March 2005 Archives

A few of you had some questions about the radiation. Halo gave some pretty good answers. I'll try and give you some more info. The "walnut" that is left in my chest isn't cancer, it's what's left of the Tumor. The Tumor isn't cancer either, it's a symptom of the cancer. So they could go in and remove what's left of the tumor surgically, but that wouldn't really get rid of the cancer. The Chemo was to get rid of the Tumor AND the cancer. The radiation does the same. There was a possiblity that the Chemo would not have shrunk the Tumor at all. In which case, I would need a lot more radiation. In my case, since the Chemo was very effective, the radiation is to insure that all cancer cells have been killed. The reason they have to "aim" at what's left of the Tumor is that is where any remaining cancer cells would be located.

I COULD tell them I don't need the radiation, but all the cancer research shows that Chemo followed by raidiation is the best chance for the cancer to stay gone.

The radiation treatments are not painful. In fact, you don't feel anything. There are some side effects and yes there can be long term harm from the Radiation, though not as much long term harm as there is from cancer. Which is the whole point really.

Here's some more info on Radiation Therapy.

I went today for my "Targeting" and "Virtual Treatment" appointment. This is the one I was told might take a few hours. It takes a few hours cause you have to wait in the damn waiting room for an hour between each little thing they do. They drew on my chest with a permanent marker so they would know where to aim the machine. I'm not sure how that's supposed to last 4 weeks but I guess I'll try and not wash it off, since if I do I have to do the Targetting all over again. I did find out how they do a "virtual" treatment. They put you in the Radiation Machine (they call it the Gamma Knife) and line up my little Tattoos and marker lines with a laser, then instead of zapping me with the Gamma Rays, they take an X-Ray. That let's them see exactly what area the radiation will effect. I did get to see what's left of my Tumor. It's very small now, somewhat larger than a walnut. They aimed right at that. Tomorrow I start the actual treatment.

Today I am officially done with Chemotherapy. Chemo is a 3 week recovery process, and today is 3 weeks since my last treatment. I saw my Oncologist today and he said that all my tests looked good. I have to go back and see him every 6 weeks to make sure I am still recovering and I'll get a new Pet Scan done in 6 Months to make sure nothing is coming back. Technically, right now, I am in remission. I have no sings or symptoms of cancer. Which is really all the doctors have to go by. Officially, there have to be no signs of cancer for a year before they really consider it remission. I'm just ready for ALL the treatments to be done. I'm really tired of being tired all the time. Only 4 more weeks.

I had my second appointment with the Radiation Therapist yesterday. They did a CT Scan in order to have a picture of where to line up the "gamma knife." They had to put 3 small tattoos on my chest and sides. This way thay can line up with the tattoos everytime and the treatment can be done quicker. Otherwise, I'd have to get a CT scan everytime,I suppose. My next appointment is Tuesday, where they will do a "Virtual Treatment" to make sure everything is lined up correctly. Then on Wednesday, I will start the actual radiation treatments. Everyday, except Saturday and Sunday, for the next 4 weeks. Barring any complications, I'll be finished with all of the treatments on April 27th.

Well I haven't been keeping my "Reading" link over there on the right very up to date. I finished reading American Splendor a while back. I have the second American Splendor anthology and "Our Movie Year" but I haven't read either yet.

I read thesse 2 books but never got around to posting them on the page. Well that and I read Cukoo's Egg in 2 days.

The Cukoo's Egg by Cliff Stoll.
Story about an astronomer who finds a hacker lurking in his computer. The hacker turns out to be a foreign intelleingence agent. Sound like a cheesy spy novel? It's a True Story.

Stranger than Fiction by Chuck Palahniuk
A collection of essays he wrote on various topics while researching his novels. A great behind the scenes view of how Chuck P writes his books.

I had my first appointment with the Radiation Oncologist today, but I didn't really find out much. Apparently, it take multiple appointments before you can actually start radiation therapy. Today was my "pre-consult". Wednesday, I go back in for "consultataion and planning", then sometime next week I have to go in for "pre-Therapy targetting"(which takes 2-3 hours), and then finally the day after that I will start the actual Radiation Therapy. My regular oncologist had told me the radiation side-effects would be "mild." Apparently, that's only compared to the chemo side-effects. The radiation side-effects are nasuea, vomitting, loss of energy, chest pain, heartburn, and difficulty swallowing. Wheee......

People on airplanes are really funny, I guess funny and weird. I sat next to a lady on the way back from New Jersey who was upset that the guy in front of her had leaned his airplane seat back all the way. She proceeded to, I kid you not, shoulder block the back of his seat repeatedly. When the guy gave her a dirty look, she claimed she was just trying to get something out of her bag and didn't have any room. She then proceeded to continue to shoulder block the back of the guys seat. When he turned around and asked her to stop, she lays into him on how rude it is to lean your seat back all the way on an airplane. I guess it might be but is shoulder blocking the person in front of you not?

