Drum roll please.....................................

Ladies and gentlemen of the blog site I have some exciting news. I had my PET scan on Thursday and I got the results today.(Monday) And the results are..........wait for it............wait for it...............the cancer has been taken care of by the chemo. There is nothing there anymore. Woohoo!!!!!!!!!!! I celebrated this evening with an ice cold beer with dinner. I go to the radiation oncologist on Tuesday, 09/27/11, to see what is next. I will keep all informed.
Thanks for the prayers.

Cycle 4 is..........................

out the door and there ain't no more. Next will be a PET scan in a couple of weeks to see how much more, if any, the tumor has shrunk.(I'm keeping my fingers crossed) Then 5 radiation treatments in October. I'm glad the chemo is over and done with. This round was a little bit more taxing on the system physically. Plus I had to carry a fanny pack with a pump in it for a week. What a pain taking a shower. I guess it will be all worth it in the end and I shouldn't complain since I requested it for the extra % points in cure it was giving me.

I tell you it has been a crazy year for all of us. Mary and I couldn't have gotten through it without the support of our kids, Alanna and Stephen, and all of our family and friends. Hopefully this will be the last of it and we can get to living a somewhat normal lifestyle cancer free.

You can overcome all obstacles with the help and support of family and friends.

Peace out!!!!
Steve

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