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My Story

After tearing my right shoulder rotator cuff, the Doctor took an MRI and X-Ray. I was shocked to find out in mid-Nov '09 that I had a tumor in the upper right lung lobe. After a flurry of tests, biopsies, etc, I've been diagnosed with non-small cell lung cancer, which is also in the lung lymph nodes. On November 30th I start chemotherapy and radiation. Then a 3 week break, followed by surgery to remove the lung lobe. I have no symptoms whatsoever, so this is really hard to assimilate with all the information that has been thrown at me. I'm scared spitless and am having such a hard time staying mentally positive.

Thursday, January 12, 2012

Jan 12, 2012

I can not believe it's 2012. But, then again, I also can't believe I'm 61. Holy cow! Where do the years GO?!!

My latest CT scan results are, once again, good. There were 4 tumors; there are now 3. One is, according to my Oncologist, either gone or so tiny that it doesn't even show up on the scan. The 3 remaining tumors went from 9 mm to 7 mm, from 7 mm to 5 mm and from 5 mm to 3 mm. And it appears that the cancer has not metastasized anywhere else. I am still on chemo therapy, and will continue receiving an IV treatment every 4 weeks.

If I had to have cancer (not that I had a choice in the matter!), this is an incredible time. There are so many new drugs coming out; there are so many advances being made. DNA/Genome testing of cancer cells makes it possible to personalize chemotherapy treatments. Incredible stuff. Still, the plain truth is that the drugs flood the body with enough toxins to kill the cancer but, hopefully, not kill the person.

I'm not going to kid you or downplay it: The side effects really stink. There is nothing to be done about most of them. The worst ones are dry eyes, fatigue and peripheral neuropathy (left leg & both feet). I am on an all-day regimen with my eyes - thick eye drops, tear duct plugs & on & on. It usually doesn't help much, but makes me feel as though I'm at least doing something to fight back. Not much I can do about the fatigue, I'm afraid.

I'm happy to report that the "chemo brain" is improving. Or maybe not. Maybe it just doesn't bother me as much as it did. My concentration & focus are a little better. I can read books again, which is terrific. Gordy bought me a Kindle for Christmas. I've been reading old classics like "Little Women", "To Kill a Mockingbird", "Tom Sawyer", etc - all books I've read in the past, but appreciate so much more now.

It has been 6 months now that I've been going on Thursday mornings to the Minneapolis VA hospital to volunteer in the Oncology Clinic. And I love it. It just energizes me to spend time with the veterans in the clinic. I'm usually completely whipped for a day & a half afterwards, but it's worth my energy. And I really love those men & women who come through the clinic.

I am so incredibly lucky in so many ways, and I'm also incredibly humbled that I AM STILL HERE! Thanks for listening to me. All love from me!!
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