Chicken Soup

OK gang, for anyone that might be keeping track, only 7 radiation treatments to go.

For some reason I'm having trouble with motivation now that things are getting close to finishing. However, the prospect of being done soon is fantastic! I guess one could liken my motivational struggles to running a marathon. This adventure has been going on so long that it feels like one. Apparently, there comes a point in a marathon race where runners can hit a point where they "bonk." In layman's terms (or at least how I understand it), bonking is coming up against a point where your body & mind have a hard time to keep going. Lori told me the other day that often times the race organizers will have chicken soup at the 20 or 21 mile mark for those that are bonking. So, I'm working on my "chicken soup" now and trying to stay motivated. There is no question in my mind that I will finish this marathon in the fashion I want. However, it still feels as though the end will never get here. So instead of bonking, I'll keep on going after I get some "chicken soup."

"Chicken soup" comes in many forms. Most of it has come from those that have helped me through my chemo/recovery weeks, and Lori was a huge help to me today. However, some "chicken soup" comes from some of the most unexpected sources. For example, a little dose of chicken soup came from one of my radiation techs, aptly named Joy. Joy told me that she looked at my crazy blog writings over her holidays and left me a comment posting. I found the posting, and because of it, I have yet a little more strength for tomorrow's radiation treatment. Sometimes small doses of "chicken soup" helps a bunch! No "bonking" allowed!

Merry Christmas to All

Merry Christmas all! What more can be said, other than my best wishes to one and all of you. ~ Steve

Chemo is DONE!

As of Friday, Dec 19 I completed my final round of chemotherapy. This is the best Christmas present I can think of! Here's a picture of the final celebration at the oncology office. Cheers to all!

No Possibility of Bah Humbug Here

This being the Christmas season, some of my neighborhood kids have decided that my house needs more holiday decorations. First my nephew Danny (with the help of TJ) put up a couple of Christmas blowup characters (a reindeer and a penguin) in the front yard, Later Danny and my niece Emma decorated the outside of the house with some Christmas lights on the bushes and trees. Very cool!

Tonight my neighbor Allison stopped by (accompanied by Emma) and brought with her a small artificial Christmas tree which she had already decorated with lights and ornaments and included a tree skirt to boot. She set it up in my living room where I have started to gather the presents that I have completed wrapping. Another very cool moment!

So, basically, with the help of these very cool kids, there will be no Ebenezers around here this year. Instead, there are just constant reminders of the Christmas spirit and that .... Life is Good!

The Last Scheduled Chemo

Today marked the start of my last scheduled chemo regimen. I caveat it as the "last scheduled" as there have been fluctuations in the treatment plan throughout this adventure. That said though, I am excited about this and feel the proverbial "light at the end of the tunnel" is getting closer.

Thus, today I received cisplatnum and Ethel, with her 5 FU will be with me this week until I "kick her to the curb" on Friday. I want to thank Joan for taking me today. Here's hoping that things go well this week. This will be the first (and only) time that I get to go through chemo and radiation simultaneously. We'll see how this goes.





Speaking of radiation, here's a couple of pictures of the radiation experience. First here's the "A Team," my group of fantastic radiation technologists that treat me so well (I love these guys for their attitude & caring). Second, that's your friendly neighborhood cancer adventurer on the radiation table. The "cross hairs" on my side are magic marker used to align my body with the machine. There are little tattoo dots under the magic marker as a permanent marker for alignment. The machine is just above me! After radiating me from above, it rotates to my left side and then to to under the table to radiate me from behind. In total it takes about 10-15 minutes.


















Anyway, here we go on the last chemo event. Yipee!!!

My Hair

Some folks say my hair is coming back albeit a bit darker than it used to be. What do you think?

The Best Laid Plans...

Today's surprise (drum roll please) ........ chemo is delayed by a week. Instead of starting today I will be starting it on Monday, Dec. 15. Another good & bad situation!

The reason for the delay is that my white blood cell count from my blood test this past Sunday was a lower than desired. It is still within the normal range, but at the low end of it. So, the delay is to allow my system to re-coop, and then get on with treatment.

Unfortunately, this puts my recovery week in the time frame of Christmas. In particular, I will be (hopefully) coming out of my chemo funk on Dec 23 or 24, and my family is getting together on Christmas Eve to celebrate. Keep your fingers crossed that things will be going well for me then (thanks!).

Bottom line, we'll get through it!

7 Done, 18 to Go - and 1 more to Go

I've completed 7 of the 25 radiation treatments as of this week. A little over 25% completed. I wanted to have 8 under my belt, but the machine was down today. Thus, I have the joy of a day off, but the end date moves another day later. The good and the bad (hopefully there won't be an ugly!).

Next week I will have the joy of chemotherapy again. My "favorite" Ethel will be back with me again. This is the last time though. Again with the good and the bad. My guess is that the ugly should start somewhere around Weds of next week. We'll see! I'm curious how this will work with radiation therapy as far as my side effects go. I guess that curiosity will be quenched next week too! I'm fortunate that I will not have to witness this alone. Once again my Chemo-sabi Angels (Joan & TJ) are coming back from Chicago to stay with me and care for me. There are days when I think that I'm the luckiest person in the world. When these guys come from so far to help me, I know that I'm truly blessed. The gift of love and support are truly the greatest gifts of all.

The other show of support has been the calls, e-mails, cards and comments on this blog. I'm lucky enough to hear from folks near & far (as far as Iraq, Hungary, England, & Hawaii). I've also heard form folks as close as family, associates that I haven't seen in years, and every type of friend & acquaintance in between. It is very cool, uplifting, and touching. Thanks all!

So as events continue to happen and things progress, I'm happy to say that there is light at the end of this cancer adventure tunnel. I need to stay focused on the current events and the next one too, and not get too focused on that end-of-tunnel light. There is still much to get done treatment-wise and much to get through. However, with the help that I have received and continue to receive, I know that we'll get through it all in fine fashion.

Life is Good!

The Poem from TJ

My friend TJ sent me a card the other day. The card has a poem on the front cover and it would seem that TJ decided that the poem was not quite complete. I'd like to share the entire verse, Hallmark's & TJ's. So, without further ado here it is (Hallmark's part first).

Sometimes bouncing back
is slow.
(Your not a rubber ball
you know!)
So plump your pillows.
Take long naps.
Have a spot of tea, perhaps,
With extra jelly
on your toast.
Wear the jammies
you like the most.
Hug yourself real good
and tight.
And just take care of you,
all right?

Fill the crevice on your
couch,
Try hard not to be a
grouch.
Feast on homemade soup,
And hope you can still p . . p!
As your hair has just come
back in,
Once again it is thin.
Watching all the NetFlix shows,
Without HD really blows.
Cover your head with a hood
and remember
Life is Good!