Thru The Lenz

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.

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

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.

Late in posting this entry. Monday February 4^th seen my Surgeon for the Third gate. The exam was unremarkable. He was happy with my 20 pound weight loss. His challenge to me is another 20 in the next three months. Maybe I can drop some more weight but I have to get actively exercising to do it.

Now it time to put the cancer fear out of my mind for the next three months. Difficult to do because of may daily reminders, numb finger tips and sometime evacuating the matter.

Went to see my Oncologist on Friday, the second gate. My anxiety was at its zenith. Heart pounding and blood pressure high, even with my BP meds, waiting for the results of my blood work. The marker, indicator of colon cancer and some other types of cancer (CEA) carcinoembryonic antigen measurement of a protein in the blood.

When my Doctor walked into the exam room I know my wait would soon be over. Great news! She told me my results were stable the same as the previous tests over the past year. Mentally thanking my Creator and parents for the great news. She gave me the usual exam. We discussed some questions I had about what I can do to prevent the invader from coming back. A good diet and weight loss maybe helpful means of prevention. I asked about Omega-3 and aspirin 81mg from my research on prevention from the Zone Diet. Both are good measures for cholesterol and blood pressure reduction.

All in all I had an exceptional exam. Next exam in three months. Second gate close, now for the third gate, my Surgeon.

The first gate is upon me today. This morning I prepared myself by using my trimmer to remove my chest hair around the port area. Before I left work at noon I applied lidocaine and prilocaine cream to the skin over the port and covered the area with a band aide. I drove down to Fox Chase and arrived about 2:45 for my appointment. Checked in at the desk and sat down in the infusion waiting room. There were many other patients with family or friends waiting for chemo treatment or other procedures. The stress of the pending treatment was clearly evident on the patients. The bravest people I have ever met in my life are on chemo or radiation therapy fighting their own personal battle against the invader within. Sometime I would ask myself what was worst the chemo or the invader. I would always come back to conclude the invader is the worst of the two evils. The chemo is one of our best defenses to stop or control the invader.

Calling my name was a cheerful Nurse who administered chemo to me several time during my six months of treatment. I was happy to see her. I sat in the chair while she was preparing the instruments to access the port. She asked me how I felt and if I had any pain anywhere. I felt fine and had not pain, I replied. We talked about the Holiday’s and our families. During this time I unbutton my shirt and pulled my tee shirt away from the port area. Gina was glad to see I used the anesthetic cream to numb the skin over the port. When she was ready to insert needle the standard protocol is a three count. I didn’t feel a thing, “GREAT.” The port is flushed with saline then the plunger is drawn back to indicate blood flow. We had flow, another good sign. Three test tubes of blood were drawn within second, followed up by a second flush and an anticoagulant solution. The anticoagulant remains in the dome of the port to prevent blood clotting. Every three months the port is accessed to prevent blood clotting even if no other procedure is scheduled.

Now the waiting for tests results and dealing with my rising anxiety levels until I see my Oncologist on February 1^st.

My Creator please protect me and all of your Subjects battling the invader within.

Well it’s that time again.  Three months went by quickly now preparing for the first of four surveillance check up in 2008.  My anxiety is growing high.  This Friday I go to Fox Chase for blood work and port flush, first gate.  Then I have to wait 2 weeks because my Oncologist rescheduled my appointment, the second gate.  So I had to reschedule my Surgeon at Einstein.  I like to see him after my Oncologist visit to tell him the results of my check up, third gate.

I hope and pray my creator will keep me safe from the invader.

More to come….

Today Mary an I went to see my surgeon at Einstein One. Physical–unremarkable. He was very interest in my mental state in dealing with this Invader. I told him I feel like the Sword of Damocles is above my head, however, I feel as the time passes I am becoming at ease with my situation. I watched Mary during the last 5-1/2 years dealing with breast cancer. She in now considered a “Breast Cancer Survivor.” Drawing my strength from her in dealing with this invader. He agreed it is a presents that will never go away completely.

We also discussed my weight and that I would like to lose 65 pounds. The Doc’s at Fox Chase approved the use of an elliptical with diet. He also approved the elliptical, and strongly suggested using the “Zone” diet method. My next visit is in January ‘08, my personal weight loss target is 20 pounds. Time to put my mind to controlling my diet and start the exercise program.

My sixth month out of chemo and fifteen month surgery check-ups were unremarkable. Thanks to my Creator!

All gates are closed until my next check-up.