Jay Lake: Writer

[cancer] Rough couple of days, in which I am someone I really don’t want to be

The last two or three days, much of my chemo response has been emotional. I’ve been slipping in and out of significant depression, been very emotionally volatile, cranky, sulky and generally something of a bitch to and . Some inconvenient lower GI distress has done nothing to ease tensions either, to put it mildly. The litany of objective complaints includes distress from the needle, sleep disruption from the needle, frustration at being unable to shower normally, the house’s heating system briefly breaking down, Day Jobbe issues, relationship miscommunications and timing failures, and Ghu knows what else. Pile onto that my depression, frustration and general ill health, and it’s a toxic combination.

Back before this all started, when we were setting up schedules and discussing expectations, I pointed out that somewhere during chemo crazy words would start coming out of my mouth. That point has been reached, sadly. And it’s hard to talk about being depressed, distracted and emotionally overwhelmed.

Cancer, and chemo, is not some brave battle with me as the courageous front line warrior. It’s a stupid, tedious, painful slog through near-fatal poisoning, crippling fatigue and a set of increasingly strong limits on activity, attention span and availability to those who love me and need me.

This sucks. But the alternative sucks more. So I’ll accept crazy days and the horrid feelings, and be profoundly grateful that those who love me can do the same and keep smiling.

Tags: Calendula, Cancer, health, Personal, shellyrae, work

Posted: 9:10 am Fri April 09 2010 |

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• Dawn B.

  April 9th, 2010 at 10:09 am

  I love you. And I am very happy to know that you are surrounded by those closer phyiscally & emotionally than I who also love you.

  At least you only turn into this person with near fatal poisoning after 7 weeks. I turn into that person roughly 1/month. =[

  Reply

• Stevie

  April 10th, 2010 at 2:01 pm

  I’m not entirely sure that my telepathic skills extend across the Pond, or, indeed whether I have any telepathic skills at all, but hey! that’s why they invented writing.

  I’m pretty sure that the people you love, and the people who love you, know that suffering doesn’t turn you into a saint, just as tacklng cancer doesn’t turn you into a warrior.

  You writing about it is important because so often the narrative is framed in those stereotypical terms. I hope you will give some thought to putting it into book form once you’ve got your life back…

  Reply

• Stop Excessive Sweating Head - my 25 month old was diagnosed with cancer in september of this year, question about head sweats a lot?

  April 11th, 2010 at 8:14 am

  [...] [cancer] Rough couple of days, in which I am someone I really don’t want to be | jlake.com [...]

  Reply

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