Here we go again....

So, it's December, about 2 months after the MRI on the old liver.  Historical recap:  The tiny spot was now two larger spots....blah, blah, blah, cut to the chase....relapse.  Bummer.  I have a new oncologist, Dr. Angela Coscio.  MD Anderson - St. Lukes.  Very smart.  Did I mention she has red hair?  Tall?   Red hair...hmm, where was I ?   Any way, she ordered all new tests to find out what was going on.    Met with Dr. Coscio yesterday.  Confirmed the biopsy was positive for the cancer cells, time to discuss next steps.  

Next steps....chemo...this time though, slightly different 'cocktail', mixed specially for this specific cancer cell tissue.  The other regimen, FOLFOX6 didn't get it all the last time. No Oxiplaitin this time, so no new neuropathy.  Yeah! (still no feeling in my toes)  The new chemical might cause acne and maybe some 'digestive distress', but other than that about like the last time, which I tolerated well.  Only 8 treatments she says, since they are very targeted.  After 4 we'll re-scan to see if the lesions are shrinking (which they should be) then 4 more and then my liver Dr., Aloia, will re-sect the tissue out and I think she said the tiny ones they'll zap with a bit of radiation (that's a bit scary). 

So, Merry Christmas to me....Christmas Eve morning, bright and early, head to the hospital to get my shiny new Port installed.  Yipee...I was a good boy this year, thank you Santa.  So I'll be in GREAT shape for Christmas Day.  I was supposed to cook the big Christmas dinner but not sure I'll feel up to it.  I guess I'll start my first treatment after Christmas sometime, but before New Year's Day.  

Planning a 10-day trip to Korea in March and I asked Dr. Coscio, with her red hair, if she thought I could still take the trip and she said absolutely!  She would make it work so that I can be gone for those days.  Hope all goes well.

So, there you have it.  I'm ready.  I have a pretty good idea what to expect.  Mentally...let's do this and get it over and done!!  I don't plan on slowing down too much, gotta keep busy.  I guess I'll try to add to this after the treatments, it helped me the first time, I'm sure it will help this time.  I guess I'll talk to ya'll in the New Year.  Happy Holidays!!

Happy Birthday to me....October 4, 2013

So, four months since the last entry. I have to admit its been a busy summer and early fall. I have traveled more in the past four months than I can remember. But in a lot of ways that is good. It means I am feeling better. Peripheral neuropathy is still a challenge in the feet, but I have been able to cope with any pain without prescription painkillers. OTC Aleve does the trick. I quit the 'scripts in April. If you remember in my previous blog, I tried going cold turkey. What a mistake. Anyway, that's done. I think I wrote about my puzzling liver thing. Its been pretty depressing thinking I might be going from one success to a new challenge. In April I had ANOTHER biopsy on the same spot on the liver. Like the last time, non-carcenogenic. Took a lot of blood tests and nothing definitive about anything. So my oncologist refered me to a liver specialist. I put off seeing the specialist since May. I was traveling alot and just could not (did not want) find the time.

Thursday, September 26, 2013 - So I decided to go see the specialist. I took all my liver paper work to him. "Hmmm....so you have had two CAT scans..." yes. "two PET scans...." yes. "None cancerous....full blood work for hepatitis A, B and C..." yes "all results negative...." yes. "So, why did you come to see me?" Really? Then, the reason the US health care system is so expensive: "Hmmm....have you had your liver MRI'd?" no. "Why don't we have you get an MRI on the liver and then we will have looked at it completely." So, I go in on Oct 6 (Sunday) for the procedure.

Monday, September 30 - I went for my six-month physical with my GP. It wasn't so good last time. Blood work done and numbers are on the edge, so over the edge. He wants me to see a urologist (you guys out there will know why). Well I didn't go see the urologist. Anyway, go in and the PA gives me a copy of my lab results....dread comes over me...then I read EVERYTHING is within acceptabel ranges...bad chlorestorol is down, good is up, PSA in the normal range, all the numbers looked great! It turned out to be a pretty good day that Monday.

Friday, October 4 - My birthday...Tommy was at work today in my office and took me to lunch, his treat. Came home to McKenzie's Bar-B-Que, which is a special occasion dinner for us. Deanna called from Plano, so it was good day.

Depression and anxiety lurk in the shadows. I feel restless. Just tired...mentally. That was one of the good things about one of the prescribed meds. Without it now I have to work at it all day, every day.

