Tuesday, October 18, 2011

3 Rounds Done

I have finished 3 rounds of chemo (9 chemos in all) and I feel like I have run a marathon. At first the chemo was fine but its cumulative effects are starting to wear on me. The tingling in the fingers and feet are coming, more off than on though. I am trying hard to fight off all the colds customers bring me. But I am not complaining. Life is good. I am thankful for the warm shower in the morning, the sun rise and all the new day has to bring me. I am thankful for each day I have here to share with family and friends. Thank you Jesus.

Monday, October 3, 2011

More chemo

Well I have decided against surgery for many reasons and I now have a new oncologist who is caring and knowledgeable!! Something I didn't have before. The idea of surgery was really just a stab in the dark. It would be major surgery and a skin graft was not an option. You cannot put skin on bone you need muscle. So the plastic surgeon would take my abdominal muscles and pull them up and maybe take some pectoral muscle too. It didn't sound very exciting to me but the main reason I decided against it was because there was no guarantee of clear margins. My rash thankfully has responded to the chemo so we would be cutting out a piece of skin with no idea how far or big to cut. No thanks. So we are left with chemo. The oncologist has decided I will have 5 to 6 rounds of chemo. Each round consists of once weekly chemo for 3 weeks then off 1 week. I have had 2 rounds of chemo so far. 5 rounds will take me to Christmas. My hair is falling out and I will probably spend another winter bald but it could certainly be worse. I feel fine except for some tiredness caused by the chemo. My scans were clear meaning I have no metastasis which I am thankful for. We are just going to take a wait and see approach. When (unfortunately they are not saying if) it returns we will deal with it. I am still working because I have such great co-workers who make coming to work a enjoyable. They even did the Run for the Cure on Sunday with me.


If I didn't have spiritual faith, I would be a pessimist. But
I'm an optimist. I've read the last page in the Bible. It's all
going to turn out all right.
     -- Billy Graham