Woo-hoo! I had my last chemotherapy treatment on January 11, 2011. On January 25, 2011, I had a CAT scan that didn't detect any tumors. Yippee!
I still have to have that confirmed by my oncologist when I go in for my next appointment, but I feel hopeful, to say the least.
A little bit about CAT scans. Number one, the barium drink that I got was in the form of a fruit smoothie. It didn't taste half bad. Actually, I had to drink two. The first one I had to drink slowly, over the course of an hour. The other one I could drink more quickly as long as I didn't gulp down in seconds. As if. They didn't taste that good. The barium drink was part one.
Part two came when I actually got to the hospital for my CAT scan. After the first round of scans, I was injected with a dye that made me feel hot all over. Fortunately, I wasn't having a hot flash when this happened. Imagine holding on to a steaming cup of tea while someone lights a match under hand, just close enough for you to feel the heat of the flame. That's what it would have been like to have a hot flash while the heat of that dye coursed through my body.
Anyway, what I dislike about CAT scans is that little tube that I get shuttled back and forth through. I don't actually suffer from claustrophobia, but I always feel a little panicky.
Once the chemotherapy drugs have completely exited my system, it will be time to start Avastin treatments. Basically, Avastin is a drug that stunts the growth of cancer cells. So, if any microscopic cells remain, the Avastin will prevent them from growing and spreading as quickly as they might otherwise. Once a month for twelve months, I will have to go in and get juiced again. Avastin doesn't have the same kind of side effects as chemotherapy drugs, so at least I will be able to lead a normal, active life again without feeling fatigued just from going shopping.
The fear that the cancer will return someplace else in my body remains in the back of mind always. On the surface, I pretend it's gone for good. It's the only way I can get through each day without panicking over every little body ache or upset stomach.
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Loopholes - Part 5
Leda practically skipped back to her apartment, where she got her car and drove to Tariq’s apartment.
“You don’t look like someone who just executed her best friend,” Tariq said as Leda walked in.
Leda winked. On a table beside the couch, stood a white phalaenopsis orchid beneath a bright lamp. As she reached out to touch one of the blooms, her hand began to burn. She quickly pulled her hand back, covering it with the other.
“Sun lamp,” Tariq explained.
Leda nodded.
“How long have you been this way?”
“More than 300 years.”
“How?”
“I was a slave, escaping to freedom … I thought. I got caught. Was beaten to within an inch of my life. There was a man there, a Frenchman-”
“Jean-Pierre?” Tariq interrupted.
“Right. After everyone else had left, he picked me up and took me back to his house. As he cleaned my wounds, he made me an offer that I couldn’t pass up.”
“Any regrets?”
“I can’t eat food,” Leda laughed.
Tariq nodded. “How’s Sebastian?”
Leda grinned. “Right as rain.”
Tariq nodded again as he looked out a window.
Leda and Tariq took advantage of the weather and spent the day together. Leda showed him places around town that most humans didn’t know about and answered all his questions about vampires. In the afternoon, they went to Leda’s apartment where they spent the rest of the day and most of the night together. Tariq took Leda to a jazz club he frequented to celebrate Sebastian’s release. It was the best time she’d had in decades.
Before Tariq came along, Leda had always avoided developing romantic attachments with humans. She’d seen other vampires try unsuccessfully. The humans who didn’t opt to become vampires themselves always ended up leaving. Tariq worked with vampires every day. He knew Leda was a vampire when he met her. There were no surprises. He accepted her and her way of life. So, when he asked if he could return to spend Saturday with her, she said, yes, without hesitation. When they parted company Sunday afternoon with the promise to meet by the river Monday morning before dawn, they had no idea how dramatically their world was about to change.
As Leda sat on the bench by the river early Monday morning, she heard the tell-tale sound of Tariq’s footsteps as the delicious scent of his cologne drifted toward her.
“Leda …”
She turned. Her smile melted into a look of horror. Tariq stood before her with a woman’s hand poking through his mid-section, dripping with blood. Slowly, the hand withdrew and Tariq sank to the ground.
“No!” Leda ran over to Tariq’s side. “Why?” she asked, looking up at Moira who was licking Tariq’s blood from her fingers the way humans licked barbecue sauce from theirs.
“Why?” Moira taunted. “I’ll tell you why Miss Goody Two Shoes. You took something that was of great value to me, so I took something – or someone – of great value to you.”
Leda shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“The Council! The Council! That’s what I’m talking about. After his little meeting with you, Jean-Pierre called me in and made me give a sample of my blood for a ‘background check.’ Isn’t that funny? That’s what humans do … background checks. Anyway, my blood ‘confirmed the rumors’ they’d been hearing about me. I can’t ever have a seat on the Council … and it’s all because of you.”
“How is this my fault? I’m not the only one who about your penchant for ratting out other vampires to curry favor with the Council.”
“Maybe not, but you are the only one Jean-Pierre adores. He would do anything for you. Anything!”
“So?”
“So, he did this for you because you complained about me turning in that undisciplined idiot, Sebastian.”
“Your own unscrupulous behavior put you in this position, Moira, not me. Own it,” Leda finished as she lunged toward Moira.
