September 24, 2009
It was a year ago that the roller coaster ride started in earnest. In late September 08, I learned that I had not only bladder cancer, but a rare type that was especially aggressive. Doctors told me it had likely spread and I should basically get my affairs in order.
Following that was the good news in October that the cancer was there, it was aggressive, but was confined to my bladder. Five chemo treatments spaced 3 to 4 weeks apart knocked the crap out of cancer by February 09. It was then decision time, and I chose to have major surgery (welcome 'Neo') then a second surgery to fix a blockage that was anything but innocent.
By June I was feeling well and starting back into the swing of things with work, exercise, recreation, planting/mowing/chores at home.
September 22, 2009 rolled around and it was time for my six month checkup at Virginia Mason.
I went through a CT Scan, blood tests, and consult with my onchologist, Doctor A (brilliant guy). Best news possible! No signs of cancer, no concerns, go do what you want and check back again in March 2010!!
Believe me, I know my luck and awnry quotients are high. There are plenty of people who have an entirely different outcome after one year with Cancer. Thanks to everyone for your support, positive energy, and help. Keep on being kind to your families and friends.
Hope to see you soon.
Jim
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Sunday, June 7, 2009
Feelin Fine
Sunday - June 7th
It's been well over a month since my last entry. I'm feeling well ... so well in fact, that at times I forget that I had a battle with cancer last Fall and Winter. But reality settles in as soon as I use my stomach muscles or drink something.
I can now eat about anything I want, my energy level is good, and I've started exercise again. Neo is behaving, although it still feels like I'm house training a puppy rather than working with a CD adult dog.
The garden and landscaping occupy much of my free time at home. The clear sunny days have meant that the corn, beans, squash, along with the vegies in our raised beds have germinated. Of course the weeds are going gangbusters, too. I wish there were an easy way to keep the crows from pulling up the corn & beans shoots - short of blasting them, of course.
I had a fun project for Mother's Day; built a copper pipe & wood arbor (photo above). It's on one of the pathways on the garden on the North side of the house (photo above).
Working full time is going well and we've had some big incidents to deal with. I'm looking forward to getting clearance from my doc to return to full duties. This should happen by early July.
So, as you can tell, I'm back to a pretty much normal life style. I'll go in for a checkup every six months. This will involve a CT Scan to make identify that I'm cancer free (fingers crossed). My next appointment will be sometime in October.
Hope to see you at work, at a celebration, or on the trail sometime soon!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Back to Work
Thursday, April 23 -
Wednesday, Kehlen took me up to Virginia Mason in Seattle for a consult with my doc & to get the staples removed from my incision. The consult went well. Dr. P was pleased with how well things are going. Getting the staples out (29 of them!) was a big relief! I also got Dr.'s OK to return to work, with restrictions on how much I can lift (no more than 15 lbs) and no 'suiting up' in haz mat gear for another few weeks.
Contrary to popular opinion, I don't have to blenderize everything before I eat it. For example, the meatloaf sandwich I had for lunch today didn't have to go into the blender first.
Getting back to work today was fun. I had kept up with e-mails & phone messages so didn't have an avalanche to deal with. The biggest plus was having conscientious, productive folks that I work with who kept on top of everything for me while I was gone.
I plan to take the month of May to continue expanding my diet to nearly normal, continue walking to build some stamina, and basically just ease into things. Assuming things progress well, I start exercising in June, playing racquetball, and doing a little more strenuous chores around the place. By early to mid-July I hope to be in good enough shape to do some hiking, biking, and take on full work duties.
Dr. A (oncologist) wants to see me every six months for a CT Scan to make sure cancer has not reappeared.
Check in with you again soon!
Wednesday, Kehlen took me up to Virginia Mason in Seattle for a consult with my doc & to get the staples removed from my incision. The consult went well. Dr. P was pleased with how well things are going. Getting the staples out (29 of them!) was a big relief! I also got Dr.'s OK to return to work, with restrictions on how much I can lift (no more than 15 lbs) and no 'suiting up' in haz mat gear for another few weeks.
Contrary to popular opinion, I don't have to blenderize everything before I eat it. For example, the meatloaf sandwich I had for lunch today didn't have to go into the blender first.
Getting back to work today was fun. I had kept up with e-mails & phone messages so didn't have an avalanche to deal with. The biggest plus was having conscientious, productive folks that I work with who kept on top of everything for me while I was gone.
