UPDATE -MY CHEMOTHERAPY

 I have recently received my 6th chemotherapy session,50% of the required treatment. Although  it is too early to celebrate it is a good beginning.

 Chemotherapy follows a familiar pattern. Ever second Friday  I travel to the IRVING GREENBERG CANCER CENTRE, located on the Queensway Hospital campus. I head to the fourth floor where I am greeted by a friendly receptionist who tags me as a cancer patient. Soon the oncology nurse escorts me to my assigned pod where 3 hours latter I am successfully infused. As I leave the clinic I am given a small bottle attached to my port which further infuses me for an additional 42 hours.

 Sunday at promptly 1:30 pm I arrive at an community out-patient clinic where the nurse removes my bottle. I am free again for another 11 days.

 During the course of the first week I experience a myriad of side effects including heartburn, indigestion, intestional upset, and extreme sensitivity to cold. In addition I have fatigue.

 These symptoms  range from mild to severe and at times can completely incapacitate me. During the first week I keep my activities to a minimum. By Thursday or Friday I have regained enough strength to see a few clients.

 By the second week I am able to see a full complement of clients. With my immune system revitalized I am able to do some minor chores and attend all the necessary medical appointments. At this time I do not intend to socialize until I receive  my seventh CO_VOID vaccination in December.

 Essentially the process repeats ever second Friday until I reach 12 chemotherapy sessions. 

Thank you for your support during this difficult period of my life.

 

 

 

REGRETS I HAVE HAD

 At this stage of my life, late in the fourth quarter, I am reviewing my lifetime goals and have few regrets. My career has challenged me and provided many opportunities for me to make a difference in people's lives. On a personal level I have meet interesting and dynamic people from all walks of life. 

Nevertheless like most of you I have suffered many disappointments, not the least of them the failure of my marriage in which I failed to communicate my needs and in the process of attempting to please lost my self-identity and self-respect.    

After re-establishing  myself as a single individual I had a significate relationship in which I did not have the opportunity to engage fully in that person's life as the walls were too high to overcome. For many years I mourned this unrequited love, eventually I had to move on.

 Early in my career I needed to make a decision whether to become involved in my family business or pursue a professional career. After contemplating this opportunity I chose to pursue a profession. What profession? At the time I was deciding whether to become a psychiatrist or a psychologist. Clearly psychology won out. My regret was not to pursue a medical career, but not in psychiatry but cardiology where my family had a rich history. 

 Sometimes in life you come to roundabout and impulsively take the first turn. I experienced this when I had to chose either Victoria or Ottawa in order to pursue my graduate studies. The decision to go to Ottawa has resulted in being  physically distance from my family in B.C.I decision I sometimes question?, 

 Despite these regrets, it has been a fulfilling life. Who would of thought,Dudie, a little boy from North End Winnipeg, would travel the world, write a book, and have a fascinating and meaningful career.  

 I thank all of you for your support and love that has enabled me to fight this major battle in my life.