The Drugs of Wrath

Every day, twice a day if not more often, I down a veritable pill factory full of drugs. These are the deceptively named "supportive medications" - designed to counter the deleterious side effects of the primary poisons being pumped through my system on a weekly basis.

Daily, I take Acyclovir, Colace, Fluconazole, and Ranitidine. Some of these drugs speak to my suppressed immune system: Acyclovir is an antiviral that protects against herpes simplex; Fluconazole is an antifungal. The other two comfort my disturbed digestive system: Ranitidine inhibits the production of stomach acid and Colace is a stool softener. The chemo drugs kill a lot of the cells lining your stomach and intestines, so your innards aren't too happy (or functional).

On weekends, I take Septra, an antibiotic designed for those with a compromised immune system (originally developed for HIV/AIDS patients). And every other day, I swallow a bunch of Prednisone, a steroid. Prednisone suppresses your immune system, which may seem somewhat counterproductive, but actually serves a useful purpose: preventing the cancer cells in your lymphatic system (part of your immune system) from fighting back against the cancer drugs.

Prednisone is not a pleasant drug. Its seemingly endless list of symptoms and side effects includes weight gain, facial swelling, depression/mania/other psychiatric disorders, fatigue & weakness, mental confusion, blurred vision, abdominal pain, ulcers, infections, painful hips & shoulders, osteoporosis, insomnia, joint pain, cataracts, stretch marks, nervousness, acne, rashes, increased appetite, hyperactivity, frequent urination, diarrhea, and, in the most attractive description of all...removes your intestinal flora. On top of all that, after about a week of taking it, your body stops manufacturing the natural adrenal steroid it mimics, so you have to wean yourself gradually off the drug in order to avoid a life-threatening "Addisonian crisis" - convulsions and other medical emergencies caused by a lack of adrenal hormones.

The pills taste terrible and sit uneasily in my stomach no matter what I've had, or not had, to eat or drink. But I tell myself they're doing some good...right?