Tag Archive for 'Side Effects'

Chemo Face

Dad’s going to be in the paper in a couple days for being such an extraordinary accountant, etc., so the photographer came to the house today to capture the essence of Rick Hahn in his natural environment. Somehow Mom and I were convinced to be in the picture with Dad, too. That might have been alright, I’m not shy, but in the past few weeks I’ve developed this unfortunate reaction to the Bleomyacin (chemo drug #2). The nurse calls it a rash, but I call it my face.

Fair enough, I suppose, Bleomyacin is known for it’s skin reactions – but couldn’t it be somewhere else? Like on my arm? Or my ankle? Or, for god’s sake, ANYWHERE that’s not going to be plastered all over the local paper? Come on now, my face?! Is that necessary? What kind of bad karma have I gathered that makes the noticable side-effect of this treatment located on the one patch of skin people look at?

I’m not a pretty boy or anything, and I’ve never spent enough time on my looks to invest much emotional attachment to them, but, by design, they are sort of…noticable. So it can be difficult to restrain an identity crisis everytime I look in the mirror and I’m either 10 lbs heavier, 10 lbs lighter, karma-faced, puffy, or basically – staring at somebody I’ve never met.

The Pinochle Brigade

Continuing my imitation of retirement, I went again to play pinochle with my Grandma and her friends today. Well, actually, I went so I could cream them at pinochle.

What? You think it’s a friendly game between the generations? A way to pass the afternoon hours? Think again, loser!

When I get a good card, I slam it down on the table and let out a “HOO-WAH,” and sit back with a sniff and glance around the table for approval. Seriously, I’m a big jerk. But it’s just a reaction to all the trash talk. I’m not kidding! Today one of the ladies (I won’t say who, but her name starts with “Josephine”) was like, “Hey Dave, do you need to go to a special camp or something to learn to play the game?” Oh, it was ON then. Last time I went, the dignified lady next to me distinctly let out a “…chicken…” when I quit bidding on a marginal hand. This is the only place I can hear the words, “Who dealt this? This is a crappy hand,” come out of my sweet Grandmother’s mouth. I love it.

In this particular room of pinochle players, there’s always the added obstacle of short term memory loss. This is something I’ve picked up since the start of chemo, so I’m really starting to feel right at home. Nevertheless, you know it’s bad when you’re in a room full of 80-year-olds and you’re the one drooling in the corner who’s forgotten his own name. Which suit is trump has to be reiterated every couple minutes during the game or we’d all just start roaming around, wondering, as you tend to in retirement communities, just how early you can line up for dinner outside the dining hall without looking too desperate.

What? Was I talking about something?

Anyway, I got schooled by the old folks today. ‘I got my ass handed to me,’ as an esteemed colleague of mine likes to say (I say “esteemed colleague,” because I can’t remember his “name”).

To those of my friends reading, I have been trying to teach you people how to play pinochle for years now. I want you all to learn so that I can beat you whenever I need a good laugh. Come on, don’t be a bunch of chickens. Do you need to go to a special camp?

