Back on...

Here's a tintype of Lucas & date before his prom in June. I just got around to varnishing it...

After an energetic week off chemo, I started up again last Thursday. Two weeks on, one week off.

It takes a toll on me, but overall I have been handling it pretty well. I have some problems with thin/cracking skin on my hands and feet, and some stomach problems, but that's about it (and fatigue). My blood counts are acceptable, and I have enough of an immune system to fight off sickness (so far)...

In about a month or so I'll be getting another scan, then switching to a course of radiation and chemo... If that goes well, then I'll get intraoperative radiation therapy...

Daunting, but it's the road I'm on...

Yoga has helped a lot with fatigue and attitude, and teaching is energizing also...

-D

A new stent...

On September 11 at Emerson Hospital, I had my temporary stent replaced with another temporary one... The stent keeps my bile duct open; they last about 3 months. The procedure went fine. I'll keep getting temporary one's as long as there's a chance of getting back to an operable state.

Being back teaching at CCHS is going well. I find that I have a lot of energy and my classes are very good. Somehow the fact that I am facing my mortality has raised the level of discourse for me in my classes... It's hard to put my finger on it, but something good is happening.

The image above is one of 5 pieces that I have in the Danforth Museum Photography Biennial 2009. The show runs from Sept 12-Nov 8. 123 Union Ave, Framingham. It's part of my plan to keep my art life moving forward as I face this disease...

xo D

Back to school...

"Me in Yoga class"

Today was the first day of classes, and it went pretty well...

I have a wonderful batch of new students, as well as a bunch of advanced students who are also great... The school administration and my peers are supportive and accommodating and are helping me to make it work.

It's clear that I will need to modify my teaching and energy output, but it seems doable. I have a great teaching assistant in my first period class who will be able to assist in set up and materials preparation... and I have to modify some of my class requirements.

The school will install a purell dispenser in my room, and the last thing I need to work out is how to deal with sick kids as I try and protect my immune weakened body from illness...

It feels so good to be back doing what I do best... I get real positive energy being back with students...

Yoga is going very well...I have been going twice a week and will try and add a couple more classes if I can...

-D

Another week off...

I've had this week off chemo, and have been using it to make art, strengthen my body and rest before teaching starts up again in a couple of weeks. This week Monika brought both kids to set them up at college in Colorado and North Carolina... exhausting for her.
I stayed home.

The lack of growth in the last scan is helping me focus and redouble my efforts to get through this...
I've dropped chicken from my diet so now I'm down to just salmon, herring, and sardines for animal protein... Also this week I started going to Yoga... Day one wasn't pretty, but I think it will help me a lot if I have the energy to keep going even when I'm back on chemo. I'm hoping for 3-4 times a week.

cheers,

David

No Growth

The first scan shows no growth, or if anything a tiny bit of shrinkage. It's good news but tempered by the fact that I need a LOT of shrinkage to get to an operation that could save me.

So the work continues, and I keep working at chemo, diet, exercise, mind work, and supplements, and try and make this work.

Thank you for all the encouragement and help... It makes a BIG difference to me!

xo D

Opening

We just got back from a couple of days in P-Town for the opening of a show of my photographs. The weather was perfect, and LOTS of friends came out for the opening. It was a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone who came or sent good wishes...

I had started up on chemo again on Wednesday, and I've been feeling pretty good. I don't know if it was the energy from the show and being around lots of friends, or that a week off chemo gave my body time to recover...but either way I've been less tired than previous weeks.

I will get my first scan this week to see if the chemo is working...I'll find out the results on Thursday when I see my doctor on chemo day... Needless to say I am anxious about the results. We are hoping for either: 1. tumor shrinkage, or 2. no growth.

Any growth or spread and the window for getting to eventual surgery will close.

-D

Round 3

After having this week off chemo, I've almost forgotten how tired I get when I'm on it...

This week will be the beginning of the 3rd, 3 week cycle (2 weeks on, 1 week off chemo) of treatment. I may get a scan after this cycle, and then another after the next 3 cycles to see if the growth has shrunk, stopped growing, or has spread. That will determine what happens next...

I'll get my infusion a day early on Wednesday this week, so that Monika and I can go to P-Town on Thursday for my show at the Rice/Polak Gallery which opens on Friday night. Hopefully I can rest most of Thursday and have some energy for the show...
We're looking forward to getting away for a couple of days.

The Garden is in full bloom and gives me great pleasure, even though our huge lilies got trashed by the monsoon that we had a few days ago. They will spring back...