Chemo By The Numbers

Today is chemo day.

# of chemo treatments I've received: 8
# of treatments still to go: 10 (maybe more)
# of chemo treatments my mom received over her 14 year battle: over 60 (in 7 different sessions)

I receive my treatments from the same facility my mom went to. Most of the nurses recognize me as Linda's daughter and have made comments about how wonderful and kind my mom was and how loving and supportive my dad was and how he'd sit and read to her during her infusions. It's nice going to a place where a good reputation has already been set for me and where I feel a connection with my mom as I literally share in her experience.

What is it like in the chemo room?
The room is about 3x long as it is wide, one wall is all windows that face a small courtyard, the opposite wall is a long desk where the nurses sit and work. All along the window wall is a column of green leather recliners. Facing these recliners, down the middle part of the room is a second column of recliners.

# of recliners in the room: 16
# of chemo nurses on duty: 6 (plus 3 others who help only with the starting blood work)
# of female nurses: 3
# of male nurses: 3 (The guys are my favorites. More happy, more kind. And they worked with my mom more often.)

# of patients being treated at once (including me): 13
# of male patients: 8
# of female patients: 5
# of patients in their 30's: 1 (me)
# of patients in their 40's: 6 (3 women, 3 men)
# of patients between 50-70: 3 (all men)
# of patients over 70: 3 (1 woman, 2 men)
# of patients with at least one person sitting by them: 11
# of patients with multiple attendants: 4
# of patients asleep: 7
# of patients without hair: 7 (3 women, 4 men)
# of patients dressed up for the occasion: 2 (do they have a presentation to give after this or something?)

# of odd looks I get as I try to observe and count the numbers: 19
# of nurses asking me if I'm lost: 1

What is it like to get chemo?
# of needle pokes I get: 1 (thanks to my port they get it right every time - as opposed to the multiple pokes I often get when getting ivs in my arm)
# of times it hurts: 1/4 (much less painful than an arm iv)
# of bags hanging from my iv rack: 4 or 5 (depending on the treatment that day)
# of hours hooked up to iv: 3
# of hours at the clinic (including doctor visits and preparation time): 4-5
# of hours patients who get the once-every-3-weeks treatment might be there: 6-8
# of times I shuffle with my iv pole to the bathroom: 2
# of blankets I request from the warmer: 2
# of hours I typically sleep: 1
# of meals consumed during treatment: 1 (typically Anthony brings in lunch from Subway)
# of books we've read together during treatment: 3/4 of The Beyonders

That's all I can think to report on. Did I miss anything? What are you curious about with this process?