The Dentist made me laugh

Went to the dentist this week for a check-up. I laughed out loud when they put the lead vest on me before they took the bite wing x-rays. It struck me as very funny that the dental staff was worried about my exposure to radiation. Ha!

Month #2 of the chemo only regimen

This is a happy package to receive. Meh. A box arrives on my front porch once a month now with just 20 pills, 5 days worth. These are the pills that should...no, ARE killing the bad cells in my brain.

I am now a month further away from the radiation. Will this chemo make me as tired as last time? (which was not too bad). I expect to not be as tired.

Prescription rant: I am prescribed to take 440mg of the medicine nightly. They do not make a pill that size. I have to take 3x100mg pills and 1x140mg = 440mg. Since it is two different size pills, it is considered two different prescriptions and two separate co-pays: 2 x$50 = $100 = $5 per pill. $5 = pint of beer. I'd rather be prescribed pints ;-)

Actually, I am not really annoyed because when this does its work, it is a bargain at twice the price.

Irony Part II

I got congratulations for my return to running this week. Ironically, the delayed return to running had less to do with the brain tumor and more to my healing achilles tendon rupture surgery (September surgery 5 days before the brain surgery). My right calf muscle is still smaller than the left but the limp is pretty much gone. I am sure my speed will never return. Of course speed was never there in the first place. (Boy, was I a sight for a while: hair falling out, puffy face, drooping left eyelid, and a big limp.) Finally, made it to the pool today. Easy half-mile+. Felt good. Lot of work before I am beach ready though.

I am in a chemotherapy regimen right now of one week on pills, three weeks off. This is the 3rd "off" week. Back to chemo pills next week. Interested to see how I will be effected this time as I move farther away for the radiation treatments.

Irony

Finally started working full time yesterday, yea me! Ironically, I am home today with my youngest daughter who has the crud: low grade fever, cough, snot, etc. Hopefully she will feel better today or tomorrow.

It is so good to be back working. I teach Junior High Social Studies so our focus this week of course has been on Haiti; the earthquake, the history of the country and the recovery. Our students' response was awesome raising over $1200 in two days for Catholic Relief Services which is doing a fantastic job in Haiti.

Seeing the destruction from the earthquake reminds me that by comparison I have not had it so bad.

Tomorrow to the Oncologist for a blood test! Yippee!

End of Chemotherapy Week One and shout out to my radiation oncologists

Finished first week of the new chemotherapy regimen. I took Chemotherapy pills for five days and now will be off the pills for the next three weeks, then on for five more days and off three weeks, and so on.

How was it? Not so bad, no nausea, but by the weekend I was just really sleepy. I am sleeping harder at night and just had to take a long nap this afternoon. I have to make sure I get more sleep during the week. For years as a teacher I worked with 5 hours of sleep a night figuring I would catch up on sleep in the summer. Now, I need a minimum of 8 per night. My energy should build to normal over the three non-chemo weeks.

Visited NIH for a follow up with the radiation oncology staff. They also were very pleased with my most recent MRI images. I am very thankful for their skills in aiming those x-rays to kill, wound, weaken, or maim cancer cells. They did a great job and always treated me and Marcie and the girls extremely well with respect and kindness. I gave Dr. Kesarwala one of my "stupid cancer" wristbands which she was thrilled to receive.

No Doc appointments this week and a 3 1/2 day weekend coming up!

Better life through chemistry!

Chemotherapy begins again. Yippee! One week on, three weeks off. Repeat. Pills (4) only just before bedtime. I don't expect nausea but have a pill for that also. Knock on wood.

A Happy New Year

“The scans look great! Even better than I could have expected.” Glorious words!

Yesterday Jim had his first post radiation MRI scan, and today we met with our lead doctor to talk about it. Everything looks great. The tumor has shrunk considerably. The higher grade (more dangerous) cancer cells appear to be largely dead.

The doctor explained that many of the tumor cells that remained after the surgery in September were destroyed by the radiation. The DNA in the rest of the cancer cells was damaged —he likened it to soldiers lying bloodied on a battlefield. The cells in their current form aren’t hurting Jim; they are only a threat if they try to divide (grow). The radiation will continue to “work” for many months by destroying those cells when they make the fatal mistake of trying to divide. Because the lower grade cells grow slowly, it might be many months before that process is complete.

In the meantime, Jim will continue to take the chemo drug. When I asked why, the doctor said it was like walking up to those bloodied soldiers laying on the battlefield and stomping on their heads. Sounds good to us! Jim will take a higher dose of the chemo drug for just 5 days a month. He’ll take medicine to prevent nausea, and he may experience some fatigue, but otherwise is unlikely to suffer side effects. If he tolerates the chemo well, he’ll probably continue this cycle for up to two years. He’ll have MRI scans every few months to monitor the effectiveness, and the doctor will make changes if needed.

“Looks good” we said as we prepared to leave. He corrected us: “Looks great!”