Once Stefan received his additional stitches, he was on the mend. It did seem to take longer then the last two surgeries for the fluid to reduce from his surgery area. We were tempted to draw a face on the pulsating bulb protruding from his head. We settled for him moving it at will as entertainment on our various zoom calls.
Stefan was back to his morning runs and bike rides within a few weeks, and then we just played the waiting game to hear from the Cancer Center on when chemo would start. Since we had the pathology report confirming the grade of the tumour hadn't changed, we weren't feeling to stressed with the wait. We also were prepared from some extra delays due to COVID 19.
COVID 19 life hasn't been too bad. We would have been laying low key anyway. I am fully working from home and removing my commute has added time for family. Even though Stefan is currently off from work, he isn't really off as he has taken over the teaching of our kids (which for all you parent teachers out there, is much different then teaching other people's kids). It's been a nice treat for me to witness him at his job though, and I can see why kids love him as a teacher.
COVID life is not too different then cancer life. I see many of my fellow momcologists make similar comments. Bubbles, anxiety over viruses, isolation and fear.......at least we have been here. I think though, now everyone who hasn't walked this path can maybe relate a bit to what we've been through - and maybe can see there is a silver lining. Learning to appreciate the small things. Being thankful for your family and friends and a roof over our head.
We received word from the Cancer Center last week, and things moved pretty quickly after that. Blood test Friday, and his medicine was couriered to him today to start tonight. Stefan starts his first cycle tonight, 5 days of Temozolomide and 23 days off (28 day cycle). He will have bloodwork and appointments each cycle to assess weather he continues to the next one, for a maximum of 12 cycles. All the usual chemo side effects (less the hair loss): low white blood cells, low platelets, nausea, fatigue.
So, even though BC is going to phase 2, we will likely be staying bubble bound a little longer, and appreciating the small things.
| Chemo deliver (did I mention Stefan's COVID beard?) |
