Our visit with Rob

We (Diana, Mike, Russ and I) went to College park today to pick up Robyn (Rob) from school and take her out for lunch. We went to Georgetown in DC. Rob was thrilled as it gave her a break from her studying. We were treated, by Russ, to an amazing lunch at a really nice French restaurant. Georgetown is a really beautiful part of DC. Lots of shopping and great eating.

After lunch we drove through DC past the White House and other sights. Russ's reaction was typically English. Buckingham Palace is bigger! I guess the traffic was typically English (London) as well. She never commented or complained about being stuck in the touristy cherry blossom traffic.

It was great to see Rob, and all in all, a really nice day.

Oh, by the way, yesterday Man U (Manchester United) demolished Aston Villa 4-0. As you can tell, we are all big time Man U football (yes, football) fans.

*****A BLOGGING LESSON*****

I have had so many questions about posting to the my blog so I will try and explain what I understand as best I can.

Just to read the blog go to:

http://asuskin.blogspot.com

If you go to this link you can read the blog. If you want to leave a comment, question, joke etc. click on "comment" at the end of a particular post and follow the instructions. It appears that you may have to do some kind of registration. If you do register then do as I did and use the minimal amount of info possible. Whatever your comfort level dictates. Please don't forget to sign your comment e.g. Cousin Leroy. Sorry to put you through this.

The other option is to sign in as me. Go to:

http://www.blogger.com/start

In the user name type in asuskin@hotmail.com

For the password use ....................I will email it to you, literally. If you already know it from a previous email etc. then use it. Yes, it begins with a capital B. Once again please sign whatever you add so I know who it's from. Please do not edit any of my posts.

"Just want to say good luck.We are all counting on you". Peter Graves - Airplane.

I may have to look for some temp work!

What makes this so different from a lot of other people dealing with this very similar health issue is that they can usually continue working during their treatment. I can not...........Everything in aviation depends on your physical (medical.) which we have to have every 6 months. The physical is what essentially validates your flying licence. One of the toughest things for any pilot to ever have to deal with is to temporarily stop flying or be "grounded". I say temporarily because I do plan on flying again in the not too distant future. As long as I am fighting this battle I am effectively grounded. When I do return to flying status it means that I have my health back. That's all I hope and pray for every single day.

I have been flying for over 28 years and have reached the pinnacle of my aviation career as a senior captain flying amazing jets (Boeing 757's and 767's) for a fantastic company (UPS). Who would have ever believed this story? "Young Jewish boy from Africa makes it big in America". I could not have scripted this any better myself.

Do I miss my flying family? Of course I do. Do I miss flying with some of the most incredible people you will ever know? You bet. I have met some amazing and wonderful pilots during my 20 years at UPS. Some of the finest airmen I have had the privilege of ever working with. There are so many other people at UPS, that I interact with daily, who are truly wonderful as well. My union (The Independent Pilot's Association) has been great. Very supportive. In some ways I am the luckiest guy around. In other ways, well............not so lucky.

Brain Scan

This morning I had to go for a CT brain scan. Routine for someone taking Avastin. They were kind enough to give us a copy of the scan. Quite revealing I might add.

Radiation Round 3 - Oops

Got a reprieve from the Governor. Round 3 has been postponed as the machine is TU (flying vernacular for Tits Up). Hopefully they will call and reschedule me for later today. My Radiation Oncologist has told me that there is no problem with missing a day or two. As much as I want to keep moving steadily forward with this I should expect days like this. Who knows, maybe towards the later part of the treatments I will actually look forward to a break ......or not!!!

Wow, what energy. I swear as I was typing this they just called to tell me the machine is working and I am rescheduled for 12:15pm. Is that weird or what?

What a person has to do this day and age to get free hospital parking is ridiculous. Lung cancer, however, qualifies. Had a bit of a wait for radiation treatment as there were a few people ahead of me. I got talking to this delightful elderly lady who was diagnosed with lung cancer in October 2007 and after 4 chemos and 50 radiations she is now cancer free. She was a former smoker! Encouraging to say the least.

