Let me start by saying I am one of the most blessed men in
the world. Yesterday, Lori and I
celebrated our 25th wedding anniversary. We were planning a shindig for this weekend
but the recent events have caused us to reschedule the shindig for the 26th
wedding anniversary. Why am I blessed? For starters she has put up with me for 25
years (even patient with me now that I am grumpy) and knowing that I am not
feeling well she was content to sit and catch up on Survivor with me as our 25th
anniversary evening out….. plus numerous other reasons. I certainly out kicked my coverage when she
agreed to marry me.
Recovery is gonna take some time. I am feeling stronger, I can walk a couple
blocks when I have a walking partner, but this is not something I am going to
be able to muscle through. The surgery
scar is healing and I am learning about having a bag attached to me but I
require time, nutrition and rest.
I went to see both the surgery team doctors and the Oncology
doctor on Monday. Scott, who is Dr.
Nagamoto’s PA said things are healing great and removed a bunch of metal
staples… kinda weird how many there were and I didn’t know or could tell. I’ll
go back next Wednesday for another check up on the healing.
Then I went to see Dr. McGregor who is the oncology Dr. She let me know what stage I was diagnosed
(Stage 3) It is stage 3 because of 2 things.
They could see the cancer tumor from outside the colon wall and they
found a cancer mass just outside the colon wall that may have been a lymph node
at one point. She/we have decided that May 14th will be the start of
the 12 rounds of Chemo therapy that I will go through. I am not completely sure how it all works but
she explained I get to sit in a chair for 6+ hours every other Wednesday while
they pump FolFox into me. Then I go home with a carry pump and Thursday more is
pumped in. Friday they remove the pump.
Then Saturday and Sunday I get sick. Back
to work on Monday. Can’t really say I am looking forward to the every other
week spa treatment I am about to go through.
I am choosing to go through Chemo because the chance of a reoccurrence
is reduced by about 50%... I’ll take those odds. Chance of reoccurrence after
going through Chemo is reduced to 15-19%.
I am going to work to be one of the 80%ers that do not have a re-occurrence.
I am steadily reducing my need for pain killers so my brain
is getting clearer but it is still foggy some times. I am going stir crazy and ready to do
something else. My butt hurts a little from sitting so much the last few weeks.
I am so grateful for the friends in this community…. As I type this a friend is
out walking Bono. He has been going stir
crazy with me and needs to burn off energy or …. Else. (high energy dog, cooped
up with slow moving man … not a good combo)
In case you are wondering when you see me. So far I have dropped about 35 pounds
overall. I checked in at 271 then ballooned up in the hospital to 280lbs. On Monday I was 235 and I am pretty sure I am
still dropping. We are trying to stop
the weight loss but my appetite has not returned yet so I am forcing myself to
eat. There are easier ways to lose weight.
I really do hope to see you soon. Drop in and say hi if you
have the chance.
Dave
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