The Great Unknown OZ!!

Giving Thanks

2009-11-26T18:38:00.003-05:00

As I sit here and think of the things that I am thankful for, I came up with this list.

1.) For the Love of Family and Friends.
2.) Surviving Stage IV Rectal Cancer.
3.) Being able to find Clinical Trials that are Close to me.
4.) Working Daily at a Job that I find enjoyable at times.
5.) For those who gave their lives so we can enjoy Freedom.

Things have been good this week, still having minor urinary control problems; which seems to be more of a problem at night when I start to reach REM Status. This I will address on Monday when I go back to Karmanos for the work up on the 3rd Trial. I have also been thinking about Life cycles Ending and new Cycles starting. I sent an email to Dr. Heath about this, but as of this posting she has not responded, so this too shall be addressed.
Medically, this week has been filled with no visits to Dr. Steve or the Emergency Room. I have been coughing a little more with the feeling that there is something there to come up, but nothing does; except this morning I spit up some green phlegm, I wasn't surprised. I have a wheezing feeling in my right lung when I breath just right, so I know something is happening. The headaches are still present, some days a little more intense then others, but taking a couple of Tyonel helps for a little bit. Otherwise no other changes have happened medically.
Musically, I have found myself getting into organizing my collection of MP3's and Flac music that I have been collecting for quite a while, last time I counted I had about 63 years of music in my collection. It ranges from Dave Brubeck to Moby to Bob Marley, Metallica and bunch more artists. The Genres I cover are just about all of them, reggae, rock, folk, big band, new age and every one in between.
Well, I'll be ending this here. Enough about my giving thanks. I hope that yours has been safe and joyous.

9 Days Since Last Posting

2009-11-19T11:59:00.003-05:00

OK, I just realised that it has been a while since I have posted and I do have a few things to discuss here. I have gotten then information on Clinical Trial #3 and it looks preeettyyy intense, depending on the Chemotherapy Drug given to me at the time of Infusion, will determine my schedule. Ok! I'm getting a head of myself a little here, backing up here a little bit. Trial #3 will consist of an oral drug and IV Infusion. The oral drug is already approved by the FDA for use, so the work up fortunately is going to be on November 30th and it will include the Physical, an Echo-cardiogram, then wrapping it up with a CT Scan; which means that I will be busy for a better part of the day. I should also find out when I will start this Trial on the the 30th, which will be good news, since I'm anxious to get started again.
I have been getting back into the work schedule and getting use to working a full week without any interruptions for the Clinical Trials. I had my 6 year anniversary on Wednesday with the Cable Company, who would believe it, I've been doing Technical Support for that long and have seen a lot of organizational changes along the way. Enough with this.
I've been busy with getting Transcripts from the Colleges and Universities that I've attended, so that I can prepare to go back to College to take up Networking and further my knowledge and career outlook. I am excited about going back after taking sometime off and getting myself employed by a company that has been able to provide me with a stable job, so it is time to get on with things and start looking at a way to better market my skill set and start getting away from the Technical Support end of the business. Don't get me wrong, do the job I love it at times and I also hate it at times. Sure there are corporate policies that are totally wacked, but working around them and daily office politics I enjoy being able to help people and I try to educate them a little along the way. Some calls are better then others.
For now, I'm ending this so that I can concentrate on other things for the day and find out more information on a few personal things that I have let go.

Treatments and More

2009-11-10T11:00:00.003-05:00

Well, seeing how it has been over a month now since I typed anything here. Where to start?!?!? Well, October was a month of work, Clinical Trials, Visits with Dr. Heath, PET Scan, CT Scans and sleeping.
The days slipped away in a blurred haze of confusion and wonderment. With bills coming in from Karmanos, I had to address the issue of why they had not been redirected to the appropriate Study Pharmacom to pay and now these have been taken care of. More time spent on the phone getting my Health Insurance Provider to acknowledge why a bill for Dr. Fuerquer, Flower Hospital Cancer Center Radiology, was not paid, but the Bill for Jennifer was from March 2009. This was sent back for reprocessing, since the Representative realised that the mistake was on their end. Thankfully, I was able to keep myself focused and not loose my temper over this, since I've become a little more cynical towards Health Care and how screwed up it has become, but that is for another forum and not here.
The 2nd Clinical Trial that I started, I was fortunate enough to be able to continue into the 2nd Round, since the lesions had not grown that much and seemed to be stabilizing. PET Scan done, results looked good there, then another Infusion. CT Scan #2, results came back a little less then anticipated by me. The good news is that there is no New Leisons on my Lungs, YAY!!!! The bad news is the lesions have grown a little more, thus putting me in the 17% range and at 20% is when I would have been removed from the Study; so I decided to voluntarily remove myself from the Study since it wasn't showing positive progress.
I also readdressed the issue of me not having much control of urinating, so I tried the Condom Catheter, which was a good idea; but it just didn't work. Dr. Heath changed my Meds from Vesicare to Daetrol and this seems to be helping the control issue, except at night I'm still having some challenges with it and have been woke up with myself being flooded and the protection being loaded. More concentration on this will be given to prevention of flooding the towel that I sleep on and having to change my clothes in the middle of the night.
For now I am waiting to hear about the next Study and what I'll have to do in the way of Tests to get worked up and going with it.

Downtime Between Treatments

2009-09-29T08:04:00.002-04:00

Well this week is the "off" week from the Clinical Trial. I have a CAT Scan scheduled for Friday Evening and I am still waiting for Dr. Heath's Nurse to call and confirm my Appointment with the Dr. Heath for Thursday.
Mean time, I say Dr. Jeff Forquer at the Hickman Cancer Center at Flower Hospital to go over my 6 month review with him. I asked him to look at the last CAT Scan from Karmanos, since the report noted a lymph node has increased in size and was pressing up against my bladder, thus causing me to having the urge to urinate more frequently and in some cases uncontrollably. I have taken the necessary precautions to prevent embarassing moments in my daily life. I wanted Dr. Forquer to see if I could do more radiation therapy to help reduce the lymph node
Well, I got the call from Dr. Forquer last night and he said that the lymph node is in the lower part of the Sacrum, Tail Bone Area, and it is in the same area that I had Radiation previously and it probably would be more harmful then helpful if I was to have more Radiation Treatment in the Area, so I mentioned to him that I have noticed in the last couple of days my urge and frequency to Urinate situation has gotten better and that I am not getting up 2 or 3 times at night and now I'm getting up 1 or 2 times; which are good signs that something is happening in a positive way. Dr. Forquer and I agreed that I could call them up and come back if I had any questions that I needed answered.
In the meantime, I have been thinking about what has been happening in the last few months, both from a personal and medical view point and I have not slept to well the last few nights. September is National Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, which means increased advertisements of the symptoms and treatments available; but I suppose education is wonderful for those who want to learn and take action. My problem with this educational stuff being broadcast is, how many people who hear about it actually do anything about it? How many of these individuals, who has heard the about it and wants to do something about it, cannot do anything about it; since they have no insurance or afraid to see if they have Cancer? I don't know for sure. I know Carmen and I have chatted about this and she has several of the symptoms, but she is without health insurance at this time and I worry for her. Ok, that's the medical view point on the topic of Cancer, Ovarian Awareness Month. Personally, I feel good and have become more comfortable with Doctors, Nurses, and the general public telling me that I don't like like the "A-Typical" Cancer Patient; who exhibits the side-effect symptoms that most have. The Side-effect symptoms are Nausea, V omitting, Weakness, and Severe Fatigue. I do deal with fatigue in a minor issue and deal with as it hits me, but at the sametime I know it doesn't help when I stay up later then I should to get things in order, then having to get up at 4am to get into work by 6am, 4 days a week. The 10-hour shifts at work are not bad, but there are some days that I'll go home after working, eat dinner, then go to bed. Yesterday was one of these days, but instead of sleeping through the night, I only slept at most an hour then got up until around 11:30pm. I woke up this morning and felt good, but now that I've been at work for a little over 2 hours, I'm starting to fell fatigued. Lunch will be at 10am and I'll see how I am feeling then and buy a soda if need to.
The other thing that people do not take into account, is the person who has the cancer and their mental state. By this, I mean does the person suffer depression, ie: every day blues or severe depression that requires treatment? I will admit to being depressed at times, but I tend to start to get myself involved with other activities that helps to keep me active mentally and if this doesn't work, then I surround myself with some comedy or friends.
Well, for now I am just fatigued and dealing with it on day to day basis. and waiting for the CAT Scan results.

Clinical Trial, Update

2009-09-16T07:59:00.002-04:00

Ok, I've been on this 2nd trial since September 1st and so far have not had any major side-effects, minor side-effects I have experienced are: Fatigue and Headaches. The fatigue is the common side-effect and after the first week, I have been feeling really no more fatigue then usual. The last couple of nights I have been staying up a little later then normal, to get somethings completed. I know that I should be getting my sleep and resting as much as I can, but my personal life is starting to require more attention and I'm really not looking forward to providing the extra attention at this time; but it is necessary so that I don't loose personal items.
I have not discussed my personal matters on here before, but now I feel that it is necessary, so that I can vent/get it off my chest. Since the beginning of this year my Mum has been dealing with having her right hip replaced and she has been having problems with that not healing, infections and going back into the hospital a couple of times. The Orthopedic Surgeon she has is not very good at following up and giving forth right answers to the problems. This will be dealt with in good time. With Mum going into hospital this last time, she found out that the infection in her Hip was not as bad and Surgeon thought and he didn't have to remove the hip, so he packed the hip with antibiotics and sent her to rehab. While Mum was at home she fell a couple of times and the local Fire Department was called out. While Mum was in hospital a woman from Adult Protective Services made a visit and forced her way into the house, scaring the crap out of my eldest sister. Bottom line here, Mum wasn't allowed to go home, since it was a 2 story home and she had to climb stairs to get to the restroom...This caused tensions to run high and talk amongst the family that Mum was going to be moving into a house that had everything on the first floor, which is what we have been trying to do for sometime now, so this is a blessing for us. The move of Mum's stuff is being taken care of in a manner that is not the best, since I still have items at the house and couple of them have come up missing and my inquires into where they are at has been met with resistance. The difficult part of this, for me at least, is not letting my emotion get the best of me and causing more problems then necessary. Plus, when a few of the items that have been moved, no one called me to ask about my personal items what I would like done with them.
OK, enough of my personal life drama and on with the Clinical Trial....LOL!! I have been most amazed at the attention I have been getting each time I am in the Phase 1 Unit, which is good, since I get this from every Nurse in the Unit, at first I was a little freaked out, but now that I have been going up there, I am getting use to it. It is refreshing also to see that they take the time to check on my well being, offer assistance when necessary, or a bit of encouragement when needed. I will be ending this, since the calls here are starting to pick up and I'm needed.

Clinical Trial #2 - Starts

2009-08-29T10:32:00.002-04:00

Well, on Thursday I went up to Karmanos Cancer Center and spent the entire day there. The schedule was hectic to say the least. 7:30a I had arrived in the Cat Scan Area or Radiology, then after that Carm and I walked up to the Clinic, where I registered and waited at 8:40am. A little after 9am I was taken inside by the Nurse, who I really wasn't thrilled with, since her bedside manners was not the best. She admitted that she had not worked in that clinic before and was still getting use to it. This made me even more apprehensive about having her around me. She left and the Physician's Assistant Mary Jo came in and went over the new Trial. I was conerned about it, since the information that I read talked about biopsying of the tumor or skin or both, well Mary Jo advised that they would do the biopsy of the skin and that it would not be a big chunk of skin, just 2 little punctures in the skin, that would be about the size of a ball point pen. Great news to hear, I relazed a little more and we discussed my Neuropathy which has been diagnosised at Grade 2, but Mary Jo said that it wasn't since I am able to type on a keyboard and button my shirt, so this too made me feel better, especially after she dropped a dime on the exam table and told me to pick it up, which I did without any problem.
After seeing Mary Jo, Carm and I proceeded to have an Echocardiogram done, which wasn't too bad, except for when the Tech started to jam the wand into my left side at the bottom of my ribs and I started to roll back and she kept pushing the wand in, then I mentioned to her that it was hurting and she apologized. After the Echo was completed, we went up to the Phase 1 Infusion area to speak with Andrea, the Lead coordinator, about the schedule and to get blood and urine drawn. The trial starts on Tuesday, Sept 1st, and proceeds from there with me going back in on Wednesday for the 24 hour follow up. The good thing is I don't have to worry about collecting my Urine and taking it into them, YAY!!! All collections will be done there. We also got mileage forms, so that we can submit them and get paid for traveling and gas, which will help.
After seeing Andrea, Carm and I walked to the Registration Desk, so that we could get our Pass for the Children's Hospital PET Scan area. By this time I was starting to feel the effects of not eating or drinking since 9am, I asked for a Navigator to transport me to the PET Scan. I wasn't suppose to be there until 2:30pm, but I figured if I could get in early then so be it. This worked out, since I was taken in at 1:30pm and was out of there a little after 3pm. Needless to say both Carm and I where feeling a bit worn out and didn't feel like doing much when we got home.
I called Mary Jo on Friday to find out the test results from the Urine and she mentioned that shw would be calling Dr. Schaeffer's Office to get somethings clarified since she was having a hard time reading through the records. I confirmed the phone number and she also mentined that she would be calling Dr. Rubin's Office also. The Urine Test came back negative and she mentioned that in the Report for the CAT & PET Scans it was noted that there was a Lymph Node that had grown, pressing up against my bladder, which might be causing me to have problems with frequent urination. I asked her about this and whether or not it was something new that had developed or if it was there all this time? She came back saying that it was noted on previous reports and that it was being watched. Now, she mentioned that she would have to look into treatment options since she could think out Radiation and Surgery. The Radiation Option may not work, since I had Radiation Treatment in that area back in 2008. Mary Jo reassured me that she would have an anaser for me on Tuesday. I have taken the necesary precautions to help avoid embarrassing moments, but there has been a couple of times that I have had accidents. It will be interesting to see what options they suggest, since I do not want to go wround like this for the rest of my life cycle.
After discussing the Trial and the days that Carm and I would be traveling to Detroit and back I called Mary Jo back in mid-afternoon to let her know that I would be doing the trial, shew mentioned that she was able to get all the information that she needed from Dr. Rubin's Office and was still waiting to hear back from Dr. Schaffer's Office. I told her to call me if she had any problems getting the information from Schaffer's Office and I would see what I could do.
Well, here it is another Saturday Morning and I will be ending this here. More to come in this never ending battle.

