The Final Day of Chemo

What a day! I was really anxious to finish up today and was up at 5:00am even though my appointment wasn't until 10:35am. My wife took some pictures of me with the needle in the port and pump that I'll probably use as a dartboard eventually!

We brought in a cake and card and the staff was great and cuddled me with hugs and kisses...it was an emotional experience! To finish on Christmas Eve is quite a way to finish.

The neuropathy is still kind of bad, but I can deal with it. I have my first follow up in a month for bloodwork and port flush and we'll see where this journey leads after that.

Merry Christmas to all and Happy New Year!!!

2nd to last day of treatment :o)

I had my second to last treatment today and then they connected the portable infusion pump that I'm wearing for the last and final time!

It's so nice to be finishing my chemo rounds on Christmas Eve. Tomorrow when I go in, I'll be taking cards and gifts for the wonderful and professional staff that have been caring for me these past six months.

It's so hard to believe that it's finally going to be over, but it also seems like it didn't start all that long ago either. I'm feeling a lot more fatigue with this final round, but keeping in mind that it IS my final round.

Starting *Final* Round of Chemo

Today started off kinda bad, but ended a bit better because I wasn't going to let anything bother me during this final round of chemotherapy.

First of all, it started snowing here last Friday and didn't stop until last night and then a quick freeze settled in. With the gusty wind, it brought in windchills in the -10 to -3F range by this morning. So we got up early this morning to get a head start on a busy day.

My wife and I both got stuck from where the plow had dumped in front of our cars, so we were out there for quite awhile until we finally got both cars free from the snow. She left for work and called me when she got there to say that she made it okay and the highways were in much better shape. I then left for my chemo appt at 6:55am, even though I didn't have to be there until 8:00am. I was there by 7:30am and was able to get into the facility and wait until the staff showed up.

My white blood cell count was pretty low, but my oncologist said that it was within range and after discussing it with me, opted to continue without any delays. He also said that I've been a model patient (maybe he says that to all the patients?) and asked me if I'd be willing to talk with new patients that had some fear and/or concerns regarding the folfox treatments that I've been having. He said that a re-assuring veteran of the program could really calm a newer patient. Of course I told him that I'd be more than glad to speak with anyone that he wanted me to and I told him how my friend, Rob, is the main person that I, myself, had communicated a lot with when I was first diagnosed, and Rob has been a true friend throughout my whole journey and we still keep in touch via email, although we've never met due to the distance in where we both live.

Rob is now "cancer-free" and although I think I've posted his blog a few months back, here is another link to it :

http://rocamata.com/default.aspx

When I went into the treatment rooms, all of the other doctors and oncology nurses were coming by to wish me Merry Christmas and congratulations on finishing up this week. They are truly a great, professional and fun group and have really made it somewhat enjoyable (if that makes any sense?) to go through chemotherapy with.

Before leaving today, my oncologist spoke with me about the follow-up again and said it would about early summer (if all goes well) when I'd be having the mediport implant removed. I'll have to be monitored closely for a short period, then every 6-8weeks I'll go in to have both mediports flushed (it's a dual catheter port). After that some PET/CT scans and my follow up scope check. My bloodcounts are expected to recover slowly, but my immune system is low and I'm still at risk for catching infections from others while in the early follow-up stages.

So, day 2 tomorrow (Tuesday)of the treatments, they'll disconnect the pump then start the IVs before re-connecting the pump for the last time and on Wednesday (in 2 days) it will be out for good!

Now it's siesta time and I hope to wake up for the season finale of 'Prison Break' tonight.

Off - Week

I'm watching the *time* a lot this week!

This is my final "off-week" and I have a LOT to get done before starting my final treatment week next Monday!

The tingling in my fingers (neuropathy) is pretty bad and even trying to button a shirt is harder than usual, but I was warned of this and will manage to get past it somehow. The nerve damage is giving me some gastro tract *issues* as well.


I participated in our worldwide virtual band's 3rd annual Christmas song collaboration. We dedicate this year's song to the troops overseas and others who haven't been home for a long, long time. "Please Come Home For Christmas"

http://soundclick.com/share?songid=7148733

One step at a time, that's the only way and it has worked so far. Happy Holidays!

