Holiday Rest...

I will have 4 days to rest this week starting on Christmas Eve day through Sunday. I'm at the half way point for the radiation and chemo treatments. So far the main symptoms are fatigue some intermittent pain for a few hours after treatments. Overall pretty bearable, really. During the day I feel full energy and am able to teach, so I'm hoping that continues into January. It has interrupted my going to yoga, but I'll start back up in mid January when this course is over.

The biggest challenge for me is staying positive and focused on healing. Knowing that my odds are so bad... creeps into my mind when I'm tired and weak. Generally though, I feel pretty positive about how this is going and I know that the fact that the cancer hasn't grown is good news. So I'm staying the course.

The radiation is trying to damage the DNA of the cancer cells and either kill them outright or interrupt the DNA enough that they die when they try to divide and replicate. Our hope is that the kill rate will be enough to shrink the tumor to an operable state. Short of that, no growth would lead to more a intensive radiation procedure... Those will be the discussions of mid February...

For now I will enjoy the next 4 days rest and the holiday gatherings with family and friends. That, I have come to realize, is the most important thing...

I wish you all a wonderful holiday with those you love...

Peace,

David

one week down...

During this first week of radiation, I held up pretty well. It makes me tired, and I feel like "something" is going on inside, but otherwise I can't tell. I've had some pain in my back and around the area of my stent, but I'm not sure if it related to the treatments or just caused by irritation from the stent procedure and the stress of being back in daily treatment.

I have the weekends off from both the radiation and chemo, so I'm trying to rest and refresh in preparation for week 2.

The kids come home on Tuesday, and Monika's Mom comes from Sweden on Friday, so lots of distractions are on the horizon...

Numerous people have been asking me about how to join the list of people who have been bringing us meals on Mondays and Wednesdays. Jan McGinn has been keeping a list and forwarding people my diet limitations. Thank you to Jan and everyone who has been so kind and generous...It has been so helpful to us during all this chaos...

Jan can be reached at: mcginn.jan@verizon.net

Nuclear Power

I started radiation and chemo today.

Five days a week for 28 days. Weekends and holidays off. They lined up my 3 tattoos with the laser guides and took x-rays to ensure that the radiation beams would hit the right spot.

I felt nothing for the 15 minutes it took to get "zapped" though I know that the side effects are cumulative so I expect fatigue to build up...

I made it home in time to go to yoga, but now I'm officially exhausted.

Now we just hope that it does it's job well...

Complication

I was supposed to start radiation and chemo today, but there was a problem with blood levels from my liver. That, combined with a a bout of fever, chills and fatigue last night... and my doctors came to the conclusion that the stent in my gall bladder is failing and needs to be replaced; tomorrow.

So back to MGH for that procedure, and if all goes well, I'll start radiation on Monday.

Never a dull moment here!

-D

Thankful

I've been between treatments for almost 3 weeks, and am getting ready to start radiation and chemo early next week.

We're VERY happy to have the kids home this week for Thanksgiving break. Amanda has been accepted to all the schools she's applied to, and has now toured Northeastern and Clark. Soon she'll choose between the two.

Feeling strong and happy these weeks, I've been reflecting on all the blessings in my life. I'm thankful for family, friends and colleagues who have been so central to my life, and have recently risen up to help me in these darker times. I have very few regrets and am grateful and happy in spite of the curveball I've been given...

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving.

- d

Good News

The biopsy of my liver was negative, so the door stays open to further treatments!

On December 2nd I begin 28 days of radiation and chemo (pills), 5 days a week.

Friday I will get scanned and be tattooed with several small dots to align the machines to. Medical physicists will then calculate a computer model for numerous paths to the tumor which present the most direct route with the least chance of damaging surrounding organs. Very high tech, computer guided and accurate... I hope it does the job.

Now I have a couple of treatment free weeks to enjoy before it gets rough...

Change

Well, at my oncologists' insistence, the biopsy has now been changed to this Thursday ...
I'll get the results on Tuesday...Much better than the end of next week.

Thursday's not a good day, but I have no choice...we need to move along with the treatments.

It's been a pleasure to be off chemo these past couple of weeks... I feel almost like my old self.
This has given my immune system a chance to regroup, let the cracks on my hands and feet begin to heal, but most importantly, I have LOTS more energy and with that comes raised spirits...