Prolia Injection at the Infusion Therapy Center

I went to the infusion therapy center at my cancer center today to have the first of my Prolia injections to treat bone loss. I would be getting them twice a year.  Since I am taking an AI (Aromatase Inhibitor) and additionally have a family history of osteoporosis, my oncologist recommended I start the injections.

I do not have a fear of needles. I had a CVC line for chemo thirteen years ago and was fully awake when they inserted that. I have had multiple IV sticks for breast cancer and reconstruction surgeries and blood drawn. I always watch them put the needle in for both and tell them where my good, “go to” veins are. No problems. Today was a simple subcutaneous injection at the back of my arm. I had the option of having it in my abdomen but I looked at the nurse with my “no touchie” look because of my recent DIEP flap surgery and abdominoplasty. Leave that belly alone!!

Items of Comfort

This should have been an easy day but it wasn’t. I wore the wooden bead bracelet my son gave me from Korea after he taught there for a year. I wore the watch my sister gave me before I traveled for my breast reconstruction surgery. This gave me comfort. But for some reason, while I was brushing my teeth to get ready to leave the tears began and I couldn’t say why. I just felt an overwhelming sadness and heartache.

PTSD

I arrived at the cancer center and checked in and then it hit me. I may have been experiencing PTSD from being in infusion therapy centers one too many times. It had been thirteen years since I had been in one at MD Anderson but the memories flooded back. I made it a point to speak to a woman who was in the waiting room simply because my heart was aching for her. She was wearing a scarf to cover her bald head and looked exhausted. I knew that feeling. I asked her how she was feeling and acknowledged the fatigue, remembering how that felt so many years ago after my first diagnosis. I saw others who were struggling to walk or had no color in their face.

The nurse took me back to a room for my injection and asked if I’d like something cool to drink. I requested water, walked into the room alone while she filled a glass and began welling up again. I was glad to see the tissue box in the room and grabbed one and tried to compose myself before the kind nurse walked back in but I didn’t do a great job. I told her it was the first time I’d been back in an infusion therapy center in thirteen years. She totally understood and comforted me by telling me how all those feelings must be flooding back for me. I told her I just really felt bad for the others there because I was feeling so good today but I knew exactly how they were feeling.

The Human Spirit

These are the people that inspire me. What I have realized over the years is that although no one asks for a cancer diagnosis the strong patients just simply deal with it however they can, present company included thirteen years ago. What I have also realized is how indomitable the human spirit is. You simply put one foot in front of the other with a grit you never knew you had, you get through it. These are the people I applaud today, those in treatment and those who have survived this insidious disease.

I sat in the chair armed with the information about both the side effects and benefits of Prolia. The shot was given in the back of my right arm and only stung a bit as the nurse put it in.

The Power of Music

My sweet niece and I have always shared a favorite song since it was released around eight years ago. The song is by Michael Franti and Spearhead, “Say Hey (I love you)”. She even played it at her wedding and we both danced to it. The final phase of my reconstruction surgery was a Friday. I pushed the carpe diem boundaries and asked my plastic surgeon, who has a great sense of humor by the way, if we could play it before they put me under. He jumped through hoops to make that happen because that’s just the kind of guy he is. We were “rockin’ in the dance hall” before my surgery.

I left the cancer center and stopped for an iced coffee to treat myself. I ran some errands and here’s what happened next. I walked through the doors of the department store I had to stop at for my errands. As I walked in the song was playing, I kid you not! All good! A tough day that ended with a smile. A testament to the value of the human spirit and to all those I honor in this blog today from patients, to my surgical team that Fun Friday to my sweet niece, “I love you, I love you, I love you!”

 

Disclaimer

References made to my surgical group, surgeon and healthcare team are made because they are aligned with my values and met my criterion after I did research of their practices and success rates. Any other healthcare provider that displays the same skill, compassion education and outreach to patients will be given consideration and recognition on this website.  The information contained on this website is not a substitute for or should be construed as medical advice. Please consult a licensed physician for medical advice.