Rocky Balboa Scaperoth

If I was ceramic I'd be kintsukuroi

Pottery which has been knocked

Dropped, broken into shards then

Mended with gold or silver lacquer

A delicate meander of liquid gold

Flowing into the breach.

“Axiology” by Anne Carson

I’ve been spending the week getting ready for this phase of treatment. My arm has been wrapped for 3 days with pt massage for my lymphedema, and it’s gone down 2 cm. Yay. I still have to wear my compression sleeve as much as possible. I tend to rip/pull it off just as I get into bed. It still feels heavy when I walk but at least I can fit into clothes. And the other good news is my pleurisy is feeling much better and belly no longer swollen from fluid in my lungs.

In an attempt to get into shape for new trial, I did 4 yoga classes, 2 exercise classes, and tried to walk every day. I also ate a wide variety of food. Too many carbs but that happens when you’re eating fruits and veggies. It’s probably a little better to weigh a bit more when you have cancer.

We leave Sunday night for the holy city of Nashville where they have gotten us hotel rooms for Sunday and Monday nights. They will do labs on Monday and start infusion on Tues. at 7 AM. The phase one clincal trial is rebastinib.

They said I could bring my dog as long she is an emotional support animal. Okay. She is. I don’t have to worry about her while we’re gone although daughter Elizabeth generously volunteered to keep her.

Dan will need a playmate while I”m hooked to chemo. She’ll be his emotional support animal.

On Friday, Krista from Sarah Cannon said, “We have your drug all ready. We’re excited about you being here.” That made me feel good. I’m probably only the 6th or so person to undergo this trial.

“Take that, Cancer! I”m getting rid of you once and for all.”