Discovering Consolation and Connection within the Chemo Lounge

I’m sitting in a reclining chair within the chemo lounge of Christus St. Vincent Regional Most cancers Heart, in Santa Fe New Mexico ready for the pharmacy to ship the Tylenol and Benadryl I want earlier than certainly one of my 4 scheduled weekly infusions of Rituxan.

For years, my medical doctors and I assumed that my gentle anemia was as a consequence of long-distance operating. Possibly it was — however that is one thing new.

My new household physician, who focuses on geriatrics, prescribed an antiviral remedy used to deal with shingles. The seven-day routine left me nauseated and 10 kilos lighter, however the itching persevered. It wasn’t shingles, as confirmed by two dermatologists.

Finally, an skilled power lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) oncologist identified me with CLL — and with it, autoimmune hemolytic anemia (AIHA), a associated situation by which the immune system mistakenly destroys pink blood cells.

My spouse, Judy, accompanies me to the most cancers middle. The go to begins with an orientation from Joyce, our oncology nurse and educator. Fortunately, Joyce is the dad or mum of a good friend of our daughter’s faculty’s operating crew, and Paula — one other oncology nurse — has a son who performed soccer with our son. It’s nice consolation to be surrounded by acquainted faces.

Nonetheless, I’m not well-suited to sitting within the chemo room all day. I battle with hyperactivity and inattention, which implies fixed fidgeting, restlessness and problem concentrating. I even have degenerative disc illness; sitting too lengthy causes my again to stiffen. So I tempo the ground, making an attempt to launch pent-up power with out disturbing others. The nurses kindly permit me to wander.

Rituxan works by eradicating lymphocytes from circulation. It recruits the affected person’s personal immune cells to assault B-cells. Researchers counsel Rituxan might have interaction macrophages — a kind of white blood cell — to “eat” B-cells by way of a course of known as antibody-dependent phagocytosis. It additionally seems to trigger B-cell loss of life by way of cell lysis.

About 10 minutes after the infusion started, I break right into a full-body sweat. I sign Paula and one other nurse, they usually cease the infusion. I’m given dexamethasone, a steroid generally paired with Rituxan. The nurses provide a heat towel and washcloth, and I return to regular.

My autoimmune hemolytic anemia might have been lurking for months. For the previous weeks, I’ve had relentless nighttime itching that disrupts my sleep. A chilly bathe provides short-term aid, nevertheless it’s maddening. I’ve usually been at my wit’s finish.

AIHA is a dysfunction by which the immune system mistakenly targets pink blood cells. As an alternative of defending the physique, the immune system breaks down these cells prematurely.

By late afternoon, everyone seems to be drained. My infusion bag nonetheless has a method to go. Paula sits down throughout from me, rests her head on her hand, and provides me her full consideration.

“I keep in mind you had been a quick runner,” she says. That straightforward sentence opens the door. Operating has been my major recreation since I began marathons in my late 50s. Time passes extra simply as we speak. She shares plans for an upcoming journey to Large Bend together with her husband. I informed her how my brother-in-law cherished that area and infrequently took solo wilderness hikes there.

Speaking with Paula felt like catching up with an previous good friend. Although we barely know one another, we share a neighborhood and a historical past by way of our youngsters. That transient dialog lifted my spirits. It helped me loosen up — and put together for the subsequent go to. I’ll all the time be glad about having such a considerate oncology nurse.

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