Treatment #3 was two weeks ago. I got thru the first 7 days a little easier than after the first two treatments. Lynda and I have learned a lot about how to best time certain medications to minimize the valley I experience during days 5, 6 and 7 after each treatment. The great thing is that the nausea has not been a big issue for me and fatigue isn't too bad. I have felt well enough that working has been no problem. Fortunately I have plenty of flexibility in my hours and where I work (home vs. the office) that I can take a break whenever I need to. Treatment #4 is next Friday (March 13). I am looking forward to getting past this one because it means I will get scheduled for my next PET scan (probably very end of March). My doctor will use this scan to determine how many more treatments I'll need. Please keep up those prayers - especially over the next couple weeks!
We have a new member of the Bald Melon Club - he is #10! Ray and I have known each other for years - going back to a Christ Renews His Parish (CRHP) retreat at St. John Neumann about nine years ago. Ray and I are now members of a prayer/discussion group that is meeting at Lynda/my house each week thru Lent.I learned this week about St. Baldrick's Foundation - a non-profit group that is funding research for pediatric cancer. It pains me to think of the many kids who are struggling with cancer. St. Baldrick's is all about "Shaving the way to conquer kids' cancer". They recruit people to volunteer to have their heads shaved - encouraging others to donate in support. I am talking with some friends at Accenture to do something to support this. More info to come. BTW - I looked into St. Baldrick's and they appear to apply a higher percentage of the funds they raise to fight cancer than many other cancer charities.
I'll end there for now. God bless,
Tom
Sad but true there is no age bar to cancer one of the deadliest aliment :(
ReplyDeletemy heart aches for the kids ... most of them would not have seen the beauty this world offers and they are fighting cancer day in and day out.
Organisations like St. Baldrick's Foundation are boon for them but then you know many of them are just money making ....
Your treatments sound very much like the way John went through his last year. He worked through his (except for chemo day and the day after). He also had the neuropathy in his fingers (he also has it from diabetes).
ReplyDeleteI hope everything continues to go well for you! Aren't you glad the bald look is in this year? :)
Glad to see your most recent post and that things continue to go better than you might have thought. Between modern medicine and faith we CAN expect miracles! My daughter is on the leadership team for the Wheaton high schools' annual American Cancer Society Relay for Life this year. It's in May. We will be sure to buy a luminaria for you for the ceremony that the kids do towards midnight of the event. It's incredibly moving as they honor by reading the names of everyone associated with the event who has been battling with cancer. I will send out her team web site in the next few weeks and hopefully they will have photos. Stay Strong!
ReplyDeleteI hope things are going well.
ReplyDelete