Tomorrow, I will be done with radiation. I know what you’re thinking- that went by fast! Well, sure, if you say so! It has been a whirlwind of a month, one filled with the standard busyness of the period between Thanksgiving and New Years, made all the more tiring by having to schlepp to the Upper East Side everyday to receive small doses of radiation to my chest wall. The bad news is, I’m pretty exhausted by it all. The good news is, it is mostly a tolerable tired, and the effects have been fairly minimal.* Also, looking on the bright side, being in the city everyday meant that I could periodically do cool things before/after treatment. Like when I got to go on a private tour of the Yayoi Kusama exhibit with Aar and co. at David Zwirner a few weeks back:
Throughout treatment, there was really only one day when I just couldn’t, so I came home, laid on the couch, and did this:
BUT, just to be clear, that was after a few weeks of lots of things that kept me out after 11 pm, including seeing Greg perform at a CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR out on Long Island, and seeing Greg’s friends perform at the Guggenheim’s rotunda:
And celebrating Jeremy’s birthday:
And the fun kept going after that, as I continued barreling through my treatments. This included going to not one but TWO metal shows with Greg**, going to annual holiday drinks with my college girlfriends at Bemelman’s:
And having a book club at Em’s the next day. Among other hangs that I’m sure that I’m forgetting. So yes, throw in some deadlines and the end of the semester rush with the course I’ve been teaching, and I’ve had a busy few weeks, which makes the exhaustion of radiation all the more exhausting!
In terms of other cancer stuff- after having had a fairly easy third immunotherapy infusion on Monday, I’m so excited to wrap on this phase. With just tomorrow’s session left, there is the extreme anticipation of just getting this shit done! I’m so happy that I’ll have these three-four hours a day of my life back. I also had my final appointment with my oncologist last week, before I switch to a new one in January. I’ll miss Dr. G, but am excited to meet Dr. M and see what fun stuff she has in store for me.***
And hey- a quick note on the blog! You may have noticed that my posts have slowed in recent months. That is partly due to the fact that I’ve been busy as hell, but it's also a product of where I’m at in my treatment. Though I’ll still have immunotherapy treatments once every three weeks through October 2020, the amount of energy cancer is taking from me is (hopefully, at least for the time being) receding a bit. So with that, as are my posts. I’ll still try and update you all periodically, but they may be shorter and more cancer-specific. Or whatever else. We’ll just have to see how I feel. I still love you all very much.
*Meaning the feeling of a slight sunburn on my collarbone and back where I’ve been receiving treatment. And the occasional restless night’s sleep, like last night.
**Kadavar and OM for those who care.
***Namely, more chemo alongside my immunotherapy? Who knows, not me! Time will tell.
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