Hello Family and Friends:
Today marks three months from my last day of Chemo. I am light years ahead from where I was that day. My only complaints now are that my fingers are still numb and tingly and I still have shortness of breath from my hemoglobin still being down some. The hemoglobin is steadily rising and my platelets and potassium are back to normal. I lost 30 pounds during the 6 months of Chemo and was down to 148 pounds. I now have my taste buds and sense of smell back and am eating everything I can get my hands on. I have gained about 10 pounds and am fluctuating between 157 and 160 pounds. At a check-up with my family doctor last week it was concluded that with the length of colon that I am now missing it appears that my "fighting weight" in the future will probably stay in that range and I will never get back to the 178-180 pounds before this all started. This is not all bad as my doctor feels that 157-160 pounds would be an excellent weight for me.
I am now back to all of my activities with the Lions Club, Knights of Columbus and Fire Department as well as yard work around the house and am taking "power naps" on an infrequent basis. On June 17th I have another Colonoscopy to make sure that I don't have anything else lurking around in there and on July 20th I have a three month follow-up at the Alfond Cancer Center to check my blood levels and for any signs of cancer. I am very optimistic that everything is fine. I'll keep you posted on the outcomes of these check-ups. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
Sunday, June 5, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Seven Weeks Out
Hello Family and Friends:
I am now 7 weeks out of my Chemo Therapy and am doing very well. I appear to have no Chemo Fog or mental deficiency that so many people suffer from and my taste buds are back close to normal. It is a pleasure to eat food and be able to taste it. I lost 30 pounds during the Surgery/Chemo process and have gained back 8 pounds to date. My clothes aren't quite so baggy on me. I am starting to get back into my routine of attending meetings and civic affairs as well a doing physical labor outside cleaning up the winter debris. I still don't have a great deal of stamina and am still taking power naps, however, down to one a day. Next week on my Oncologist's orders I am going back to the gym and performing 30 minutes of moderate to strenuous activity 5 days a week to build up my strength and stamina. I am looking forward to warmer weather where I can get out into the sun and bake my old bones. Looking forward to getting the cargo shorts on again. I'll update you again in a couple of weeks on how the gym routine is going. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Dad (Al)
I am now 7 weeks out of my Chemo Therapy and am doing very well. I appear to have no Chemo Fog or mental deficiency that so many people suffer from and my taste buds are back close to normal. It is a pleasure to eat food and be able to taste it. I lost 30 pounds during the Surgery/Chemo process and have gained back 8 pounds to date. My clothes aren't quite so baggy on me. I am starting to get back into my routine of attending meetings and civic affairs as well a doing physical labor outside cleaning up the winter debris. I still don't have a great deal of stamina and am still taking power naps, however, down to one a day. Next week on my Oncologist's orders I am going back to the gym and performing 30 minutes of moderate to strenuous activity 5 days a week to build up my strength and stamina. I am looking forward to warmer weather where I can get out into the sun and bake my old bones. Looking forward to getting the cargo shorts on again. I'll update you again in a couple of weeks on how the gym routine is going. Talk to you soon.
Love,
Dad (Al)
Tuesday, April 5, 2011
Five weeks out
Hello Family and Friends:
I am now five weeks out from ending my Chemo regimen and starting to see a difference in how I feel. Last week I had my one month check-up and it went well. My platelets are back up to normal as is my potassium. My hemoglobin came up a little to 9.1 and is climbing. It may take 6 months for that to get back to normal. The CEA blood test to detect cancer came out negative so at present I am cancer free. I have my next check-up in three months to see how I am progressing. I am feeling stronger, able to taste many foods again and starting to get back into the stream of life going to meetings and seminars etc. I'll keep you posted as things unfold.
Love, Dad (Al)
I am now five weeks out from ending my Chemo regimen and starting to see a difference in how I feel. Last week I had my one month check-up and it went well. My platelets are back up to normal as is my potassium. My hemoglobin came up a little to 9.1 and is climbing. It may take 6 months for that to get back to normal. The CEA blood test to detect cancer came out negative so at present I am cancer free. I have my next check-up in three months to see how I am progressing. I am feeling stronger, able to taste many foods again and starting to get back into the stream of life going to meetings and seminars etc. I'll keep you posted as things unfold.