In a flash, she had Moira pinned to the ground. She drained the other vampire of enough blood to reduce her strength to that of a female human. One punch easily stunned Moira, allowing Leda to go over to Tariq and get his handcuffs. Leda dragged Moira over to the bench and handcuffed her to it. It would be dawn in another hour and the weather man had predicted a cold but sunny day.
“Please, don’t leave me,” Leda said as she cradled Tariq’s head in her lap.
“I don’t think I have … a choice … in the matter … my love.”
Leda looked at the gaping wound in Tariq’s middle. Only one way to save him. Tariq took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“I don’t know whether to thank you or curse you,” said Tariq as he and Leda sat on their favorite bench the next morning.
“I’ll help you make the adjustment,” Leda promised.
Tariq smiled as he enveloped Leda’s hand between his. She missed the warmth of his touch.
“Just think how much easier it’ll be for you to catch the bad guys now that you’re a vampire detective,” Leda smiled.
“Hm, yeah.” He kissed her hand. “Better get goin.’ Sun’s about to come up.”
“You don’t look like someone who just executed her best friend,” Tariq said as Leda walked in.
Leda winked. On a table beside the couch, stood a white phalaenopsis orchid beneath a bright lamp. As she reached out to touch one of the blooms, her hand began to burn. She quickly pulled her hand back, covering it with the other.
“Sun lamp,” Tariq explained.
Leda nodded.
“How long have you been this way?”
“More than 300 years.”
“How?”
“I was a slave, escaping to freedom … I thought. I got caught. Was beaten to within an inch of my life. There was a man there, a Frenchman-”
“Jean-Pierre?” Tariq interrupted.
“Right. After everyone else had left, he picked me up and took me back to his house. As he cleaned my wounds, he made me an offer that I couldn’t pass up.”
“Any regrets?”
“I can’t eat food,” Leda laughed.
Tariq nodded. “How’s Sebastian?”
Leda grinned. “Right as rain.”
Tariq nodded again as he looked out a window.
Leda and Tariq took advantage of the weather and spent the day together. Leda showed him places around town that most humans didn’t know about and answered all his questions about vampires. In the afternoon, they went to Leda’s apartment where they spent the rest of the day and most of the night together. Tariq took Leda to a jazz club he frequented to celebrate Sebastian’s release. It was the best time she’d had in decades.
Before Tariq came along, Leda had always avoided developing romantic attachments with humans. She’d seen other vampires try unsuccessfully. The humans who didn’t opt to become vampires themselves always ended up leaving. Tariq worked with vampires every day. He knew Leda was a vampire when he met her. There were no surprises. He accepted her and her way of life. So, when he asked if he could return to spend Saturday with her, she said, yes, without hesitation. When they parted company Sunday afternoon with the promise to meet by the river Monday morning before dawn, they had no idea how dramatically their world was about to change.
As Leda sat on the bench by the river early Monday morning, she heard the tell-tale sound of Tariq’s footsteps as the delicious scent of his cologne drifted toward her.
“Leda …”
She turned. Her smile melted into a look of horror. Tariq stood before her with a woman’s hand poking through his mid-section, dripping with blood. Slowly, the hand withdrew and Tariq sank to the ground.
“No!” Leda ran over to Tariq’s side. “Why?” she asked, looking up at Moira who was licking Tariq’s blood from her fingers the way humans licked barbecue sauce from theirs.
“Why?” Moira taunted. “I’ll tell you why Miss Goody Two Shoes. You took something that was of great value to me, so I took something – or someone – of great value to you.”
Leda shook her head. “What are you talking about?”
“The Council! The Council! That’s what I’m talking about. After his little meeting with you, Jean-Pierre called me in and made me give a sample of my blood for a ‘background check.’ Isn’t that funny? That’s what humans do … background checks. Anyway, my blood ‘confirmed the rumors’ they’d been hearing about me. I can’t ever have a seat on the Council … and it’s all because of you.”
“How is this my fault? I’m not the only one who about your penchant for ratting out other vampires to curry favor with the Council.”
“Maybe not, but you are the only one Jean-Pierre adores. He would do anything for you. Anything!”
“So?”
“So, he did this for you because you complained about me turning in that undisciplined idiot, Sebastian.”
“Your own unscrupulous behavior put you in this position, Moira, not me. Own it,” Leda finished as she lunged toward Moira.
In a flash, she had Moira pinned to the ground. She drained the other vampire of enough blood to reduce her strength to that of a female human. One punch easily stunned Moira, allowing Leda to go over to Tariq and get his handcuffs. Leda dragged Moira over to the bench and handcuffed her to it. It would be dawn in another hour and the weather man had predicted a cold but sunny day.
“Please, don’t leave me,” Leda said as she cradled Tariq’s head in her lap.
“I don’t think I have … a choice … in the matter … my love.”
Leda looked at the gaping wound in Tariq’s middle. Only one way to save him. Tariq took a deep breath and closed his eyes.
“I don’t know whether to thank you or curse you,” said Tariq as he and Leda sat on their favorite bench the next morning.
“I’ll help you make the adjustment,” Leda promised.
Tariq smiled as he enveloped Leda’s hand between his. She missed the warmth of his touch.
“Just think how much easier it’ll be for you to catch the bad guys now that you’re a vampire detective,” Leda smiled.
“Hm, yeah.” He kissed her hand. “Better get goin.’ Sun’s about to come up.”
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