Clinical Trial #2 Information Received

2009-08-23T08:20:00.003-04:00

Well, last Thursday I received call from Mioko, Clinical Trials Eligibility Coordinator for Karmanos Cancer Center, who was calling to give me a information on the next Study and also to let me know that I would have all testing done in 1 day. So, this means that I will have a Cat Scan at 7:30a, then I see the Physician's Assistant at 9am, then at 11am I have Ultrasound of my Heart scheduled. A short break after, with no food after 10:30a, and a PET Scan at 2:30p. So, it will be another busy day for me and Carmen, with a lot of waiting for procedures to be completed or just waiting between. Hopefully, I will be able to get the procedures completed without any problems and get my schedule set for treatment.
The one thing that makes this Trial a little different from the last one, is the biopsy of either the skin or tumor or both. I am hoping for one biopsy to be completed and not the two. I will have to wait and see how that goes and take it form there. Anxiousness is one thing that I am trying not to let get the best of me, this early, but I know on Wednesday it will be kicking into high gear. For now I will concentrate on working and doing things around the house, until I find out what exactly will be taking place with this Trial, since the material, I have read over states that the Trial is 5 months long. Nothing is mentioned about any other CAT/PET Scans in between, so this will be the one question that I will get an answer to. On the last Clinical Trial I had the CAT Scan during Cycle 2 and was scheduled for Cycle 3, when I got the news of the lesions growing 1 cm, but they are located in a Non-life Threatening are of the lung. This news was something that was a relief to Carmen and I, since we was not informed of this, nor did we think of questioning the location.
Well, with this information being at hand and the wait for Thursday, 8/27, the week will be interesting to say the least. May be I will go through the earlier posts and see if there is anything there that does not sound correct, but then again may be I will leave them alone.

Cat Scan Results Not Favorable

2009-08-12T09:53:00.002-04:00

I had the Cat Scan last Thursday, August 6th, I immediately emailed the Physician Assistant (PA) as a reminder that it had been completed and I would be waiting to hear from her on Friday. The PA emailed me back on Thursday night and reassured me that she would call me after she had a chance to read the report from the Radiologist. Friday came, I picked up Ian and hung out with him all day and by 6p I had not heard from the PA, so I called her number and got her Voicemail Greeting stating that she was gone for the Weekend. I called Dr. Heath's number, paged her and spoke with her. Dr. Heath informed me that the Nodals in my Lungs had grown 1cm and that since the nodals are located in a Non-Life Threatening area of my Lung that she was concerned with the growth more then anything else. I see Dr. Heath this Thursday and she will update me on what Clinical Trial I am eligible for and when I can start.
Hearing Dr. Heath tell me that the Nodals are in an area of my lungs, that are considered Non-Life Threatening, took some of the anxiety away; since I was not sure of the exact location. My weekend was good, I relaxed as much as I could and started sorting through some of my personal stuff that I had stored at my Mom's House. The sorting wasn't much fun, but it is necessary, so I can figure out what I'm keeping and what I'm getting rid of or donating. So far, not much has been moved, but this will be next. I've also thrown out a couple items also.
I'll be cutting this short, since I really don't have much more to say. I'll update this after I get back from my appointment with Dr. Heath and let everyone know what I'm doing next.

Clinical Trial Update for Weekedning 1 August 2009

2009-08-01T14:33:00.005-04:00

This week I was weighed in at 298 lbs, BP was around 110/66, a and my temperature was right at 98.5. After getting this out of the way, the Nurse proceeded to access my port and draw the blood to sent off to the Lab. The Physician Assistant (PA) Margarette came up and gave me my quick "physical" to see how I was doing. She pronounced me fit for treatment and mentioned that my Lungs where sounding really good and moving air better then the last couple of weeks. I ate lunch while the blood was sent off to the Lab, the lunch was an Einstein Bagel BLT Wrap, which was good, but had a little bit too much of a bite to it; since there was Chitpolte Sauce on it, next time I'll get Mayo on it instead. As for desert, I had a handful of Fresh Gummy Bears (More on the freshness and tastiness later).
Well, while waiting for the blood results back from the Lab. I took a nap while waiting, with my sunglasses on, so that I could sleep without the light in my eyes. The sunglasses trick I learned early on with the Chemotherapy that I was getting preoperatively. It helps to block out most of the Fluorescent Lights and also makes the Nurses unsure what your conscious state is awake or asleep. Anyhow, I got the news that my White Blood Count was really good and then they started calculating the weight to treatment ratio, which has a buffer of +/- 5%, and everytime the 4 Nurses ran it they each got a different percentage, one got 5.2%, while another got 5%. So, one Nurse decided to get the most current weight on me and this put in at 4.9% of my original weight. When I started the Trial I was weighing in at around 318 lbs and as I mentioned earlier in this post, I've lost. The weigh loss is because since I've had the pneumonia, my apettite has not been like it was, I'm not eating as large of meals that I once was. The PA was consulted, along with Dr. Heath and it was decided to treat me.
The funny thing about this whole ordeal was when I was woke up from my nap, the Nurse took my BP again and it was 99/66, which she commented "That is too low for a Big Guy like you, you need to do some exercising." So she took it again and it came up to 100/77 and she was satisfied with that, but when she recorded it in the file, she recorded it at 99/66. The PA cut my Tekturnia down from 150mg to 75mg a day, and told me that she didn't want me fainting on her. So I came back with "Haven't ever had someone faint for you?" LOL. The PA chuckled and kept her composure and mentioned "I don't think I would be able to pick you up from the floor!" and that is how this ended.
So far, with the Post-treatment week, I have been coughing up phelm and at times it has been bigger then normal, so I am hopeful that this is a good sign; since the Trial is ending and on Monday I go for a Blood Draw, then my CT Scan is scheduled for August 6th in the Evening and I see Dr. Heath on the following Thursday. It will good to see who this trial has turned out, since I am anxious to get back to my normal life, but this past couple of months has been a little overwhelming for me and especially Carmen.
Personal issues are coming to the fore-front more and I am forced to start focusing on them, since it deals with how my Mom will be living and moving her stuff and sorting through a lot of my personal stuff that I have stored and deciding what to keep versuses what to just get rid of. I have sat down with Carmen and started putting together a list of some of the things that I want to keep, but I know I will be adding to it as this week progresses.
I have noticed that while eating the Gummy Bears that my Taste Buds just started bursting with their flavour and I was momentarily in euphoria. This was repeated on Thursday when I started to eat a Grape Popsicle, then a Cheery and an Orange flavoured one. I ended up downing like half a box of Popsicle, before I stopped myself. Later Thursday Evening Carmen commented on how fast the Popsicles had been ate, when normally they last for about a week. The other thing that I have noticed for the second consecutive week is that my Osteoarthritis in my knees has not been too much of a problem. Last week, I noticed this and felt good until late Thursday night, then the painful reminder came back to kick me. This week so far, I am still feeling good and walking with no pain in my knees. The neropathy in my hands seems to have increased a little more then normal and typing on the keyboard is almost challenging. My feet seem to be fine for now, but this may change. I mentioned to Carmen that perhaps the cooler weather is causing my hands to be like they are. I will mention this on Monday when I go to Karmanos and see what they have to say about it. For now, I will end this and see what happens this week and go from there.

Clinical Trial - Update on My Condition

2009-07-16T11:28:00.004-04:00

Well, last weekend was not as fun as I had hoped for. I ended up Sunday Morning with a real bad case of my muscles on the right side of my body being tense and causing me all kinds of pain whenever I moved. Needless to say I called off work and Carm emailed the Physician's Assistance when my temperature spiked 101.4F and she didn't get a reply right away, so this stressed her out more then needed. The reply was sent, but rejected and cause was a wrong reply to address; so with this fixed everything is working fine now.
I was using a heating pad and pain killers on lower back and I ended up with a blister on my lower back, so I ended up putting an ice pack on that and rested a little more. The blister is healing fine now and the pain killers have been changed, since the first ones where only lasting for about 4 hours. On Monday, Carm and I drove up to Karmanos and I was immediately placed in a treatment suite and had 3 or 4 Nurses running around trying to get a needle in my arms, so that they could draw blood, from my arm and my port. The Port draw was easy, since all they have to do is put the needle in my chest, secure it and start to access it. After a few minutes, one Nurse finally found, what she called a "blind vein" in my right Arm, and was able to get blood from there. They drew out blood into culture bottles that looked like mini liquor bottles, then sent them off to the Lab to be tested. Ends up results came back that I have Pneumonia in my Right Lung, which caused the muscles to tense up and cause all the pain. Prescriptions where written for CiPro, Antibotic and another stronger Pain Killer. I was also given an excuse to cover me for being out of work until Wednesday and my Supervisor called on Tuesday to find out what was happening, she told Carm, to make sure that I bring it in today, so that I'm covered for the lost time. I'm feeling a little better now and still have a dry cough, plus I'm spitting up a bunch of junk and this is helping to clear my lungs out. I'm also getting headaches, which a couple of Tylenol and this helps for a little bit. My voice is sorta horse sounding, so it will be interesting to see if I can survive the 8 hours I am suppose to work today, only time will tell. I work from 1p until 9:30p, so I'll see how that goes. I'm making sure that I have enough fluids with me, since I cotton mouthed at times when I am talking, and this should help with that, plus I have some mints in my desk also. :) Well, I must be getting ready for work here soon and a couple of other things to do, so I'll end this here. More in the coming days.

Clinical Trials - Week 2

2009-07-08T22:36:00.004-04:00

The Weekend proved to be interesting with a few minor side-effects, Saturday I woke up and had chest pains, whenever I inhaled deeply, so I called the Doctor at Karmanos and she said that it sounded like it was more Muscl-skelator in nature and adcvisde that if I had shortness of breath or the pain got worse to get the the ER. Sunday Early morning I was a wakened by a sharp stabbing pain in my lower right back, it felt like someone had just punched me there, so I laid still and fell back a sleep and woke up with a little pain there whenever I moved just right.
Well, this week was another week of Monday being a long 12 hour day again, the Hospital Food still hasn't improved, sighs, one could only have hoped for a little improvement, lol! I came home and was wired of course from the anti-nausea meds and steroids that I was given,so I was up later then I would've like. The upside was I didn't have the pain in my back or my chest anymore, YAY!!!
Tuesday was the usual day of dropping off the Urine Collection, getting blood drawn and new collection bottles. After the Nurse went over everything to make sure that was no changes, I did note a loss of appetite, so she advised to keep an eye on it. The constipation was with me, but now it has gone bye-bye, lol.
Today, was another day of waking up with Sinsus Congestion and a Dry Cough, which I told the Nurse about and I saw the Physician's Assistance and she gave me a Script for a Z-pack...Yummy!!!!! LOL. Collection Bottles in hand, Carm and I walked out of Hospital after 3pm, since I had to be fitted into the PA's schedule this after noon, so needless to say today was a little longer then I would've liked it to be :(. No, I did not pick up the Antibiotics, since I fell asleep this afternoon and by the time I got motivated the Pharmacy was closed. Tomorrow will be fun, with driving up, then meeting some friends in Monroe. Yes, I'll get my drugs before going to Detroit :).
On the agenda for Thursday will be to confirm the rest of my schedule for the Trial and go from there with getting my life back into the routine of going to work and coming home to hang out. These last 2 weeks have been a pain in the arse, since I was suspended at work and was not paid. More updates to follow as I get them. Have fun and be Safe.

