Three days deep into the new chemo, and it's been relatively interesting so far.
Lots of moving parts with this chemo: when to take certain pills, when to eat as a result, when to get infused with the chemo down at the Ketts. Trying to work out my own little schedule to make it all happen, and so far so good.
As far as the chemo itself goes - not too bad. Fatiguing more than anything, really. Come home after the early morning chemo session and grab a nice little power nap, then try to get on with my day. It works out fairly well. Really trying to crank out this schoolwork before grades must be in. Determination factor is definitely there. Took a solid nap today and went on to finish and send in two papers. Another big nap tomorrow and perhaps I'll be conquering Earth.....watch out.
Hope everyone's enjoying this true spring weather - not too cold, not too hot, really refreshing. Catch you all soon.
Wednesday, April 24, 2013
Monday, April 22, 2013
April 22, 2013
What a relaxing weekend it was indeed. Back to the chemo grind today, however. Not nearly as bad as the previous rounds I've had, like they said, but let's see how the week goes...
So the scans were almost good. So close. A blip popped up on the radar around my kidney; quite small, making the doctors unsure of what exactly it is, but near the site of previous involvement in or on the kidney at initial diagnosis. Everything else is seemingly clear, which is pretty sweet. So we'll get a better look at the kidney via MRI to see what's going on there. The plan of action is still the same: maintenance chemo (which actually is the same combo of drugs used for those who have recurrences of the disease and therefore would be the plan of action anyway if the kidney involvement did turn out to be a growth of the sarcoma) and then if that little bit of action on the kidney becomes a worry we'll zap it with some radiation. Maybe back to catching some photons. Nice.
So as for now I'll be doing some homework and perhaps taking a ride around town on this gorgeous sunny day. Maybe check out how the golf game is with a needle in the chest (it stays in for the whole week now, just hanging out there). Catch you later world.
So the scans were almost good. So close. A blip popped up on the radar around my kidney; quite small, making the doctors unsure of what exactly it is, but near the site of previous involvement in or on the kidney at initial diagnosis. Everything else is seemingly clear, which is pretty sweet. So we'll get a better look at the kidney via MRI to see what's going on there. The plan of action is still the same: maintenance chemo (which actually is the same combo of drugs used for those who have recurrences of the disease and therefore would be the plan of action anyway if the kidney involvement did turn out to be a growth of the sarcoma) and then if that little bit of action on the kidney becomes a worry we'll zap it with some radiation. Maybe back to catching some photons. Nice.
So as for now I'll be doing some homework and perhaps taking a ride around town on this gorgeous sunny day. Maybe check out how the golf game is with a needle in the chest (it stays in for the whole week now, just hanging out there). Catch you later world.
Friday, April 19, 2013
April 19, 2013
"For here all are one, and our hearts are true." - For Boston, Boston College Fight Song
I (luckily, yet unfortunately) was unable to make it up to see my friends at BC due to the manhunt and its corresponding lockdown. But you know what? That's okay - as the BPD, FBI, etc. did some unreal job eventually tracking down and catching this guy without anymore injury - and alive. This is merely the beginning. We'll get to the bottom of this; we always do.
Rest easy tonight. Later everyone.
I (luckily, yet unfortunately) was unable to make it up to see my friends at BC due to the manhunt and its corresponding lockdown. But you know what? That's okay - as the BPD, FBI, etc. did some unreal job eventually tracking down and catching this guy without anymore injury - and alive. This is merely the beginning. We'll get to the bottom of this; we always do.
Rest easy tonight. Later everyone.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
April 18, 2013
Absolutely awesome Bob Seger concert on Tuesday night. Crushed some excellent Japanese cuisine beforehand as well - really getting out there and enjoying the time off from chemo. Must be done.
Speaking of getting out there, figured it was time to make my way back up to Beantown to spend some time with all the excellent Boston College humans before their crunch for finals and my start of maintenance chemo. Also included is a quick stop at Quinnipiac to visit the cousin and her roomie and also teach them how to go about closing out an NCAA Ice Hockey Championship (too soon? nah.)
Caught some nice weather and good baseball games this week. Hoping that with this new chemo I'll still be able to get out and about to these games...not going to push it though. We'll see. Also dominated the scans today - all three in a row. Took quite a while to get through, but when you look at the sweet "this person is legally radioactive" card you get at the end of a PET scan, well, it's all so worth it.
Until later everyone.
Speaking of getting out there, figured it was time to make my way back up to Beantown to spend some time with all the excellent Boston College humans before their crunch for finals and my start of maintenance chemo. Also included is a quick stop at Quinnipiac to visit the cousin and her roomie and also teach them how to go about closing out an NCAA Ice Hockey Championship (too soon? nah.)
Caught some nice weather and good baseball games this week. Hoping that with this new chemo I'll still be able to get out and about to these games...not going to push it though. We'll see. Also dominated the scans today - all three in a row. Took quite a while to get through, but when you look at the sweet "this person is legally radioactive" card you get at the end of a PET scan, well, it's all so worth it.
Until later everyone.
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
April 16, 2013
Amidst all the chaos and confusion, all my friends and acquaintances have been accounted for in the great, resilient city of Boston and its suburb of Chestnut Hill. It makes me sick to my stomach that something like this occurred on a day that Eagles past and present celebrate as a second Christmas of sorts, a festival of spring and achievement. Of course, prayers go out to all implicated.
