This week starts with my third round of chemotherapy, likely the third of six rounds prior to surgery. Most of the side effects I am experiencing are due to one of the agents called oxaliplatin. It affects some of the sodium channels in my cells so it ends up causing some nerve-related symptoms like tingling, numbness, and cold sensitivity in fun places like my fingertips, hands, mouth, and jaw. If you enjoy room-temperature beverages and no air-conditioning in 80 degree heat, this is the ride you want to take! The side effects tends to wear off for me after a few days so not that big of a deal compared to what other folks receiving chemotherapy have to deal with. So far all of my blood cell counts, liver function, and kidney function are normal which is great. Usually by Thursdays I am back on the Peloton and pumping that iron.

In a big-picture sense, I frankly feel excellent. This past week was my 41st birthday, a week in which I ate a staggering amount of lamb, took my kids to the aquarium, went out to dinners, and partied in New York City. My wife Sapana turns 40 this week and I am throwing her a karaoke party! I would also like to mention that my bowel movements are rather enjoyable now, i.e. normalized. I am no longer jealous of what my young children are expelling from their bottoms.

As an MSK patient, I have a patient portal which shows me when/where my appointments will take place. At this point I now have dates for when I will have a follow-up PET scan to see how much/if my tumors have shrunk, and for when I will meet my entire team of physicians (Drs. Louise Connell, William Jarnagin, and Martin Weiser) to discuss the plan for surgery. This is incredibly terrifying but also exciting; I think that the emotional roller coaster is just part of the deal here. Receiving modern medicine in a vacuum, devoid of insurance obstacles, politics, etc., is quite inspiring. Keeping my fingers crossed that I continue to believe this as my story further unfolds.

~ Sachin