Karmanos Clinical Trial - Cycle 1 Week 1,Days1&2

2009-06-30T20:24:00.008-04:00

Well, yesterday I started the Clinical Trial and it really well. I have to get use to collecting my Urine for the next couple of days and returning it to them so that they can make sure that everything is going well with Chemotherapy Treatment and how the Trial Drug is being passed through my system. Monday was a long day for Carm and I. We arrived at 6:30am and after going through registration and hauling our stuff up to the Chemotherapy Infusion Area, we looked like nomads with me carrying my book bag with my Laptop and Ostomy Supplies and a few magazines and my MP3 Player on one shoulder and on the other I was toting the cooler that Carm had packed with food for both of since we was not aware of the fact I would be fed while being treated. After, being examined again by the Physician Assistant agian and the usual blood and urine collection taken, I waited for the results to come back so that they could tell me whether or not I would be able to be treated, which I was treated, so this made me happy and helped to ease the apprehension that I felt about being there.
The food was the typical Hospital fair, tasteless and bland, LOL.. Breakfast was French Toast, Sausage, Oatmeal, Peaches, Aplpe Juice and Maple Syrup. I surprised that even the Maple Syrup was bland tasting, but then again it may have been me. Lunch consisted of Brown Sugar Glazed Ham, Yams, Roll, and Peaches. Dinner was a surprise since they broke an extra tray in and told Carm and I that we could decide which one we wanted to eat. Tray #1 was Grilled Chicken Breast on White Toast Bread, Grape Juice, Peaches, Salad, Dressing, Cherry Tart and Mayo. Tray #2 was Beef Stew, Roll, Apple Juice, Cherry Tart, Salad, Dressing and something else that I wasn't sure what it was. I ate Tray #1 and Carm took the 2nd tray. The Chicken Breast was fairly decent, after I put a piece of Lettuce on it and added the Mayo. I gave the Cherry Tart to Carm and I added Cottage Cheese that Carm brought along from home and I was filled. Overall the Meals still ranked as palatable and I would not suggest it as a regular diet.
Today, we drove back up for the 24 Hour Post Treatment check and was only there for approximately 30 minutes, after they went over the vitals, medications, Blood Draw and side effects. Side Effects that I've had so far are Burning Sensation in my feet, Hiccups and Constipation, which I was told is the side-effect of the Anti-Nausea Meds. I gave them the Urine that was collected from 11pm last night until 11:15a this morning. This was very interesting since before I left yesterday I had left them 2500cc's of fluid, which surprised the Nurse, so today I was given 2 collection bottles and was told to use them. Tomorrow will be 48 Hour Post Treatment checkup and I will go through the same procedure as today,arrive at 11:30a, drop the Urine, blood draw, vitals and side-effects. This will happen again for Thursday's 72 Hours Post Treatment also.
Next week will be a repeat of this week, so I'll have to make a few arrangements at work for me to get paid for Wednesday. I was suspended for 2 weeks for not following a procedure and I was suppose to return on Wednesday July 8th, which I will not be able to do.
Then on Monday July 13th I'll see the Phyician's Assistant again and get Labs drawn and sent home, this will end Cycle 1 Day 15.
Today while I was waiting for my Blood Pressure to be taken, the machine started, then next thing I know it stopped, since the battery went dead. I laughed and told the Nurse about when she came back in and she rolled her eyes and commented that she didn't understand why they have to continuously plug them into the wall to get them to work. After finally getting my BP and temperature taken the Nurse went through the other stuff and I left.
Well, enough for now, I'll post more tomorrow, since it's going to another busy day, with having to go to Karmanos, then make a coupld of phone calls to straighten out some insurance crap and pay da rent.

Karmanos Clinical Trial - Update

2009-06-16T07:57:00.000-04:00

Well, I went to Karmanos last week for the Genetic Consultation, which was less then appealing. After sitting through printed slides and having the Counselor go through page after page of information and asking me questions about my Family history and getting a little upset that I listed 2 Uncles as having Cancer and not being specific about the type. The counselors stepped out of the Exam Room and after waiting for approximately 45 minutes the Doctor stepped in had me take my shirt off and examined my upper torso, since there are certain skin anomalies that can be indicators of cancer, which he didn't find. The Doctor was a little concerned with the number of brown spots on my back and asked if I had a Dermatologist, I advised that I didn't and that my Family Doctor was monitoring them. In all the drive was nice, but the waiting was the most nerve racking of all.
After going to the Main Campus of Karmanos in Downtown Detroit, Mi., on June 5th and getting the Workup completed I got a call from the Physician's Assistance om Friday June 5th saying that the first Clinical Trial that I was being considered for was not good for me, since it would make my Neuropathy in my Hands and Feet worse and there was another Clinical Trial opening up on June 18th also that I might me eligible for, but they was awaiting the results of the CAT Scan, to see if there was any tumors that could be biopsied; otherwise there was another Trial starting on June 25th. Well, I got a call from Dr. Heath yesterday saying that she didn't want to put in me in harms way and risk my health by putting me into Trials that could do more harm then help. So, now I am waiting until July 15th, to see if the Trial that starts then is better for me or not.
My decision to wait for the Trial on July 15th, has upset Carmen since she was really hoping to go on vacation next month and see her Brother before he goes to Arizona for Motorcycle Mechanics School in the Fall. I feel that being selfish about my health was a little more important then considering waiting longer to start any Clinical Trials, since I want to get them started as soon as possible to get the Cancer under control. I'll discuss this a little more with Carmen when I get home this afternoon and see if she would be willing to make a compromise on this.
Well for now I'm still here and not doing any Chemotherapy or Clinical Trial, yet, but at least I can relax a little and concentrate on getting things in order and some the bills under control.

Karmanos Cancer Centre Visit

2009-05-15T21:28:00.000-04:00

Well, I went to Karmanos Cancer Centre yesterday and after the initial intake and a wait of only approximately 2 or 3 minutes. This little Chinese Lady comes walking into the Exam Room and introduces herself as Dr. Heath. Dr. Heath mentions that I'm professional Patient since I was already sitting on the Exam Table and we had a laugh at this. We went through my Health History and she admitted that my Mom's Side of the Family was scary, since we have Cancer and Diabetes, as the Primary cause of death in the majority of the Aunts and Uncles. Dr. Heath asked if I would be interested in doing a Genetic Consultation to find out where in the DNA the problem comes in, I told that I was very interested in this, since she was first one to propose it be done; plus at the same time it told me that she was looking at other areas. I told her that my Dad really didn't talk about his side of the family and she understood and mentioned that it was too bad that I didn't know more about his family health history.
Bottom line here, Karmanos has not 20, not 40, but 60, yes, 60 Clinical Trials going. Compared to Cleveland Clinic and Dr Pelley who offered only 2 Clinical Trials. Well, you guessed it. I commited to going to Karmanos, since they will determine in the next 4 weeks which Clinical Trials to get me into and they are not just talking one, but possibly having 3 or 4 lined up; this way if one doesn't work then they'll move into the next one.
Essentially, for the firsts 5 days of being in the Trial I would be owned by Karmanos, as they get testing and results on how I am doing with it under way, then after this I would be there once a week for a visit with Dr. Heath and the trial. Dr. Heath mentioned that if I she her on a day that I'm scheduled to, other then the usual Hi, how are you? pass by, then there is something wrong and she is there to tell me about it and discuss moving me into another Clinical Trial.
I liked chatting with her since she has a sense of humor and really can take and give shit just like me. She mentioned that there was a Nurse that was in charge of one Clinical Trial that had the same sense of Humor that I do and I thought, shit a female version of me in the Humor Department, too cool.
The Homework that I was given was to find out if my Health Insurance would allow for Clinical Trials, which I found out today that it does and I am happy to see that for once Aetna is looking out for this area and not locking people out. So, this made today even happier for me and I also found the article on Aetna's website that discusses the criteria to be covered for Erectile Dysfunction Treatment also. These two articles just made me extremely happy since the articles detail the ICD-9 Medical Codes that must be used to get coverage, which will help out with the billing department statements being processed properly.
Health wise I'm feeling good and I have a bit of a cough, which happens whenever I laugh too much. Some people assume it's Smoker's Cough, but I know it's not and related to the Nodules in my lungs. I did ask why they didn't go in and remove the nodules on my left lung and treat from there, Dr. Heath said cause I would loose 80% of my Lung Capacity, which would qualify me for the Lung Transplant List, but my name would be put very low on it, since I have cancer. So, I now have a better idea of the severity of the situation, since I've not really asked this before.
I called the Cleveland Clinic and spoke with the Nurse there who is in charge of the Clinical Trial for the Vaccine and I told her that I was going to give Karmanos a try first and would keep them in mind, since Dr. Heath mentioned that Vaccine Trials are not really that popular for Cancer, and they usually do not produce the results that the Pharmacological Path does. Since the Pharmacological will usually be a combo of Pills and IV drugs or a combo of IV Meds, such as Avastin and something else. I felt a little more at ease hearing this, so in the next 4 weeks I wait to see what course is charted for me, since Dr. Heath wants to stay away from the Avastin Treatment, since I've already had it. Good News was heard yesterday and located today, so I must be looking in the right areas and asking ther right questions without being misled.

Cleveland Clinic - Phase 1 Drug Trials

2009-04-27T20:15:00.000-04:00

Well, after arriving in Cleveland at 9:25a, parking the car and walking to the Taussig Cancer Center, I checked in at the Registration Desk on the 2nd Floor and was escorted back to the Exam Room by a Nurse. After getting the preliminary vitals out of the way Carmen and I sat in the Room for a good 20 minutes, but the Advance Nurse came in to apologize and advise that she was going through the records that had been faxed over to them.

So we sat for another 10 minutes, then she came in and started taking the family history of both my Parents and of my immediate Family, after getting through this, which was boring as heck; since the Advance Nurse was all business and was not too receptive to my joking around. The 2 questions that she asked me that made me chuckle pretty good where the usual psych questions.
Nurse: "Have you thought about killing yourself? Have you thought about harming others?"
My response to both was these where: "That's crazy, I'm not that far left of center."
The other psych question she asked
Nurse: "Are you depressed?"
My response was: "Yes!"
Nurse: "How long have you been depressed?"
Me: "Since about May 2007, when I was diagnosed!"
Nurse:"Have you discussed this with any Doctors, before today?"
Me: "No!" Was my response."
Nurse:"Why did you tell me this today? Because I asked you?" Was her follow up.
Me: "Yes!, since no one really asked me that" was my repose.
Nurse: "Thank you, for your honesty with this." was the Nurse's comment to me.

At this point her demeanor didn't change, but she continued on with the Q&A and then thanked me for answering the 1001 questions and steps out to "consult" with Dr. Pelley. Dr Pelley arrives in the Exam Room with an Exchange Doctor from Brazil in tow, after the introductions, Dr. Pelley proceeds to clarify a couple of the answers I gave to the Questions. After the clarification, he proceeds to do the usual examination of me and declares that I seem to be in pretty good health and not really suffering from the nodules in my lungs. He then discusses the 3 Phases of a Drug Trial and explains what each one is and how it is handled. He started with Phase 3 and worked his way to Phase 1. This is when he discussed the 2 Drug Trials that are ongoing and explained them. Both of these Trials are end stage Phase 2 and they each offer different options.

The First Drug Trial is one that would require me to take 2 pills a day, then have blood work drawn frequently through out the course of the trial. This would mean that I would have to be traveling back and forth to Cleveland for the Lab Work to be down.

The Second Drug Trial is a vaccine, where they would inject me with a Virus and monitor me for an entire day to see how I reacted. Then after that I would be required to return to the Clinic at 3 days, then 4 days and finally 5 days; for the first week. After that it would be 7 days, 23 days and finally 56 days, with a CT Scan being done. This one appleaed to me since it would require me to be at the Clinic for 2 full days, once at the start and once at the end. The Cost of the Clinical Drugs and the CT Scan would be billed to the Drug Company and everything else would be billed to my insurance.

Dr. Pelley did mention that I might want to investigate University of Michigan Hospital in Ann Arbor, Mi or Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University in Detroit, Mi. I told Dr. Pelley that I was suppose to go there, but they couldn't get me in quickly enough for my Chemotherapist. Dr. Pelley said that he had a colleague that worked at the Karmanos Institute and that he would contact his office for me,if I desired, and see what they have available for Drug Trials, since these 2 Universities may have other Trials that would possibly benefit me better. I decided that I wanted to try Karmoanos, since it is only about 30 minutes away in Detroit, Mi., so Dr. Pelley said that he make the arrangements for me.

We ended walking out of the Taussig Cancer at Noon and proceeded to drive back to Toledo. The travel time to Cleveland was good, since we left the house this morning at 6:53a, stopped and got Gas and some munchies and cash for the Toll Road and arrived at the Cleveland Clinic at 9:25a and my appointment was at 10a.

