Needles
Grealy writes, “Though I didn’t mind blood tests, I’d developed a fear of pre-op injections. By now I’d had three operations, including a bone biopsy. Usually they gave two injections before taking you down to the O.R., one for each thigh, and shots hurt like bad leg cramps for several minutes.” Grealy exhibits trypanophobia owing to her extreme dread for the needles. The needles are integral apparatuses for her treatment; thus, she must bear their pain. Pain inherent in the injections elicits Grealy’s extreme dread.
Tumor
Grealy explains, “I specifically asked Mary if she’d give me the injection before my fourth operation, the one than involved removing the tumor and no more than one third of the jaw.” The tumor is indicative of cancer. Its removal would it in stopping its subsequent spread. Evidently, the tumor impacts the appearance of the face specifically the jaw area; hence, Grealy’s looks are not impressive.
Reconstruction
Grealy recounts, “He (Dr. Conley) explained that biggest obstacle to reconstruction would come from all the radiation treatments I’d undergone. Irradiated tissues tend not to take grafts too well and presents a higher rate of reabsorption; even if the graft wasn’t actually rejected.” Grealy seeks reconstruction services because cancer deforms her face. Grafts would be useful in restoring parts of her face which had been destroyed by the tumor. However, Grealy is not guaranteed a successful reconstruction because of her early exposure to radiation.
Chemotherapy
Grealy recounts, “After every six weeks, I was admitted to the hospital, to my beloved Babies 10, for a five-day course of intensive chemotherapy. I actually looked forward to this times in the hospital.” Chemotherapy becomes regular in Grealy’s live because her cancer is advanced. She gets used to it to the degree that she yearns for the hospital. The intensity of the treatments does bot disused her from longing for the hospital trips because she is persuaded that her survival and recovery are dependent on chemotherapy.
White blood cells
Grealy confesses, “I was willing to try anything to get out of the weekly chemo shots. The only way to do this was to be too sick to withstand it. Holding the thermometer up to the light bulb’s heat and other elementary-school tricks were ancient history. I had to be really sick, had to have a measurable increase in my white blood cell count, indicating an infection.” Here, Grealy demonstrates her understanding of the body’s working especially the white blood cells. Her experience with cancer enhances her comprehension of the bodily mechanisms. The white blood cells are gate keepers which give signals concerning the possibility of an infection in the body.
