■

7/20

I went for acupuncture yesterday, and it was a "spa" like experience again. When you get a sickness like cancer, the amenity become increasingly limited, and you tend to forget "regular" fun and comfort. Acupuncture is one of the few normal luxuries.

While the needles were in my body, I was imagining myself at the white beach with deep blue water on Japanese tropical island, where I visited with my parent a few years ago.

During the consultation yesterday, the radiologist suggested taking milk and honey 10 minutes before eating in order to ease the esophagitis: the combination creates a temporary wall in the esophagus. This works!!

So the following is what I ate today (All are high protein items):

Breakfast: a bit of banana, steamed salmon, miso soup with a lot of tofu
Lunch: Edamame beans, steamed salmon
Dinner: rice, Natto (fermented soy beans)

In addition to this, I am making 3 cups of power shake using whey protein, soy milk,ice cream, and fruits. I am spending good portion of my time, eating, drinkig, and taking medicine/supplements.

In the afternoon, one of my Japanese clients called from Detroit. I was working with him from last fall on a major project, and must have gone to this meeting dragging the J-tube tower unless the daily radiology was going on. I had worked with him on a different project in the past, and shared many ups and downs; he is almost like a comrade who fought in the same war.

Toward the end of the last project he fell ill with stomach cancer. He is 100% recovered now, and we were working on a different project this time.

"Mayumi, how did you learn that you have cancer? I did not know that I had it till I started bleeding."
"There weren't many symptoms. However, a persistent cough was annoying for the interpretation job, and I went to the doctor."
"It is really true that we never know that we have cancer till very late, because there aren't many symptoms."
"Mr..., do you remember that I was late for one meeting in Detroit last time? I fell asleep on the bed without knowing it...I could not believe that I did it. But maybe that was a symptom."
"Actually the day before I bled, I was very tired. It was a beautiful weekend and I was outside, and I could not do anything. That must have been a sign."

This is a typical cancer patient's conversation. Cancer never shows its identity till very late. Most of the time, it is not the symptoms of the cancer that changes people's life, it is a doctor's words, "you have cancer." With that announcement, you have to become the "patient," even thyought you still feel normal, and you still can do a lot of normal things.

"Well, here I am, after removing 3/4 of stomach. You are younger than I am. Get better, and let's work together again."

It was a wonderful telephone conversation, maybe because it was so close to the work, and because it was a phone call from the comrade who has gone through many pains together before.