Chemotherapy #2

Even with just one session in the books, both Kim and I seem to have a pretty well-established schedule for chemotherapy days. Session number 2 was, once again, a hot summer day in Portland. Perhaps it was Kim's parents who brought the sun from Huntington Beach as they've been here for the week and Kim's mother Carol joined her for the infusion session. And good timing, too, as I had a busy work day to deal with on the same day.

We keep the chemotherapy duffle bag packed and ready to go so getting out the door isn't all that much work. New for this week, though, was a second bag containing cryotherapy cold caps. Kim had read some emerging information about the effects of cold therapy on the scalp to prevent hair loss. I mentioned this a few blog posts ago and a good friend of mine, Matt Roy, connected some dots for us pretty quickly. Matt is a Harvard PhD and a research scientist in Boston. He's also a super bad ass cyclist and the nicest guy you could ever meet. He and his wife Mo Bruno-Roy also have two of the cutest cats on Instagram. 

Because bikes make the world small, Matt knew a guy  at Catalyst Cryohelmet and put us in contact. Stan Jurga immediately became a new best friend. Catalyst's business focus is concussion therapy and migraine relief but he was eager to help Kim and so we had two helmets in the bag on Wednesday evening ready for the trip to the hospital on Thursday.

There is very little information on the effect of cold therapy for the prevention of chemotherapy-induced alopecia. We'll see how this experiment goes. Many thanks to Stan and Matt for the willingness to give Kim a glimmer of hope, (she's still nervous about losing her hair), and perhaps establishing some data on the process. Kim's oncologist has only ever worked with patient using a cold cap so there's not much to go on. Nonetheless, everyone is supportive of the process.

Session #2 went smoothly with all check-ups showing progress. Kim wore both helmets which she said made her a little colder than she would normally be but with yet another warm blanket gift, she was comfortable. Kim's brother and sister-in-law sent a beautiful care package and now Kim has the world's foremost blanket collection in that blue duffle bag.

We got Kim home through Portland's increasingly heavier traffic on a super hot day and with the gas gauge below "E". (Like I need more stress, right? But I didn't want to stop to get gas on the trip home; I just wanted to get Kim back as soon as possible)

With Kim feeling good, we heated up some leftovers and cooked up a plan to play hooky on Friday and head to the Oregon Coast. Friday morning, with Kim feeling pretty good, five of us headed west to the ocean while Andrew headed to work for the day.

Indian Beach at Ecola State Park is a family favorite and it didn't disappoint on this trip. Kim's "Big View" diet was a vast buffet on this day and every one of us enjoyed it with her. The sun was hot, very little wind, and the water ice-freaking-cold. Ah, Oregon, we love you.

The trip to the coast may have done more for me than it did for Kim. The little moments of anxiety chip away day after day as there's still a job to perform, kids to raise, local bike advocacy issues to wrestle, and deciding which bike to ride at Grinduro. It's been overwhelming how many of you ask how I'm doing and I appreciate the concern. It helps, it really does. But this week, I needed some sun and sand, too.

School starts for the boys on Monday. Andrew enters his Junior year of high school and Jason is a 7th grader. Life will settle in a little bit for us and I'd say we're all eager for that. Kim is now 25% of the way through chemotherapy and looking forward to the next two weeks of normal life.

Saturday morning note - Kim has noticed a few hairs coming out and says they come out a lot easier than ever before. She did get her hair cut earlier in the week to shorten it and now she's just got to be gentle with it.

Kim got out for a ride on the Sunday of her off week. "It just feels so good to ride my bike!"

Note the new haircut.

Packed and ready every other Wednesday night

It's always best to keep a cool head.

Indian Beach at Ecola State park

Thanks for making the trip Mom & Dad!

Sunshine

This place is beyond gorgeous

So serious...

Beach Hunks

Secret cove

Not so secret nerd