Now the wait for the call for my visit to Karmanos comes to play. In the mean time I've got an appointment with my Chemotherapist, Dr. Schaefer, on Friday morning to discuss what was said in Cleveland and see what I has to suggest about Karmanos. So until then,my life returns to the routine of Work and home for now.

Depression and Apprehension

2009-04-24T12:47:00.002-04:00

Well, this has been a week of depression and apprehension for me. I've been waking up depressed in the mornings and once I get to work I start to go through the usual job routine, then sometime after lunch I start to feel apprehensive about going to Cleveland Clinic and what they will actually tell me.

I've been dreading this, since I've been thinking too much about the trip and what they're going to do for further testing or what game plan I'm going to follow. If I get into any drug or treatment trials, then I will most definitely be checking into doing them here in Toledo, since traveling back and forth will not be a very viable situation for me.

With the weather finally starting to warm up I've noticed again, that the neropathy in my hands and feet his lessening up a little, but with it still being cold in the monrings when I go to work, it still reminds me of the downside. I do try to carefully walk so that I trip and break something, since this would really piss me off if I broke an arm or leg and have to deal with that on top of everything else.

Anyhow, more on the personal side, Carmen and I cultivate the patch in the front yard last Saturday and she planted a few ferns along the front of the house. She also did more work on the flower garden area yesterday and is planning on planting some flower and I think vegtables when the weather stays warm enough for them to be planted.

Cleveland Clinic and Oncology Radialogy Visit

2009-04-17T23:15:00.002-04:00

Weeellll,

It looks like Cleveland Clinic will be getting my visitation on 27 April 2009. SO, it will be a day of unknown exams and consultations with unknown number of Doctors. Good thing that I have taken the day off from work and I'm getting paid for it to boot :) My Chemotherapy Treatments have stopped at this point and I am a little concerned with this, but trust Dr. Schaefer's expertise here.

I saw that Physician Assistance at the Oncology Radiology Office and I saw the last PET Scan and she agreed with the report and it seems that the largest lesion grew just 2 cm from 2.2cm to 4.2cm. This lesion (nodule) is located in the righ lung base posterdoermedialy. I will be making backup copies of, in case they get "misplaced" by any medical personnel and all I have to do it bring up the copies and burn them again. Yes, I know to err is human, to really mess things up using a computer adds to the problem, LOL.

Diarrhea is still on my mind, since I've been dealing with this a little more in the past weeks. Usually, I get a loose stool and it clears up, but lately it has been diarrhea, which I've been able to control with the combination of Paregoric and Imodium Tablets; plus watching what I eat seems to be helping out. Up until today I've been doing pretty good, but of coarse I've had a re-occurrence and now I'm wondering what the heck is causing this to happen, I'm not going to buy into the line of diagnosis that it is viral, since this is not be the root of this tonight. Monitoring myself and the progress of the diarrhea will help me to overcome the problem and get it under control again.

Well, I'm getting tired and I've provided a lot of information already for everyone to digest, so I'll end this here and see what happens in the coming days and weeks.

PET Scan, Chemotherapy and Cleveland Clinic

2009-04-10T17:22:00.002-04:00

Ok, so I've taken the last week or so off from here. I decided a little vacation would be good for me to get may writing skills a rest for a little bit.

Yesterday, I had another PET Scan to follow up on the Chemotherapy. While I was there I asked the Technician when the last PET Scan was and she said that I had the last one in November 2008, so this one was about do. While I was there I decided to step into the Chemotherapist's Office to see about talking with Dr. Schaefer or the Nurse Practioner, since I've been battling diarrhea this week and my appointment to see Dr. Schafer wasn't until next week. Well, fortune smiled and I was able to get in today and I took the appointment.

Well, I saw Doc Schaefer this morning and he had the results of the PET Scan and they turn out to be worse then I had expected. Seems that teh Lesions in my Lungs are not responding too well to the Chemotherapy and since I've been disagnosised as positve for the Kras Gene, which will not respond well to Eurbatux treatment, Doc Schaefer is at a cross road here and has scheduled and appointment for me to see Dr. Rober Pelley, at the Cleveland Clinic, to get his opinion on what treatment would work best for me. I see Dr. Pelley on April 27th at 10am and see what he has to say about this whole shabang!!!

My spirits have been positive all along and I also have an appointment to see the Physician Assistant from Dr. Rubin's Office, the Oncology Radiaologist, to see what they have to say about the PET Scan results, since I want to see what they have to say. Do they agree or disagree? Can they offer possible treatment plans? This is to be seen next week. More to come on this later.

In the meantime Easter is upon us again and plans have been kicked into High Gear to prep for Dinner on Sunday and since I have to work, dinner will be consumed after I get home. We have the Ham, Potatoes and Dinner Rolls under control for the main course, but I am not sure what Carmen has in store for Desert, but I know whatever she comes up with will be greatly approeciated and consumed with smiles on everyones face. :)

For now I end this and wait for the coming week to play itself out and see what happens. Hope that everyone's Easter is enjoyable and carried out in the tradition that we each know well. Cheers! Tim

Vacation Week and Chemotherapy

2009-03-19T16:21:00.003-04:00

Well I can see that it has been a while since I've wrote anything here. I guess this is what happens when I start to get caught up in Work and Personal Life adventures.
First of all, I took this week off for Vacation form Work, since I've been feeling a little stressed about things at work and how backwards they are at doing a lot of things. I will not digress and feed that beast, since it will only lead to tings being said that shouldn't be said online. If you want to know more, then email me in private and I'll discuss it with you.
I saw the Radiation Physician Assistance on Wednesday and she was just full of good news, she said that they have received the PET and CT Scan information and everything looks really good. So, I'm going back in September to see the Radiologist and P.A. for the 1 year check up. Today was my usual Chemo Day and afterwards I decided to go to the Main Library Branch Downtown and picked up a few New Age Audio Cd's and a Science-Fiction Book. The title is Foundation and Chaos, by Greb Bear, it the Authorised Second Foundation Series Book. I am looking forward to reading it, since I have read the entire Foundation Series a couple of Times and enjoyed it tremendously.
I'm looking forward to the warm weather coming back around, since I can start to get outside a little more and work around the house and get the yard cleaned up. Carmen wants to plant some flowers in the Front on the side of front steps, so I'll assist with that also if we get any flower bulbs to plant.
Well, I guess that is about all for now. I'll write more in the coming weeks.

Vacation from Chemotherapy and Life

2009-02-18T17:19:00.003-05:00

Well, this is the 1st week of my 2 week vacation from Chemo and I've been doing some thinking about what has been happening lately in my life and I've found myself at the cross-roads of a conundrum.
This started last week while I was going through my cycle of getting up, going to work, coming home and sleeping a tremendous amount of time on Monday and Tuesday, then come Wednesday I felt like Rip Van Winkle and out of place. The akwardness slowly wore off as I tried to accomplish a few things around the house and such, but it still hung around like a new friend bugging the crap out of me. Finally, on Thursday I went to my last weekly treatment then came home and while I was on the laptop, Carmen informed me that the Car had been hooked up to a Tow Truck, YES!!! The Damn Car was repossessed by the Bank, which I was getting ready to call. So, now I have to play their stupid little game and wait for them to tell me what it will take to get the car back. Not a happy afternoon for me.
On Friday, I picked up a rental car, which I really didn't want to do; but I needed a ride to work and Carmen needed to run a few errands. I would've called my Eldest Sister, but she is busy with my Mom who just had surgery on her Right Hip. Mom is doing well and is recovering nicely, she is due to be released from the Hospital this weekend.
This week, I've been getting up going to work and coming home and thinking deeply about the things that have happened to me. I've found more questions then answers and still I am not sure I am heading in the right direction at this point. I plan on going to my Credit Union on Thursday to see about refinancing the Car Loan, which I'm personally not lookking forward to any rejection. Filing for Bankruptcy is the last thing I want to do, but if I have to will do so.
I have found myself questioning my personal life a little more and whether I should continue down the road with some uncertainity of just stop and take stock in what I have at hand. This is undecided as of now, but I know I must do some thing soon. The relationship that I have developed with Carmen is not questioned, it is stable and seems to be the one thing that I can count on at this time. This is the thing that is keeping me going at this time and I know Carmen is a strong woman and even though she is dealing with a lot on her personal plate, she is doing quite well.
I saw the Nurse Practioner this afternoon who said that I look good and seem to be doing quite well for everything that I've gone through so far. So, at least someone thinks I'm fine. Well enough with this, I've wasted some more your time with reading this. Thanks for stoppping by and we'll leave the light for y'all.

Chemotherapy - Week 2 Round 8

2009-02-01T12:23:00.003-05:00

OK, so the 2nd week has been uneventful in the Chemo Treatment Department and the after effects so far have been minimal. Only difference that I've seen is I've not been constipated on Friday and I started having solid bowel movements, so I monitored it and when i got back from Dinner it started to go to a looser stool then normal, so I took a teaspoon of Paregoric and that settled everything down. Friday afternoon was hectic to say the least with me having a CT Scan of my lower abdomen, so the Urologist can see what is happening there, then went to Dinner with my Mom and Older Sister, Grocery Store after wards then home.
Saturday I was able to sleep in and did some work around the house on getting a computer setup more and completing it, but since Ian, my son was not allowed to be on it right away; because he uttered the F-Word in school when the Teacher asked him what was wrong. It turns out that he had a headache and he blurted out "F*&k, I've got a Headache" which got him into detention for 2 days. I of course counselled him on not using that word in school and instructed him to say other words, such as Darn or Shoot. I should have the PC completely back to Factory with the Antivirus/Firewall and his game installed on it.
Carmen of course was concerned that I was upset with her for not having a job and I had to reassure her that I was not and that I had got a chill while in the basement looking at Ian's Computer and that was why I was laying down and I wasn't that hungry. She took Noah, Mitch and Noah's Girlfriend and her brother to the Mall to hang out and came back home. When she came into the bedroom, she crawled into bed with me and we cuddled and watched Burn After Reading, which was an off beat comedy starring George Clooney,Frances McDormand, John Malkovich and Brad Pitt and host of others. She went and picked up the Kids from the Mall and brought Mitch back to the House and he was wired on a Chocolate Explosion Latte, so it was fun watchng him bouncing around.
Well, my taxes have been filed and I'm waiting to get the refunds, so I can pay on some bills and get them under control a little more. Work will be the usual of never ending customers calling in to complain and get educated on saef browsing, antivirus and spyware removal.

1 Week Until Chemotherapy Starts Again

2009-01-14T11:57:00.004-05:00

Ok! I saw Dr. Schaefer last Friday and he is concerned that I am building up a toxicity to treatment, so he advised that I will see the Nurse Practitioner for this round. He explained with me having uncontrollable diarrhea after the one treatment that was a result of low Potassium that he wants to keep an eye on me. he also gave me an Rx for peragoric to use, but I've been fortunate to still control it with the Immodium daily.
In other news, the KRas test came back Positive, which means I would not respond well to the one treatment drug Erbitux, which as it turns out has the bad side-effect of causing a Rash over the entire Body. So now, I don't have to worry about this Drug being used on me and I can still look forward to the usual treatment of drugs. You know, Avastin, Leucavorin, Compustor and 5FU with the Aeoxi, Dexadron and Atropine. With the Leucavorin, there seems to some problems with the 2 Pharmacons who produce it, and there is no supply available, so this will not be included in this round of treatment. The alternative is a pill form of Leucavorin, which comes in a 2.5mg Tablet and requires me to take a whole more then needed and the other alternative IV Drug is usually not covered by all the Insurance Companies.
The CT Scan results showed that the Chest was stable, so I am satisfied that the treatment is working to get rid of the Lesions, a little slower then I would prefer, but it's working.
So, this week I'll take the break and get some personal thihngs taken care of and get caught on things that I've left unattended since before the New Year.

OK! So it's been a while since the Last Update.

2009-01-08T14:59:00.002-05:00

OK!, the last update was on December 18th, since then this is what has expired, I mean happened.

It's after modnight on December 21st and we get a call from Mitch, saying that he is stranded in Chicago and that Megabus and Greyhound has stopped all Buses out of the City for the Night and the next Train out wouldn't be until 11:55p on Sunday. So, we made the decision for me to call off work, then Carmen and I made the trip to Chicago. After picking up some Gatorade and Gas, we hit the road. The funny thing was when we was getting on the Turnpike a Megabus was exiting, so we knew that at least some people made it East. The Weather forecast was for plummeting temperatures, since the Artic Clipper was moving thorugh; so we knew that it would be an adventure.

On the Turnpike the last Oasis, was a bear with the bitter cold wind ripping through you like a knife and pumpng petrol was even more challenging. Arriving in Chicago at 6:30a Mitch is calling us to say that he has been kicked out of Union Station and wanted to know where we are. I told him that we had just exited the motorway and was coming to pick him up. Approximately 2 minutes later we was outside Union Station's Canal Street Entrance, picking up Mitch. The drive home wasn't much better, since by now there was White out conditions in portions of Indiana on the Turnpike, so we had a nice nerve racking drive home. We arrived around 11am and I proceeded to call into work to let them know I was all right and that I would be in on Monday. Laying down to sleep, felt good after the round trip adventure to Chicago land and back...

