ChemoTales 6

It has been a while since I have written about the cancer journey life has forced me to travel with my mother.

This month marked the second anniversary of the diagnosis and things seem to be going well.

At the beginning of the year, she was a participant in a drug study that did not work. It was very stressful as trips to the treatment center were required every week, which roundtrip is 200 miles.

Some of these trips were for blood tests only.

Nothing like driving 100 miles for a 10 minute procedure and then hitting the road again for the 100 mile drive home. Just one more side effect of cancer.

Another side effect of a cancer diagnosis that is not listed on any prescription is people, sometimes strangers, showing up at your door looking for pain medication.

It is something that I never thought about. A friend of mine who has been traveling a cancer journey with her husband for six years told me it would happen.

I didn't believe her.

She told me the story of her daughter's friend that took liquid loratab out of the family's rest room.

When confronted at work in public, the thief owned up to it and told a sad story of her teeth pain.

Well last month the side effect occurred at my house, leaving a mystery behind.

I was at work, but my mother reports that a woman came to the house in a white pickup claiming to know her and myself.

The woman said her name was Melanie and claimed she was undergoing treatment at the same facility but was not given pain meds.

The woman said she was in pain and needed a pill.

My mother told her that she did not have any pills and did not know her.

The woman then asked for cash and offered to run to the store and pick up some items.

Once again my mother told her she had no pills, no cash and did not know her.

After suggesting my mother go play bingo with her, the woman finally got her in truck and left and has not returned.

The event is disturbing, I know no one that matches the description, at least directly.

It is concerning to know that it seems someone out there with a possible pain med addiction believes pills can be obtained at my house.

It is also mind blowing that sick people not only have to fight a disease but also have to be concerned about being a target of drug addicts, some strangers and some friends.

So the lesson is beware who you talk to about your medical conditions and prescriptions.

In our area, the district attorney reports that prescription drug use is becoming a bigger problem than methamphetamine.

He says juveniles are attending bucket parties where all sorts of pills are dumped into a barrel and the kids grab a handful and swallow.

So if you find yourself with a diagnosis that requires pain meds, your best bet don't go public with the information or an unlisted side effect could cause you a greater discomfort than the drug or disease.