Are we there yet?

Well, week number five of chemo and radiation is coming to an end. The last week has been tough. It's still been a struggle holding my weight and I have to say I haven't been very successful in that battle. The good thing is that there isn't much longer to go in this round of treatments. The long weekend coming up means no treatments on Monday and should help give me a chance to rest and maybe put on some more weight. One more day before before the final week of round one.


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Thunderstorm on a clear night....

Last weekend marked the halfway point in my opening round of treatments. The treatments have started to really have an effect on my body. I figured I've lost about 15 pounds since I started. My goal is to try and not lose too much more in the next three. To help, I've brought in a secret weapon...Mom and her cookin. Haha.

One of the other side effects I've been having trouble with is the inability to sleep at night. I've tried all sorts of things including herbal teas and supplements. Finally, after playing with my iPad late in the evening, I downloaded a soundtrack from iTunes of a thunderstorm. It did the trick... Thank you iTunes...


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No appetite but still plenty of hair...

Ok...just took my last dose of chemo for this week. The week started out ok but the last two days have been pretty tough. This is the end of my second week of chemotherapy and radiation with four more weeks to go. Hopefully, these next four weeks will go by quickly. The main focus I've had during this time is to try to not lose too much more weight. Friday is the day my weight is measured and today's weigh in showed that I had lost another four pounds this week. It would have been worse had it not been for the roll of quarters I had in my pocket...haha. On the positive side, I put on a pair of size 32 pants. The last time that happened was back in high school... The plan for this weekend is to recover from this week and try to add a little more weight to get ready for next week. These last two weeks have been tough but I know the meds are working. Week two is over now... ready to take on week number three!




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Week #1 coming to a close

Just got home from my last radiation treatment for this week. No radiation treatments on Saturday and Sunday also means no chemotherapy for those days too. The radiation treatments weren't that bad but the chemo treatments have not been very fun. Wednesday was probably my worse day. The medicine had me feeling rotten. I spoke to the docs that morning and they phoned in a prescription for me to help with the nausea. The new meds did the trick and now I'm able to eat and sleep a little better. I still have nausea but nowhere as bad as before... One week down...five more to go...


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Beam it out Scotty

Ok. Here we go. First day of treatments today. It went well for the most part. Got to the hospital a little early and the staff were able to squeeze me in. I went in and headed to the treatment room. The radiation warning sign on the one foot thick door meant this tumor was going to have a bad Rene day.

I go in and lay flat on my belly on the machine. Afterwards, the nurses adjust my position carefully lining up the lasers with the marks they made earlier last week on my bum. It was very cool in sort of humiliating way. It wasn't too long before it was all over...

I had started my chemo treatment earlier this morning. Nothing too dramatic. It was a nice relief to know my first series of chemotherapy would consist of a series of pills I would take daily.

...tomorrow, we do it all over again for the next six weeks. I'm just happy to finally get this started.


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A simulating experience

Yesterday was a fairly easy day. The nurse was great. I think she could read my expression as i walked into the room after I changed out of my street clothes. She said today would be pain free.

I went in to run what they call a "simulation" and CT scan for the radiation treatments that will start on Monday. My part was easy. I basically had to lay flat on my stomach while they ran though a large machine. Of course, I'm doing this in a hospital gown that is lacking in the back. The nurse explained the process as she went and then made marks on my body to serve as reference points, "targets", for the radiation treatments. Looks like we are all set to start the treatments now. Monday is the big day. Chemotherapy and radiation for six weeks....let's do this!!


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Today wasn't too bad. Some more exams, more paperwork and more consulting with doctors. Nothing much new. Just nailing down the treatment schedule and examination for the most part. I start the Monday after Easter with six weeks of daily radiation and chemotherapy for six weeks. Then after twelve weeks, I'll have surgery followed by more chemotherapy.

Today I met the final doctor on my team and overall, I'm really impressed with them all. Comments from hospital staff further confirm the quality of the doctors so that makes me rest easier knowing I have best guys on my side. My next appointment is on Tuesday so that gives me some time to relax for a bit. Looking forward to this weekend. Miss being on the bike so maybe I'll get a chance to get out for at least a few miles... See you next week.


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Location:More gowns