Time shows up again
It never really occurred
to me until a few minutes ago that fifteen years ago today, I was discharged
from the hospital after an eighteen-night stay for a myriad of health complications
manifesting in skin cancer, that ride back home to the security of my castle
was the beginning of seeing life beyond cancer.
This afternoon, I
completed 20 sessions of hypofractionated radiotherapy for malignant prostate
cancer, I left the suite to ring the bell thrice to signal once again, life beyond
a second and different episode of cancer.
“It was a bell of
hope and expectation to us, the sound of enduring survival of the human spirit,
and the herald of the beginning of the rest of the ringers' lives, free of
cancer and thriving after cancer.” [Photons on
the Prostate - IV]
Appreciation and
consideration
For this last day, I
had planned to thank the receptionists and the multidisciplinary team
separately with cards and gifts, I felt they were professional, friendly, considerate,
caring, engaging, prompt to act, and exhibited good bedside manner
understanding the kinds of human infirmity and vulnerability we all face. A
little gesture of appreciation goes a long way.
Having discussed the
issues with my prostate behaving like a kettle on the boil, they arranged
for palliative medication to address this discomfort. The pharmacy had a
30-minute wait time for service requests; after my radiotherapy, I had forgotten to pick up my prescription, I was already halfway home when I
remembered and returned to the hospital to retrieve my goods.
The last radiotherapy
session was uneventful; however, I was given advice on how to manage
symptoms, calling the hotline, which is open 24/7, and the possible follow-up
appointment post-treatment in about six weeks.
In the aftermath
of all this
I wished everyone
good luck as I left the radiotherapy suites, 20 weekdays that began 4 weeks ago,
quite daunting a prospect and how the passage of time helps pale into
insignificance. I have not acquired a taste for still water, I am so looking
forward to feeling that fizz on my tongue.
I still have dishwater
(decaffeinated) Earl Grey tea and Nescafe instant coffee that I might drink in
remembrance of this episode in my life, God forfend this becomes a habit. Then,
I stripped off the transparent Tegaderm film dressings that protected the three
tattoos I acquired for positioning me on the gurney of the linear accelerator.
You might get marked by cancer; you do not have to be defined by it.
Photons on the Prostate blogs
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - VIII
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - VII
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - VI
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - V
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - IV
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - III
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - II
Blog - Photons on
the Prostate - I
Blog - Men's things
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