Welcome to my world

Friday November 14^th was my 4^th quarter surveillance testing for the invader.  I woke up at 5 am to prepare myself for the days events.  One may ask how do you prepare?  After a shower I shave my chest over the infusion port on my right side.  Next I put a small amount of anesthetic cream on the port area then cover with a small piece of plastic wrap and band aide.  The port has been a part of me for two years now.  IS this stressful?  Hell yea!!  The stress level starts to climb at the beginning of the surveillance month. 

I left home for my 7 o’clock appointment.  Arrived at Foxchase at 6:45; signed in and now the wait until called for the blood work and port flush.  The infusion waiting room to me is full of hope and at the same time depression.   This early in the morning there were 15 people waiting for blood work or infusion or both. A little later the area would be filled and people would be waiting in the outside area.  This scene take place 5 days a week 52 weeks a year. Not only at Foxchase but every health care facility that treats cancer patience’s around the world.  This epidemic cuts across all ages, young middle and seniors it knows no barriers and comes in many different forms.

While I was waiting a lady came and sat down next to me while her husband signed in.  He came over to sit down and wait.  She said to him, “He’s drinking his smoothie too.”   She asked me “what flavor,” I replied, ”banana.”   She told me her husband had a berry one during their ride in.  So we were both prepping for the next test; CAT scan.   The couples daughter walked in a few minutes later.  The lady told her about my smoothie.  The daughter asked me what I was getting treated for.  Colon cancer surveillance was my response.  Her father was undergoing colon cancer treatment and the cancer metastases to his liver.  Somehow we got on the subject of ports.  Her father had one, and so did she.

The young woman told me the at 34 she was told she had breast cancer. 

Stay tuned for part 2.

The checkup on the Invader in April was unremarkable!

July was scope time again.  Went through the procedure with ease, great news, colon is clean!  Now for the stressful tests…CAT scan with contrast, blood test with CEA marker, and port flush.  The tests aren’t that bad to go through.  However the waiting for the results is extremely stressful, 7 days after the tests I seen my Doctor for the results.  He told me there were three enlarged lymph nodes by my liver that showed up on the CAT scan.  Freak out time is the Invader back!!!  However the nodes were not typical of cancer just enlarged.  To be cautious I was scheduled for a PET scan. 

This is the first and I pray the last time I have to go for a PET scan.  After the Scan I went back to see my Doctor to find out the results.  Great news the PET scan show no abnormal activity in my body and the area of interest was clear.

Next surveillance is in November.  Again I’ll be on edge.  I pray to my God and parents to keep me safe and out of the Invader’s reach.

I haven’t posted for several months because I have been busy with other activities.  In the past months I have been getting back to outdoor activities.  Went fresh and salt water fishing several times. Rob and I went to the 7 bridges near Mystic Island New Jersey for salt water fishing.  I haven’t been there since I was a kid with my Dad and cousin Bill, the area has really changed.  This was Rob’s first saltwater fishing trip.  He caught a couple of Fluke however no keepers.  I caught a double header; Fluke on one hook and a sea turtle on the other.  We had a great time just sharing the experience.  “Priceless!” We have to go crabbing next.

This fall I’m going hunting with the guy’s from work.  I have to start hiking again to get ready for the fall hunting.  I really miss being out in the woods in the fall.  Crisp air and a kaleidoscope of colors.

A very interesting past 10 days. Last Wednesday (3/5) I weight in at 241 pounds and the same day my hot water heater decided to leak. Before the summer of 06 this would not be a problem for me, just change it out. However now it’s a different story because of the chemo’s effect on my finger tips I have a difficult time feeling and holding onto small objects. I also feel I’m generally de-conditioned. Now the hot water heater change out is a personnel challenge. After work on Thursday I stopped in at Lowe’s to buy the heater and related copper parts. I borrowed tools from work since all of my tools are in Philly. Stayed up to 2:30am Friday morning doing the change out. Success, what a confidence builder!
I agreed to do three programs to help me lose weight. Take a 20 minute walk in the evening 3 time a week, also in the morning. The morning program I didn’t do yet because it’s still dark in the Pocono’s. Lastly, Bring my lunch to work. I also decided to stop snacks during the day and at night. I use to have a 1/4cup of trail mix or peanuts for snacks. Sometime my favorite, potato chips (cheating). Today, Friday (3/14) its weigh in time again. I agreed to lose 5 pounds in 14 days. I get weighted in the morning after I get up. Went down to the den, and pulled the digital scale out. I didn’t think I lost any weight at all. Surprise, the scale displayed 235.4 pounds. First I thought I was dreaming or the scale was off. So I stepped off reset the scale and stepped back on. Same weight 235.4 pounds. I must have did this 7 times to convince myself the scale was correct

When I came into the development tonight from work I drove over to the lake and then to my home to record the distance, 0.7 miles, so round trip walking is 1.4 mile.  A good walk after a long day at work, I thought.  After dinner I walked to the lake with my camera to capture the moment.  The wind was kicking up tonight so with the wind chill it felt like 20°F.  I would rather it be 85°F on a summer’s eve at the lake. 

