Monday, 29th June.2009.
A very Good day. Lauren is here and we brought the Wii down stairs and hooked it up to the big screen. We have been playing it most of the day. Now that we figured it out some we are going to set up a tournament..We decided to get out of the house and go bowling. We had a blast!!! we need to do indoor stuff because it's a 100 and something degrees out side. No joke! Yesterday Michelle and her friend fried an egg out side in the street!.
My hair loss is at a minimum right now. I had that one morning where I thought that this was the beginning of the fall out.. I was shedding every where. I went to comb my hair and I have never seen so much hair in a comb. Gobs!!. I then showered and watch it go down the drain fully expecting for it all to go! Then it stopped and left me almost as hairy as before. So for those who know me ,a little thinner than before but not bald yet.
I have had trouble sleeping since the infusion day (last Tuesday)and fatigue hit me hard yesterday. This round of Chemo has been bearable but has hit me a little harder than the first round. I seem to have energy in shorter burst and I am learning fast that when I have it, use it!!.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Saturday, June 27, 2009
Hair today, gone tommorow.
Saturday morning, June, 27th. 2009.
I am not sure who is shedding the most, Me or my dog. This morning my hair started to come out! I pick up my daughter Lauren this morning so she will get to see me with hair at the start of her visit. How much will I have left when see leaves is anybodys guess. So far it is just the hair on my head. It is a good thing that I like hats!!!
Saturday morning, June, 27th. 2009.
I am not sure who is shedding the most, Me or my dog. This morning my hair started to come out! I pick up my daughter Lauren this morning so she will get to see me with hair at the start of her visit. How much will I have left when see leaves is anybodys guess. So far it is just the hair on my head. It is a good thing that I like hats!!!
Friday, June 26, 2009
Time for my second fix.
Two weeks later on Tuesday the 23rd June 09. was chemo round number two. This time I was prepared and was able to drive myself to and from chemo no probs! Even took the hot rod! I took my CD player. After they got the juices going I put in my ear plugs, reclined in the recliner and cranked up the tunes.I had just bought a new three Disc compulation album of blues. I let the music in and let my mind go and relaxed for the whole infusion . I was soon on my way home enjoying the rumble of that hot V-8 under the hood of my old Chevy truck and had Stevie Ray Vaughn cranked up loud on the stereo. I just made it a music day. I took things easy and spent most of Wedneday,Thursday and now Friday typing this blog, telling my story. I cleaned house today as well because tomorrow my daughter Lauren arrives from Georgia for a visit. That will do this old man a world of good. I haven't held her in my arms for a long time. Her hugs are like magic. Holding her sooths my soul.
Two weeks later on Tuesday the 23rd June 09. was chemo round number two. This time I was prepared and was able to drive myself to and from chemo no probs! Even took the hot rod! I took my CD player. After they got the juices going I put in my ear plugs, reclined in the recliner and cranked up the tunes.I had just bought a new three Disc compulation album of blues. I let the music in and let my mind go and relaxed for the whole infusion . I was soon on my way home enjoying the rumble of that hot V-8 under the hood of my old Chevy truck and had Stevie Ray Vaughn cranked up loud on the stereo. I just made it a music day. I took things easy and spent most of Wedneday,Thursday and now Friday typing this blog, telling my story. I cleaned house today as well because tomorrow my daughter Lauren arrives from Georgia for a visit. That will do this old man a world of good. I haven't held her in my arms for a long time. Her hugs are like magic. Holding her sooths my soul.
Karyn and David, together again at last.
Saturday the 13th of June My sister Karyn came to visit. It was a true godsend. We had time to reunite and discover a lot of things about each other. We grew closer to each other by the minute. We walked and talked and shared our souls with each other. We opened our hearts and let the love flow. It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. She helped me put things into perspective. One thing in paticular. She told me I was fortunate that I have time to put things right, see those I need to see and tie up loose ends. Thanks Sis. It was over way to fast. You have helped to put me at ease. Love ya.
Saturday the 13th of June My sister Karyn came to visit. It was a true godsend. We had time to reunite and discover a lot of things about each other. We grew closer to each other by the minute. We walked and talked and shared our souls with each other. We opened our hearts and let the love flow. It was exactly what I needed at exactly the right time. She helped me put things into perspective. One thing in paticular. She told me I was fortunate that I have time to put things right, see those I need to see and tie up loose ends. Thanks Sis. It was over way to fast. You have helped to put me at ease. Love ya.
Putting the battle plan into action.
June 9th ,2009 is D-day. This was a Tuesday morning. With my Beautiful wife who is also my very best friend (who is going through this whole awful ordeal with me) at my side we mustered up the courage to go to the chemotherapy department and let the battle commence. 10;45 and we launched our first attack! All the chemicals at our disposal were dispersed . We were there from 10;00am to 3;00 pm. After a very ,very long day of infusions and chemo and instruction and question and answer sessions we finally made our way home. The hospital/ chemo dept is close, only 25 minutes away and is brand new. I was exhausted mostly from stress but now very relieved that the first of at least 8 rounds was over. Well Kind of. I still had to get used to the constant infusion bottle and figure out a way to wear it. Fortunately we had a fanny pack and that worked out well. I even managed to sleep with it with out any problems. Great, things are going good for the first go around. Not as horrific as maybe I had been lead to believe. I can cope with this. Thursday is disconnect day. That's the best day. I had only very minor side affects, sensations really, and nothing to worry about just yet. I was kinda jacked up. I think I was really excited to see my sister Karyn who was coming to visit me soon. The first round was a breeze.I hope all the other treatments are as mild as this and I can tolerate it well. The better I can tolerate this treatment the more I can have.