Comments

Kasi: “How about “What’s the progosis?” Seriously, I have had countless people ask…“
May 15, 2012, 8:34 am
Robin: “Thanks for this. My friend is starting chemo today and wanted to…“
May 14, 2012, 8:03 am
connie: “Thank you for posting this. You are brave…“
May 14, 2012, 7:06 am
Deanne Diaz: “Hi my name is Deanne and I am a cancer survivor. I…“
May 7, 2012, 6:43 pm
Margie: “I am also in the process of getting chemo treatments. I…“
May 5, 2012, 5:59 pm
Dale: “Family of cancer patients get the same thing. My mother had stage…“
May 3, 2012, 3:58 pm
Renee: “Thank you for sharing. My 2 year old just started chemo 3…“
May 1, 2012, 7:47 am
Leslie: “I can empathize. I am going through chemo now and I HATE…“
April 30, 2012, 8:32 pm
alanna: “Thank u so much for sharing. Ill be starting chemo either the…“
April 30, 2012, 4:58 pm
Judy: “Well, I just had my second of six rounds of Taxotre, Carboplatin…“
April 29, 2012, 7:28 pm
delta goodrem: “actress & singer. she is also a judge on 2012′s the voice…“
April 27, 2012, 9:18 pm
Sandy: “Thanks for sharing that exactly how I feel. I started chemo on…“
April 27, 2012, 5:23 pm
Sarah Yoon: ““Waiting for the show I guess” haha. But you’re quite calm about…“
April 27, 2012, 8:55 am
Sarah Yoon: “You actually look quite handsome on the right :) good luck. You’re…“
April 27, 2012, 8:42 am
Nikki: “;) it’s true….“
April 25, 2012, 5:05 am
Tina: “Thank you for sharing this. My mother starts Chemo soon for Pancreatic…“
April 24, 2012, 10:10 pm
Susie: “I am writing a book and one of my characters has cancer,…“
April 22, 2012, 1:33 am
Jon: “My dad’s going through chemo at the moment for a mesothelioma. What…“
April 21, 2012, 8:38 am
Missy: “Thank you so much for sharing this. I’m so sorry you’ve had…“
April 19, 2012, 3:04 pm
Rina: “Thank you for sharing your experiences. My Mom is right now recovering…“
April 19, 2012, 10:24 am
Victoria: “I couldn’t read through this. Having had the “pleasure” of experiencing…“
April 17, 2012, 8:03 pm
hilary: “aww that sucks thank you for sharing this my best friend has…“
April 17, 2012, 5:49 pm
Michelle: “My coworker is not doing well… Hospice has been called. He is…“
April 17, 2012, 12:17 pm
Naomii: “My Mum was diagnosed with IIIB last week Wednesday adn I…“
April 16, 2012, 5:27 am
Gwen: “Thank you for sharing. I feel the same way. I…“
April 14, 2012, 12:11 pm
Taylor E: “thank you for explaining your expierience. my gfs mom is going to…“
April 12, 2012, 12:34 am
Nina: “I was diagnosed a few months ago and have a brother and…“
April 10, 2012, 6:10 pm
terry tirabassi: “its amazing to find someone who can describe the way i feel…“
April 9, 2012, 3:45 pm
Leigh Loree: “Thanks for the information – my daughter just had chemo on Thursday…“
April 8, 2012, 8:46 am
james: “I wish there was something better out there for you. I appreciate…“
April 5, 2012, 10:03 pm
Sarah Kupiecki: “My mom is going through this right now…….“
March 26, 2012, 1:32 pm
Julie L: “Thanks for sharing this, David. My mom starts chemo tomorrow for ovarian…“
March 25, 2012, 6:15 pm
Karri: “After being stabbed repeatedly in my left arm looking for veins for…“
March 12, 2012, 3:56 pm
Karri: “David I just randomly ran across your blog and must say this…“
March 12, 2012, 3:36 pm
David J. Hahn: “Wow, my heart goes out to your friend. I’m sorry to…“
March 7, 2012, 3:01 pm
Cindy: “Dear David, thank you for being so transparent. My dear friend is…“
March 7, 2012, 2:47 pm
Addie: “I am sitting in a waiting room while my dad gets his…“
March 7, 2012, 6:57 am
Kristy: “Came across your site while looking for info on chemo (as I…“
March 6, 2012, 2:05 pm
Michelle: “Hi David, I spoke with my brother and his wife last night and…“
March 5, 2012, 4:00 am
T. Smith: “I just completed #6 and have 6 more to go (and no,…“
March 4, 2012, 7:32 pm
Shirley: “Hi David~! I cried while reading this post….I can seriously tell you that…“
March 4, 2012, 6:04 pm
Linda: “Thank you for the info on the chemo. I’ve been diagnosed…“
March 3, 2012, 9:52 pm
Cristal: “Hi Dave, I too am in my twenties and newly diagnosed with…“
March 2, 2012, 11:56 am
David J. Hahn: “No, I never had any special dietary restrictions. The doc always told…“
February 29, 2012, 8:55 am
K. Tan: “I was wonder if you can recall when you still have Chemo…“
February 29, 2012, 1:43 am
Rayanne: “I’m so glad that you’re better and living a full healthy life….“
February 28, 2012, 8:43 pm
David J. Hahn: “So true!…“
February 27, 2012, 9:08 am
el: “Really glad to read all of these experiences, it helps to know…“
February 27, 2012, 9:06 am
el: “Amazing, fabulous results for you! can’t wait to see my husbands before…“
February 27, 2012, 8:55 am
el: “My husband was the patient but I felt lost after the treatment…“
February 27, 2012, 8:51 am