On December 23 I came home from with Carmen in Bed Sick with the Flu, I walk into the Bedroom and run the back of my hand down hear cheek and ask how's she doing and she comments:

Carmen: Since I have vomited and having diarrhea I'm feeling a little better.
Me: OK, I'll leave you alone to get some rest.

I leave and come out into the Kitchen and open up a can of Beef Vegetable Soup, since I really wasn't that hungry. After eating the soup and getting caught up on emails, I decided to go to bed myself; since I wasn't feeling good. This had to be around 7:30-ish and by 9 I was vomiting myself. YES!! the darn Flu struck me and I had the Freaking Shot Too!!! (Note to self, consult Dr. Steve on this).

I wake up at 4:15am on Christmas Eve and still feel like a Beer Truck has run me over and proceed to call off. I sleep all day and wake up to find Carmen still suffering from the side-effects but doing a little better then me. I rest the for what is left of day and eat a little. We also called off a Party that we where suppose to attend, since we were still under the weather.

Christmas Day, I wake up, feeling a little better. Instead of going over to my Sister's House, which we didn't know about until later, we decided to have Steaks for dinner with Mitch. Noah was in South Milwaukee, Wi with Dad, so it was only the 3 of us here at the house. We took it easy and opened up Christmas Gifts that was wonderful. I got a pair of Charcoal Grey Sweat Pants and a Shirt from Carmen's Parents. Carmen got a Snugglie, which is good if your sitting in a high back chair or on a Sofa. Mitch got money and a Card. Christmas was quite, it felt good.

I had my Chemo treatment on Friday December 26, which went off without any problems. I came home and proceeded to relax. On Saturday December 27, I picked up my Son Ian, and the 4 of us went to Monroe, Mi and proceeded to do some shopping/sight seeing. I called a friend of mine, Jan, to see if he would be interested in meeting up with us for a light lunch and they were busy at the time, but said he would call me later to let me know for sure. After making the rounds of Staples, Dean and Berrys, then Crafts 2000. I got the call from my friend, Jan, who said that he and his wife was free and asked if we wanted to hook up and get a bite to eat. So we did. It was great to see them both, especially since, Charolette had been going through pre-operative chemotherapy and was waiting for her Lumpectomy Surgery on December 29th. Afterwards, Mitch asked if we could stop at Walmart, so he could look for a few things. So, we went to Walmart and shopped. While there the diarreha that I was experiencing started to get worse, so I picked up some Immodium Tablets and took like 6 of them; since this usually stops it within an hour.

Well, needless to say this didn't and by 10:30p after downing 6 more Immodiums and a Banna, I was calling the after hours number for the Chemotherapist. Dr. Burton called me back and advised me to go to Hospital to make sure that my Electrolites had been thrown out of wack. So, off to the Emergency Room Carmen and I went. After, having a litre of Water pumped into me and lab tests run, the Nurse came in and announced that I had low Potasim levels and gave me 4 Tablets of Potasim and signed me out. I came home, it was around 3a, called off work again and slept until 3p on Sunday. The irony of this was that I had a Doctor's Excuse to return back to work on Sunday for being off on Christmas Eve, then I had to call off on Sunday (Doctor's Excuse in hand from the Hospital) I wen back to work on Monday.

On Wednesday December 31st, I left work at 3p, since I had an appointment for a CT Scan to be done. MMMMMMMMM, the Orangey goodness of the Redi-Cat, how I forgot how good it was, LOL... I got the scan and was out of the office and homeward bound. I wake up on Friday and I have a big black and blue mark on the back of my that had the IV in it when I had the CT SCan done, I went to my Chemotherapy Treatment mention it to the Nurse and come home. Finally, after a week I have no mark on my hand, YAY!!! I am also happy to report no uncontrollable diarreha either, just some minor diarreha which I'm controlling with the Immodium.

Tomorrow, Friday, I go to see Dr. Schaefer to see what he says about the CT Scan get the word on my leison's in my lung. So, I'm kind of optimistic and aprehensive about this. I will update more on this after the appointment.

Just a Reminder

2008-12-18T19:44:00.000-05:00

We all tend to forget how mundane things are done without questioning, until we have to rely upon others for assistance. Cancer is the the Greatest Force for evening any crowded playing field or Office Environment.
Cancer Survivors, tend to resume their "normal" lives again, remembering that we're not those Super Heroes, who don't have a care in the world. Cancer teaches us that no matter what People are just as vulnerable to diseases like everyone else in the World; no matter if you live in the Suburbs or in the Poorest Neighborhood. Cancer has no boundaries, whether they are social, economic, etc...
We still survive and go on with our lives, taking a little more time to remember that vulnerabilities exist and that we have survived one trial and we can overcome more as they arrive at our door steps.

Chemotherapy and CT Scans

2008-12-18T19:02:00.003-05:00

Well, I took last week off, since I was busy dealing with the usual post-chemo stomach churn and other personal things.

This week I was called on Wednesday and had the Therapy appointment moved to 9:15a from 8a, which really didn't bother me too much, since it was only a 2 1/2 hour treatment today. Last week the treatment was pushed back to 11a from 8a and I didn't get into the treatment room until 11:50a last week, this week however I was a little more fortunate and was in at 9:17a. I stopped in the Radiology Dept at the Clinic, since they called to setup an appointment for the CT Scan, which I have on 12/31 at 4p, so that I can got to work and take off after wards. Yes, they gave me the milky white chalk flavoured Prep and the Radiologist mentined that it was Pina Colda flavoured and not that nasty Orange flavour, like the previous preps had been. So, I'll wait to see how bad it tastes and go from there with it. I am suppose to drink the whole bottle down at 1p on Wednesday and not drink anything after wards until after the Scan is completed.

This weekend, on a personal note, we get rid of one child and receive another later in the day. It's looking a lot like Christmas around here with the Snow and Winter Weather Advisory for tonight. I am reminded that this is the first year since the Surgery that I am having to deal with the Cold and Snowy Weather a little more then I've had to. The Neropathy in my hands and feet gets worse with the cold weather and I have to put up relying upon others to open the Plastic Zip Top Storage and Trash Bags for me. Carmen is good about excepting this as being a fact of my life now and so does Noah; to a certain extent, otherwise he'll make a sarcastic remarks about it and I let them slide.

Well, for now I'm starting to get excited about only 2 more Chemo Treatments and the CT Scan coming up, then I see Dr. Schaefer on 1/9 at 8a and I'm going to call the Radiology Dr, Dr. Rubin's Office and let them know that I'm having the CT Scan done and make sure they're on the look out for the Scan Results.

Happy Holidays, y'all!

1 Year Ago Today.....

2008-12-04T20:25:00.002-05:00

1 year ago today I had the Surgery to remove a majority of my Rectum and have the Colonscopy Appliance installed. Well..tweleve months later I have come to understand and live with the Appliance being attached to my left side 24/7. Changing it at first was really frustrated until Carmen called her Dad, who has had his Appliance for a lot longer then me, and she asked him the question; How Do You Keep the Wafer attached? He proceeded to explain that he uses a hairdryer to heat up the wax ring on the back of the wafer and the Stomahesive Paste and this has worked for me too.

I went to see my Family Doctor, Dr. Steve, today for a 3 month check up and he said that I really looked good and he changed my Rx for my Arthiritis in my Left Hip, since in January the Health Care Insurance I have changes and part of this change is the Drugs are covered better if they are Generic, so I was able tot get the Rx, changed. Then he said he wants to see me in 4 months and also wants me to have a 8-12 hour Fasting Blood Test comlpeted before I come back to see him, he suggested that I get it done a week before I come back to see him. Also, I got my Flu Shot today while I was there and got that out of the way for the season. Yeah! I know I was procrastinating on getting it done as I always do and figured it would be best to get it done today.

My Mom and Eldest Sister came over today and dropped off some Precut Cookies, frosting and Sprinkles for Christmas, well I found out later that my Eldest Sister tried dropping them on my 3rd Eldest Sister earlier this week and my 3rd Eldest Sister told our Eldest that she had not enough rooom in her freezer to store them and she wasn't going to spend the entire day on Saturday Baking the Cookies. So now, the fun part comes, with me going to tell my Eldest Sister that if she wants the Cookies Baked, then she is comng over to assist in putting the Frosting and Sprinkles on them. I will not be the one doing this alone, nor will I ask Carmen to spend her time doing this, since my Sister wants it done. (Background Info: My Eldest Sister has dumped the Cookie making onto our 3rd Eldest Sister for a number of years now. Our 3rd Eldest Sister is now living in an Apartment, which has a small Kitchen to it, so this is the reason why my Sister dropped the Cookies here).

Mom and my Eldest Sister also dropped off 2 pair of Jeans, which was too short, for my B-Day coming up on Sunday, and after I tried on the one pair to prove to them that they would be too short, my Mom wasn't surprised and said "we can just return them" So, my Eldest Sister proceeded to say that we could take them back this afternoon, since I had nothing to do. Which was not too far from the facts, but I was waiting around for a Friend of Carmen's Husband to show up, he was suppose to pick up a couple of folding tables that we have, but he didn't show up today, may be Friday. :(

Ended up going to Walmart and returning the Jeans, looked for another couple of pairs, which they didn't have in the right length, on the way Home my Eldest Sister and had a conversation about going to Dinner it went something like this:

Eldest Sister: Would Ian, my son, would be interested in going out to Dinner on Friday?
Me: Why?
Eldest Sister: Becuase I was going to take you out for Dinner, for your Birthday!
Mom: Why are you worried about going out to Dinner for?
Eldest Sister: I figured that we could go out and celebrate Tim's Birthday.
Mom: I am suppose to be going out for my birthday with your 2nd Eldest Sister on Friday!
[Mom's Birthday was November 14th and my 2nd Eldest Sister had not had a chance to take Mom out.]
Eldest Sister: Then I what am I suppose to do for Dinner?
Me: Why don't we all go downtown to Speghitti Warehouse and Celebrate both Mom and I's Birthday's together?
Eldest Sister: I'm not sure, I'll have to call our Sister and find out what she's doing?

So as you can see the conversation pretty much ended with no resolution to my last question. It will be interesting to see what happens Firday afternoon and how this will play out for sure. I will be sure to update this little saga here to let everyone know what did or didn't happen.

Thanksgiving & Other Random Thoughts

2008-11-28T08:32:00.004-05:00

Thanksgiving was a little stressful with the Family coming over and eating. Carmen had asked each of them to write down on piece of paper what they where Thankful for and of course, my eldest sister turned up heer nose at the idea and my 2nd and 3rd eldest sisters seemed not to hear Carmen ask them, so needless to say this idea bombed. Dinner was held off until about 2:30p, since my 3rd eldest sister was tracking down my nephew and was running late. Once we started it went pretty quick.
The Menu consisted of:
Turkey and Stuffing
Ham with Pineapple slices on Top
Dinner Rolls
Yams
Mashed Taters
Homemade Gravy from the Turkey Broth
Cranberry Sauce - Which I forgot in the refrigerator and Carmen found it when we was cleaning up. :(
Desert was:
Apple Pie
Pecan Pie
Pumpkin Pie
Ice Cream or Whipped Cream was also available.

Needless to say the turkey was ate up pretty quickly and we still have a good part of the Ham left, no worry there since we can heat it up again with a little brown sugar and have it for dinner again, plus we can find other recipes for the ham to be used with.

What I am Thankful For are:
1.) The Love and Support of Carmen over this past year.
2.) Being healthy and recovering from Cancer
3.) The Support of my Family and Friends during the past year.
4.) Being able to Work through the Chemotherapy and not have many side-effects from it
5.) The Best team of Doctors to support me and answer my questions.
6.) Moving into a little bigger House and have to pay more rent, LOL
7.) Renewing Old Friendships and meeting New Friends along the way.

Funny thing from yesterday was when I would start to alk about my Cancer and the Treatment, Noah and my Nephew Brian would leave the room, later Noah mentioned that he didn't want to hear about it and I told him that he should be concerned since he could develope Cancer in his lifetime and Carmen told him that cancer runs in the family. I thought it was interesting that Naoh doesn't want to hear about it, but doesn't surprise me, since he is more concerned with Skateboarding and High School.

Two Weeks Vacation from Chemotherapy, YAY!!

