The Heat Goes On

Here we are with the day after tomorrow being September 1st and the heat, haze and humidity is still with us. I think we've had 3 rainy days all summer since early June.

Tomorrow I go for annual checkup and bloodwork and start my next series of tests with my oncology group in October. Some days are better than others, but I can't complain, although sometimes I do.

The weather people are predicting a close enough call with the next storm (Earl) that it's already causing severe rip currents along the east coast. It depends on which way the jet stream moves as to how, when and where it comes by the end of this week.

They say that foliage will be early this year. I can already see some of the trees starting to change due to the hot, dry summer heat.

The *new* Healthcare Options

Well, we only have about another week left in October and our healthcare administrators have decided to switch our HMO Blue to an 80/20 plan. This means all tests including bloodwork, xrays, scans, even a flu shot would only be covered at 80%and we pay the 20% balance. This is not a good deal with my frequent bloodwork, tests and scans. My next PET scan in April will cost me approx $2200 out-of-pocket, yet there are people who have just come to this country with no healthcare who get free medical coverage. What's wrong with this picture?

My gut feeling is that this is just the tip of the iceberg of what will be soon forthcoming if the government tells us which doctors we can see and when.

HMO Blue is also changing their name to New England Network Blue and will be sending out "new" cards which will confuse the billing people even more.

I'm still contesting a bill that I received as a $100 co-payment because it was coded wrong by the hospital (so my healthcare administrator says).

Other than that, The Patriots play Tampa in London tomorrow and the World Series (Baseball) might even start in early November...brrr.

Have a good weekend! Next weekend is Hallloween...stay tuned for chilling videos!

Scans Completed

I had the scans done twice. After the first one, they claimed they couldn't get a good image and wanted to increase the IV dye.

They sent me to the lab to have blood drawn to see if the kidneys were strong enough to "work harder" with the increased dosage.

I thought that the jug of chalky stuff would have been enough, but what do I know?

On the second trip into the radiology center, they were able to get better images. I'll get the results next Tuesday.

Now it's wait and wonder, but thinking positive!

May 11th - 2009

It's been almost a WHOLE YEAR since my diagnosis now. I'm starting to feel a little anxiety about my upcoming CT scans and blood tests. Eight more days!

Then a week after that I have an oncology appointment to have the port flushed and get the results of the procedures. I'm hoping that the scans are clean and I'll be able to have the mediport removed soon.

I hope that everyone had a Happy Mother's Day yesterday.

Neuropathy is much better, but still evident. More later...

March 24th - Oncology Follow Up

I had my next follow-up this morning and was told that everything looked good, so my oncologist ordered a CT scan for mid-May and my next follow-up for May 26th.

I asked him about CEA blood tests and he said he was sending today's bloodwork out and would let me know if there was anything to worry about. He said the scan would be the biggest help in determining if anything is showing, but it has to be worked out with my healthplan provider before scheduling.

So, we went with the May 26th for the next follow-up, but he said if insurance doesn't approve the scans yet, then it may have to be re-scheduled later. If those come back good, then he said I could plan on my follow-up scope for June or July.

The neuropathy has improved and is only slightly felt in my fingertips. He asked if handling ice cubes caused any problems and it doesn't, and told him so.

So, it was a good visit and now I just wait to see how the insurance company is going to react to the scans. My last ones (CT and PT) were done last May.

If all goes well, I'll be able to have the surgery to remove the mediport in my chest sometime this summer :)

Thanks again for the positive support and mojo!

First Follow-Up Today

I just got home from my 1st chemo follow up and it went pretty good. My bloodcounts are better, but still on the low side.

I told my oncologist about the tightness in the chestport area, the ongoing neuropathy and my short term memory loss problems. He said it's typical for a chemo patient after finishing the folfox treatment of chemo.

The tingling in my fingers is still pretty bad, but he said it might take from six to nine months before that goes away, but it WILL go away! They flushed the implanted mediport with saline and heparin (both sides - dual port) with both needles at the same time!

If I play guitar for a few hours, I have to skip the next several days because of the neuropathy in my fingertips from bending strings, so I play keyboards :)

So, my next follow-up is in 2 months, March 24th, then I'll have another two months from then and next will be be CEA bloodtests, scans and colonoscopy. All in all, he said that I'm progressing very well :)

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!!!

