Enjoyed a morning on the golf course yesterday and seemed to tolerate it well. The game was not
as good as I would have it but it was great to get out. Sure got hot toward the end though.
I am planning on playing again tomorrow.
Now that I have had two chemo sessions and five radiation treatments, I find that I have had no
obvious negative reaction to either as yet. Perhaps the worst is yet to come but so far, so good.
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Monday, July 23, 2012
First Monday with chemo and radiation
Well I made it through the day with high spirits and so far little side effects. I feel almost
normal right now. I am sitting in my recliner, watching the Braves playing the Marlins.
Some times, the Braves go into a hitting funk and tonight's the night, it seems.
The infusion center was full when I arrived this morning but I managed to find an open station after
having my blood analyzed to see if I was up to the task. The lady sitting next to me was getting
chemo for lung cancer in both lungs and had beat breast cancer 24 years ago. She was a delight
to talk to and an inspiration to me as well.
It seems to me that having cancer brings out the best in most folks and there is a sense in the room
that we are all in the same sinking boat but ready to jump out and swim if necessary.
Right now I am deciding what day or days I will attempt to play golf this week.
normal right now. I am sitting in my recliner, watching the Braves playing the Marlins.
Some times, the Braves go into a hitting funk and tonight's the night, it seems.
The infusion center was full when I arrived this morning but I managed to find an open station after
having my blood analyzed to see if I was up to the task. The lady sitting next to me was getting
chemo for lung cancer in both lungs and had beat breast cancer 24 years ago. She was a delight
to talk to and an inspiration to me as well.
It seems to me that having cancer brings out the best in most folks and there is a sense in the room
that we are all in the same sinking boat but ready to jump out and swim if necessary.
Right now I am deciding what day or days I will attempt to play golf this week.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Monday monday
I am sitting here Sunday night at 10:20 PM wondering how tomorrow will play out. I have chemo scheduled at 10:45 AM followed at 3:15 with radiation. This will be the first of several weeks that start out like that. Most of the weekend was living a sine wave of physical reactions from the previous weeks treatments and this next week will be the heaviest of treatments so far. I really want to handle the ups and downs of treatments without putting a burden on my wife or others around me, including Dooley the rascal of cairn terrorist derivation. So, I will touch base here tomorrow night to discuss what it feels like.
My expectation is that it will be a continuation of the sine wave of feelings that I have endured today with perhaps a lower low, but we will see.
Love, Bill
My expectation is that it will be a continuation of the sine wave of feelings that I have endured today with perhaps a lower low, but we will see.
Love, Bill
Friday, July 20, 2012
Radiation is a blast
Its Friday evening and I am reflecting on the past few weeks.
I had radiation for the first time yesterday and again today. I am not at all sure what reaction I should expect but it seems that I run over to the hospital, get zapped, drive home and then get hammered for about an hour. The radiation machine is incredible. It is about the size of our motorhome and makes buzzing noises and rotations while I lay there on the table . I have drawings on my chest and sides that are used by the techs to align the beast.
I must say right here that the folks that I have been dealing with, techs, nurses and doctors have been
so supportive. I know they deal with sick folks everyday but I am so grateful that they are there for us.
I will have my second chemo session Monday followed by radiation so it should be a long day but a giant step in kicking this tumor out of here.
I had radiation for the first time yesterday and again today. I am not at all sure what reaction I should expect but it seems that I run over to the hospital, get zapped, drive home and then get hammered for about an hour. The radiation machine is incredible. It is about the size of our motorhome and makes buzzing noises and rotations while I lay there on the table . I have drawings on my chest and sides that are used by the techs to align the beast.
I must say right here that the folks that I have been dealing with, techs, nurses and doctors have been
so supportive. I know they deal with sick folks everyday but I am so grateful that they are there for us.
I will have my second chemo session Monday followed by radiation so it should be a long day but a giant step in kicking this tumor out of here.