Love, Dad (Al)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
Three weeks out
Hello Family and Friends:
It has been three weeks since my last infusion and I am finally starting to show some progress. I am down to only a power nap in the afternoon which is where I was at before this whole mess started. I can tell that my platelets and hemoglobin are still down as I still get tired easily and still have shortness of breath when exerting myself much. My weight appears to have stabilized at 150 pounds down from 175 so hopefully I'll start to gain some back soon. Next Wednesday I report to the Cancer center for blood work and a meeting with my Oncologist to see how I am improving. My taste buds are coming back as I can now get some taste of foods and it doesn't all taste like sawdust. I'll keep you posted as soon as I have my meeting next week.
Love Dad (Al)
It has been three weeks since my last infusion and I am finally starting to show some progress. I am down to only a power nap in the afternoon which is where I was at before this whole mess started. I can tell that my platelets and hemoglobin are still down as I still get tired easily and still have shortness of breath when exerting myself much. My weight appears to have stabilized at 150 pounds down from 175 so hopefully I'll start to gain some back soon. Next Wednesday I report to the Cancer center for blood work and a meeting with my Oncologist to see how I am improving. My taste buds are coming back as I can now get some taste of foods and it doesn't all taste like sawdust. I'll keep you posted as soon as I have my meeting next week.
Love Dad (Al)
Saturday, March 5, 2011
Grand Finale
Hello Family and Friends:
I have finally completed my Chemo regimen. I am pretty beaten up, however, it is nothing but gaining from here on in. My platelets were down to 109 on Wednesday from a normal of 150. Likewise my hemoglobin was down to 8.9 from a normal of 13.5. I expressed my concern and the doctor laughed and told me not to lose any sleep over this. He advised that after the 11th infusion some of his patients have had platelet readings down in the range of 10 and hemoglobin down around 2 so I am in great shape. I am eating an iron rich diet and he feels that within a month I should be right back up to normal. As soon as I get back around normal I'll have surgery to remove my Chemo Port from my chest and not have to put up with the discomfort of that. My next appointment with the doctor is in a month and after a couple of one month appointments it gets spaced out to 3 months and if everything is looking OK it goes to 6 month increments for up to 5 years. The regular testing will be blood work only. If something should show up in the blood work then I would need another PET/CAT Scan to locate where the problem is now located. He said I shouldn't have a problem and if in 5 years I haven't shown a problem then I never will. I again want to thank everyone for all of your prayers that have helped me get through all of this. Don't stop just yet as I still have a way to go to get back running and gunning again. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
I have finally completed my Chemo regimen. I am pretty beaten up, however, it is nothing but gaining from here on in. My platelets were down to 109 on Wednesday from a normal of 150. Likewise my hemoglobin was down to 8.9 from a normal of 13.5. I expressed my concern and the doctor laughed and told me not to lose any sleep over this. He advised that after the 11th infusion some of his patients have had platelet readings down in the range of 10 and hemoglobin down around 2 so I am in great shape. I am eating an iron rich diet and he feels that within a month I should be right back up to normal. As soon as I get back around normal I'll have surgery to remove my Chemo Port from my chest and not have to put up with the discomfort of that. My next appointment with the doctor is in a month and after a couple of one month appointments it gets spaced out to 3 months and if everything is looking OK it goes to 6 month increments for up to 5 years. The regular testing will be blood work only. If something should show up in the blood work then I would need another PET/CAT Scan to locate where the problem is now located. He said I shouldn't have a problem and if in 5 years I haven't shown a problem then I never will. I again want to thank everyone for all of your prayers that have helped me get through all of this. Don't stop just yet as I still have a way to go to get back running and gunning again. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
Monday, February 21, 2011
11 Down - 1 to Go
Hello Family and Friends:
