PET Scan/CAT Scan

Once again, sorry about not getting the news out on the blog sooner ,but we have just gotten our Internet back online. Friday morning, I had my pet/cat scan. A few, long hours later Dr. Erlich called with the results. The tumor in my lung is completely gone!!!! There were still a few mildly active sites at the nodes which could be inflammation, or not. Either way, I'm going to have another round of totally different chemotherapeutics for about 2 months. I'll have more info at our meeting this Wednesday. I'm just relieved that my lung is clear.

So much for Friday the 13th!!!

Oh, and Mike passed his drivers test today. First time and did quite well.

Quick update

Hi All. My sincere apologies for not updating the blog on a more regular basis. Major reason right now. No internet!!! It looks like Saturday until we get back online. It's also really difficult as we cannot get TV either and subsequently, no football to watch. It is simply amazing how dependent we (at least me) are on technology. TV and internet.

Weekend Update

Well most of the weekend was great. I will qualify that later on. Again, let me just say that the visit from my uncle Hymie, Aunt Joan and cousin Jennifer was wonderful. We had a really nice time with them. Lots of time at the pool because of the heat wave. Also, I have started to eat solid foods again. This is what may have caused me to say earlier that most of the weekend was OK. On Sunday morning I guess I overdid the getting back to eating thing. The nice egg and turkey bacon I made for myself did not want to stay down!!! After having chatted with the doctor I realised that it has to be a slow process back to solid foods.

The other thing I realised is that I will have a few good days and then a rough day or two. The good and encouraging thing is that the good days outnumber the bad days and at least I can eat now as the pain is bearable and manageable.

The other good thing right now is that the Euro 2008 Football (soccer) tournament is on. A lot of tremendous countries (from Europe) playing some awesome football. Off to watch.

Friday Dr. Appointment

Sorry about the tardiness with regards writing and adding to my blog. Our Internet connection and home network has been intermittently broken.

I did not go for the bronchoscopy like procedure today as I could not get an appointment set up. They would have had me come in and wait to see if an appointment would become available and I elected to wait till next week. Let me explain why. I actually have started to see some improvement in the swallowing problem. I am now able to eat most things. I just have to chase the food down pretty quickly with water and the pain subsides quickly.

I also understand what "withdrawal" feels like. This morning I woke up and really did not feel well at all. I started to feel progressively worse and then realised that my pain patch (Fentenol) had come off. After a short nap and new patch I felt a hell of a lot better.

It has been really great having my Aunt, Uncle and Cousin visit with us from Toronto. Good meals now that I am playing food catch up. More later.

Appointment with Dr. Brenner

Let me describe the swallowing. I can chew and swallow anything. But within seconds of actually swallowing things I get really bad pain in the center of my upper chest (oesophagus). There has been some slight improvement. But very slight.

I met this morning with Dr. Brenner and he was somewhat surprised that I was still having so much pain with swallowing. This after two and a half weeks since the completion of the radiation treatments. He was not concerned at all about something bad going on in my oesophagus. He also mentioned that if I am having this much pain can you imagine what the cancer cells are going through. Hopefully a very positive death!!! What a strange statement.

He has arranged for me to have something similar to a bronchoscopy. Hopefully Dr. Skaryak will do the procedure this Friday. It will be an out-patient procedure with mild sedation. Whoopee. Dr. Brenner believes that I am still suffering from radiation burn or I may have some ulcers in the oesophagus. Dr. Skaryak will be able to tell us. I will keep you all informed.

In the meantime Rob arrives home from her European vacation this afternoon. It will be good to see her and see all the pictures and hear the stories.

I have another ZW$ note to show you courtesy of Ilan. ZW$500,000,000. As of this very second it's worth US$0.40. Ask me it's worth tomorrow!

Friday & Weekend Update

I know that I am explaining this in a very round about convoluted way but I do feel that I have reached the bottom and things seem to be improving.

There has been a slight improvement in the swallowing department. I am still pretty much reliant on the Carnations and the other nutritional drinks. I am trying different foods and seeing what I can tolerate. Some I can handle in small amounts. Other stuff, that hurts right now, I avoid.

We have a busy week coming up. On Tuesday I meet with Dr. Brenner. We will discuss the radiation effects and where I am with the recovery. On Wednesday I go to the infusion center for round 6 of the Avastin treatments. We will also discuss what to expect in the coming weeks with regards the oncology side of the equation.

Robyn comes home on Wednesday from her Europe trip. Sounds like she has had an incredible time. On Thursday My uncle Hchie (Hymie) aunt Joan (Donut) and cousin Jennifer (Jones) are coming to spend a few days with us. I am really looking forward to seeing them all.

Am I ?

Am I a really brave person? Not really. Am I a really smart person? Not really. Am I a brilliant writer? Not really. Am I a really lucky person? In some ways, yes indeed.

These last few weeks have been a really trying time for me and all those around me. But the continued love and support that I get from all of you is heartwarming and incredible to say the least. Even though I do not have the strength right now to talk to each and everyone of you I still feel that very strong good vibe.

Many of you said at the very beginning that "WE" were in this together. At first I did not understand what "WE" meant. Now I very much do. There are too many stories to tell so I will let the blog speak for itself. I read and cherish each and every comment.

So what will get me through this in the end? "WE" and of course you all.

How I wish

You have no idea how I wake up every day and think that this is the day. This is where I start seeing improvement. That this is where I see less swallowing pain.

I know the doctors said it could be two to four weeks to see improvement. I guess they base it on the residual radiation effects to leave your body. We will soon be coming up on two weeks so lets hope I am at the low end of the improvement time scale.

Friday & Weekend Update

Unfortunately nothing much has changed. The swallowing pain is still very evident. I have passed most of the last few days sleeping and trying to eat. The eating is really difficult so I have to rely on Carnation breakfast supplements and Ensures etc. Not too delightful but at least I am getting the vitamins and minerals my body needs. This is a shit ordeal! Like all of you, I hope to see an improvement soon.

Thanks

To all the faithful blog readers and, of course, everyone else, thank you.

Thanks for keeping up with my daily exploits even though not much is going on right now. The swallowing pain has been simply awful and eating has become a real chore. I can't stand carnation breakfast drinks, Ensures and Boosts. But guess what? That's all I can tolerate right now and at least it gives me the much needed calories, vitamins etc. I can't wait for the improvement to start. I am tired of writing about how painful things are. I want to start writing about that great fish dinner I had as McCormick & Shmick. Soon I hope.

This evening Rob left on her much anticipated Europe trip. I know that she was a little apprehensive about leaving me and all of us but she understands that things will improve. I know she will see the new and improved version of me when she returns in just under two weeks.

Mike still has a couple of weeks of school left. He is hoping to get a job at the tennis club this summer. Maybe he will take a friend and go visit my mom in Florida.

Diana has been incredible. My strength and support. Hopefully sometime in the not too distant future her and I can get away for a well deserved break!