I just dropped Brooke off at school and Rachel is sitting on the couch watching cartoons. I am too sick and tired to exercise this morning. I hate missing a workout, but my body needs to rest. Al had a rough night. After being pumped with liquids, he kept burping and belching and getting up to use the bathroom. He said his throat was killing him. He also did a lot of spitting. These treatments cause some thick mucus to build up in his mouth. It's pretty gross. We did set up the humidifier yesterday, so hopefully that will give him some relief. I'm getting nervous because we both know it is only going to get worse.
The treatment center was packed yesterday. We sat next to a guy from our chemo class that has esophageal cancer. He is getting Cisplatin too. He was very positive and funny. It was good to have someone to chat with during that long day. The guys talked sports and cancer of course. This one guy came in and announced that he wasn't taking his radiation. The nurses tried to joke and say it wasn't optional, but he was not in a very good mood. I heard the nurses talking after he left and they said he also refused his fluids and said he just wanted to go home. They said he only had 5 treatments left. That was kind of scary because I'm sure it does get really difficult as time goes on. I wonder how many patients just refuse to continue their treatment.
The center isn't as depressing as one would imagine. The nurses joke around and are always upbeat. There is always food available. Survivors come back to volunteer. You see people of all ages. And some don't even look sick. Cancer patients have got to be some of the bravest people.