Monday, February 5, 2007

out of title ideas.

C. Willie Miles. He's a comedian, and I am currently listening to him on the radio. It is just about the freaking funniest thing I have ever heard. I can't ever repeat people accurately, and I'm not going to try, but he's pretty much just making fun of Midwesterners, and it is hilarious. I haven't laughed this hard in a while. Oh wow. Alright.

S'anyway. I went to the young adult support group at the cancer club downtown this evening. It was interesting. There were five other people tonight with five different types of cancer, all in varying levels of health. It was good to go, to hear what other people have/are going through. They were all really interesting, and most of them were at least a few years older than me. They work; they're mostly out of school; but because they dealt with the same thing I'm going through, the rest isn't hugely important. One of the stipulations of joining the group is that you have to go to at least 12 sessions. After that, you can come and go as you please. So I think the group is pretty fluid. There is no set attendance list. You come when you can, and new people join fairly often. The moderator, who I'm pretty sure is a social worker or therapist or something, said today that there are probably about nine people in the Monday group now, but it fluctuates. It'll be interesting to see over the coming weeks who comes and goes and if I'll have anything substantial to contribute. Because, at least today, it seemed like most of the others are either finished with treatment or are in a later stage. Certainly, they've been dealing with it for longer than I have. They've gone through a lot of what I have ahead of me, and I'm sure I'll learn a lot. They certainly covered a wide range of topics during today's 90-minute session though. Everything from working out to dealing with infertility to the fact that people with cancer are considered disabled under the Americans with Disabilities Act and whether or not that means we can get handicapped stickers (consensus: probably). Referring to the infertility bit, that's something I really haven't thought much about. But all of the drugs they give me list infertility as a side-effect. The women there tonight were just talking about how much that screws with your head. I mean, I'm only 20, and having kids is pretty much not in my radar. But some of the others are in their mid, late 20s. It's not such a foreign idea to them. It's just weird to think that you don't even have a choice regarding pregnancy. So that's pretty important and is an issue I'm sure will arise for me in the future. Again, it will definitely be an interesting weekly group.

In other cancer-related news, today is my seventh day of session two of my chemo treatments. This means that any day now my white blood cell count is going to start falling. I'll become neutropenic again, although I'm pretty sure my counts won't be quite as low as when I was in the hospital. But it will be interesting to see how my body reacts to being immuno-suppressed while living at home and interacting with people. Should be a good time. I hope I don't get an infection, although that could possibly be my ticket to a helicopter ride. Is it worth it? All things to consider. And with that, I'm going to go curl up in a ball under six layers of blankets and flannel pajamas and fleece slipper-socks. Oh, and also, just to clarify at least one "caroline quirk", pax is actually Latin for peace. I don't know why I started saying it; I say peace too. It's not that I'm necessarily advocating peace, although a little bit, but more that that's just what I say when I say goodbye, particularly online. So, peace, or pax, or what have you. Enjoy Tuesday.

1 comment:

Megan/Yuping said...

This is the second time today I've been told to enjoy my Tuesday over The Internets. I guess I'd better get on that.

And I think instead of getting really sick and riding in a helicopter, you should just get a handicap sticker and let Andy give you a ride with sirens on in the ambulance when you get back. I know, I know, a poor substitute, but still cool.

Also: I am going to make someone tape me making a fool out of myself dancing at the Chinese New Year celebration. I will figure out how to make it youtube compatible and send it to you, because it promises to be hilarious.