Bittersweet

I spent Sunday with old friends. Many had not seen me since I started chemotherapy. I currently have eyebrows and eyelashes and wore a hat with a brim since it is sunny Texas.
The occasion for meeting was a celebration of life and memorial to an old friend who died from an accidental fall last Monday. I don't know much about his death except that it took all of us by surprise.
Although it is a big effort for me to get out, walk around and socialize, it is good for me to do that when my immune system is working. I think the pain medication makes me a little dull, it was great to see and talk with old friends.
We are all hitting the health challenged phase of life. Most of us were very physically active with sports, white water caneoing, climbing, exploring caves and driving long distances on the edge of consciousness in our youth. Now cycling, hunting, walking and, for me, dog sports (agility, conformation, herding and driving across the state and country) replace those activities as we glide to senior status. Still a bunch of interesting active risk takers.
Tomorrow I am scheduled to begin Cisplatin and a high-dose Methotrexate while in Brackenridge Hospital. Both are sarcoma drugs but methotrexate is also used against breast cancer. Since I have both, both need to be addressed. Its tricky. I also need to start radiation for breast cancer pretty soon. That would be 5 days a week for 6 weeks. I am not sure how we will juggle rechecks at MD Anderson with that schedule, but I am sure we will figure it out.
Since my white cells will be depressed after the chemo, I need to limit my social contacts to health adults especially until my white cells rebound.