Not much of interest or significance happened last week, except for knocking one more week off the treatment phase.
I'm down to under 2 weeks of radiation and one chemo treatment, and then this phase is done. I've been able to take some food through my mouth and I've actually gained about 2 pounds by supplementing the liquid food that way. I'm still down 14 pounds from when all this started, but I'd like about 8 of that to stay away. That means I'd have to start exercising after the treatments are done, so I guess I'll probably just gain it all back.
They've started a new method of radiating my neck. They're going from different angles to minimize damage to stuff they don't want to injure - like my spinal column. The new angles are hitting new spots in my throat, so I'm getting the sore throat in new places. I doubt I'll be able to take any food by mouth after this week. After the radiation is done there will be a couple of weeks of healing before I can consider moving all my eating to my mouth instead of that damn feeding tube.
There was some good news this week. There is absolutely no indication of any recurrence and absolutely no indication of any new growth, spread, or metastasis of any of my original cancer. One of the problem patterns for this type of cancer is that surgery and treatment never get it cleaned up to the point I'm at. If the cancer is still active after surgery and treatments, it's pretty much a downhill fight for a couple of years.
Another piece of good news. I already knew that recovery time for my treatments is considered a year. I was told that eating should return to pre-treatment ease, taste, and swallowing in that year. That was an area that had potential to be permanent, so I was really happy to hear that.
My strength and stamina are improving at a decent pace. I'm going through 1,600 - 2,400 calories a day and not getting much exercise. I guess some of that food is storing up energy in what muscles I have left. This would be a great opportunity to do some exercise, move more food energy into muscle energy, kick my metabolism up a notch, keep some weight off, and a bunch of other great things I could do for my body. I'm afraid my earlier comment about exercise will still win out over even all these advantages.
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3 comments:
You deserve numerous uneventful weeks, Merlin. I don't like being a two-day drive away in these circumstances. I know I should communicate more with E&M about this. Dammit.
I guess it's a long, hard slog, but you are indeed a "tough old bird." Not because you have a choice, but because your spirit isn't broken. And, while it's not my place to judge, that negative direction is still something I don't want to see, at least if the long, hard slog has an acceptable outcome.
I've tried to put yourself in my place. As you can imagine, that's not too easy. I looked into my dad's eyes and communicated with him probably more directly on fighting this kind of crap more than any human on this planet. He was 79 years old, and he was already written off by the doctors by the time he was diagnosed.
I thank anyone's God that you're not at least faced with that hopeless position.
So, they haven't destroyed your salivary glands, Merlin? When you said you might be down to one after this, that's when I thought, "Whoa! He's gonna need those!"
And teeth? How is the radiation affecting them? I should think they could cover them with small lead shields of some sort, but you had mentioned a specialized dentist. Have they been able to spare your teeth?
Hey fella, glad to here your in the last stretch and closing. A racquetball buddy of mune just went through the exact treatment you are going through and after, I believe, 6 months he is playing racquetball and beginning to taste the beer again. On Sunday mornings we play from 9 to 11 and drink beer from 11 to 12. He is actually trying to gain back a little weight. Well again, keep your eyes on the prize and hope to see you soon.
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