Round 11 Finished - One more to go !!!

Today's treatments went well and the doc's report was very positive sounding. I had the mediport flushed, talked about some of the follow-up procedures and then was disconnected from "the pump" for the second to last time!

I have a dual mediport implanted and when I go for follow-up they will flush BOTH ports with the 4" needle at the same time. I'm glad this is only every 6-8 weeks or as needed depending on a variety of factors. At least I have piece of mind that I won't be leaving attached to the pump.

So, it looks really good for December 22nd, 23rd and the grand finale on December 24th (Christmas Eve). I'll have to take a cake, cookies and stuff for the oncology nurses and doctors. I feel very fortunate to have had a very compassionate and professional team of physicians and nurses during this whole journey.

Next to last cycle

Today's chemo treatments went well. I'm at the point where even if they didn't go well that I don't think it would bother me because I'm being optimistic and focused on finishing this in TWO weeks from today. :-)

I didn't sleep well last night, which is usually the case after getting the eloxatin, but I snoozed for about two hours during today's treatments (and didn't snore, or so they told me?).

My doctor said that I was doing excellent with my white bloodcell counts and platelets counts and that leads to me to think (and hope and pray) that my treatments will end on Christmas eve.

I'll be starting follow-up in January, but the worst of it will be over very soon!

Round 11 (of 12)

Well, I'm into my ELEVENTH Round of chemotherapy now. My oncologist told me today that the neuropathy will probably still be evident for another several months. For that reason, they will be doing follow-up bloodwork, CEA blood tests, PET/CT scans and mediport maintenance.

It went okay today and some of the nurses came by to "remind" me that the end is near. It's nice of them, but I don't need to be reminded. I'm kinda/sorta at the point where I've had enough. It will be great to be disconnected for the LAST time and to eventually have the mediport taken out of my chest.

That said, I still don't want to get ahead of myself because any little thing can change the schedule and/or progress, which has been very good so far with only one setback that delayed treatment back around cycle 5 I think?

Stand Up To Cancer

If you turned on the national news September 5th, you might have been surprised to see all 3 major network anchors broadcasting from the Kodak Theatre in Los Angeles. Putting their usually intense competition for ratings aside for the night, Katie Couric, Brian Williams and Charlie Gibson joined forces in support of a higher priority...putting an end to cancer!

Together the anchors hosted a historic hour-long telecast, shown commercial free on the 3 major networks and in more than 170 countries. The telecast raised more than $100 million to support a new initiative called "Stand Up To Cancer" founded this past May.

To learn more about it, you can click on the title of this post or go to www.standup2cancer.org

You can buy a "star" for one dollar in honor of loved ones or friends (I've done this and it is a gratifying experience).

Stand Up To Cancer is bring people together to give researchers the resources that they need to launch an all-out assault on cancer.

Christmas Time

"Tis the season...I'm trying to keep a positive outlook, but I haven't done much shopping for Christmas gifts yet and next week is my 11th cycle of chemo. Stress and anxiety are kicking in.

Many have told me that the last two cycles can be the toughest with the cumulative side effects of the oxaliplatin mostly. It's also getting a lot colder and I'm already wearing layers to keep warm.

The neuropathy, fatigue and digestive tract "issues" seem to be the worst, as they have been since starting chemo. I can't feel the little "bumps" on the "f" and "j" keys, so typing is slow and I have to keep going back to correct things.

I'm also trying to add my guitar parts to an annual Christmas collaboration project that I've been doing for the past three years now. This year's song is "Please Come Home For Christmas" and is dedicated to the military troops overseas and to others who haven't been able to get home for a long time. I'll post a link to the song when it's finished.

One Step At A Time

A little while back, I had mentioned that a girl from South Dakota had heard a song that I wrote when I started chemotherapy. It was an instrumental piece with no lyrics or vocals.

Well, long story short, she wrote some lyrics which I'd posted awhile back, but they are also in the song info at this link, and she has just finished recording the song and I'd like to share it with you...

http://www.soundclick.com/bands/page_songInfo.cfm?bandID=706035&songID=7108988

You can hear more of Melissa Renee's songs at :

www.soundclick.com/melissarenee