Russ treated us to lunch at a cool burger joint in Towson. Between her and Diana I sometimes feel like those pate foi de gras ducks. Food stuffed down my gullet continuously. Like I said before, "those that eat well, do well". I should be doing bloody well.

ups

ups where are my packages ?
cousin ellis

Radiation Round 2 - Ding!

Went this morning for radiation round 2. Very quick and painless. Visited with one of the hospital PR people that I dealt with during my hip operation last April. What a lovely lady. She was shocked to find out that I was back at the hospital being treated for Lung cancer. Gotta stop meeting like this!


I have been trying to smooth out the Blog Bumps. Too confusing for this simple mind. However you post anything anyway is fine by me. It is just really heartwarming to read all these wonderful supportive comments from you all. If any one figures this out let me know!

To all, and especially my flying family, check out this link. We pilots honestly do this when we are bored. The part played by John Cleese is in fact me.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJSey8HRUhU

Mugabe

Just the thought of the folks in Zimbabwe being able to potentially vote him out Saturday ought to be a lift for you. Just out of curiosity, would your left nipple be Diego Garcia? Press on my friend. Regards, Pat in Alaska

Pat, and all, this bank note which a good friend just sent me is very real. As of today it's probably worth US$0.25.

Blast off

Well, not the best sleep, but I'm up. Trying to think too much about the upcoming radiation and chemo treatments. For me, it's really the waiting and the unknown that sometimes gets to me.

I had the radiation at 9:15am. Very quick and painless. Russ got to meet Dr. Brenner the radiology oncologist. Interestingly, it's the radiation that is the really important part of the treatment. The chemo supplements the radiation. None the less, having just said that, the chemo is also a vital part of this treatment plan.

We then walked over to the Infusion center and the whole chemo process started up. The whole first session took about six hours. While waiting, Diana, Russ and I decided to play charades. Russy decided to do a movie for her turn at charades. She chose a movie with 5 words. We guessed the first word as "No". The second word had 2 syllable and she frantically pointed at her crotch for the first syllable. After losing control hysterically, we guessed the movie as "No Country for Old Men". We were in hysterics when the nurse came back in. We simply couldn't explain why we were laughing so hard. A ton of questions asked and gobs of information given. It was great to have Diana and Russ with me. We met with Dr Erlich our oncologist. Went through the treatment plan and will be having a once a week treatment for six weeks. I had the first treatment today. I was given a cocktail of Avastin, Carboplatin and Docetaxel. Gave me some other stuff too. My standing appointment is every Wednesday 10 am to 2 pm.

Went home and had a little nap and then off to target Pharmacy to pick up a bunch of prescriptions. As they explained at the Hospital, for every boo boo they have a band aid. I think I may be using a lot of band aids!!!

We then went to The Vitaminne Shoppe to pick up some protein and weight gain supplements. Mike put a sign on the fridge door that reads,"Those who eat well,do well". I intend to follow this advice.

Aahh the fun begins!

This morning I went for the "final measurements" for my radiation treatment, and I swear the outline they drew on my chest looks like a map of Africa on it's side. Coincidentally my right nipple is about where Zimbabwe should be. I thought that I would be getting a treatment today but it will be starting tomorrow (March 26th). I have a standing appointment Monday through Friday at 9:15am. Weekends off. How cool! This will go on for 7 weeks. The treatments should take about 15-20 minutes with the actual "bombing" taking about 2 minutes. It's supposed to be painless, but I'll let you know! As for the side effects.............well, I'll let you know as well.

Tomorrow I start the chemotherapy treatment in conjunction with the radiation. I will find out then what exactly will be involved with the chemo.

We celebrated the day by going for a good Chinese lunch at Szechuan House; Russ, Diana, Mike and I. A quick bit of shopping, and then off home to have the obligatory afternoon nap. A short walk in the forest (on my new wood chip path) with Russ and Max put me in good shape for the nap.

Our good friend Annie stopped by with a ton of food.

Diana is doing the BBQ tonight: Buffalo burgers from Trader Joe's. Whoopee.