#39 Coronavirus Landed.

Monday I went to the Drs office. My Doctor is located in Clinic D of the Juravinski Cancer Centre. Today the news reported that an oncologist who was at work at the Juravinski Cancer Centre on Monday afternoon tested positive for the Coronavirus. Obviously this is not ideal.

When I read the news today I was actually sitting inside the Cancer centre. It was not a great moment. Like I don't have enough to worry about. I was there to check in with the research assistant for the exercise study. Today was session 7 out of 8. I'm progressing nicely on target with all my exercise goals. I'm a pretty active cancer patient.

Anyway, back to the coronavirus. My research assistant works at McMaster and Juravinski and she said they just found out this morning about the Doctor testing positive. There's really nothing we can do. I asked her if she knew who the Doctor was to ease my worry. She said she didn't. What if it was my Doctor? I shook his hand, I sat there in the room. I was in the hospital from 12-2:30. I went to the lab, waiting room, halls, another waiting room and then Clinic D into an exam room for my apt, then upstairs to the pharmacy, then to the chemo lab to schedule my next appointment and then back downstairs and out. That's a lot of real estate covered when someone was walking around with an active case. I actually felt a sense of doom.

I left the hospital and went straight to the grocery store and bought enough food for two weeks. Now if we need to, I can quarantine. I don't know what I'd eat. LOL. There's not much there for me. I have some yams and a cabbage, some veggie juice and I guess we'll just have to see. It's hard to shop ahead of time when all you eat is fresh vegetables. But it made me feel better, at least my family doesn't have to stress if they all have to stay home. Best case scenario, they just eat it anyway because we didn't need it. I don't intend on being one of those people in line at the grocery store and by me I mean Jason.

I'm not saying I think we'll get there but what's the harm in having a well stocked pantry anyway. There's so much uncertainty. I decided to ease my mind I'd just call the Cancer Centre and ask them if I need to worry.

I waited on hold for 10 minutes, which is unusual, and when I got through I told the nurse I was a patient and had been there on Monday. She said the Dr. was practicing in Clinic A. I was in Clinic D. She said I was "likely OK". It made me feel a little better but really not that much better. All cancer patients that were there that day may have had "indirect contact" and therefore should continue to self-monitor and check for fevers or even the slightest cough or feeling of being unwell.

Yeah, um. I feel unwell almost everyday. I guess I need to monitor for respiratory unwell-ness now too. Awesome. I can't even take extra Vitamin C or any antioxidants because they counteract the effectiveness of chemotherapy. I just need to stay calm and hope for the best.

In other news, ultrasound reports that my main tumor hasn't shrunk at all from my first 4 rounds of AC chemo, which is not encouraging. BUT...the lymph nodes have shrunk and appear more normal, which is encouraging. The lymph nodes shrinking means that the chemo is killing the more aggressive and mutated cancer that has the most potential to kill me. The Dr. said that he's not as worried about the breast tumor...it's going to be cut out anyway and it hasn't grown which is good too.

This Friday I start a new type of chemo - Taxol. The side effects of this chemo include severe muscle and bone pain and neuropathy (loss of feeling in hands and feet). To counteract this neuropathy my hands and feet will be wrapped in ice for the duration of the chemotherapy, which is 4 hours long. I'm not looking forward to it. 12 hours before chemo I need to take 6 dexamethasone tablets and another 6 hours later and other 4. This is to prevent my body from going into anaphylactic shock from the chemo which has caused allergic reactions in a lot of people. Before the chemo I'll be given IV benedryl and more steroids and monitored closely for shortness of breath, rash or hives, swelling of the face and neck and back pain. If this happens, they stop the drip, give more meds to shut the body's defenses down and then continue the chemo. When I leave, my immune system will be basically shut off. In the hospital where someone was just diagnosed with the virus that is all over the news.

I don't love the way this is playing out, but all I can do is go. And then go home. Beg my family and anyone who visits to wash their hands, cough into their sleeves and be vigilant to not touch their faces and stay away from people who seem unwell and large crowds.

I will say, I'm grateful it wasn't my doctor. I'm grateful I'm still OK. I'm grateful that the chemotherapy shrunk my lymph nodes. I'm grateful I was fortunate enough to be able to purchase food for two weeks. I'm grateful I still have a Dr that isn't in quarantine. I'm grateful that I still have access to chemotherapy despite the scary side effects.

I hope for the best and continue to just keep my head up. I'm not the only person who fears this virus, there are lots of people like me and lots of old people who could die from it. I'm not alone...but it's up to everyone to protect people like us.

I have hope people will do the right things, and we'll all be OK. Spring will come, we will survive. And If things get really bad, soon I'll grow dandelions in my backyard with ease and can make a fresh salad no problem.