Port Installation & 1st round of chemo

Last Monday I spent the morning in the OR having a mediport (or port) surgically placed into my chest. The port is used to administer the chemo, instead of having IV's shoved into my arms and completely destroying my veins. Last thing I need are my arms to look vericose like my old mans legs, pretty gross (still love ya though dad)! Procedure went well, was in and out before noon. Took a couple days for me to get used to an implantable device just sitting in my chest, especially when its completely noticeable! Doctor totally downplayed this piece of the process, but I have bigger concerns on my hands.

Had my first round of chemotherapy last Thursday 6/4. It was really weird seeing all those chemicals being pumped into my body. My dad went with me, we were at the Ireland Cancer Center (man, still weird saying the C word) for almost 5 hours! Thankfully the rest of my chemo treatments are only gonna last 2-2.5 hrs. The first chemical the nurse "pumped" into me was a red liquid called adriamycin. Not 20 mins passed after this was completed that I needed to run to the bathroom and "relieve" myself. Yea, my pee was orange! Kinda freaked me out, but they told me that was gonna happen......so I stared at it with complete awe; it had my 100% undivided attention for a good 2 mins (gimme a break, it was kinda cool).

So, 5 days have passed since my first treatment, and aside from some minor fatigue I've held up fairly well! I've been into work, taken a few walks, eaten everything in sight and even swore up a storm at the Cavs and Indians (healthy or not, that'll never change). Doctor told me that everyone reacts differenlty to chemo. Sometimes the effects begin immediately, other times it might have a delayed effect and for some people it never really hits them; I'm pullin for the latter.

Stay tuned, next treatment is 6/18. I'll try to start gettin some pics up too, I'm sure all of you are just as anxious as I am to see what I'll look like with no hair. Someone call Guiness Book of World records because I guarantee there wont be another Greek with as little hair as me on the entire globe (well aside from Stevie Giallourakis).