The countdown begins

Ok...it's been a while since my last post. Since my last post I finished up my first round of chemo and radiation treatments. The doc told me I breezed thru the treatments but he didn't fool me. If I breezed thru it, I'd hate to think of what they considered struggling..haha. I started at 185 lbs and finished the treatments six weeks later at a svelte 155 lbs.

It's been two and a half weeks now since I finished and I've managed to put on a few pounds and my energy has started to come back. I jumped on the bike this last weekend but only was able to ride 15 mins before I was totally exhausted. I have a long way to go but as bad as I felt, it was good to finally get out even if it was only a few miles.

I met with my surgeon yesterday and the tests showed that there was some shrinkage of the tumor. We discussed the procedure and what to expect afterwards. Because of the location of the tumor, I will be required to have a permanent ostomy to ensure they remove all the cancer in the area. I'll admit I wasn't too happy after hearing the news and even felt a little angry. Looking at it now, it's much better than the alternative. I've now made it into a personal challenge to not let it change my life. If people can ride with missing limbs than there is no reason why I should let an ostomy get in my way...

My surgery is scheduled for July 26th followed by four and a half months of chemotherapy. I have a few weeks to enjoy the Summer before we hit it hard again. I'm a little nervous about the procedure but I know it's nothing I can't handle...looking forward to my upcoming cancer free days.


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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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