I plan to take the month of May to continue expanding my diet to nearly normal, continue walking to build some stamina, and basically just ease into things. Assuming things progress well, I start exercising in June, playing racquetball, and doing a little more strenuous chores around the place. By early to mid-July I hope to be in good enough shape to do some hiking, biking, and take on full work duties.
Dr. A (oncologist) wants to see me every six months for a CT Scan to make sure cancer has not reappeared.
Check in with you again soon!
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Good to be Home
Saturday, April 18th
Memories of two weeks in the hospital are fading, but not enough to make me careless. I'm feeling really good, all systems are working, and Neo is behaving!
A few changes and minor accomplishments:
- Spring has arrived with a rush of color! Daffodils, rhodies, forsythia, camellias, daphne (one of my favs), skunck cabbage, Indian plum, flowering current, wild cherry are all blooming. Grass is jumping out of the ground.
- I'm on the soft food diet for 3 or 4 more weeks. Lots of eggs, soups, etc.
- I've lost weight; now at weight I was about 15 years ago.
- I'm walking for exercise; up to 1.5 miles at a time.
- Stopped taking the heavy duty pain meds, so I'm driving on my own now.
- Looking forward to gaining stamina and start puttering in yard and getting back to work (limited duties).
- To entertain myself, I installed a wireless network on the home pc system. It works (mostly)!
Memories of two weeks in the hospital are fading, but not enough to make me careless. I'm feeling really good, all systems are working, and Neo is behaving!
A few changes and minor accomplishments:
- Spring has arrived with a rush of color! Daffodils, rhodies, forsythia, camellias, daphne (one of my favs), skunck cabbage, Indian plum, flowering current, wild cherry are all blooming. Grass is jumping out of the ground.
- I'm on the soft food diet for 3 or 4 more weeks. Lots of eggs, soups, etc.
- I've lost weight; now at weight I was about 15 years ago.
- I'm walking for exercise; up to 1.5 miles at a time.
- Stopped taking the heavy duty pain meds, so I'm driving on my own now.
- Looking forward to gaining stamina and start puttering in yard and getting back to work (limited duties).
- To entertain myself, I installed a wireless network on the home pc system. It works (mostly)!
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
The 1% Solution
Tuesday, April 14th -
Seems like there's a Sherlock Holme's story that involves the X% Solution, so that where the refecence to 1% Solution comes in. For me, it means the unexpected return to the hospital and second round of surgery that I've had to go through. According to docs, about 10 percent of their bladder removal surgery patients develop intestinal blockages, and about 10 percent of those blockage patients require surgery to fix the problem. This means I fall into the lucky 1%.
Fortunately, it looks like the 1% solution is working and I'll be going home today!
The plan for the next few weeks includes:
- take at least one week off from work
- walk as much as possible to rebuild some stamina
- over 2 to 4 weeks, ease in to a regular diet. I'm on what's called a soft diet now. So, I'll slowly be adding more fresh vegies, fruits, etc to a basic eggs, dairy, tofu, soups, bread, pasta diet.
- drink LOTS of fluids to keep neo happy
- don't wait too long to get help if neo or bowels are not happy.
Can't wait to get home & see changes with Spring, see family, friends, and co-workers, and get some things done!
Based on my time over the last few days, I do have some movie recommendations, including:
- Supersize Me
- Festival Express (film made during 1970 concert tour & train ride across Canada; features Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, The Band and a bunch of others)
- Buena Vista Social Club (film based on 1998 visit by American musician Ry Cooder to Cuba and bringing old/forgotten Cuban musicians together. Exellent music, stories, buildings, and vintage cars).
Seems like there's a Sherlock Holme's story that involves the X% Solution, so that where the refecence to 1% Solution comes in. For me, it means the unexpected return to the hospital and second round of surgery that I've had to go through. According to docs, about 10 percent of their bladder removal surgery patients develop intestinal blockages, and about 10 percent of those blockage patients require surgery to fix the problem. This means I fall into the lucky 1%.
Fortunately, it looks like the 1% solution is working and I'll be going home today!
The plan for the next few weeks includes:
- take at least one week off from work
- walk as much as possible to rebuild some stamina
- over 2 to 4 weeks, ease in to a regular diet. I'm on what's called a soft diet now. So, I'll slowly be adding more fresh vegies, fruits, etc to a basic eggs, dairy, tofu, soups, bread, pasta diet.
- drink LOTS of fluids to keep neo happy
- don't wait too long to get help if neo or bowels are not happy.
Can't wait to get home & see changes with Spring, see family, friends, and co-workers, and get some things done!
