Tag Archive for 'vinblastin'

Vinblastin is the drug that puts the “V” in ABVD Chemotherapy. It’s a nasty chemical, or mix of chemicals (who knows?), that attacks not only the cancer cells, but also your nervous system. Vinblastin is to blame for the numbing of my hands and, now, my feet.

Given that my hands are, say, a significant part of my current “career,” the doc decided to cut the Vinblastin from this last chemo round, and from the next one, too. Nevertheless, the drug seems to have some lingering effect, and when my little pinky toe started to go numb yesterday, the doc decided he wanted to see me.

I think he just misses me. Maybe he’s getting used to me shuffling around his office with my eyes half closed and mumbling half-answers to his half-questions.

I guess I can maybe tell that this last chemo was missing a drug. It’s hard to pinpoint, but it feels like maybe this week is a bit less of a trial than the others. I stress “a bit,” though.

It might be all the drugs I’m taking to swing the effects of chemo. I think I’ve finally got it down. I count 16 separate medicines that have entered my body in the past two days. Three of them are chemo, the other 13 are all to dull the effects of the chemo. My body is 70% water, 25% drugs and 5% silly putty. Or at least it feels that way.

As I was leaving, the doc told me that the kid in the room across the hall was about to start when I’m just about done with. I glanced into the room on my way out and saw him. Younger than me, with dark hair and scared eyes. He should be scared. Poor guy.