Bring on December

Well, we got through Thanksgiving and gave thanks that it didn't snow again
so soon after our October nor'easter. Thanksgiving was pretty much uneventful
which was fine. I had a problem with a tooth that I had seen my dentist about the week before Thanksgiving and after an xray and "nerve test" ouch! he said I needed
a root canal...I pleaded with him that it was really unaffordable and asked if just a filling would help...he replied that it *might* help, so we agreed to try a filling and so far, so good and going on 3+ weeks now. My next appt is in January, but I'm thinking that I might want to change dentists now?

I should mention that the items that I've been sharing via the links over on the right side cannot be shared or deleted now - I'm sorry about that, but Google/Blogger have not responded to my requests and have no changed google reader and have made it non-user friendly.

I'm coming up on my full third year of being in remission and that is another thing that I'm very thankful for. Next CT scan with CEA test and colonoscopy will be in the Spring, but I'll post something cheerful for December, Christmas and New Year's
Day of 2012...

The Ides of March

Greetings! What a difference some rain and a few warm days make. The snow is gone and talk of baseball is in the air. We turned our clocks forward last weekend and Spring is in the air :)

This month, my wife and I celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary (Pearl) and I've just finalized my dates for next months cancer screenings. These are various tests that I undergo twice a year now, not including the colonoscopy.

I'm starting my 3rd year in remission! ...I just had to stop and say a prayer for how thankful I am to still be here and able to say that.
My diagnosis was in May of 2008 and it's been quite a journey since then,
but positive thoughts, prayers and God have helped to make it a very
bearable journey. There have been some unpredicted twists and turns along the way, but that's to be expected. I can still remember those words that I heard from my doctor that day, "You have cancer, and it's spreading".

So, moving forward, I begin lab tests/CT scan/oncology visit and exam on April 15th through April 29th. This time I've been given to option to drink the barium at home, so when I go in for the first 2 blood tests which are taken a week ahead of the CT scan on the 15th, I'll be also picking up my barium milkshake to bring home to remind me every time that I open the fridge that I'm very lucky. Colon cancer has the highest risk of any cancer to re-occur, because I was diagnosed stage III, I'm a bit more at risk.

I still remain positive in my thinking and hope for a good report from the tests when they are all over and done for this period, but I'd by lying if I said that I had no anxiety about finding out if this will be the series of tests that show something bad. Every cancer fighter goes through these thoughts and although some may not say it, they are thinking it.

So, that concludes this month's update and hopefully next month's will be a good one!!!

February 1st - 2011 - Still More Snowstorms !

Not the best video on this blog, but an 'A' for effort! It's been snowing at a clip of one or two snowstorms a week since the turn of the new year.
I'm looking forward to Spring...very much!

The Red Sox are looking pretty good with their signing of Carl Crawford, formerly of the Tampa Rays. Speed, power and skillful knowledge of the game and who knows...maybe he's the spark that the club has needed? Time will tell.

I had my flu shot last October and so far, so good. The family has been struggling with flu symptoms and colds, but so far I've been lucky enough to avoid that...but then again, they chose not to get a flu shot.

We're all taking vitamins now too. One-a-day, supplements, vitamin C and b complex, omega 3 caps. Getting plenty of stretching and excercise in also.

We're into February now, let's get the taxes done and see if
we're getting anything back or paying this year. Usually we do get a small refund from the Federal, but a chunk of it goes to pay the State. They don't call it Taxachusetts for nothing. ;)

Next CT scan and CEA bloodtest is scheduled for late April and no colonoscopy this year - - woo hoo - I get the year off and don't need another until next year (2012).

Stay tuned, next month we celebrate our 30th wedding anniversary!

Colonoscopy Results - Good

I slept most of yesterday after I got home from the hospital, but all went extremely well and my procedure results were the best I could hope for.

No polyps found, surgery looked clean, no sign of any problems at all!

The Prep for the Colonoscopy

I'm trying things a little different for tomorrow's procedure. Keeping well within the guidelines.

I have the lemon jello, chicken broth, lemon ice, apple juice and three 10 oz chilled bottles of lemon magnesium citrate but I wasn't too hungry today, so aside from the Luigi's "real" Italian Ice, I just drank a lot of apple juice, sprite and water.

At 5pm, I had my first bottle of the magnesium citrate...not too bad...now more Sprite and water (to stay hydrated).

Next bottle at 9pm (usually when the 'action' begins). I don't feel too bad and will watch Monday Night Football and maybe whatever I can catch of the new Jay Leno show.

Piece of cake, right? Cake...hmm :(

I'll have the last/third bottle about 5am....and hopefully all will be well...

