News Flash!!!!

I received a call from my Medical Oncologist, Dr. Chen, today with awesome news. The results from my PET scan are showing the tumor has reduced in size. It has gone from 3.6cm to 2.1cm. Dr. Chen is looking at 1 maybe 2 more cycles and then reduced radiation treatments. I would love to have a cold one to celebrate but that is going to have to wait until September.

Cycle #2

With the ongoing treatment I started to get real warm sitting around the house and decided it was time to cut off the hair. As you can see Alanna was more than happy to oblige. It felt so much better, but wait there's more. While getting ready for lunch the next week I decided to just grab some hair and pull. I got enough for a small paint brush. I knew this day was going to come. Jacques to the rescue and the finished product is below.

Yes folks Kojak is alive and well and receiving chemo in Arizona. Carla, my nurse, is ready to start up my joy juice for Cycle #2.

Fastforward and it's Friday. This treatment week went much better now that I have gotten my rotation down with the Tagamet and my nausea medication. The heartburn and nausea have gotten better. The fatigue and muscle weakness is just kicking in today and it seems to have gotten a little worse with my shot of Neulasta, for my white bloodcell count, that I got during my hydration this afternoon.

I will start with some Aleve for the weakness and fatigue and hopefully it won't last as long as the first cycle.

As always Mary and I thank you for your support and prayers.

2011 ASG

Thanks to my niece and nephew-in-law for giving me a "shout out" at the 2011 Allstar Game in Phoenix. Brooke and Sean thank you for "standing up" for me, it means alot.

Week 1 in the books

Hello all and Happy Boom Boom Day! Sorry I'm a few days late in updating about my first week but the treatment kicked my butt. I'm guessing the added 5FU that is on a pump being injected all week is the culprit. The heartburn and the hiccups have been tamed by Tagamet and nausea pills. It's the fatigue in my back, arms, and legs that is annoying. Fortunately I'm feeling a little better each day off of treatment. July 18th is the start of my next cycle. Until then, when you feel down and troubled and need a helping hand just remember WWDHD. What Would David Hasselhoff Do? Yes, get up brush himself off and move forward. Until then adios.

Steve

Part II Day one

Okee dokee my brothers and sisters still following the saga. Today was day one of my new treatment and it went without a hitch. I would like to give a shout out to the Bard company for manufacturing the Power Port. That little bad boy was placed in my chest last Thursday and it makes drawing blood and administering the chemo drugs easy as 1 2 3. All you do is pierce the skin with a special needle and snap it into place. As my nurse put it "Slicker than snot on a doorknob". Mary and I got into the chemo room , after my doctors appointment, around 10:30. I was hooked up shortly after and pumped up with the good stuff. After all was said and done Mary and I were out of there a little before 5:00. Long day filled with a few naps induced by the Benadryl iv's. So far so good on the lack of side effects. I am hooked up to a portable pump that shoots me up with 5FU for the next 96 hours. I'll be going back the next few days for hydration and I will keep everyone updated. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes, it means alot to Mary and myself.

Peace and Lovie Dovie,
Steve

Update for 06/16/11

I will be undergoing chemotherapy again in about a week and it will be a more aggressive approach. Although my oncologists aren't sure what kind of cancer it is they feel it may be what I had in my neck and throat. She mentioned that lung cancer usually starts centrally in the lung and not peripherally where mine is located. There were a couple of options given for treatment and I decided for the more aggressive approach. This time around I will be having a port placed in my chest next week to accommodate drawing blood and for the ease of administering my chemo drugs. The plan of attack consists of three drugs. Cisplatin, Taxotere, and Fluorouracil(5-FU). All will be given on a Monday session. The 5-FU will be pumped into my system for 4 days by a handy, dandy little pump that I will be carrying on me. On Tuesday I will go back and have a shot of Neulasta which is a white blood cell booster. From my understanding the only drug after the initial Monday chemo is the 5-FU for 3 weeks. This whole process, "Chemo Mondays" and "Neulasta Tuesdays", is considered a cycle. I will do 2 - 4 of these before my radiation treatments. The side effects for all of this is neuropathy(diabetes), nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fatigue, low white blood count, allergic reaction to the texotere, and last but not least hair loss. The original game plan by the doctor is to be out for 6 months. That is only precautionary until after the first cycle and how my system handles it. If I do well with minimum side effects then I will petition the court to let me come back with IFAM. So for now Sunday, the 26th of June, will be my last day. Thank you for all of your support through all of this. It means a lot to Mary and myself.

Biopsy Update

To those that are still following the ongoing saga of Cancer Boy.I have been scheduled for a lung biopsy Thursday June 9th to see what is on my lung. I am assured that I won't feel a thing. I will let you know what the results are when I get them and also if I feel anything.