Second round (Part 1)

11.03.26

Today I had my consultation before the second round of treatment. It was scheduled for 9:30, but I had to collect blood 2 hours before. This meant waking up earlier than usual.

I could hear the wind roaring outside, and an immense dread of venturing out and facing the weather. But I dragged myself out of bed and got ready anyway. 

Mafalda por la mañana (Mafalda in the morning) by Quino

Source: https://es.pinterest.com/pin/752804893958549361/

So early in the morning, with more people on public transport, I decided to use a face mask. The only one wearing one. A leftover of the times of COVID-19. Ironically (or not), those times are the reference for how I should protect my immunity, from washing hands and surfaces more thoroughly and often, to protecting myself with a face mask.

In the waiting room, I saw a woman I thought I recognised. She looked like the woman who came after me the day I had my first round. She looked Middle Eastern, which is why I remembered her. That first time, I noticed how short her hair was, but it looked strong and beautiful. It could have been a wig. But if it was, it looked natural and suited her well. Today,  if it was her, she had on a beautiful scarf. Maybe I noticed it particularly because on this grey day, I had already been looking for colourful hats and headwear. 

There was one I fell in love with and was discussing with a cousin who loves hats even more than I do, and a "sister" who is my soul twin. She (my twin) is from Naples, the city of my heart. The hat is called 'Napoli Boater'. It comes in many colours, but the one I liked was the colour that many buildings in Naples are painted in. Unfortunately, I can only dream of it, because at almost 1000 £, I don't even know why it is sold online.

Napoli Burgundy Felt Boater

Source: https://www.lockhatters.com/products/napoli-burgundy-boater

The doctor who saw me today was one of the two who gave me the diagnosis. I recognised her and told her that it was nice to see a familiar face. She replied that the first time she hadn't given me good news (which turned out not to be so bad after all), but hopefully today it would be better. It was. The tumour shrank from about 80-85 mm to 50-55 mm. The blood results showed that immunity had decreased only slightly. 

She was happy and in a light and joking mood. When one of her joking expressions didn't get a full giggle out of me, she said, "We have a dark humour around here." I thought that was only fair, with all the negativity around. I find it to be the right attitude. 

Aside from the medicine I was prescribed the first time, they are giving me one of the medicines used to counter the reaction in the first round, just before starting this round. I think I heard she call it dicyclomine; I will confirm tomorrow. I was warned that I would feel tired and should not drive after the treatment.  They will start the drip more slowly and hope I don't have a reaction this time.

Fingers crossed...