Stay tuned for tomorrow's revelations....

Colonoscopy - September 15th

Well, I can't help but notice the circled date on my calendar for next Monday and Tuesday. Monday is the prep day and my procedure is scheduled for Tuesday.

So along with the fading sunsets, the fading summer and the dreadful thought of winter coming, I also have to think about my first annual scope check.

I keep telling myself that there is no sense in worrying because that won't change the results one way or another, but it's impossible to forget last year's procedure and what followed after the diagnosis.

Even though the CT scan was clean, this is the "real" test for me. I'll be following up and posting next week...

3/4 Finished with Chemotherapy :)

Today I went and had my portable infusion pump of 5-FU disconnected which ends my 9th cycle !

I'm now 3/4 through my treatments!!!

I asked my doctor what the next steps would be when I finished my treatments at the end of this year and when could I have the surgery to remove the implanted mediport with catheter.

He said that upon completing treatments that I would need to come in to have the port flushed every 6-8 weeks, have some blood tests and that he would be ordering scans and we'd take it from there.

I asked if the mediport could come out if the scans looked okay and he said he likes to keep them in until after the followup colonoscopy which would be in May of 2009 for me.

Chemo - 7th Cycle

First of all, my other sister's procedure went well with no problems, so she doesn't have to go back for another five years.

Another sister, and myself, will be getting the annual check.

One of the doctors told me today about using something called Ocean Saline Nasal Spray for the nasal post drip and cough if it doesn't get better soon. It's available at most pharmacies for about $5/small bottle.

http://www.walgreens.com/store/product.jsp?id=prod2501966&CATID=100095&skuid=sku2501403&V=G&ec=frgl_587532&ci_src=14110944&ci_sku=sku2501403

It looks like the weather is transitioning and it will be getting much colder by the weekend. I'll have to make sure that I have gloves and dress in layers from now on.

I came home to find a new Fender Strat from my friends at Fender. I'll post pics when I have more time and feel more energetic.

Started 7th cycle (of 12)

This week I began my 7th cycle (of 12) and due to low blood counts combined with a touch of bronchitis, my doctor decided to go ahead with the treatment, less the oxaliplatin.

He seemed to think that a combination of the effects from my flu shot, the cumulative chemo treatments to date and the cough and congestion that I'm having contributed to the lower white blood cell count and lower platelet counts.

One of my other sisters is scheduled for her first colonoscopy today and I'm praying that she gets a good report after the procedure.

Thanks for your comment, Paul, and to all that have expressed their well wishes, positive thoughts and prayers for me. They ARE working and I thank you!

4th Cycle Complete (1/3 of the way)

I started and finished my 4th cycle of the Folfox treatment this past week and for the most part it went well. My next milestone will be finishing my 6th cycle (the halfway point) which should occur in early October is no setbacks.

The week started with a little bit of a pinch when the oncology nurse inserted the needle into my mediport, but I was able to whisper to the oncology nurse whose technique from last cycle gave me NO pain at all (zilch!) and she said that she would make a point to look for me to do the "poke in the port" on my next scheduled cycle start. I told her that I don't know how or what she did, but she has been the only one so far, to insert it with no pain at all.

As for the chemo, it was the same routine, a long first day with the infusion and sent home with the pump of 5-FU, then a little shorter on the second day with the IV and then more 5-FU in my holster pump to infuse overnight until I got in today for the exam and disconnect, where they flush the port with saline and give it a heparin lock.

I had an early appointment today, so I was out by 10am and had a nice breakfast (with hot coffee and not my favorite iced coffee) with my sister, Cathy, who recently had her colonoscopy. Even though they only found and removed one polyp, her doctor wants to see her in a year, due to my situation (sibling/family history?).

It got very hot and humid over the past 2 days, but all in all, it's been a cool August and the heat isn't bothering me like it did during July.

I can't stress enough to get yourself checked (scope) because it is a LOT easy than having surgeries and chemotherapy for six months. Early detection is a key factor and I truly believe that it is what saved my life along with the help of God!

Colonoscopy

I had a colonoscopy in late May, 2008. When it was over, I asked the nurse while she was taking out the IV if everything went okay. She told me that I "might" need a little surgery and the Doctor would be in to speak with me.


In a few more minutes, my wife and the Doctor came in and he told us that he saw a mass (tumor) that was too risky for him to even try to take out and recommended surgery. He said that he had biopsied it, but he has seen enough of these to believe that it is cancer.


He went on to say that we needed to act fast on this and immediately had his office arrange for PET and CT scans. He also put a "clip" on it, so the surgeon could tell exactly where it was located (in my sigmoid colon).