I am closing in on the finish line with 11 infusions behind me. Each one takes a little more out of me, however, I am still fighting back. Still no nausea, diarrhea, mouth or body sores. My major complaint is the loss of my taste buds. Everything tastes like sawdust and it is pretty hard to get excited about eating a meal when you can't taste it. I am eating 3 meals a day and drinking a bottle of Ensure chocolate shake to pick up an additional 300+ calories, however, have dropped down to 148 pounds. My taste buds slowly recover so that the day before my next infusion there are quite a few things that I can taste and enjoy eating. It is amusing that I can still taste most sweet things. Yesterday at Memere Roy's 93rd birthday party I ate 3 good sized pieces of birthday cake with 2 large helpings of ice cream and it tasted some good. I tried other snacks like Chex Mix and Chips and they tasted like sawdust. Oh well, it is almost over. My final infusion is on March 2-5 and then when I start to gain strength and taste back I'll know they will be here to stay. This time I seem even more tired than ever. I can't sit down anywhere without falling asleep except for driving. Thank you for all of the prayers and good thoughts that are getting me through all of this. I feel very fortunate that I am responding as well as I am as last Wednesday the guy next to me was rejected. Starting with his 5th infusion they had to cut back as he couldn't take the full dosage. He was in such tough shape Wednesday they sent him home with no infusion to recover for another 2 weeks and then try to start again. I thank the Good Lord that I haven't had to go through that. I'll close for now and will post again in a couple of weeks. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
I am closing in on the finish line with 11 infusions behind me. Each one takes a little more out of me, however, I am still fighting back. Still no nausea, diarrhea, mouth or body sores. My major complaint is the loss of my taste buds. Everything tastes like sawdust and it is pretty hard to get excited about eating a meal when you can't taste it. I am eating 3 meals a day and drinking a bottle of Ensure chocolate shake to pick up an additional 300+ calories, however, have dropped down to 148 pounds. My taste buds slowly recover so that the day before my next infusion there are quite a few things that I can taste and enjoy eating. It is amusing that I can still taste most sweet things. Yesterday at Memere Roy's 93rd birthday party I ate 3 good sized pieces of birthday cake with 2 large helpings of ice cream and it tasted some good. I tried other snacks like Chex Mix and Chips and they tasted like sawdust. Oh well, it is almost over. My final infusion is on March 2-5 and then when I start to gain strength and taste back I'll know they will be here to stay. This time I seem even more tired than ever. I can't sit down anywhere without falling asleep except for driving. Thank you for all of the prayers and good thoughts that are getting me through all of this. I feel very fortunate that I am responding as well as I am as last Wednesday the guy next to me was rejected. Starting with his 5th infusion they had to cut back as he couldn't take the full dosage. He was in such tough shape Wednesday they sent him home with no infusion to recover for another 2 weeks and then try to start again. I thank the Good Lord that I haven't had to go through that. I'll close for now and will post again in a couple of weeks. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Almost There
Hello Family and Friends:
I have now completed the 10th Chemo infusion. Feeling a little wobbly however and am able to move some of this excess snow. Wouldn't you know it when I can't ski I get deluged in snow. Same after effects as in the past with nothing new. This time my hemoglobin was back up to 10.2 and my kidneys not showing distress so I must be doing something right. Thanks for all of the prayers and good thoughts as they are getting me through this. Only 2 infusions to go so a month from now it will be all behind me. I'll keep you posted as I recover. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
I have now completed the 10th Chemo infusion. Feeling a little wobbly however and am able to move some of this excess snow. Wouldn't you know it when I can't ski I get deluged in snow. Same after effects as in the past with nothing new. This time my hemoglobin was back up to 10.2 and my kidneys not showing distress so I must be doing something right. Thanks for all of the prayers and good thoughts as they are getting me through this. Only 2 infusions to go so a month from now it will be all behind me. I'll keep you posted as I recover. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
3/4th the way through
Hello Family and Friends:
I have now completed my 9th infusion and it is starting to take it's toll on me. My blood work showed that my hemoglobin is down to 9.6. Normal is 13.5 to 16.5 and this explains why I am exhausted all of the time. I am trying to eat an Iron rich diet so that hopefully I can bring it up some before my next infusion. Also my kidneys are starting to show some stress so I am drinking lots of fluids to try to keep them flushed out and less stressed trying to get the chemo out of my system. For the first time I have a mouth sore and body sores. The body sores are very dry skin splitting at my finger tips and on my heels. I am keeping them lathered up with bag balm and this is helping as well as putting on industrial strength hand cream every couple of hours. I am thanking God that I have only 3 more infusions left and asking for help to get through them. 7 weeks from now I'll be through it and can then work on getting my strength back. Thank you for all of your prayers. I'll be back again soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