So, MRI this Sunday, follow up with the liver guy on Thursday. We'll see what the tests tell me. Went to Plano last weekend to see the grandson. What a joy. My kids don't remember my Dad much at all. They were so young when he passed.

If anything is worth reporting after my liver follow up this week I'll add to the blog. Take care

May 2013....in the homestretch for the two-year mark...

Half of 2013 is almost gone. It has been a busy 5 months. I have been feeling great lately; energy is up, neuropathy is more manageable. So I finally took the needed time to get the PET scan Dr. Baltz wanted me to have. My annual CT scan still had that pesky spot on the liver. It was a little bigger than last time, so he suggested I get a PET to look at it again. So I did the PET, and no surprise, the spot was still there and Doc said I should have another biopsy. Great. Well, I was a little less apprehensive than last year since I had been through it before. Made the appointment and headed to the Star Lobby at Memorial Hermann. Anyone needing outpatient radiology at Memorial knows where I am talking about. Got up early and made my way over to the hospital and filled out the paperwork, paid my copay, and waited. It was kind of slow that morning because I didn't have to wait very long before they called me back. Hmmm....looked very familiar. They put you in a 12 X 9 'stall' with a bed and monitoring equipment. It's outpatient, so you walk in, put on the stylish gown and relax. Soon the nurses start buzzing around. Every time one comes in to do something they ask you your name and birthdate....just to make sure you are the right person. I don't know who would want to fake an identity and go have a liver biopsy on the sly...Any way, I get all hooked up and wait....and wait...The procedure is supposed to be a CT guided biopsy, meaning they use a CT scanner to pinpoint the lesion for the biopsy. They started out in the 'stall' with an ultrasound machine, but the lesion is too small to zero in on and so its off to the CT room. Same drill...tech asks me to verify my name and birthdate. It takes about 20 minutes of different scans for the Dr to pinpoint the spot. They gave me a couple doses of happy juice to make me relax, but not go under...I have to be able to respond to the machine and Dr's instructions. Gave me two or three (can't remember)'numbing' shots at the location...then he was about ready to start. Man, he punched that first needle in and I thought I would pass out even with the happy juice. It was lot more uncomfortable than I remembered. Last time they really juiced me up to where the ceiling tiles were dancing around. Not this time. I could really feel the pressure. With two sample needles in, they ran me inside the CT scanner one last time before taking the samples. The machine tells you to 'breath in'...'hold your breath'...SCAN SCAN....'breath out'. Well, those two needles sticking in the old liver was so uncomfortable I was kind of holding my breath already, and when the machine said to 'breath in', I didn't have much lung capacity to inhale much. OUCH...He took 5 little samples and it was done. He pulled out the needles, put a bandage on the two punctures and that was it. Off to recovery.

Got my call from my Onco (well Donna got the call)and the biopsy showed NO cancer in the samples. Halleluah! I didn't expect to find cancer. And unfortunately I also expected what he did tell me what was going on. So last time, I had a 'fatty liver'...still do. I need to do some more blood work and testing now on the liver. I do not have any of the expected signs or symptoms, so my Onco says I should get with a liver specialist. Great...one more Dr. First thing I know I can do is exercise and lose weight. That can have a dramatic positive affect for the liver. I'm going to try yoga. Ok, chuckle now. That is my goal now, reverse this liver disease.

The other thing I have to do is stop one of the pain medications my GP switched me to. One of the rarer side effects is inflammation to the liver. Great...your liver takes a beating everyday. Everything goes through it and consequently you can damage it fairly easy. I don't drink alcohol, so I don't and won't have that related liver disease. Hoping the exercise regime will reverse this condition. Hopefully the yoga will help with the neuropathy in my feet. It was difficult tonight to go through the poses the instructor was doing because a lot of the poses require the strength of your feet for balance. I still can't feel my toes and its pretty uncomfortable bending my toes like the instructor wants.

But I'm determined to do it. By August, my two year anniversary off chemo, I want to be down significantly in weight and up just as much with flexibility and strength. I get angry thinking about the colon cancer and what it has done to me. I am grateful nothing has shown up in two years, but the side effects have been maddening. The depression it can bring really takes it out of you. But I press on. Life goes on. My little grandson is getting bigger and I love to spend time with him. My kids never knew my Dad very well, he died when they were young. I want to be around for the grand children from all of my kids.

If you still read this blog every once in a while, thanks. It helps me get balanced. Life is hard enough without physical challenges. I'll probably add another entry once I see the new doctor about this liver deal.