The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Today began on a very positive note. I woke up fresh, full of energy and all ready for a bright sunny day. Did morning exercises... I think I overdid them by throwing in some sit ups to the regular ward rounds and stair up-downs.

An x-ray was scheduled for today and I was all set for the trip to the radiology department. To my surprise, it was the radio department that paid a trip to my room. At 8 in the morning an portable x-ray machine rolled into my room and took the routine snaps of my chest (the guy didn't even make me do the customary "take a deep breath and hold" stunt, he said that such fuss is made only when people visit the department, and not when the department visits them)

Results are extremely positive, my doc tells me that the tumor has shrunk significantly. I met the junior resident in the ward corridors, and he was more forthcoming with info- he said that the tumor looked almost half of its earlier size. The exact extent of reduction will only be measurable in next CT scan (scheduled 3 weeks from now), but still, the X-ray results were the extremely "Good" part of the day.

The "Bad" part didn't take long to come. Drug side-effects popped up again. This time I had sudden and strong pain in the lower back. It was so bad that I could lie in only two positions, all other postures very uncomfortable. Doc tells me that it is an expected side effect and has given me some medication. He expects the pain to be under control in 24 hours. I have spent most of the day lying face down with my leg folded up and the back arched. It's evening now and the pain has subsided, I am finally able to spend some time sitting and walking. As a consolation prize the chewing pains in the jaw have disappeared (refer last post for chewing pains episode).

Now on to the embarrassing stuff. I had been dreading GI ulcerations (a side effect of all chemo drugs, most significantly of Methotrexate)...and they did show up in a mild form. Mouth lining have gone pale and things have started tasting bland. Stomach is slightly upset. Worse of all is the effect on the lowest most of my GI tract. Washing up after taking the dump is not pleasant at all. Its about as ugly as things can get....hopefully GI tract will be back in good shape soon and lessen this misery...

All said and done...today's good news far overshadows the bad and the ugly...

Tomorrow is another day...Tomorrow is the day for my third chemo..