I have now completed my 9th infusion and it is starting to take it's toll on me. My blood work showed that my hemoglobin is down to 9.6. Normal is 13.5 to 16.5 and this explains why I am exhausted all of the time. I am trying to eat an Iron rich diet so that hopefully I can bring it up some before my next infusion. Also my kidneys are starting to show some stress so I am drinking lots of fluids to try to keep them flushed out and less stressed trying to get the chemo out of my system. For the first time I have a mouth sore and body sores. The body sores are very dry skin splitting at my finger tips and on my heels. I am keeping them lathered up with bag balm and this is helping as well as putting on industrial strength hand cream every couple of hours. I am thanking God that I have only 3 more infusions left and asking for help to get through them. 7 weeks from now I'll be through it and can then work on getting my strength back. Thank you for all of your prayers. I'll be back again soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
2/3 the way home
Hello Family and Friends:
I had my 8th Chemo infusion last week and am now 2/3 the way to completion. The same side effects as usual, however, appear to be having a new one this time. Sore muscles and joints like the day after you have overdone it playing a sport or gardening. Nothing serious. Just annoying when I go to reach for something and it bites me. I'll live with it if that is all that I have to complain about. In my last blog I pointed out that Connie was flattened with Sciatic nerve problems. She is now up and about and improving but not enough to get back to school yet. Today is a no school snow day as we are in the midst of a northeast blizzard so she won't be missing a day of teaching today. Next Wednesday I have my 9th Chemo infusion and I'll keep you posted on how I make out with that one. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
I had my 8th Chemo infusion last week and am now 2/3 the way to completion. The same side effects as usual, however, appear to be having a new one this time. Sore muscles and joints like the day after you have overdone it playing a sport or gardening. Nothing serious. Just annoying when I go to reach for something and it bites me. I'll live with it if that is all that I have to complain about. In my last blog I pointed out that Connie was flattened with Sciatic nerve problems. She is now up and about and improving but not enough to get back to school yet. Today is a no school snow day as we are in the midst of a northeast blizzard so she won't be missing a day of teaching today. Next Wednesday I have my 9th Chemo infusion and I'll keep you posted on how I make out with that one. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Picking Up Speed
Hello Family and Friends:
I am way behind in my blog. I finished my 7th infusion with my Neulaster shot in my belly on Christmas Eve. The usual exhaustion slowed me down somewhat, however, when Connie was changing a bed on Christmas Eve she twisted wrong and pinched her Sciatic Nerve flattening her. She spent Christmas day flat on her back and has been down ever since. Her Chiropractor appears to be making headway in getting her back on her feet, but has a long way to go before she is back at school. It won't be any time this week. Needless to say all of my time between power naps is taken up tending to her needs. Thank goodness I have an extra day between infusions this time so that I can take care of issues on the home front. I report at 8:30 AM this coming Wednesday for my next infusion and when that is completed on Saturday I'll be 2/3 the way through the regimen. Seems like I have been doing this forever and feeling crappy. I am looking forward to spring when it is over and I can get this poison out of my system and start feeling good again. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I wish all of you a healthy and prosperous New Year. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
I am way behind in my blog. I finished my 7th infusion with my Neulaster shot in my belly on Christmas Eve. The usual exhaustion slowed me down somewhat, however, when Connie was changing a bed on Christmas Eve she twisted wrong and pinched her Sciatic Nerve flattening her. She spent Christmas day flat on her back and has been down ever since. Her Chiropractor appears to be making headway in getting her back on her feet, but has a long way to go before she is back at school. It won't be any time this week. Needless to say all of my time between power naps is taken up tending to her needs. Thank goodness I have an extra day between infusions this time so that I can take care of issues on the home front. I report at 8:30 AM this coming Wednesday for my next infusion and when that is completed on Saturday I'll be 2/3 the way through the regimen. Seems like I have been doing this forever and feeling crappy. I am looking forward to spring when it is over and I can get this poison out of my system and start feeling good again. Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and I wish all of you a healthy and prosperous New Year. Talk to you soon.
Love, Dad (Al)
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