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)
Thursday, March 24, 2011
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)
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