My cancer journey is one that involves many factors - physical, medical, financial, familial and emotional. In some respects, it's like another 'job' for me, and I treat it with the same focus as I would any vocation. In the midst of all the aforementioned, this vigilance is a responsibility that I take very seriously (as serious as a heart attack as they say - or in this case; as serious as cancer). Anyone would, but the longevity of my situation could justify a deviation of devotion or collapse of commitment. Missing a session here or there, or forgetting to stay on my meds for a day or two isn't going to kill me. But consistency (particularly in my case) is the key to establishing and maintaining a healthy line of defense against a further incursion of my cancer. So, I look for all of the ways, large and small, that I can contribute to my sustained success.
One of those ways involves the mundane chore of commuting to the clinic. Driving in NJ can often be challenging - I'm referring to the traffic, not the attitude or aptitude of NJ drivers (which is no better or no worse than anywhere else). I have found a way to balance my work, my life and my need to be at the clinic once a month (every month) - an inevitable occurrence that has motivated me to develop the overall path of least resistance (for me).
I have chosen to schedule my monthly infusions sessions on Saturdays. This may seem like an unnecessary sacrifice of my weekends, but it does come with some tangible and intangible upside:
- The drive to the Clinic at 7am on a Saturday morning takes about 35:00. The same drive on a weekday morning would take about 75:00.
- Parking around the clinic is limited. The lot fills fast with staff from the adjacent hospital, visitors, and those of us going to the clinic (among other places on this vertically sprawling medical campus). On weekends, there are ample spots (still gotta get there early), plus, the parking is fweee on weekends (wink, wink).
- With its roughly 30 infusion stations/bays, the Clinic is less crowded on weekends. They always provide good care; but it can be both relaxed and good on a more subdued Saturday.
- It may seem like this shatters my Saturdays, but when I'm done (generally by 1:00pm), there's still plenty of Day left.
Though the Blog Header image is NOT my specific thoroughfare, my route is a major business and residential corridor that does feed into the NJTP and is a key artery to Rutgers University (approximate student population 50,000+), so avoiding it at all costs is advised! Until they can figure out a way to deliver chemotherapy over the internet (which ain't happening soon), this is my fate, so I'm going to find a way to make the best of a bad situation and "soften the go!"
