Is it July already???

Wow, I haven't update this since December.  I have updated my status on Facebook, but its not the same in a blog it seems.  So, in my last post, I told you about my planned trip to Korea.  It was fantastic, chance of a lifetime, I'll probably not have another trip there again.  I was a little worried being out of the country for so long, not knowing what to expect with health, etc.  Turned out okay.  Korea, for the most part, is a fascinating place.  With my Japanese heritage, it was great to be in a similar culture.  

So two weeks in Korea, I flew back, restarted my chemo schedule, repacked and headed somewhere else, then another trip, then another chemo, then a little more chemo.  My last regularly scheduled 8 round treatment schedule ended April 18.  As I updated on Facebook, Dr. Redhair greeneyes, uh, Coscio, said she wanted me to go for 4 more treatments because I was responded well to the regimen.  She eliminated the weekend 'buddy' bag, which was a big psychological step.  I never felt I was making any positive movement when I had to drag my 'buddy' with me.  Leaving him behind helped alot.  I still struggled with the mere fact she wanted me to do four more, as I referred to them as my 'bonus' treatments.  But I knew I could do it if it was making a difference.  My next CT scan was in late April and it was good.  Reduction in the size of all the lesions.  All of my labs are excellent.  Dr. Coscio started to think about talking with the liver surgeon about next steps.

So, its May now, and Dr. Coscio is getting ready to go on her maternity leave.  Really?  Doesn't she know how important I am and she has the nerve to take time off to what, have a baby???  Just kidding.... Men don't ask the right questions, and then they have to report to their wives all the details.  I failed....again..."when did she have the baby?....uh, May?"  "what did she have?...a girl, or uh maybe a boy."  Anyway, she went ahead and took her time off.  So I met her colleague, Dr. Nelson.  Sigh.  No red hair, green eyes, and all the other Angela stuff.  I guess I'll just consider him...the Doctor.  So, first meeting (older guy, serious look as he peruses my chart)....so, you had a CT scan in April.....looks like the lesions were showing reduction in size....looking at your lab work....(I REALLY HATED THOSE PAUSES!!!)...everything..looks..great!  You are responding well to the chemo, we are going in the right direction.  MAN...WORK ON YOUR COMMUNICATION SKILLS!!!  I was expecting during anyone of those pauses for the...

"however....", but everything looked good.  I told him about Coscio's plan for surgery and he said maybe we won't do surgery and just kill them off with chemo.  Okay, you're the Dr.  But we will probably look at long-term chemo just to keep things in check.  Bummer.

So fast forward.  July 23, last of the four 'bonus' treatments.  Hooray.  CT scan planned for the following week.  July 2, CT scan at the main campus of MDA.  Been there, done that, know the routine.  You go in early to do blood work...then you go to the Imaging Dept and get in the queue to prep for the CT.  They call you back the first time to get your vitals..then you wait..then they call you back to start your IV for when they inject a contrast medium during the scan.  And they give you this extra large plastic cup with the drink of your choice (Sprite, Sprite zero, of some other juice) with oral contract poured in. "Okay, drink down to this line (the portion where those drink cups get small at the bottom) in an hour.  Save the last until when they call you back."  I picked Sprint Zero...zero calories, gotta watch my weight!!  ;-0   This time around though, they threw in a kicker..."and did they tell you that you are going to get a barium enema too?"  SAY WHAT???  Oh well, when you go through all you do to stay upright, what's a hose up the bum.   Oh yeah, they do that once I get on the table, they didn't make me sit in the waiting room with my 'bag-o-barium'.  

So, into the CT room, get on the table, same old routine.  Then this 'extra' nurse is in the room.  Hmmm....what do you do?  Oh, okay, turn on my left side, ok, you're going to count to 3....1, 2, HELLO, 3.  She needs to work on her delivery.   Anyway, I won't go into the details.  They hurried along the scan because they knew I was trying to keep a quart of barium inside.  Finished the scan, scooted out of the room in a hurry to find the bathroom.....ahhhhh.  Uh, no details.

Now its Thursday, July 10, follow up with Dr. Nelson.  He's more upbeat today, second meeting, so as guys, we're 'buds' now.  Big smile..."so, you have the CT results.  They look...great!  Continued response to the treatments.  Lesions have reduced another 25% from the last CT so we are moving in the right direction.  Labs continue to look great."  He changed his position on surgery this time and said he would send a note to the liver guy about surgery.  He said the only way to be cured would be to remove the tissue.  If we just shrink them with chemo, they'll always be there.  I think Dr. Coscio will be back by the time I have my next follow up, and maybe I'll know what the liver dude has to say by then.  So this was  a very long post, sorry, but catching up with 6 1/2 months...

I am super encouraged by the news.  I am progre...oops, responding to the treatments.  I learned from my excellent friend who works at MDA, Heather, that in cancer lingo, if you are 'progressing' that's bad, means the cancer is progressing.  To express good news, she said you say you are 'responding' to treatments.  Thanks Heather!!! Responding, responding, responding....

Did a treatment today...I guess in the spirit of the World Cup, having finished regular time (eight original treatments), extra time (four bonus), I guess we are into penalty kicks.  Feel yuck tonight, but not too bad.  Looking forward to a better tomorrow.  Still don't like having to do the chemo, but I am bound and determined to beat this one again.  I have a great family and the best of friends along with me on this ride.  I remain positive, there are cancer patients I see when I am in for treatments working much harder than I am to keep ahead of the bad guy and my heart goes out to each of them.  I have a great team at the infusion clinic of MDA-Woodland, everyone of them!!  So, onward and upward.