wednesday evening

Today was the heart stress test. I passed. Very strenuous. Got introduced to a new (new to me) scanner. This one, like the PET, requires a radioactive material to be injected and the then image is created by the protons flying from my body.

I worry sometimes, maybe countless X-Rays, 25 CT's 13 MRI's, 2 PET's and today's heart monitor, itself is dangerous.

Tomorrow is interview with the anesthesiology team. Right at the top of morning rush hour. Someone said something about blood tests, too.

Friday is still surgery day. I'll be in the hospital about 5 days they tell me.

I'm watching Jean-Luc Goddard's Alphaville, released in 1965. Seems to be an existential film set on another planet (sci fi angle) with a liberal dose of "film noir." Oh and in French with English subtitles. The cinematography alone is worth price of admission. I found it on Nexflix instant view.

wikipedia.org/wiki/Alphaville

Here we Goooooooooooooooo!

I met with the surgeon this morning. He offered a time of Friday morning to perform the surgery. So, fewer than 3 days from now. I am a bit nervous. Tomorrow I have a stress test which should take 2 hours. I'll be stressed after that! Then, Thursday is blood and anesthesia appointments. After the surgery I should be in the hospital for another five days. Sure that will be alternatingly painful and boring.

Keep checking back. Thanks.

update

No hurricane here this weekend. Not much of anything this weekend. The exhuberence of last week has begun to wear a bit and the conditions under which I suffer, continue. There may be a test or tests scheduled prior to the surgery, of so have been informed of late.

Next appointment is tomorrow and I suppose, more information, of which you shall be apprised soonest.

I discovered a new stats counter for monitoring the hits on this site. I had no idea this blog was viewed, even read, by so many. Looks like a little more than half of all visitors return again. Guess I need to be more interesting. I'll monitor which posts and topics appear more interesting and add what I can. I have lots of new guitar equiptment and material coming up. Which any luck, after the surgery and recovery, I'll have something more interesting than health and cancer about which to blog.

I'm feeling that I'll be entering a new phase, a new stage soon. The old life doesn't fit any longer but I'm not sure what is coming next. Stay tuned as man goes through another metamhorphosis.

Time for a nap. May add more to this later today.

Next

I have another CT scan today. On Tuesday I'll meet with the surgeon. Dealing with pain but just so excited about the chance this will all be over soon.

Lots of music shows coming up and I'll not be able to attend these for a little while longer. Once I get this pesky tumor out of my life, I plan on hitting the atheletic club and finding my health again. Walks with Russell around town and getting back to my recording project, and dragging my camera out to shoot, will be my first goals.

Fall is around the corner, which is my favorite season. Throughout my life, Fall has symbolized the new year, as I spent so many years in school, college and graduate school. Each new year offered new beginnings, and new opportunies. I'm looking forward to making changes.

Hallelujah

Just got home from the Oncologist's. Great news (if having surgery can ever be great news). The PET showed that the cancer has not metastasized. The MRI showed no cancer. The tumor is a non small cell carcinoma but is in a form that can be removed through surgery. Dr. K thinks that this is the site of the original cancer which metastasized to my brain in 2008. If so and can be completely removed, then the odds of the cancer returning should be very low. Even if there is a bit in the lymph notes nearby, then chemo and radiation should kill the rest of the cancer cells.

My Oncologist and every other doctor I've seen in the past three years has called me a miracle. If all goes well and the surgeon is able to remove it all, they'll need a new description as the word "miracle" will be too inadequate.

Another crazy assed notion. Odds are this cancer (adenocarcinoma) was not due to tobacco use.

This could all be behind me soon.

update

I had the Broncoscopy/biopsy yesterday. Not too unpleasant. Today is the MRI and PET to gauge the extent. The symptoms are worsening rapidly. The pain is worse everyday. I am worried.

i wish

i wish it would rain so i could sleep.

tests early next week and decisions to be made

Things are beginning to move quickly. Monday morning I'll have the Broncoscopy. A narrow tube will go through the mouth and down into the lung to view and biopsy the tumor. Seems that the tumor is blocking the air passage to the lower lobe of the left lung. Today's testing showed that if possible (that is the cancer has not spread to the surrounding lymph nodes), then the removal of the lobe is possible. This would be the best option.

The next two options are predicated on the results of the PET scan and the MRI. These tests are scheduled for Tuesday. The PET is a test that reveals cancer anywhere in the body, except the brain. The MRI will show if any tumors have developed in the brain.

