It worked for Senator McConnell, so here’s my own “proof of life” photo holding today’s Honolulu Star-Advertiser. It’s just part of my continuing effort to reassure friends, family, and online acquaintances that I’ve survived the first round of chemotherapy/immunotherapy, and I’m ready to start Round 2 next week.

But yesterday’s post about the “nadir” in each round of treatment made me realize I might have gotten off lightly this time around.

My drug infusion treatments are scheduled once a week for two consecutive weeks, with the third week off-no chemo. Then the cycle repeats.

As I understand it—and I could certainly have this wrong—the timing of my treatments means the impact of week #1 is reaching its nadir a week later as the next infusion of drugs hits and both the cancer cells and my own blood cells are being attacked. I would guess this means that, if my Round 1 had gone as scheduled, I might have felt more side effects after the second week of chemo treatment.

Instead, I ended up in the hospital as a result of an infection, which necessitated a delay in the second week. More time for my body to recover but also, if my understanding is right, more time for the cancer cells to also recover and fend off the drug attack.

This upcoming second round of chemo is set to happen on successive Fridays, July 24 and 31. Without a similar unanticipated delay creating extra time between the two infusion treatments, it seems possible I’ll feel the one-two punch more than I did this first time around. More impact on the cancer, perhaps more side effects for me.

But, of course, I’m just speculating at this point. I’ll have an empirical answer for you all within a few weeks.

Now, here’s an update on my activities so far today, and a food update as well.

This morning Meda and I reported to our dentist’s office for a check-up and a round of routine teeth cleaning. I drove. We then went home for an hour and a half before heading back to Kaimuki to have lunch. I’ve gotten enough appetite back so that I’m not embarrassed sitting in a restaurant with a plate of uneaten food in front of me. I’m able to eat enough that any leftovers are well within the typical “doggy bag” size. We found that our go-to lunch spot, Saigon’s, was chained closed for another week while the owners are on vacation. Instead, we walked back across the street to Tight Tacos on the corner of Koko Head Avenue. I wasn’t at all sure that Mexican food was going to sit well with me, but all was well. I took it slowly and made it through a chicken taco, a side of rice and beans, and some chips and salsa. I did then have to take a nap when we got home. Whew.

I was up about 5:15 this morning and drank a commercial protein shake while waiting for Meda to get out of bed. I have a friend who is a retired hospital dietician. Her advice was simple: protein at every opportunity. I brewed some coffee, and washed down a few spoonfuls of cottage cheese as well.

Yesterday I managed to finish the last of the two antibiotics I was taking since discharge from Queen’s, and am now down to a single pill twice daily. Another sigh of relief.

As we walked the relatively short distance from the municipal parking lot in Kaimuki over to Waialae Avenue, I realized that I have to start walking more every day. It’s time. It doesn’t have to be strenuous. I just need to get moving again.

It’s very easy to just sit back and coast. After all, cancer seems like a great excuse to be lazy. But being lazy isn’t going to get me beyond this point. It’s going to take more work.