2008-11-21T17:16:00.004-05:00

Yesterday was my last treatment for 2 weeks, then I go back for another 4 weeks, then a PET Scan. This week, I also got details updated on the new Insurance Plans that my Company is offering that take effect in January 2009, let's just say I was confused on which of the 3 I should go with, but ends up I'm going with option#3; since it is the closest to what I have now. The Company that I work for has paid for all of our Insurance and up until now was something that nobody really thought much about, then the announcement came in email of the change in plans coming. Of course the usual rumour mill started and the packet of information was passed out to everyone, with the stern warning not to show our information packet to the Part-Time Employees, who it turns out was offered just 1 plan and nothing else. The times are changing and this is another example of a Company with multiple divisions consolidating their Health Care Plans into one.
I am still concerned about the change and how it will effect my supplies that I have not to worry about paying for, and weather or not I will be paying for anything. My biggest concern is whether or not the PET Scans will continue to be covered 100% or if I will be stuck paying for a percentage of them. I will get that email on Sunday when I go back to work, since I was not called today from the Benefits Coordinator from Work, so I wait a little longer for the answers I seek on this.
Otherwise, Holiday preparations are under way here with the Dining Table moved to the opposite side of the room, closest to the Electrical Outlet, so that no cords are stretched across the room for someone to pull on. Tomorrow I'll be moving some stuff into the basement to get the Living Room cleared out and ready for the Tables to be setup on Thursday.

Week 3 Chemo and Doctor Visitation

2008-11-04T08:46:00.003-05:00

Well last week was the 3rd week of treatment and I visited with Dr Schaefer. He was a little disappointed that the KRAS results where not available and would be delayed until this week, he told me that he was mainly interested in finding out if there was any mutations, so that he could adjsut the treatment if he needed to. Dr. Schaefer did tell me that he wanted to give me 10 weeks of treatment with 2 weeks off from them. So, I've decided to take Thanksgiving off and another undisclosed week, yet to be named, LOL.
Week 4 has been pretty normal with Halloween over and Day Light Savings Time, now active, I'm getting use to the lost hour and going about my scheduled day. Thursday is my next treatment and we'll see what happens, since I was not given my November schedule. As you seen in my earlier post, my day started off pretty "normal", but then again what is normal anymore? I've noticed after last weeks treatment that I'm experiencing Chemo Brain a little more. Chemo Brain is where you loose your train of thought and stop talking and just zone out for a few seconds. Carmen and I was out running some errands and was hit with Chemo Brain. I'll discuss this with the Nurses this week to see what they have to say about it.

Morning Songs and Waking up Early

2008-11-04T06:31:00.003-05:00

OK, so this morning I woke up at 4a, yeah it's bloody early I know, but when your work schedule calls for you to be there at 6am, then you don't complain. Normally, I'm waking up at 4:15a and hitting the floor about 10 minutes later. I went to the loo and used it and all of sudden I got the Rolling Stones Song "Play With Fire" running through my head. Not the whole song, but the part that goes like this "So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire", so I figured I would look up the entire lyrics and refresh my wetware on the song.

So, below are the lyrics in their glory.....

Well, you've got your diamonds and
you've got your pretty clothes
And the chauffeur drives your car
You let everybody know
But don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Your mother she's an heiress, owns a block in Saint John's Wood
And your father'd be there with her
If he only could
But don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Your old man took her diamond's and tiaras by the score
Now she gets her kicks in Stepney
Not in Knightsbridge anymore
So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Now you've got some diamonds and you will have some others
But you'd better watch your step, girl
Or start living with your mother
So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire
So don't play with me, 'cause you're playing with fire

Week 2 Round ?? of Chemo

2008-10-26T15:00:00.002-04:00

Well week 2 went pretty well, with the Treatment only lasting 2.5 hours. I slept through most of it and woke up as the Nurse was removing the Needle from my Port. My Stomach was upset, but not as bad as it had been. This week I see Dr. Schaefer on Wednesday afternoon, then treatment on Thursday morning. This week's treatment will be 3 hours long, since I'll be getting the Avastin, which usually upsets my stomach to the point that it feels like I'm in a spin cycle.
While getting treated last week, another patient had just received her Port and the Nurse was instructing her on caring for it and making that the patient didn't pull the steri-strips off the incision and to let them fall off. The Nurse was going through the do's and don'ts when I chimed in that the first time the needle is inserted to the port that the patient will be a little more sensitive to it, but after that the skin will start to toughen up. The Nurse told me to stop imtimafating the patients and I responded back that I was making sure that there was truth in advertising and we all had a lauugh at that.

Chemotherapy Round 7, Not sure anymore Lost Track a While Ago!!!

2008-10-17T22:39:00.004-04:00

OK, so I started Chemo again and this time I have totally forgotten how many treatments that I've had....Must be the Chemo Brain Syndrome I've heard about. Julie the Nurse, asked me "Tim, What are you doing back here again?" Me: "I've come back just to see your smiling face, LOL" Julie: Well lets get going then." and turns and starts walking me back to treatment room. On the way back I poke fun at one of the Nurses at the Nurses Station and continue into the Treatment Room. I grab my usual Lounger in the Corner and place my book bag and jacket on the floor, then sit down and wait for Julie to come back with her kit of Alcohol Pads, Port Needles, Blood Vials for the Lab and assorted other stuff. Julie and I get talking about the treatment and she says that it'll be another 8 weeks and will be there as usual between 2 1/2 and 3 1/2 hours depending on whether or not I'm getting the Avastin that week.
I fell asleep while getting my treatment woke up to the room being filled with more people then before. A couple of the Patients I recognised from being there before and few I didn't, but I didn't let this bother me, since I was the "Youngster on the Block" and was getting the usual side-ways glances from the Older Patients. At first, when I was going through the Pre-operative Chemo, it sorta bothered me, I felt like I was different from there rest; then I remembered Dr. Schaefer telling that I was the youngest patient that he had in Treatment at that time. Now, I'm feeling at home, which seems odd that I would ahve this feeling for a place that deals with pumping the Human Body full of Chemicals that are caustic to anyone else, to kill off cells and tumors to help me get better. An old friend of mine from LaSalle, Mi, once told me that this was what made Cancer so screwed up, the Chemotherapy and the Chemicals used. At the time I didn't quite understand what he was saying, but now that I'm going through the process, it sorta makes weird sense. I spoke with one of the other Patients wife the last treatment that I had, and found out that he was 50 and has Uretha Cancer, which is pretty scary in itself, but while talking to her I found out that he was going through some of the problems I was with deciding to cut my hair short or not. In the end I've been wearing it short and keeping that way with little to no evidence of hair lost. I encouraged her to speak to heer husband about cutting a little shorter to help him overcome the shock of loosing his hair in clumps, she advised that when they got married that his hair was down to his waist and he just recently had cut to collar length. I thought that was a brave move on his part. I had to leave aburptly, since Carmen had drove me there and wanted to go shopping aftewards and I felt sorta bad that I didn't give her my phone number for her husband to call me and chat if he wanted too, so the next time I see them I'll do that and see how it works out.
I also realised this past week that a year ago October 3rd, I was placed on Medical Disability, since my FMLA hours had run out and I was looking to getting off for few months, so once I had that thought come through my Brain, I thought how fortunate I am that I've not had to go back onto Disability, since I would be getting only 60% of my Gross Pay Weekly, LOL. I guess that I'm getting use to having a full pay check and not really liking the thought. I've not heard from Dr. Rubin, the Radialogy Specialist, so I'll call him this week and see what they say about the latest PET Scan results compared to the others, more on this when I hear something.

Chemotherapy and PET Scans

2008-10-10T19:10:00.003-04:00

Ok, I had the 7th or so bloody PET Scan done yesterday and I was radioactive for 24 hours and carried the card like any good member of Society would. I saw Dr. Schaefer, the Chemotherapist Onocology Doc, this morning and we went over the results. Drum Roll Please.......OK, the Good News is 1 nodal in my lungs has reduced in size from 2.5Cm to 2Cm. So the game plan is to continue on while waiting for the K-RAS test results come in from the Tumor they removed back in December. I guess they store it in parafin and keep for a while in case any further tests need to be run. So, now I wait for the test results to see how the Chemo Treatments will be adjusted.
Moving News!!! We are done as of September 30th and have been moved into the new house since. Carmen has started making Curtains for the house and has completed the Dinning Room and is planning on doing Noah's room next. My area in the Basement for the Computers is starting to slowly take shape and I'm looking forward to getting the my stuff from My Mom's that I've had stored since my divorce in 1999.
Wellness and happiness still prevail here and I am looking forward to being able to finally settle in and get somethings done that I want to correct.

Chemotherapy Ends this Week, YAY!!!!

2008-09-30T09:48:00.001-04:00

Well, chemo will be ending this week and I am apprehensive about leaving and having the PET Scan done then having Dr. Schaefer tell me that I have to continue with more Chemo. I am taking this ending with stride and trying not to worry about it and concentrate on getting the house in order and my computer systems set up in the basement.
So for now I plan on getting the last treatment, then seeing Dr. Schaefer on Oct 10th and seeing what he has to say about the course of action and game plan is.

Chemotherapy is alomst over.

2008-09-23T20:20:00.003-04:00

Well, I looked on the Schedule and realised that I have only 2 weeks left of Treatments, then on Oct 10th, I see Dr Schaefer, my Chemotherapist, and see what he plans on doing next. I suppose the next logical thing would be to have another PET Scan done and guage the size of the Nodals from there.
But, the one thing that I've learned is that logic does not play on the Cancer Team, so I will have to wait and see what happens. In the mean time, Carm and I are packing up our belongings and heading to a new House. We lucked out and found a house that is right around the corner from where we are now and it was for Rent. We called and walked through it and a couple days later, the Landlord put up a For Sale Sign in the Yard along with the For Rent sign. Carm called about this and asked if he would be interested in doing a Rent to Own option, and the answer was "YES!!" the landlord explained the situation on the Rent to Own option being this:
!.) $100 of the monthly rent would be set aside in an escrow account.
2.) 2 years, October 2010, we would be given the Escrow.
3.) We buy the House
Simple as 1,2, 3.....So we borrowed some money and prepaid for September, which was pro-rated, and started packing up. The plan is to be moved out by Oct 1st and into the New House, so far we have been using a couple of boxes, but today while I was at work I mentioned this to a co-worker and she was able to get some boxes set aside for me. So, after work I picked up about 3 dozen boxes and broguht them home. Now, we've got more boxes to pack up and move our stuff over to the House with, YAY!!!!
I cannot wait to get moved and settled into the New House, since it will allow us to work towards owning our own house and keep Noah in the local school district that he has friends in also. Well, I must be going to get some more boxes taped up and ready to be filled. Thursday will be fun with the Chemotherapy and packing.

Chemotherapy and General Life

2008-09-14T08:33:00.002-04:00

Well, on thursday I went for the weekly Chemo treatment only to have the nurse ask,
"Did the Doctor say anything about stopping for a week and giving you a break?"
Me: "No, he mentioned that he wanted this round treatments to be for a straight 8 weeks, why?"
Nurse: "Well, the order is written Same as before, for 8 weeks! I am concerned since the previous order was written that you had 4 treatments, then 2 weeks off, then came back for 2 more."
Me: "I understood it to be a straight 8 weeks and no breaks."
Nurse: "Let me confirm with the Doctor to make sure that is what he wants, since you had the break the last time."
She walks away and calls the other Office and comes back to take care of another patient who is there to get treatment. approx 20 minutes later the Nurse comes up to me and asks.
Nurse: "Are you experiencing any heavy fatigue or uncontrollable diarrhea?"
Me: "What do you mean by Heavy Fatigue? Sure, I am tired when I get home from working 10 hours a day for 4 days in a row, but I usually fall asleep early and go about my day."
Nurse: "Heavy Fatigue would be like you are tired all the time and feel like you're not getting enough sleep at night! We are concerned since this one of the side-effects of the Comptosar, along with the uncontrollable diarrhea. Seeing how your blood counts are borderline and you seem to be doing really good with the treatment, the Doctor wants to make sure that you're not suffering for the Toxicity build up."
Me:"Well that is good to hear that someone is looking out for this and did not know of the side-effects of the Comptosar."
Nurse:"Well, what we will do then is re-evaluate you each week and if you are suffering from them, then we will not give you treatment that week and let have it off."
Me: Shrugging my shoulders "That is fine with me"
The Nurse walks away and gets things going, since I was already sitting in the Chair with the needle in my Port and ready to go. I forgot to grab the Cell Phone and also forgot to ask the Nurse to call Carmen to let her know of the delay. So needless to say Carmen, came to pick me up and was shocked that the treatment was running longer then the initial 2 hours.

