Welcome to my world

We went to Atlantic City, NJ on Sunday.  Must have walked 8 miles between Casinos on the boardwalk.  Some interesting sights, and I’ll leave it at that.  The sun was shining, very windy for May.  People were on the beach but no one in the water.

We went to the Hilton to collect a box of Sapranos wine and meet a few of the cast.  Very nice people.

All in all had a great time even though the bandits took my money.

Scheduled 1/2 day vacation on Friday afternoon to get a early start back to Philadelphia. Took a longer route to enjoy the early summer views on the Delaware river. Arrived at home at 2:30 in the afternoon. Collected my fishing gear and headed up to Station Ave. I had the line in the water by 4:30. Caught a small stripper about 14 inches, and a few white perch.

Went to the Festival on Saturday. I can sum the day up in one word, “FANTASTIC!” The food and live music was unsurpassed. I had a “Peroni” Italian beer and a Cannuli Brothers Hot Roast Pork Sandwich. Ya just can’t beat real Italian food!

Also captured a photo of the myth, the legend, the man..John DeBella from WMGK.

What do you think John was stirring in that extreme bowl?

Wow, I been very busy doing other things in my life. Can’t believe its May already! My first follow up this year on the Invader was unremarkable. Great news.

My son, Rob, graduated from Holy Family University this month with a 3.901gpa. More great news! I been working on my photo site www.ltmlphoto.com. The site is always a work in process. Updated by including “Photo Essays” using flash.

Keeping my blog updated is now on my todo list at least once a week.

Stay tuned!

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. 

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.