25% or 1/4 Mark

I had a good day today at the chemo clinic. They examined me and went over my bloodwork pathology and told me that I don't need to come in next week.

They flushed the mediport with saline and a heparin block, then dis-connected me from my portable infusion pump and took the needle of the port. This is one of the greatest feelings during my chemo journey!

I was told that everything is looking good to continue treatments in two weeks. I went to book my next cycle and it happened to be September 2nd, the day after Labor Day and completely booked, so I had to go with September 3rd, 4th and 5th. This will be a Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, but I got all three day's appointments at 8:40am.

The nurse practitioner told me to enjoy the fine cooler weather and by Sunday, the neuropathy and metallic taste should be weak enough to be able to enjoy an ice cream or a cold beer. Hmmmm ???

Back on Track :)

I was able to resume my chemotherapy treatments today. My bloodwork was "in range" and I've started my 3rd cycle. I was extremely happy to hear the news from my oncologist.

I didn't even feel any pain when the oncology nurse put *the needle* in my port today either. Maybe I was so happy to be back on track that I put a mental block around it?

Anyway, right now my fingers are tingling pretty good and this is taking way more time to type than usual so I'm keeping it short.

No nausea, just neuropathy and fatigue.

I have my portable pump of 5-FU infusing me now until I go back tomorrow. I like when the first day of each cycle is done. This is the day I get the oxaliplatin along with others. The other chemo meds seem very tolerable so far. Won't need the Oxal again now for two weeks :)

Treatment Delayed today :(

I wasn't able to continue treatment/infusions to day because of
1.(infection/blood ozzing from incision above port) and
2.(platelet count was low).

They sent me back to the interventional radiologist group and the doc cleaned, sutured and dressed the infected/open incision area. Only stings a little bit.

So, I go back tomorrow morning for bloodwork and see if they can proceed with the treatment.

I knew it was too good to be true, I had finally got an early appt for chemo today and wasn't able to get the infusions. The first day of the folfox treatment is the longest and I was hoping to get in and out by around noon time. Oh well, I can only trust that my oncology team (and I say "team" because my oncologist is away this week and he runs the oncology dept/clinic) is making the best decisions for me.

Second Cycle - Finished !!!

I went for my bloodwork and pathology today and it looks very good I was told. I'm feeling pretty good about that and not sweating the minor side effects that I've had because they've been very tolerable so far.

My exam went well also with excellent blood pressure and no problems with infection, the mediport or any other symptoms. My oncologist said that I was doing so well that I can have next week off !

I had my mediport flushed/cleaned and was "un-hooked" from the portable pump of 5-FU and sent on my way...feeling pretty good I might add :)

On a side note, one of my cousins who is a nurse at another medical center sent me this link. You might have heard about the main author ? She has helped many to not just survive, but to eradicate their cancer : (Thanks Cheryl!)

http://www.amazon.com/Heal-Your-movie-expanded-version/dp/B000Y04R96/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_k2a_2_img?pf_rd_p=304485601&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-2&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=1561706280&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=16RD3F8NJQ8E787V10ST

Happy Birthday Dad and tomorrow is my wife, Anne's Birthday :)

Surgeon and Surgery

We met with the surgeon, who was highly recommended, and discussed my situation. It was agreed that the sooner the better. I had a date for the pre-op and surgery in a matter of a few days.

The pre-op seemed standard procedure (bloodwork, blood pressure, lots of questions, etc) I had to start the "cleansing" that same day (I had just done this for the colonoscopy about a week ago, so I knew the routine). I then got my pre-admission instructions for surgery.

The next day we arrived at the hospital at 9:00am and registered. I was then eventually moved into the pre-surgical area to be hooked up to IV and vital signs taken, etc.

The surgery began about 10:00am and lasted until 2:30PM. They were waking me up as they were moving me to a recovery room where I was held for another two hours. I had severe chills and some discomfort from an epidural I was given along with the anesthesia and was wrapped in warm blankets.

The surgeon was able to perform the resection and told me that everything went fine. I was admitted and moved into a hospital room a little while later.