On the home front, Noah went to the Homecoming Football Game Friday night and then to the Dance last night. He was reluctant about going to the Dance, since he thought that it was required that he have a Tux or Suit to wear, but we found out as long as he had a nice pair of dress slacks, shirt and a tie he would be able to go. So, Friday Morning Carmen made sure that he had the money for the Ticket, an made sure that he had his School ID and sent him off to school. Backing up a little, on Wednesday afternoon, Carmen and I looked at another house to rent, it is a 2 bed with full basement, which is dry, and it has Thermal Insulated Windows through out the house and the Landlord said that he had all the walls insulated with the Spray Foam and in the Winter his average heating bill was around $90. No Central Air, but he also said that 2 window AC Units would chill the enire first floor to near sub-zero in a matter of hours. After discussing the things that we found wrong, Kitchen Cabinet Drawers seemed to be dirty looking to Carmen and the Refrig being a little smaller then the one that we have, we've decided to call the Landlord back and tell him that we are interested in renting it. This will give us a house that has the Shower, Full Basement, Garage and a Dining Area, which we don't have now.
More about the house when we've had a chance to talk with the Landlord. Otherwise, everything is going pretty good. Carmen is still looking for work and scrapbooking when she has a chance too. Noah is settling into school and skating after school and on the weekends while the weather is still nice enough.

Chemotherapy, Radiologists and Family Doctor Visits

2008-09-04T19:34:00.003-04:00

OK, went for the weekly Chemo Treatment, I put my headphones on and started listening to the Audiobook Caves of Steel, by Issac Asimonv. I fell asleep during the 2nd chapter, but I wasn't too worried about it though. Visited Dr. Steve again for a followup and of course the Billing System is messed up and would print the HIPPA Verfication form with the Insurance Provider info on it and the nurse was fussing about this and how she couldn't let me back to see the Doc until it was corrected. After 3 tries and putting in my Insurance info success. BP was elevated more, since aI had to deal with the Billing Crap, Dr. Steve took it again and everything was good at 138/82. WWWOOOOOHHHHHHOOOOOO!!!!!
Went to see Dr. Rubin, the Radiology Onocologist and reviewed the PET Scan from July 31st and he agrees with the initial report that the Nodal in my right lung has grown since the June Scan and advised that if I was concerned about it the next thong to do would be to get a CT Scan of my Lungs done and he could look at it and let me know for sure how much it has grown. So, I it looks like I'm going to be getting the CT Scan done and get on a program that best helps me to fight this, since Dr. Rubin advised that the Chemotherapy Drugs can be adjusted again to help fight this, but he was straight about the CT Scan helping him with the prognosis of whether or not I would need Radiation Therapy also. Otherwise I can wait until the next PET Scan and see what comes of it. Dr. Rubin advised also that the 64-slice PET Scan Machine is better for scanning Trauma Patients or seeing the Heart between beats, otherwise it was not a very good machine to use for Cancer. He said that the 16-slice machine is better since it scans slower and is more accurate, so the next scan will be completed on a 16-slicce machine instead.
Emotionally, I am going through the roller-coaster again and trying to determine the best course of action to take and also start looking for another house to rent/lease-to-own and see what we can find so that we can get on with our lives. I've also been thinking about going back to college and getting another degree, but this time in Networking so that I can make myself more marketable, so I'm going to look into this at a local Community College.
On Friday, I see the Eye Doc for my much over do eye exam and see how bad my eyes have changed in the last 13+ months. I know the distance vision has gone to a blur again and my close reading focus is also starting to be affected. We'll see what happens there tomorrow.

Chemotherapy, Radiologists and Family Doctor Visits

2008-08-29T23:42:00.003-04:00

Well, after my Chemo treatment yesterday I came home and ate a light lunch and sat at the computer going through emails and cleaning up some of them. Then I left for the 6-month check up with my Family Doctor Steve and it went quite well. Since my BP was 175/85 at the Chemo Treatment and it was still high at the Visit with Dr. Steve, he decided to put me another BP Med to help with the one I am currently on. So today when I went to the 4 month follow up with the Radiologist, it was only 155/82. Mind you I just taken the BP meds before leaving the house and I drove 20 minutes to Radiologists Office, so the chances of them being completely in my system are slim. Anyhow, I have another appointment with Dr.Steve next Thursday as a follow up and he also wrote an order to have more blood work down for a follow up there. He started asking me questions about how I was feeling and I was just so full of P & V, from the Steroids I was giving during the Chemo, and was joking around with him and I came out and said "I am felling fine and Global Warming should've been addressed 20 years ago!" He started laughing and shaking his head and replied "I think the Chemo is affecting you, or your Crazy!" So I was happy to hear the Family Doctor tell me that I was crazy, so I guess I can take this as my first official conformation on me being crazy, LOL...
I think it was more of Chemo Brain kicking in and making me a little more weirder then my Normal self. I know last night I could not fall asleep right away and Carmen sensed this and we talked a little about our relationship and how I thought it was going. I told her that for everything that we have faced so far we are doing well, even with her being unemployed for a while, we did agree that this has put a bit of strain on things and that if she could find a job it would help out a little more with the fiances.
Today at the Radiologists Office, the Nurse Practitioner checked me over and said how well I looked and was doing great. Carmen and I did express some concern over the last PET Scan results and how the Chemotherapy Doc Schaefer, devaited from the report and said the noidals in my lungs where not the size as reported, since he looked at them while I was there and meassured them to be smaller. The Nurse Practitioner did show us the written report and did comment on the report being a very goos one with no new formations in the lungs or anywhere else and did mention that the initial radiation treatment site was still a little radioactive and that it was shown on the report, but not of any concern. She also mentioned that the office was in the process of getting the PET Scans so that they can look them over and give me a clear picture of what has transpired since May. Carmen and I was able to see the PET Scan from May and went over that one in detail with the Nurse Practitioner and she was really upbeat about what was seen there being good. I have an appointment next Thursday afternoon to see the Radiology Doc Rubin and gets his "official" word on the PET Scan. I feel a little more comfortable knowing that with the clarification I am on my way to being Cancer Free.
Speaking of Cancer Free, what is it with Christina Applegate going on National TV and claiming that she is "Officially Cancer Free" after going through her Breast Cancer Treatments and Surgery? Don't get me wrong I admire a Celebrity who comes forward to admit that they have a disease like any other Normal Human, but to say that she is Cancer Free after just completing the Treatment phase is pretty naive'. She still has to go through the 3-6 month check ups like the rest of us and after 1 year the doctors will start relaxing a little more, but not until she has survived 10 years can she proclaim 100% assured that she is Cancer Free. I know this since my older sister had been diagnosised with Breast Cancer over 11 years ago and she went through all the Therapies and Surgery, then was happy to be able to be around to see her 60th birthday. Enough with this and lets get on with our lives now.
I am finally starting to get crossed eyed from typing this and see that it is after midnight and should have been in bed about an hour ago, but I was wired still from having a old friend stop over and ask my assistance in locating some music for a cousin of his. Needless to say I was able to find the music like he did, but it looks like it will have to be bought off of the Rhapsody website and downloaded and burned to a CD. He admitted that this was a short notice type of attempt, since his cousin was suppose to get with him sooner. Anyhow, we tried and came up wth the same results and he will be handling it frome here, knowing that I will help him out if needs it.

Road Trips and Chemotherapy

2008-08-26T11:07:00.002-04:00

Well we started to head out last week after my Chemo Treatment and everything was going great. We made it through Ohio and just past Elkhart, Ind. I had just taken the CD out of the Deck and was putting it into the Overhead Visor Caddy when it flipped opened and I overcompensated on the curve and ended up in the ditch. Dirt, Grass and Dust flying all over the place.
High Drama over with, the car did not flip over, no major injuries. Minor injuries where: 2 flat tires, a bruised knee and elbow, 1 tow bill for $134 and a night's stay in the local Quality Inn. That is the tally of the situation. needless to day that we did not make it Wisconsin for the Olson Family Reunion and instead opted to return home and relax, until Sunday when Noah came home on the Megabus from Milwaukee.
With damage being minor and our lives safe again. We took stock in the stark realisation that we could have become another Highway Statistic and chages in our immediate lives. I have been thinking about how my Dump Irish Luck kept the situation from getting worse and now it is time to move on with our lives and get things back to as normal as possible with the Chemotherapy and Doctors appointments in between.
This week I see my Family Doctor and the Oncology Radiologist, which will be fun, since I have been diagnosised with lesions on my lungs and the Chemo Treatments are working to stop new occurrances from developing. I see my Family Doctor on Tursday afternoon, with my Chemo Treatment in the morning. Radiologist appointment is on Friday, then more fun next week.

Working through the Spin Cycle Called Chemotherapy

2008-08-17T19:44:00.003-04:00

Well, since I had my treatment on Friday morning, I've been doing pretty lousy with my stomach churning away with excess acid and me chewing on Rolaids and Prilosec OTC, followed by Oyster Crackers before bed last night.
When I awake this morning at 4:15am, I was not much better, so I called off work, slept until around 9a, then got up and ate a small bowl of Cheerios with my usual spot of Tea. Sipping the Tea slowly and not gulping down the first draught helped to settle my stomach a little, then slowly eating breakfest and going through some the emails that I've received in the last 24 hours and emptying out my Junk Mail Folders, these are really great to have; since all you have to do is hightlight the first piece of junk then Ctrl-A, to select all, and then Ctrl-D, to delete, and viola the deleted items folders gets filled up with a few more pieces of trash.
I laid back down and glanced at the local Newspaper and watched the Movie called No Country for Old Men with Tommy Lee Jones, talk about a dark thriller, it was hard to follow the plot-line and how the characters came together in the end was sorta weird too...Perhaps if I find a blog online that explans it better will help me to understand it more.
With my stomach dancing around and me not getting enough sleep last night, really didn't make my day, since I was not looking forawrd to taking off the day like this, but I guess this is part of the right of passage for the Chemo Treatments that I'm going through. Carmen asked me this evening if we should go through with our plans of going to Wisconsin and to her Family Reunioin next weekend and I told her that I'm felling fine, just that my stomach is bouncing around and will do some good to get away for a few days, especially since we have plans to pick up Noah, Carmen's Youngest Son, who is visting with his father for the last couple of weeks. Well, I'm off to do some more work on getting rid of some more emails that I've been putting aside and getting them taken care of. Work is going to be interesting tomorrow, seeing how Monday's always brings the good calls with the Commerical and Residential Customers calling in with their tales of woe.
I end this with this little slice of my Technical Support tid-bit that I've statrted to collect:
Me "What version of Windows do you have installed?"
Customer "Well you the one I bought from your Company!"
Me "I am sorry, but we do not sell Windows!"
Customer says with nervous laugh "Oh, yeah!, I mean I'm not sure which version I have, I think it is Windows 2007"
Me with a slight chuckle "Ok, so you have Windows XP, then?"
Customer "Yes, that's it, Windows 2007 XP!"

Chemotherapy, Blood Tests,Waking Dream Songs and Older Sisters

2008-08-15T14:05:00.004-04:00

So, I started the first of my 8 eight Chemotherapy treatments today. The nurse that I had was one that I really am not thrilled with getting, since she is an older nurse and seems to be scattered brained and tends to forgets things. I asked her about the 25-hydroxyvitamin D Blood Test and whether it had been ordered and she that she would look, upon looking in the orders, it wasn't there and I explained to her that I had discussed this with the doctor the last time I saw him and he was agreeable to having it done this time. She drew the 2 vials of blood as usual, then trotted off to the lab with them. She returns and informed me that I would not have the results of the 25-hydroxyvitamin D Test today since they have to send out for that test to be performed. I said that was fine since I figured that the lab would not be able to preform it at the Clinic.
The nurse asked me if I wanted the results of my blood work, since I like to compare it to the last time, I told her that I did. She said that she would get it to me, then proceeded to administer the treatment of drugs. When she was half through the treatment I asked her if she was going to give atropene, since the last time I was given the compastor, I ended up with abdominal cramps and cold sweats and was told thjat I would be getting the atropine from now on. The nurse said that she would have to check to see what the file said. It struck me as kinda odd that she had not looked prior to starting the second half of the treatment to see if there was any special notes to this. I will be seeing about not getting this nurse again, if she cannot check the notes and make sure that I'm getting the drugs administered that I am. What would've happened with me if I was sleeping when she started the 2nd half of the treatment and I ended up with bad abdominal cramps? A sweet apology and the compustor stopped while she rushed to administer the atropine? I think that I would've been really pissed off about this and had to discuss this with the person in charge and make it known that I wanted this nurse wrote up for this, but fortunately I was awake and asked her about it.
While taking a knap yesterday afternoon I woke up to the Monkees Song Day Dream Believer rolling around inside my head and Carmen coming into tell me that my 2nd oldest Sister called and the two of them getting into a discussion about me and chemotherapy.....Anywhoo, Carmen was upset about a few comments that was said by by Sister. Let's just say that my call back to my Sister didn't go much better, especially when I tried to play peace keeper and tell my Sister that I was staying on Chemotherapy as long as my Insurance paid for it. This is a typical thing with my Sister, whom I love, but there are time when she gets a little overbearing and pisses people off. So I let her go and didn't let her comments bother me, so I told her that I was 1 course away from getting my Concealed Weapons Certificattion and I'll be amazed at the results of how the story will be embellished.

