July 28, 2024

Just got my new shirt out of the mail.

I'm on my second round of Very Serious Disease. Going for the whole performative happy warrior inspirational story for the onlookers hasn't been my thing either time.

Later:

Speaking of Very Serious Disease, Round Two...

Last week was my first full week of radiation treatments. I hit one-third of the way through at #10 on Thursday. I'm definitely experiencing effects now. Hair is coming out in the treatment areas. I'm starting to feel fatigue. My sense of taste is changing. There's a fairly constant slight metallic taste in my mouth. Salty and sour tastes are less prounounced, and bitter flavors are a little stronger. It's sort of food roulette as to what's going to taste weird and what's still good.

Recovery from the lung surgery is continuing. Still coughing a bit. Still getting winded easily walking any kind of distance, but it's greatly improved. I made two trips out to the end of our long driveway and back today, and that's the longest I've walked yet, and did very well with it.

I think the improvement from the surgery and the increase in radiation symptoms are about to wave to each other as they pass.

I get weekends off from treatments, and I'm back at it tomorrow morning. This Thursday I'll hit 15, and be halfway through. Surgery follow-up comes on Friday. Still doing well with it and taking it as it comes.