The second chemotherapy treatment was completed Monday. And despite my impatience about getting started, the infusion was largely uneventful. The nurse even advised that I crunch on ice chips during the administration of "the red devil".

The magic blinking green firefly attached to my waist dispensed the dose of Neulasta yesterday evening. Other than the daily dose of prednisone, the medications of the second round are completed.

Now begins the obstacles following each chemotherapy treatment.

My first obstacle is realizing that chemotherapy and radiation will occupy most of my spring and summer. My last chemotherapy should be May 31, if there are four.

I imagine radiation will begin in July.

Another obstacle is lots of fatigue, which all in all, is the lesser of side effects. And is the product of the chemotherapy working. Unfortunately, it is just an extension of the isolation we practiced for a year before we received our vaccinations in February.

The other obstacle is my vulnerability to infection because of the destruction of white blood cells.

But there is a way through this.

Just as the rocks loom in Acadia National Park, there is a path around them. The obstacles do not block the way to my healing. Just one step at a time.