Monday, July 16, 2012
Chemo begins
It's Monday morning and here I am hooked up to an infusion machine with tubes running into
a "port" in my upper chest. The room is almost full of people sitting in comfortable lounge
chairs. Every one seems to be calmly facing hours of sitting and infusing.
I count more than twenty stations with most filled with hopeful human beings. The nurses
are all kind and subdued when hooking us up to the medicine.
I am glad to be finally attacking the malignant growth in my esophagus.
a "port" in my upper chest. The room is almost full of people sitting in comfortable lounge
chairs. Every one seems to be calmly facing hours of sitting and infusing.
I count more than twenty stations with most filled with hopeful human beings. The nurses
are all kind and subdued when hooking us up to the medicine.
I am glad to be finally attacking the malignant growth in my esophagus.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
CANCER ! - what now?
Thursday afternoon, June 21
It took a minute for the electric shock that ran through my body when Dr. Cameron told me the ulcer is cancer to dissipate but I sucked it up and asked him what I should do now. He suggested I call Dr. Reddy or others that are oncologists in Cumming. I immediately called Dr. Reddy's office at Atlanta Cancer Care. I told the lady who answered the phone that I had just received the news that I have esophageal cancer and would like to make an appointment with their group. She was kind and helpful and made an appointment for the following Monday. I, of course, wanted treatment to start about twenty minutes ago but knew I had to wait.
Dr. Sreekanth Reddy met with Teri and me for a good while asking questions about my life and family. He also made appointments for a Pet/CT scan at the hospital Friday and an appointment with Dr. Girish Anand at Atlanta Gastroenterology for an endoscopy ultrasound to determine the stage of the tumor. I was feeling a little better at this time because I could see some movement toward treatment. I had the Pet.CT scan as scheduled and had the results faxed to Dr. Anand so he would have them Monday for the endoscopy ultrasound. That was accomplished as scheduled and Dr. Anand found that I have what is considered T2 tumor. He had discussed my case with Dr. John Moore, a thoracic surgeon and told me to call his office and make an appointment to meet with Dr. Moore.
I did and we did. Dr. Moore is a great guy from the hills of Kentucky and a straight shooter if there ever was one. He explained what had to happen before surgery and why. He also explained all the
things that have to be done before surgery will be done and what the surgery will accomplish.
In addition, he said he would install a "port" in my upper chest for chemotherapy administration.
This was Monday, July 9. The port was put in on Wednesday the 11th and here it is the 14th I had a training session at Atlanta Cancer Care yesterday and will have my first chemo on Monday. The protocol calls for once a week for 8 weeks of the chemo.
Also I met with Dr. Simon at the Northside Hospital radiology department for scheduling of radiation treatments that will begin next Thursday and be administered 5 days a week for 28 sessions.
In a little less than a month, I have four new doctors in my life, have had 2 CT scans, Pet scan, 2 endoscopy, a port installed in my chest and been to three different hospitals for procedures. It has
been a whirlwind. Everyone I have met at the many offices and hospitals have been wonderful.
I am ready for what ever comes next.
It took a minute for the electric shock that ran through my body when Dr. Cameron told me the ulcer is cancer to dissipate but I sucked it up and asked him what I should do now. He suggested I call Dr. Reddy or others that are oncologists in Cumming. I immediately called Dr. Reddy's office at Atlanta Cancer Care. I told the lady who answered the phone that I had just received the news that I have esophageal cancer and would like to make an appointment with their group. She was kind and helpful and made an appointment for the following Monday. I, of course, wanted treatment to start about twenty minutes ago but knew I had to wait.