I have been trying to lose weight to help protect me from the invaders return. I lost 20 pounds over the last 5 months. Since I leveled off and lost only 3 pounds in the past weeks, I plan to lose more weight by starting an exercising program. I have to work into the program slowly because I believe I’m de-conditioned.
With the weather getting slightly warmer here in the Pocono’s I went for a walk tonight. I agreed to do 20 minutes with a friend which turned into 30 minutes. Most of the walk was on a level road. I wanted to have a slight hill to walk down and up on the return trip so I went to the lake in my section. The lake was frozen over and the view of the surrounding area was surreal with the trees asleep for the winter, waiting for spring to wake up. Tomorrow night I plan to bring my camera to capture the moments at the frozen lake.

Today was the last Chinese New Year’s celebration in Philadelphia’s China Town, 10^th and Arch Streets. Mary, Alicia, and I enjoyed the brilliant colors of the Lions. The beat of the drums, and of course the extremely thunderous FIRECRACKERS!!

I’ll be updating this gallery with more photos in the upcoming weeks. I have so many to choose from it will be difficult for me to determine which captures to put online.

Please check in during the upcoming days to view more captures at

http://www.ltmlphoto.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=290

Last Sunday Alicia and I traveled to China Town 10th and Arch Streets in Center City Philadelphia to see the Chinese New Year’s Celebration. We had a fantastic time watching the Lions Dance in front of businesses and restaurants along the street. Then the Lions would set off the fireworks. Not just a pack, but 4 to maybe 25 or 30 foot strings of the red crackers. Awesome!! Drums, symbols, and FIRECRACKERS! Ear deafening!

We are planning to go back today for the third Chinese New Year event.

To view more photo’s go to:

http://www.ltmlphoto.com/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=290

Buddy, our 11 year old Brittany Spaniel gave the family quite a scare two weeks ago. Thursday night Rob found a lump on Bud’s left side of his neck up by the jaw. When I came home that evening Mary told me about the lump on Bud’s neck. I felt the area, finding the lump it was large about 2 cm. Of course we thought the worst, that Bud had a cancer (invader). The next day I called our Vet to make an appointment for Bud on Monday. Bud’s health issue just added to my tension and anxiety because for me it was the two gate weekend, Friday my Oncologist and Monday my Surgeon appointments.

My appointments out of the way and non-eventful, thanks to my Creator, Mary and I took Bud to his Vet’s appointment Monday afternoon. Our Vet is a great person who treats animals with respect and kindness. He examined Bud’s neck area finding the lump, the Doc’s facial expression change to one of great concern. He told us he thought it maybe a saliva gland or lymph node leaning more to the node. Doc examined Bud’s other nodes in his body. Mary and I knew the lump would require surgery before the appointment and we were prepared for the worst news. Doc discussed what he could do for Bud, stating time was of the essence. We needed to get him in surgery as soon as possible. He would first x-ray his chest. If the film was clear he would do the surgery. The Doctor discussed what he found and the measures he would take with his Assistant. The Doctor told his Assistant to reschedule other appointments on Thursday morning so he could operate on Bud.

Thursday morning Alicia and Mary drove Bud to the Vet’s office. Bud was made comfortable. Mary and Alicia left the office. My body was in work but my mind was with Bud, praying for him as I am sure the other family members were praying also.

I received a telephone call from Alicia about noon. She informed me Bud made it through the operation and was in recovery. The Doctor would keep her informed of Bud’s progress throughout the day and he could be picked up in the evening.

Mary and Alicia picked up Bud late Thursday night. Our Vet will not let an animal go home until his patient can stand and walk under their own power. He showed the lymph node tumor to the girls, and told them it was larger then expected. He had to be very careful because the tumor grew around a major vein in Bud’s neck. He would be sending the tumor to U of Penn for pathology. Now the wait for path results.

Great news! Our Vet called on Thursday to inform us Bud’s lymph node was invader free, no cancer! The node was reacting to an infection. The Pathology Department at U of P will conduct further analysis to determine the cause of the infection.

Bud is doing great, eating and playing with his family. He goes to see his friend, the Vet, to get his blue stitches out this Thursday.