Chemotherapy Continues this Week

2008-08-12T11:54:00.005-04:00

OK, So I've not posted in about a week. Busy with work and hanging out at home. I have been informed that my Chemotherapy appoint for this week is Friday at 8:30a, then I will continue once a week and see what happens. The good news is that no new lesions have formed in my lungs and the 2 nodals in my lungs have not grown, YAY!!!!!
Anywhooo....Carmen has been busy with making Scrapbook Pages and looking up some of her old Recipes, plus getting things ready for the Family Union coming up in a couple of weeks. She has started cleaning Noah's room, since it looked like a trash bin. Typical teenager boys room, clothes on the floor along with other things that have been dropped or torn up. So far the carpet is now visible and I'll be helping her with getting the rest of the room cleaned up and the room painted again, since there is one wall that has the paint peeled off it.
More to follow on this happy trail. :)

Doing the Chemo Dance Again

2008-08-06T07:02:00.000-04:00

It's a slow dance, that is rarely seen by the general public. For those of us who have entered into the secret underground world of Cancer, we know this Dance too well. It starts with a Port being inserted into the Upper Chest, then we go to a clinic and sit anywheres from 2 1/2 to 4 hours a day and have a recipe of Drugs pumped into our bodies, with the hope of the ending being a good result. No Cancer!!, but this is not the case all the time, especially when the cancer decides to metastasize and travel through the body to other areas. Breast Cancer is the most heard about and publicized of the Cancers, heck there is even Races and Walks for Breast Cancer. Don't start labeling me as a Breast Cancer hater, since I have an older sister who went through the Breast Cancer Ordeal 10 plus years ago and is still around to talk about it, when she talks about it, which is not that often.
I have been diagnosised with Rectal Cancer, even though the Surgeon told me that it is technically called Colo-rectal Cancer, but I like to be more specific and let people know that I have been diagnosised with Rectal Cancer, this way they have a better idea of the location and not some vague descriptor of it.
The Chemotherapist debated and even disagreed with the findings of the Report on the most recent Pet Scan that was done last week, the "Official" report notes that the nodals in my Lungs have increased in size to 2.5cm-4cm, up from 1cm-2cm, but when the Doc viewed the scans he comparatively measured the Nodals and he comes up with the size being 1cm, which he says is a good thing that the nodals have not grown. He also noted that there are no new lesions in my lungs, which is another good piece of news.
I'm awaiting the call from the Chemotherapy Nurse to see when they want me to start again and I will make sure that it is scheduled for Thursday or Fridays, since these are my days off and the treatment is only for 2 1/2 hours once a week, which is what I really enjoy. I also see the Oncology Radiologist in a few weeks, so I'll be happy to see what he says about the PET Scan results also.
I'm anxious about starting treatment again, but like I've read ion other blogs online, you have to be grateful for the little advances and not ungrateful for the lost battles. For every piece of good news,is a blessing in itself and being thankful for these small pieces of good news is something to be cherished. So it looks like the Chemo Dance is going. Then in 2 months I'll have another PET Scan done again, then we'll see what happens.
In the mean time life goes on, with working my 10-hour days for 4 days, then getting 3 days off. I will be looking forward to the 2 days off that I'm not getting Chemo and being able to relax and not worry about the treatment.

Post-PET Scan and Chemotherapist Vists

2008-08-05T06:37:00.000-04:00

Well, I had the PET Scan on Thursday afternoon. The San went really well and I liked getting it done at the Toledo Clinic, since the machine is newer and can do a little better job of scanning. I didn't have to put my arms above my head and get my elbows hitting the bottom of the Tube when they moved me in and out. The only down side was that I had the appointment at 1:30p instead of the morning like I usually do these types appointments, so from now on I'll make sure that the PET , MRI Scans, etc... are scheduled for the morning and I don't have to wait for long to get back to my regular schedule.
I go to see the Oncology Chemotherapist this afternoon and I'm sorta apprehensive about this appointment. I know that I will be facing at least 1 or 2 more Chemotherapy Treatment, but I'm concerned with what will happen next; especially after completing Chemotherapy and Radiation Treatments in April of this year, then finding out that I had lesions on my Lungs, that was not there with my last PET Scan in October 2007. I was feeling really proud of myself that I had jumped through 28 Radiation sessions and continuous Chemotherapy. Then getting the news that the Cancer had seemingly metastasized and went into my lungs and formed lesions, this just blew the wind outta my sails and made me feel like I had lost the battle and was slipping backwards, ever so slowly, then my Chemotherapsit came up with the new course of action with me doing 6 weeks of Chemotherapy and taking 2 weeks off between the 4th and 5th treatment, so the PET Scan could be done.
My biggest concern is that I will become the life-timer who spends the rest of my natural life cycle on going between Chemotherapy and Radiation Treatments to combat the disease and end up with no complete solution to the problem. I plan on asking the Chemotherapist about this today, since the last time he mentioned that he would be able to help me and that I didn't have to worry about the end of life cycle. But, i still have this urge to get my things in order, like one friend told me this is the "Pregnant Woman Syndrome", where towards the end of the Pregnancy the woman just wants to get it over with and have the baby and get on with it. I haven't got any type of arrangements set for the final days of my Life Cycle, but I've been sorta pointing this off, since I really don't want to face that right now.
Yes, I have a will which stipulates my wishes for the State of Ohio's Probate System, but it is out dated and was done when I was married about 9 years ago and one lawyer told that I could just add a codicil to it which would update my wishes and let me stipulate who I wished to be the Executor of my Estate and how I wanted my assets distributed in a timely manner. I already have a codicil stipulating that I want to be cremated, since I cannot see the sense behind spending money on a box and a plot to put my body until it decays. If my Executor cannot find a little room on the bookshelf for me then I guess I really not liked that well and they can decide what to do with me.
Anyhow, enough with the depressing stuff and time to concentrate on getting through today and finding out what the Chemotherapist says. I have found some information on the web about the correlation between Vitamin D Deficiency and Cancer and I'm interested in seeing what the Chemotherapist says about this.
Well until the next blog update, I'm ending this here, before I get into the ongoing rant and whine mode, which doesn't do me any good.

PET SCan and Chemotherapy Seesions

2008-07-27T14:09:00.001-04:00

Well, I got the call about the next diagmostoic PET Scan and it is scheduled for this Thursday, July 31st at 1:30pm. The Radiologist went over the list of do's and don'ts the night before and of course the biggest don't is NO CAFFEINE 24 hours before the test, but I can drink all the unflavored Water that I want, yum yum....LOL. I see the Chemo Oncologist on Aug 5th at 4:15 to see if he wants to continue with the Chemo or change course again and go a different direction.
The course change is what I'm hoping for, since I have grown tired of the Chemo, I know it's only been like a month of treatments, for once a week; but I'm tired of getting poked with the needle and having to sit for 2.5 hours while the Chemo Drugs drip through my port. :(
I will go through separation anxiety again, when I have to stop and I will enjoy hearing the words that I don't have to come back again for more treatments. I also see the Radiology Oncologist in August and I'm waiting to see what they have to say about the recent treatments and how I'm doing.
I am also starting to get excited about going to see Carmen's Family and meeting some of her Dad's Sisters and getting to know them a little better. Carmen's Brother Sam and his Fiance' will be there also and it will be great to see them again, after 2 years. I know Carmen is really getting pumped up to drive up and meet some friends in Milwaukee, then driving onto NW Wisconsin. I will enjoy the drive out from Milwaukee to the Humbird/Fairchild, Wi Area. I think initially that we will meet up with Carmen's parents in Farichild and drive from there to the Camp Ground, that her Cousin runs. The driving schedule is leave in the afternoon on August 20th, drive to Milwaukee, spend the night and leave from there on August 21st with Noah in tow and go to the Olson Family Reunion 2008 Edition. The official Reunion is on Saturday August 23rd. We will return to Toledo on August 24th and I will resume my regular work schedule on Monday August 25th.

Blog Direction and Lunch with Firends

2008-07-25T12:19:00.000-04:00

Well, I'm still trying to figure out what direction to go with this whole blog thing. I've started blogs on other sites and I've gotten tired of the sites policies changing or just the way the site was setup and lack of control.
Carmen, my Fiance', has her blog here also and at another site which has made national headlines over the last year or so. She decided to get a way from the other site, because of the BS of the site and How it is nothing more then a High School Popularity Contest and the endless survey's about your love life, your sexual preferences, etc.... After a while, it gets boring and nerve wrenching to have the crap surveys coming through. HELLO!!! Don't people have a life that is more interesting then one endless survey? I guess not.
Trying to arrange lunch with a friend who is taking a half day off work is getting to be a pain in the asrse also, he cannot commit to where to meet him and I get an IM from him saying for me to meet him at his house at 12:45 and if he is late forgive him. It seems he has plans with his Wife to go to an afternoon movie and is trying to sandwich the lunch in between, so Carmen and I made the decision to go to Olive Garden and I just IM's him this and if he isn't there then too bad. Carmen and I will enjoy ourselves and the Soup and Salad Lunch will be fantastic as usual.

Being A Cancer Survivor or Waiting for the Last Shoe to Drop

2008-07-22T06:19:00.000-04:00

The craziness started back in May 2007 when after suffering from what I thought was constipation and hemorrhoid's for a few months, turned out to be a Rectal Tumor, I was being treated by my family doctor who thought I was suffering from the side-effects of Blood Pressure meds, and I was following his advise and eating high fiber diet and even at one point was taking over the counter Fiber, you know the one that the tablets are about the size of Quarter and if they wasn't chewable would be a pain to shallow, ugh!!!!!
Any how, I went to Family Doctor told him that the Fiber Diet just wasn't working and told him that I wanted to see a Gastrointernalogist for the Colonoscopy, which was performed on May 24th, I was already taking Iron Capsules by this time, since the Gastrointestinal said that I looked a little anemic. On May 29th I get the frantic call from the Gastrointernalogist who reported that it looked like I had cancer of an "Abnormality" that he found in my Rectum. So, he scheduled the appoint with the Surgeon.
On Thursday 24 May, I had a CT Scan of my lower Pelvis and on Friday, 25 May, the Surgeon confirmed that I had Cancer of the Rectum and that the Tumor is approx 2 inches in diameter and was ulcerated in the center. The Bad news has not really set in yet, since I've been trying to keep myself busy. I have an appointment with the Radiologists on 1 June 2007, to start a 6 week course of radiation to shrink the Tumor. The Surgeon advised that as of Friday, if he was to remove the Tumor that he wouldn't have any tissue left to try and rebuild with, and he hopes the Radiation will shrink the tumor enough, since it's between a Class 2 and Class 3. The Surgeon said that hopefully the Tumor will shrink enough to a Class 2, and give him between 1 inch to 4 inches of tissue to rebuild with, otherwise I will be faced with a colostomy, but I'll have Life to live out.
Carmen has been a great support of me and I know that she'll be there for me in the future also. I have told my family and they seem to be supportive of me and have said that they'd help me out if I needed.
In June 1st 2007 I saw the Oncology-Radiologist, who was really great and sat down and made suer that I understood what was going to happen and the treatment schedule and that it was going to be 6 weeks and the possible side-effects. The next week I was scheduled to see the Oncology-Chemotherapist, which was good. When I saw him and he examined me, he informs me that he can shrink the tumor and he wanted to postpone the Radiation Treatments, so he quickly exits the exam room, calls the Radialogist and comes back in and informs me that he has setup an agreement between the two of them that Chemotherapy would be done first then I would have Surgery and Post-operative treatments accordingly.
All the while I was bouncing around with the doctor appointments and working, I felt like I had become a machine that was just performing the job. My life was starting to get really errrrrriiiieeeee, getting up in the morning, going to work for 10 hours, coming home, trying not to over think the happenings, keep up a normal life (whatever that was had been changed at this point) I would start my day off at 4:30a, be to work between 5:30a and 5:45a, logged into the phone by 6a and working until 4:30p for four days, then getting 3 days off was also filled with more doctor appointments or just trying to relax and not get stressed out over the diagnosis of Cancer.
Eventually the Port was installed underneath my right pectorial region and I had to get use to the lump there and having it there. Pre-operative Chemotherapy was being performed on Wednesday. I would go into the Chemotherapists office for 4 hours, then come home with a pump attached to me for 48 hours of 5Fu to pumped through my body and I had to get use to sleeping with the pump and carrying it around with me and not pulling the needle out of my chest when getting up quickly. Yes, I came close a couple of times and was sharply reminded one time when I got the IV Tubing caught on the end of the bed post and was quickly walking out of the bed room. After double checking that I had not yanked the needle out and the pump and tubing was still hooked up, I walked out of the bed room and reminded myself not to let that happen again, since my chest was now throbbing.
The Chemotherapy started in late September, yes I know sounds like the Rod Stewart Song lryics, and by the first week in October I was officially off on Disability. This meant 60% of my pay would be deposited into my bank account weekly and I did not have to worry about getting up for work any more. Arrangements had already been made for me to work from 8a until 6:30p, then I was taken off on disability and didn't have to worry about getting up in the morning.