Dr. Sreekanth Reddy met with Teri and me for a good while asking questions about my life and family. He also made appointments for a Pet/CT scan at the hospital Friday and an appointment with Dr. Girish Anand at Atlanta Gastroenterology for an endoscopy ultrasound to determine the stage of the tumor. I was feeling a little better at this time because I could see some movement toward treatment. I had the Pet.CT scan as scheduled and had the results faxed to Dr. Anand so he would have them Monday for the endoscopy ultrasound. That was accomplished as scheduled and Dr. Anand found that I have what is considered T2 tumor. He had discussed my case with Dr. John Moore, a thoracic surgeon and told me to call his office and make an appointment to meet with Dr. Moore.
I did and we did. Dr. Moore is a great guy from the hills of Kentucky and a straight shooter if there ever was one. He explained what had to happen before surgery and why. He also explained all the
things that have to be done before surgery will be done and what the surgery will accomplish.
In addition, he said he would install a "port" in my upper chest for chemotherapy administration.
This was Monday, July 9. The port was put in on Wednesday the 11th and here it is the 14th I had a training session at Atlanta Cancer Care yesterday and will have my first chemo on Monday. The protocol calls for once a week for 8 weeks of the chemo.
Also I met with Dr. Simon at the Northside Hospital radiology department for scheduling of radiation treatments that will begin next Thursday and be administered 5 days a week for 28 sessions.
In a little less than a month, I have four new doctors in my life, have had 2 CT scans, Pet scan, 2 endoscopy, a port installed in my chest and been to three different hospitals for procedures. It has
been a whirlwind. Everyone I have met at the many offices and hospitals have been wonderful.
I am ready for what ever comes next.
Monday, July 9, 2012
My cancer story
Amazing few days. On June 13 I filled the toilet with burnt motor oil while taking my normal respite before
my shower. I must admit, it was a little shocking but I managed to ignore it and had a good nights sleep. But then there was the same result the next night and I knew that that was a problem, maybe.
When the urge hit on Friday morning and the result was the same, I was concerned enough to call my Dr.
after golf that day. Dr. Pierce told me to see him on Monday but not to hesitate to go to the emergency room if symptoms continue. Bummer.
On Saturday morning, I caved in and decided to go to the ER and turn my life over to the Medical professionals. Well damn, first reaction was that it's good I came in because this is not a good symptom.
Dr. Cameron decided to do an endoscopy procedure. He found a bleeding ulcer at the bottom of my esophagus near the stomach and collected samples for biopsy. Dr. Cameron also ordered a CT Scan to determine if there is cancer lurking somewhere.
I spent that night in the hospital and got approximately 15 minutes of sleep.
I went home on Sunday and there was no more black stool so I was hopeful that the ulcer was the
problem.
Played golf on Monday and Tuesday and didn't hear from Dr Cameron so I was feeling a sense of relief.
Well, the call came Thursday afternoon, Dr Cameron explaining that the biopsy result was in and it was cancer. Bummer, indeed.
my shower. I must admit, it was a little shocking but I managed to ignore it and had a good nights sleep. But then there was the same result the next night and I knew that that was a problem, maybe.
When the urge hit on Friday morning and the result was the same, I was concerned enough to call my Dr.
after golf that day. Dr. Pierce told me to see him on Monday but not to hesitate to go to the emergency room if symptoms continue. Bummer.
On Saturday morning, I caved in and decided to go to the ER and turn my life over to the Medical professionals. Well damn, first reaction was that it's good I came in because this is not a good symptom.
Dr. Cameron decided to do an endoscopy procedure. He found a bleeding ulcer at the bottom of my esophagus near the stomach and collected samples for biopsy. Dr. Cameron also ordered a CT Scan to determine if there is cancer lurking somewhere.
I spent that night in the hospital and got approximately 15 minutes of sleep.
I went home on Sunday and there was no more black stool so I was hopeful that the ulcer was the
problem.
Played golf on Monday and Tuesday and didn't hear from Dr Cameron so I was feeling a sense of relief.
Well, the call came Thursday afternoon, Dr Cameron explaining that the biopsy result was in and it was cancer. Bummer, indeed.
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