June 9th ,2009 is D-day. This was a Tuesday morning. With my Beautiful wife who is also my very best friend (who is going through this whole awful ordeal with me) at my side we mustered up the courage to go to the chemotherapy department and let the battle commence. 10;45 and we launched our first attack! All the chemicals at our disposal were dispersed . We were there from 10;00am to 3;00 pm. After a very ,very long day of infusions and chemo and instruction and question and answer sessions we finally made our way home. The hospital/ chemo dept is close, only 25 minutes away and is brand new. I was exhausted mostly from stress but now very relieved that the first of at least 8 rounds was over. Well Kind of. I still had to get used to the constant infusion bottle and figure out a way to wear it. Fortunately we had a fanny pack and that worked out well. I even managed to sleep with it with out any problems. Great, things are going good for the first go around. Not as horrific as maybe I had been lead to believe. I can cope with this. Thursday is disconnect day. That's the best day. I had only very minor side affects, sensations really, and nothing to worry about just yet. I was kinda jacked up. I think I was really excited to see my sister Karyn who was coming to visit me soon. The first round was a breeze.I hope all the other treatments are as mild as this and I can tolerate it well. The better I can tolerate this treatment the more I can have.
Calling in the plumber.
It kinda scared the crap out of me when Roto Rooter showed up with two 24" pipe wrenches and an auger to install the port. Oh ,thank God when they realized they were on the wrong job and left muttering obscenities under their breath. Whew, that was close. After that the Dr. put in the port. More good time sleepy juice so I didn't feel a thing and was I home by noon.
It kinda scared the crap out of me when Roto Rooter showed up with two 24" pipe wrenches and an auger to install the port. Oh ,thank God when they realized they were on the wrong job and left muttering obscenities under their breath. Whew, that was close. After that the Dr. put in the port. More good time sleepy juice so I didn't feel a thing and was I home by noon.
Creating a battle plan.
Denise and I went to oncology together on the 12th of May to find out what can be done. We met with Dr. Kengla and discussed Goliath in some length. It was made clear that because he has done so much damage by being mobile and has grown so large and so strong that there is no way to completely eliminate him now! The word used was "incurable." Yet again more stuff I didn't want to hear. So what can we do? There is a treatment aimed at this type of situation. It is called Folfox. If employed and it is effective then we might be able to hold Goliath off for a while, but not forever. The programme is a one week on and one week off of Chemotherapy. The chemo drugs are Advastin, the newest of them and it is a target specific drug that destroys the blood supply to tumors. The others are Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and 5-FU or Fluorouracil. These drugs try and kill Goliaths cell structure. These are the nondiscriminatory drugs and will kill some of my good cells as well. This is where all the side affects come from. All these drugs are to be infused intravenously. The 5-FU will be infused as all the others and then I will be hooked up to a constant infusion bottle that I will wear in a fanny pack that will continue to pump this drug into me for a constant 48hrs. I need to have a Port-A-Cath implanted before Chemo can begin. Great another small surgery. This is a device that is plumbed directly into a major vein near my heart and implanted in my right upper chest near my right collar bone. It is an access port. This way the treatment will not destroy the veins in my arms. This port also allowes for the connection of the continuous infusion bottle of 5-FU. Yes I even have to sleep with it. Not the kind of mistress I would have chose. Goliath is well beyond surgery now and radiation is not a viable option because of Goliaths mobility. Folfox is the first line defence. There is another program used in Europe and England called Folfury. It is generally less effective and the side affects are harsher but some times it is used in the U.S. as a second line to Folfox. All my treatment is aimed at extending life. Not cure. So we are hoping that I cope well with this treatment and the side affects are minimal and my quality of life can continue.
Denise and I went to oncology together on the 12th of May to find out what can be done. We met with Dr. Kengla and discussed Goliath in some length. It was made clear that because he has done so much damage by being mobile and has grown so large and so strong that there is no way to completely eliminate him now! The word used was "incurable." Yet again more stuff I didn't want to hear. So what can we do? There is a treatment aimed at this type of situation. It is called Folfox. If employed and it is effective then we might be able to hold Goliath off for a while, but not forever. The programme is a one week on and one week off of Chemotherapy. The chemo drugs are Advastin, the newest of them and it is a target specific drug that destroys the blood supply to tumors. The others are Oxaliplatin, Leucovorin and 5-FU or Fluorouracil. These drugs try and kill Goliaths cell structure. These are the nondiscriminatory drugs and will kill some of my good cells as well. This is where all the side affects come from. All these drugs are to be infused intravenously. The 5-FU will be infused as all the others and then I will be hooked up to a constant infusion bottle that I will wear in a fanny pack that will continue to pump this drug into me for a constant 48hrs. I need to have a Port-A-Cath implanted before Chemo can begin. Great another small surgery. This is a device that is plumbed directly into a major vein near my heart and implanted in my right upper chest near my right collar bone. It is an access port. This way the treatment will not destroy the veins in my arms. This port also allowes for the connection of the continuous infusion bottle of 5-FU. Yes I even have to sleep with it. Not the kind of mistress I would have chose. Goliath is well beyond surgery now and radiation is not a viable option because of Goliaths mobility. Folfox is the first line defence. There is another program used in Europe and England called Folfury. It is generally less effective and the side affects are harsher but some times it is used in the U.S. as a second line to Folfox. All my treatment is aimed at extending life. Not cure. So we are hoping that I cope well with this treatment and the side affects are minimal and my quality of life can continue.
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