■

7/15/06

I am spending the weekend in Maine again. Since my chemotherapy starts on Monday (actually from next wee k on Tuesday), this is a wonderful recuperation routine.

I started a complementary Chinese medicine protocol from the middle of the week, which provides more than 10 kinds of herbal medicine and supplements. As my cancer is in the esophagus, I cannot gulp down a capsule or a pill. I tap the powder out of the capsule into the wax paper, and take it with water. This process takes time, and some of them taste awful. And it almost feels like a ritual.

The heap of the powder on the piece of wax paper reminds me of the Woody Allen movie scene …wait, may be it was from Benigni’s movie. Anyway the guys start sniffing cocaine with straw in the movie. I instead take the medicine orally.

The Chinese protocol is provided by the Chinese herb and acupuncture specialist in San Francisco.

His protocol divides the week into two parts, following the chemotherapy routine. During the first part his treatment centers around good circulation: the chemo medicine has to circulate through my body to get the best effect. The latter part of the week is planned to enhance my immune system and cleansing the body of the dead cancer cells.

The supplement prescription provides quite a few positive results.
First, I have to eat three times a day even if I do not want to, because most of the supplements have to be taken three times with a meal.
Second, I end up drinking quite a bit of water because of weird tasting medicines, which helps cleansing my body.
Third, either one of the herbs or a combination of the herbs helps stool movement. I do not need to take the “stool softener” anymore.
Fourth. It seems some of the supplements are giving energy lifts, and I feel stronger.
Fifth, the melatonin that is a part of the protocol is helping me sleep though the night very soundly, and I started having refreshing mornings.

Also, his protocol insists upon a strong connection between the mind and body. He suggests that I should not even watch the TV news during the resting period. He also recommends doing a cleaning/reconciliation activity during the latter period that is a cleansing period, such as settling a dispute, cleaning the closet, and writing an over-due letter.

It makes you feel so good and clean when you finally write a thank you letter that you owed to your friend, or make a telephone call. This makes sense!

Anyhow, with this Chinese protocol and acupuncture appointments, my week seems to be getting full. I am grateful that I can have a certain schedule to enhance the quality of life during the chemo/radiation therapy.