If the tumor is inoperable but the cancer has not spread, or metastasized, he next option is chemo and radiation. If done concurrently, the rate of success is quite high. Life expectancy could be as long as 2 years. The problem afterwards is cancer's maddening tendency to return. It is common to irradiate the brain just to be on the safe side. Having been down that road, negotiations will ensure. I just ain't got enough brain to spare any more without a definite target.

The last option is considered if the cancer has spread. Treatment is the same as two but perhaps more aggressively. In this case the treatment is not considered curative but palliative, intended to prolong life and quality of life in the remaining months. This is the time where experiment treatments are offered.

On Thursday I'll meet with my Oncologist and Pulmonologist to review the data and create a treatment plan. I suspect that things will get started right away and plans should be laid in before Thursday.

Planning away.

Cautiously Optimistic.


(no pictures 'cause that would be gross, lol)

 

Progress Report

Saw my oncologist this afternoon. He said it looks like cancer. No problems noted with the lymph nodes or the other lung. MRI and PET scan scheduled for Tuesday. Bronchoscopy will be scheduled soon. On next Thursday, I'll meet with my Oncologist again to review the data and make a plan for treatment.

Feeling pretty good and cautiously optimistic. 

(no pics)

Oncology appt. tomorrow

Welcome to my first readers in China and Italy.

Gonna try like hell to make it to the new Ziggy's in Winston-Salem to see PGroove tomorrow night. Their management has offered me the chance to show up for the sound check and I hope, dinner with the band. It's been far too long since I've gotten to spend time with them.


My blog may be changing a bit to reflect the changes in my health. I see lots of bloodwork and imaging services in my near future. Once the data is in I'll have to make decisions.

"We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time." T. S. Eliot

shit shit shit

Just got the call from the Doctor, The CT showed a 2" tumor in my lower left lung. The nightmare begins again.

still waiting for a call about the CT

I suppose that neither doctor's offices have received the CT images. Otherwise I can't image they would leave a moderately neurotic cancer survivor hanging and waiting. I called both offices but no call yet.

<<< CT Scanner

Watched the great movie, "Long Day's Journey Into Night" this morning. Like taking a trip back to my childhood.

Now watching a Japanese Godzilla movie.



Otherwise an uneventful weekend. PGroove at the new Ziggy's in Winston-Salem Wednesday night. Invited by the new PG management to show up for sound check and to get a few of the band posing.

illness

I've been sick with a lung infection for almost three weeks. I've been on antibiotics for two weeks. My doctor, on my second visit, had an X-ray done of my lungs.  A couple of days later their office called saying that in comparing my recent X-ray with one from last December, something was "different." They scheduled a CT scan which was done today. This, being Friday, means I'll have to wait until Monday to get the results. Groan. I hate waiting for news.

Otherwise I don't feel to badly. My last CT was about five months ago and everything was fine. I am hoping that nothing is seriously wrong.

Finally figures out how to record multiple tracks in Audacity. Interest problem was the delay created by the usb microphone. With some testing I found the delay was about -200 milliseconds and made the adjustment to match the time between the playback through the headphones and the new track being played and recorded. Thus I can make mistakes and edit or re-record the separate tracks. Fun, fun.




Planning on getting my mando chops down and playing bass, and even when it fits, add multiple guitar parts and the 12 string, as well. Should be fun.

Also delighted with the slight cooling in the weather. Otherwise I'm just saving my energy for healing and trying hard not to think about cancer.

rain and wedding photos

Rain is not usually a blog worthy event, but a small storm is parked over our area. It's been raining since last night and thunderstorms all morning and into the afternoon. Poor puppies are ready to go out but I fear they would drown in the downpour.





click here for photos


Finally uploaded the photos from Mank and Erin's wedding. I have such a tendency to make my images a bit dark and this time they are very bright. Of course, it was very bright on the beach.

manic monday

Busy, busy. Already finished the monday bill paying, joined a health club, completed the grocery shopping, visited to the post office, finished two loads of laundry and just opened the new acoustic guitar preamp I ordered last week.

Monday is alway open the mail and pay the bills. Least favorite activity of the week so it is always first. I got a free membership to the Snap Fitness Center through my health insurance company and drove over to enroll. It is tiny, no showers, no steam room or sauna. I need to drop a few pounds and build a little muscle and increase cardiovascular health. The center is close and now comes the starting  of the habit of getting there.

New hobby: parking next to outrageously large vehicles hoping they'll be embarassed to lug 6000+ pounds to haul 120 pounds of payload.







For the rest of today I'll be trying out the preamp with various guitars and later making chili.

Still pretty sick and ankle is still sore.

Puppies at rest.