Patient as pin cushion

I was feeling a bit like a pin cushion today as nurses had trouble finding a vein that would hold up for the latest chemo treatment.

Finally on the 6th try a vein near the inside of my elbow was strong enough to take the needle successfully, and the gemcydabine began to flow and do its work on the tumor (as well as the rest of me). It seems that veins get less tolerance for such intrusions over time. This was my 12th chemo treatment. Don't understand how junkies inject themselves every day.

Fortunately my typical three-weeks-on, one-week-off schedule has me taking a break next week, which means I should be (relatively) fit for Christmas. That day will also be the six-month anniversary of my abdominal surgery. With our cruise coming up shortly, it could be that the break from chemo turns out to be longer than a week.

On the medical front for the next couple of weeks: a CT-SCAN next Monday here to gauge the effect of last month's radiation treatments, and then consultation with our Albany oncologist Wed., which means he will have a chance to give me a really nice Christmas present. Then the following week, we go back to Boston for a couple of days to see what those guys think.