Our next fun air traveler, was the lady sitting right behind me on the same flight. She was sitting in the aisle seat and fell asleep with her head and half her body hanging out in the aisle. Well let me tell you from experience, anything you hang out in the aisle, gets nailed by the drink cart, no exeptions. Which is exaclty what happend to this woman, WAM! Drink cart to the head. Now, really the stewardess should have been watching, and not hit the poor woman in the head with the drink cart. I'm sure it hurt. The weird part of this whole incident is that the woman begins to scream and cry like a small child. No swearing, no coherent speech, just crying her eyes out and repeating "You hit me." over and over. The woman had to be at least 50. I thought she might be "special" but after a few minutes she recovered and it was pretty obvious she wasn't. It was the weirdest thing I've ever seen.

Then on the way home last night, I hear this from the seat in front of me.

"Mom, where do they keep that bag you throw up in?"
(laughing)"Uhmm Why?"
"Cause I'm Gonna need it!"

Sit on my face, and tell me that you love me.
I'll sit on your face and tell you I love you, too.
I love to hear you moralize,
When I'm between your thighs;
You blow me away!

Sit on my face and let my lips embrace you.
I'll sit on your face and let my love be truly.
Life can be fine if we both sixty-nine,
And we'll sit on our faces in all sorts of places and play,
'Till we're blown away!

I'm here in New Jersey all this week. I finally get to take my class that I've had to reschedule twice because of the ole medical problems. They are pretty understanding about rescheduling your classes if you tell them you the reason you missed it was that you have cancer.

Ninsi and Phlome are getting ready to move out of Shady Manor. This will leave me with a lot more room. Room that probably should have some furniture in it. Right now I have one really old couch and a southwest style coffee table/chest which is way to big for my living room. This leads me to wonder "What kind of Dinette Set defines me as a person?"
On my way to class this morning, I noticed this place. It's literally 1 mile from where I'm taking my class. I'll have to stop by and see if I really want to give in to my nesting instinct. Of course, I could also just wait till this summer, and visit the local one.

Well this past Monday was my LAST Chemo treatment. It went as well as all the others. They give me so many anti-nausea drugs that I sleep through most of it. Came home and slept a few more hours. I've been busy with work and school all week. I managed to get my midterm and term paper turned in on time. Now I just have to write a powerpoint presentation to go with my Paper.

I don't know too much yet about the rest of my treatments. I go to see the Doctor who will be performing my radiation treatments on the 21st and then see my Oncologist on the 28th. I expect that I will start the Radiation treatments sometime around the 28th or 29th. I'll probably find out more on the 21st. Right now all I know is that the first treatment takes 2-3 hours, so they can "Aim" and then after that it's 10 minutes a day for 4 weeks. (M-F only I get the weekends off from being Zapped.) There are some side effects, but not as bad as the Chemo. I'll get really sore around the spot where the radiation is shot. The Doctor said it would feel like heart-burn.

This Sunday starts two weeks of travel for me. Next week I'm in New Jersey for training then straight to Tulsa to visit Family and Friends, then back in Dallas for Doctors Appointments on Monday, then off to Florida to complete some work there before I'm not allowed to travel again.

Oh and on one final Note CHECK OUT THE NEW EPISODE 3 TRAILER

I'm back at work today for the first time in over two weeks. I'm still not feeling 100% but I'm getting by on caffeine and Ibuprofen. No exciting plans for this weekend. I have to finish my term paper for Grad school so I figure that's what I'll be doing. There was some talk of seeing Be Cool, this weekend but it looks like it may suck.

In other important news, UCSD researchers have figured out a way to track any PC over the internet.

Well you are probably wondering where I've been. I mentioned I was deathly ill over a week ago. Well by last Friday it was getting better but the Doctor was concerned because my white blood cell count was very low when they checked it on Thursday. (last Thursday the 24th) Unfortunately, on Sunday my fever shot back up to 101 so I called the Dr and she said I should come in to the hospital and get some tests run and let them give me some IV antibiotics. Well, the blood test showed a white blood cell count of .7, normal is 5. The doctor decided that it would be best if I stayed at the hospital. I felt so bad then I didn't care. I actually came home for a bit to get stuff, and had Phlome and Ninsi take me back to the hospital.

My Mom and girlfriend both came down to stay with me. The hospital treated me with IV antibiotics and some kind of drug that makes you produce more white blood cells. By Tuesday Morning, my white count was up to 7.7 so even though I was still sick they said I could go home.

Let me tell you, having the Flu for nearly tw0 weeks is not fun. The light is at the end of the tunnel though, Monday is my LAST chemo treatment.