Quick health update: original plan was to do immunotherapy for one year, which would’ve ended with November’s infusion. Last month the oncologist told me I would be doing immunotherapy ‘indefinitely’. So, a little disappointing, but you just move on. Not everything in life has a beginning, middle and end.
All good 👍🏻.
🫶🏻
Finished 8th round of immunotherapy today. Few more months to go, if no surprises. Next scans in September.
All good 👍🏻💪🏻.
🫶🏻
💪🏻 and positive!!
Finished 3rd round of chemo a couple of weeks ago. That part is going as one would expect- usual side effects that pass after a week or so. My anemia is negatively affected by the chemo so I now have to get a Retacrit shot every week ( side effect of the shot is a constant, massive headache 🤕). As much as I like the staff at the clinic….seeing them weekly was not on my radar. The normal weekly dose of Retacrit is 20K units. I’m given 40K! It’s become a real battle between Anemia and Cancer 🤷🏼♂️😙. A bit absurd, but what can you do? It’s fun to watch the doctors as they react to these skirmishes.
The fourth ( and perhaps last 🤞🏻) chemo is coming up on Tuesday, next week.Enjoying feeling normal -relatively speaking-for the next few days.
The title of this blog post is a reference to a song lyric by Dublin singer, songwriter, writer & guitar player, Keeley Moss. Her band, KEELEY, is pretty amazing. Like me, she is a True Crime buff, and has a WordPress blog, The Keeley Chronicles, which is dedicated to the 36 years old, still unsolved murder ( in Larne, Northern Ireland-Ballypatrick Forest)of 18 year old German student/tourist, Inga Maria Hauser, in 1988. It’s a heartbreaking case that Keeley Moss has presented in a multitude of chapters or posts on her blog, with sensitivity and insight.
Anyway, here is a shot of me during round 3 of chemo, recently. Not bad for almost 73! Lol!! No close ups allowed! I’m more comfortable being on the other side of the camera lens 😉.
My best to all!
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
💪🏻👍🏻💙.
Can’t say enough good things about the Oncology staff and especially the nurses. It’s got to be a taxing job, on many levels. I have a great rapport with my Oncologist-brilliant guy!
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
All good 👍🏻💪🏻🙏🏻.
The port was implanted yesterday afternoon. It’s under the skin, where you see the two horizontal incisions. The catheter is attached to the port, near the top incision and travels up and to the right connecting to the jugular vein. A large vein is needed to deal with the chemo drugs. It finally hit me, on the operating table ( I chose local anesthesia over total, so I was fully awake and aware throughout the procedure) things are getting serious. 99% of patients choose to be totally out.
The club no one aspires to. Because I have a port I have to carry a card identifying as such, complete with serial number on the back, etc. I also have to wear a wristband identifying the port brand as well as something for my keychain. Mostly, this is for the benefit of healthcare workers, but it serves as a reminder for me as well
Always positive and strong! Hug your loved ones! 🙏🏻💪🏻🤗
Health update:
Disappointed, but not surprised. Pathology report came back positive for cancer-actually two markers- TTF-1 & napsin A were both positive. See doctors on the 19th and 20th, plan the next move. This is chapter 3 of this journey that started in early 2019.
🙏🏻
All good. 👍🏻
Yesterday was a bit exhausting, with three doctor appointments. Nearly overwhelming for my limited brain power. Anyway, PET scan has been scheduled for May 7th. Results from that will determine next steps. I really like my oncology team and the clinic in general. They listen, explain and are totally positive energy. It’s a tough aspect of healthcare, to work with patients who have serious issues and concerns.
All good 👍🏻.
On my walk a few minutes ago. A cloudless sky in Seattle- who would’ve thought?
Note: health update coming next week. I’ve seen one of three doctors, after my last CT on the 8th. Two more still need to weigh in. Based on what the first oncologist said, I have a sense of where things are going. It’s a mixed blessing/bag. All good.
