Week 9 - Complete

Made it through the week. I've finished all of the initial treatments. Now I need to get better.

Proof of Graduation

I'm not sure just what to expect now. All the time that I have been getting treatment, my  goal was to get all the chemo and radiation done. ...and... OK ... but what now. I still have all of these poisons in my body and they are still affecting how I feel and how I act. When am I going to notice some change of getting better.

The last two days all I have wanted to do was sleep. I tried to force some kind of energy but the results were usually to not really do much of anything.

I'm looking forward to when something of the 'old self' will start working like it did. You know - like tasting and drinking water, or eating some soup (or anything) or being able to talk out loud. Now I hear I will need some kind of  therapy (Speech Language Pathologist) to get my swallowing back to functioning normal. This will get me to be able to start swallowing again. But I do not know when that will even begin.

In the meantime we keep treating my skin daily with the vaseline preparation during the day and the Silvadene cream at night. This will continue until my next doctors appointment which is scheduled for Thursday, 10-28.

Until then - no more treatments to make me feel any worse. And that's a good thing!

Week 9 - Day 1

Today was all GOOD NEWS...I think.

I was able to resume radiation today. And, Friday will be my last day of radiation. Four more days to go.

My doctor noted during examination that my cancers have shrunk - he is unable to detect them. THIS IS GREAT! This is what this treatment has been about.

After radiation and the vaseline wrapping I met with my Oncology Doctor. More good news. We will be postponing the third chemo treatment indefinitely. We will continue to monitor my condition with various exams and scans, beginning in approximately six weeks, to determine the net results of the chemo and radiation and determine the future treatments as required. Hopefully this includes ice cream and stuff like that!

Now we will find out the results of all of these treatments and was it possible to remove the cancers from my body.

I sure hope so!!!

Week 8 - Complete

I have finished eight weeks of treatment. This week was more of a 'get yourself a little more physically fit' than any treatment. And - of course - last week I spent in the hospital curing blood infections and such.

My main object this week was to get the skin that has been burned (radiated) on my upper chest and neck areas to a stage where I will be able to continue with the remainder of my radiation treatment. It looks as though that is being accomplished.

I will begin radiation again on Monday. Also on Monday I will be meeting with my oncologist doctor to discuss status of myself in regards to chemo. More to come on this after I see Dr. Hamden.

I am doing fairly well this weekend. I still have a high buildup of mucous which interferes with my breathing and swallowing, especially at night. I am not able to talk or swallow as of yet, and I do not get a large amount of sleep.

Thant's it for week 8.

Week 8 - Day 3

Back to the cancer treatment center today. We are working on getting my skin cleared up and back to 'a more normal' condition. This seems to be coming along extremely well. Treat with Vaseline for half a day, then the silver cream overnight, a nice easy shower in the morning and then the nurses 'pick' at my skin to get it 'happy'. Progress is 'remarkable' I am told.

Also have another body infection that covers most of my back, waist and groin areas. More medication for clearing this up. (I hope)

Tomorrow - the procedure is scheduled for 9:00am and then to the 'Transfusion' center to have two blood transfusions. This will take about six hours. During this time I feed and drug myself. I prepped today with blood tests.

The good news! Monday I am again scheduled for radiation. Six more treatments to go - was confirmed by Dr. Herman today. So - the last radiation treatment is scheduled for Monday, October 25th, 2010.

I am having trouble coordination with Dr. Hamden on the conclusion of my chemo treatments. Currently I have an appointment with him on Friday, October 22nd, 2010. Hopefully we can get an appointment scheduled sooner than that but who knows.

Then we will begin the diagnostic portion of all of this to determine the results and how I get myself back to a normal life again. AMEN.

Week 8

Getting released from the hospital today. All medications have been converted from taking via IV so that I am able to take them - or an equivalent - via PEG feeding tube. Even got my 2011 flu shot as I was checking out. Getting this shot is common for patients under chemo treatment.

Radiation scheduled for 1:45  - and - well - it looks as though my skin has burned so extensively from previous radiation that it is to 'tender and raw' to permit any additional radiation until better healed. This is a set back. Why wasn't this being checked out while I was staying in the hospital so the new 'burn' treatment could begin?

Well - Sparrow and the Angel got to meet on this issue - and it wasn't pretty. I'm sure you all understand.

As for me - I will be going into the radiation center everyday to be treated for the burning. Load me up with Vaseline - until I go to bed - then Carol get's to spread on this Silver Sulfadiazine Cream to keep me slathered up overnight. When we go to the hospital the next day - they remove the Silver Sulfadiazine Cream and any loose or dead skin - then I am examined to determine if radiation can resume or they again will load me up with Vaseline to begin the process for another day. This could prolong radiation by 2, 3, 4 or more days. Dr. Herman told me today I am scheduled for six more treatments. Let's just hope that they resume soon.

This Silver Sulfadiazine Cream is what is used on burn victims to calm down the burning and to help remove the old burned skin. When they exam my skin they are looking to see if the new skin is growing back together and beginning to appear and become normal. In my case the burned skin is both external and internal - in my mouth and throat area.

Week 7 Ends

WOW! I think that the Spartan Football Team just played their closest 'IZZO' like performance on Saturday. It's good when good things from one program run into another program. This is certainly not to take anything away from the current regime. As coach Dantonio has worked hard to make this program what it is today. I don't know about you - but it sure makes me proud to be GREEN!

It's Sunday morning and I'm still a patient at the hospital. I completed two more radiation sessions last week. I am estimating that I have 10 more radiation sessions and one more chemo session until I have completed my cancer treatment. Who knows what is going to be involved in the healing process.

I have pretty much come apart this week. The radiation is like extreme suntan in my neck and facial areas and portions of my skin peel off. Can't talk, can't eat and can't drink. That's my normal today.

But - it is getting towards the end - and I am really excited about that. I probably won't get any 'real' doctor updates until at least tomorrow,

Week 7

Not so good. Chemo was cancelled on Monday...as was radiation indefinitely. I have developed a blood poisoning and my white cell count is down.

I needed to be in the hospital to get this treated. I have been here at the hospital since Tuesday evening. (Room 584)

See ya ... Pat