Based on my time over the last few days, I do have some movie recommendations, including:
- Supersize Me
- Festival Express (film made during 1970 concert tour & train ride across Canada; features Grateful Dead, Janis Joplin, Buddy Guy, The Band and a bunch of others)
- Buena Vista Social Club (film based on 1998 visit by American musician Ry Cooder to Cuba and bringing old/forgotten Cuban musicians together. Exellent music, stories, buildings, and vintage cars).
Sunday, April 12, 2009
A Couple More Days
Easter Sunday, April 12th -
Looking out the window from the 15th floor of Virginia Mason hospital, it's a gray, wet day. Just like many Easters in the past. I remember several times having to have easter egg hunts inside the house because it was too cold & wet outside for the kids. The challenge of the hunts inside the house is to always make sure you have accounted for ALL of the eggs, adjusting for snackage and breakage. If there's a discrepancy, just wait a few days or weeks and you'll have no problem finding the missing eggs (experience talking).
Yesterday afternoon was a break through, so to speak. I got clear indications that my digestive system is waking up following the 2nd surgery on April 7th. I'm sleeping well at night, using a lot less medication for pain, and starting to get interested in food other than cream of potato soup. Neo is behaving himself.
On the other hand, I'm still hooked up to IVs for nutrition, antibiotics, electrolites, and whatever else is needed. I think of the nutrition as 'chicken soup' and 'mashed potatoes'; one bag is yellow liquid, and the other is white.
My docs are taking a conservative approach in deciding to discharge me. They want to make sure my systems are working properly, I can control pain with pills, etc.. They don't want me to come back. So, it's likely that I won't be going home until Tuesday, April 14th.
Hope you get a few minutes of sun today!
Looking out the window from the 15th floor of Virginia Mason hospital, it's a gray, wet day. Just like many Easters in the past. I remember several times having to have easter egg hunts inside the house because it was too cold & wet outside for the kids. The challenge of the hunts inside the house is to always make sure you have accounted for ALL of the eggs, adjusting for snackage and breakage. If there's a discrepancy, just wait a few days or weeks and you'll have no problem finding the missing eggs (experience talking).
Yesterday afternoon was a break through, so to speak. I got clear indications that my digestive system is waking up following the 2nd surgery on April 7th. I'm sleeping well at night, using a lot less medication for pain, and starting to get interested in food other than cream of potato soup. Neo is behaving himself.
On the other hand, I'm still hooked up to IVs for nutrition, antibiotics, electrolites, and whatever else is needed. I think of the nutrition as 'chicken soup' and 'mashed potatoes'; one bag is yellow liquid, and the other is white.
My docs are taking a conservative approach in deciding to discharge me. They want to make sure my systems are working properly, I can control pain with pills, etc.. They don't want me to come back. So, it's likely that I won't be going home until Tuesday, April 14th.
Hope you get a few minutes of sun today!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Recovery (Again)
Thursday, April 9th -
I went in for second surgery on Tuesday afternoon. They spent about 2 hrs & 15 minutes opening me up on the original incision, locating problem sites (adhesions), and fixing them. I had 2 or 3 serious adhesions that would not have resolved themselves with out surgery. I woke up Wednesday morning wondering what had hit me. I was sore! But I could tell right away that I did not have the pressure, cramps, and distended belly I had before the surgery. Docs said that a couple of the problems were pretty dramatic; they unkinked a section of bowel which allowed them to remove over 2 liters of gastric liquids upstream from the kink. No wonder I felt pressure & cramps!
Since Wednesday morning, I've been improving quite rapidly. I went for a walk for the first time this moring & expect to continue walking throughout the day. I'll be lapping the slower drivers before you know it.
If things continue to improve on this pace, I may get to go home by Saturday.
I went in for second surgery on Tuesday afternoon. They spent about 2 hrs & 15 minutes opening me up on the original incision, locating problem sites (adhesions), and fixing them. I had 2 or 3 serious adhesions that would not have resolved themselves with out surgery. I woke up Wednesday morning wondering what had hit me. I was sore! But I could tell right away that I did not have the pressure, cramps, and distended belly I had before the surgery. Docs said that a couple of the problems were pretty dramatic; they unkinked a section of bowel which allowed them to remove over 2 liters of gastric liquids upstream from the kink. No wonder I felt pressure & cramps!
Since Wednesday morning, I've been improving quite rapidly. I went for a walk for the first time this moring & expect to continue walking throughout the day. I'll be lapping the slower drivers before you know it.
If things continue to improve on this pace, I may get to go home by Saturday.
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