This journey started in 2018, with the first CT scan. It’s just the nature of ‘c’.
Blessings 🙏🏻
I’m a week away from my follow up CT scan. This scan will validate ( or not) that the Targeted Radiation I did in Dec/Jan was successful.
Last Friday I had a dermatology appointment to address some skin issue I’ve had for a few years-actually started right after my first encounter with NSCLC, in 2019. It was a new dermatologist for me, so he wanted to do a full body exam. Everything looked pretty typical until he got to the back of my left, upper thigh. There/was a patch of red skin in a place I would have never noticed. He took a biopsy, but is 99% certain it is basal cell carcinoma. When the biopsy is finished he’ll call me with results and next steps. I’ve been so focused on my lung tumor …well, this event took me by surprise. So, now tracking two cancers in my body. 🤷🏼♂️🤔.
Wishing everyone a belated Easter. Warmer weather is on the horizon for us here in the Pacific Northwest 🤞🏻.
Blessings to all 🙏🏻.
Yesterday I finished the targeted radiation treatments. Now I wait till my next CT scan, in April, to see if the treatments worked. Hoping, but if not, I’m sure there is a Plan B. In the meantime, my PCP has referred me to another oncologist, one who specializes in blood issues. My labs have been consistently off for the past year and for most of that time we thought it was anemia caused by CKD. My kidney labs don’t support that theory anymore, so…. I won’t be straying too far from the cancer clinic. This oncologist will hopefully fit this piece of the puzzle with the rest of the stuff I have gone through since 2019 and my first go around with cancer.
In the meantime, still dealing with post surgery issues on my lower back. Hoping some PT this Spring will help that situation and maybe I’ll recharge the batteries on a couple of cameras and get back out shooting 🤞🏻.
My best to all!!
❤️
Week one of four weeks of Targeted Radiation started. Today went well. I can’t say enough good things about the clinic staff; they’re so supportive and really listen to my concerns and explain the process, as it relates to me, extremely well. I can expect fatigue and skin irritation. They gave me a cream for the irritation, which I apply twice a day.
The anxiety I had as well as everyone who has come in contact with my case is the tumors close proximity to the coronary artery that feeds the left side of my heart and to the main nerve that runs down my left arm. It was explained to me today that they can adjust the beam to within 1mm of where it needs to be. Additionally, if I were to slightly shift my body, for whatever reason, the SBRT machine automatically shuts off, so the beam cannot damage any tissue it’s not supposed to.
So, all good today 👍🏻. Thinking all positive thoughts!!
🙏🏻❤️
PS: Diseases like cancer can rob you of your identity. I haven’t used any of my cameras in months and it seems the real ‘me’ is slipping away from me. The mental battle is to not let cancer/disease to take away what is ‘me’. Never give in!!!💪🏻👊🏻
I had my last CT scan this Tuesday. Today I got a call from the Radiation Oncology Clinic, apparently the doctor saw something in my scan and he has decided I need 15 SBRT treatments rather than the 5 that was initially scheduled. Big change. I still start on Dec. 19th, but now the treatments go until January 10th, including my birthday on January 5th. Now we’ll have a quiet Christmas, New Year and birthday!🎉
The CT also discovered that I have a fractured T12 vertebrae. That problem will have to be put off till end of January. When it rains it pours, I guess..
I miss being out with my camera 📷.
Will post after my first treatment.
🙏🏻
Today we did CT Mapping of the tumor and surrounding areas, getting those locations entered into the SBRT system/machine. I have 3 ‘tattoos’ on my upper body to help the machine locate the area that needs attention.
Afterwards, they set up my treatment schedule. SBRT is high dosage radiation. I have five sessions scheduled. I do get Christmas Day off, but go back on the 26th, for what is planned to be the last session. 🤞🏻.
Looks like it’s going to be a quiet Christmas in our house this year, but getting the family together a few days later for dinner at a local restaurant.
Best Holiday Wishes to all!
I’ll be back in a week or so.
❤️
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