And back to the reason I wasn't in Boston yesterday - went in to check out the blood counts again just to make sure everything was status quo or on the rise. Everything is on the rise. I'll be good to go for chemo next Monday, with one slight change. After a quick discussion with the docs, we've pushed my scans up a few days, meaning I'll now be getting them all done on Thursday. Excellent. Just in case you all wanted to meet my doctor, here's a quick video spot he did for Sloan. Great stuff.
Take care everyone.
And back to the reason I wasn't in Boston yesterday - went in to check out the blood counts again just to make sure everything was status quo or on the rise. Everything is on the rise. I'll be good to go for chemo next Monday, with one slight change. After a quick discussion with the docs, we've pushed my scans up a few days, meaning I'll now be getting them all done on Thursday. Excellent. Just in case you all wanted to meet my doctor, here's a quick video spot he did for Sloan. Great stuff.
Take care everyone.
Sunday, April 14, 2013
April 14, 2013
What a finish to the Masters. Solid stuff...if you weren't pumped up about the 72nd hole for both Scott and Cabrera, you don't have a pulse. Also to be noted is that without the 4 stroke swing at the 15th in his second round with that freak shot off the pin, Tiger would have contended and/or won this event. Really unlucky for him.
A good, relaxing weekend was had by all here. Heading back down to the Ketts to get the counts checked out real quick and should have the rest of the week off before kicking off the next chemo cycle. It's an interesting thing, I'm more interested and curious about this next round than I am anxious or worried. I'm sure all these thoughts will change once I have to scramble into battle mode, fighting the side effects to the best of my abilities - always a good time.
Really ready for this spring weather, finally rolling around. Been outside with the pitching wedge, knocking it around the compound a bit. The mediport seems to be cooperating with the swing relatively well, and so perhaps my vision of getting on the course a bit more this summer will come to fruition. Would be swell indeed - I look forward to being out of the house, having been a prisoner of it due to the nasty effects of the high dose chemo. Maybe I'll see some of you out there; I'll be the pale dude whipping the cart around corners at high speeds (half the fun of going golfing).
Have a great week everyone. Get out and enjoy the fresh air!
A good, relaxing weekend was had by all here. Heading back down to the Ketts to get the counts checked out real quick and should have the rest of the week off before kicking off the next chemo cycle. It's an interesting thing, I'm more interested and curious about this next round than I am anxious or worried. I'm sure all these thoughts will change once I have to scramble into battle mode, fighting the side effects to the best of my abilities - always a good time.
Really ready for this spring weather, finally rolling around. Been outside with the pitching wedge, knocking it around the compound a bit. The mediport seems to be cooperating with the swing relatively well, and so perhaps my vision of getting on the course a bit more this summer will come to fruition. Would be swell indeed - I look forward to being out of the house, having been a prisoner of it due to the nasty effects of the high dose chemo. Maybe I'll see some of you out there; I'll be the pale dude whipping the cart around corners at high speeds (half the fun of going golfing).
Have a great week everyone. Get out and enjoy the fresh air!
Friday, April 12, 2013
April 12, 2013
Huge day. Everyone, on this very day in 1999, the mutt of mutts was born. Indeed, she of the youthful exuberance turns a whole fourteen (human) years old today. She's taking it in stride, bouncing around a bit as if she knows it's her birthday yet acting too cool to celebrate. Nonsense I say, and so I sent Bigfoot out to retrieve a cake for our retriever. Turns out Katie's a fan of pound cake...who could've guessed. Add it to the list that includes anything else edible plus faux tree bark. Mutt.
Watching the Masters with Katie, who as we know is a huge fan of the tournament and fancies herself a properly fitted green jacket. I told her ladies aren't allowed membership at Augusta...don't tell her about the two recent additions she hasn't heard about them yet. It's shaping up to be an interesting weekend down south, just wish they had more coverage (maybe on TV from noon?) of play. We make due with what we're given though.
Got it all set up with the doctors that should everything go well with the new chemo scheme-o I'll be able to have Senior Week up at Boston College off. This week immediately precedes graduation and is loaded with festivities/events for the senior class. Fingers are crossed that all goes well with it and I'll be able to make that trip. Also, scans and other appointments are all lined up for Tuesday the 23rd. We'll see how it all goes!
Everyone stay well out there. I leave you with a shot of the birthday girl on Easter with her baseball-themed egg basket during the hunt...she couldn't carry it any other way....
Later everyone.
Watching the Masters with Katie, who as we know is a huge fan of the tournament and fancies herself a properly fitted green jacket. I told her ladies aren't allowed membership at Augusta...don't tell her about the two recent additions she hasn't heard about them yet. It's shaping up to be an interesting weekend down south, just wish they had more coverage (maybe on TV from noon?) of play. We make due with what we're given though.
Got it all set up with the doctors that should everything go well with the new chemo scheme-o I'll be able to have Senior Week up at Boston College off. This week immediately precedes graduation and is loaded with festivities/events for the senior class. Fingers are crossed that all goes well with it and I'll be able to make that trip. Also, scans and other appointments are all lined up for Tuesday the 23rd. We'll see how it all goes!
Everyone stay well out there. I leave you with a shot of the birthday girl on Easter with her baseball-themed egg basket during the hunt...she couldn't carry it any other way....
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