hajario)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/88 "2017-03-30T13:26:44Z")
I’m glad that you’re on the mend. ---
**Author:** ![StGermain](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/stgermain/32/2868_2.png) [@StGermain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StGermain)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 1:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/89 "2017-03-30T13:41:41Z")
**Frank** - I’m thrilled for you that the treatment is going well. Do you have any lasting effects from the neuro episode? StG ---
**Author:** ![Sunny\_Daze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunny_daze/32/438_2.png) [@Sunny\_Daze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunny_Daze)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/90 "2017-03-30T19:55:43Z")
Very good news that this first round of treatment has gone so well! I hope that trend continues. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/91 "2017-03-30T21:02:39Z")
I feared the worst when I saw that the thread had been updated. I’m glad you’re doing so well. ---
**Author:** ![Punoqllads](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/d2c977/32.png) [@Punoqllads](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Punoqllads)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/92 "2017-03-30T22:09:19Z")
Glad you’re feeling better, Frank. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/93 "2017-03-30T22:15:48Z")
We’re rooting for you, Frank. Beat it with a bat!!! ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/94 "2017-03-30T22:30:23Z")
Good to hear from you Frank and I’m glad things are more or less going according to plan :). ---
**Author:** ![Merneith](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/57b2e6/32.png) [@Merneith](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Merneith)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/95 "2017-03-30T23:01:21Z")
Hang in there, Frank! FWIW, your writing is every bit as fluent as ever. Whatever wires got crossed in your tongue, your language center seems to be ticking along. ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/96 "2017-03-30T23:27:56Z")
Cancer’s a bitch. Keep up the good fight, my old SD friend. ---
**Author:** ![missred](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/missred/32/14096_2.png) [@missred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/missred)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2017, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/97 "2017-03-30T23:28:31Z")
It’s good to hear that you’re doing well with the chemo, **Frank**! Here’s to continuing improvement. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6f9a4e/32.png) [@trapezoidal\_jellyfish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/trapezoidal_jellyfish)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 6:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/98 "2017-03-31T06:54:44Z")
This sucks, but I’m glad to hear that the first round went all right. I’m sending you happy thoughts. My aim isn’t too great though, so just wave your arms around a bit and you’ll probably catch them. ---
**Author:** ![Frank](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Frank](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frank)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 8:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/99 "2017-03-31T08:17:10Z")
> [@StGermain](#): > > Do you have any lasting effects from the neuro episode? No, it’s gone. It was intermittent for a day or two. The tests definitely showed damage–something happened–but I guess my brain already rerouted around it. ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2017, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099/100 "2017-03-31T08:18:27Z")
Okies…taking back my apologies for telling you you were a worthless sack of shit. 😃 WELCOME HOME FRANK…glad to hear you’re not dying! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099.md?page=4) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-start-my-chemotherapy-tomorrow/772099.md?page=6)