Just to set the record straight, this is not a typo or misspelling of "Road Rage." Some people, who ride with me in the car frequently, would characterize my driving style as aggressive. Being the amateur wordsmith and professional marketing guy that I am, I would more accurately describe my driving decorum as confident. Like my grandfather said in our first and only driving lesson together (circa 1972), "you have to drive like everyone else is crazy." I know where I'm going and am focused on that intention, as well as cognizant of all of the other folks around me (who are generally not paying attention). That's not aggressive - it's purposeful (completely different). Anyway, enough about Angie.
As part of my recently modified maintenance regimen, I am receiving weekly shots of the chemo drug Velcade, with a 40mg chaser of Dexamethasone (a steroid used to decrease my body's natural defensive response and reduce symptoms such as swelling or allergic-type reactions . . . for those pharmacologists among you who are curious). You've probably heard over the years (and in this blog) about the concept of a chemo cocktail. It's part of the ever-increasing understanding of how to more specifically address an individual's cancer in an enhanced, amalgamated and targeted way - while keeping a third eye on managing side effects prophylactically (tee-hee-hee, he said prophylactic). I have had many of these medical mixology marvels over the years; my current one is VPD = Velcade, Pomalyst, Dex.
Everyone's reaction to their therapy and maintenance is different, and I have been incredibly fortunate, so far, to have dodged most of the common side effects throughout my process. I did lose my hair - which happened to grow back more red (technically, way less white) and pencil straight; go figure. Other more common side effects from steroids can include: puffiness, feeling jittery, agitation or blurred vision - among many others. I have read the official list and don't find any of my post-ingestion reactions mentioned. I feel a bit more chatty and energized for the ensuing 24 hours, so I'm trying to turn those combined circumstances toward more blog writing (banking postings for the inevitable future dry spell), and late-night rearranging of my sock drawer.
I'm not sure how much longer I'll be rocking this particular cocktail, but for the moment I will carry on - informed and well-monitored by my fantastic Onc team. And I'll keep riding the roid rage road . . . with confidence, not aggression.
