Rip Van Winkle lives here

He didn’t sleep for 20 years and he didn’t grow a long beard, but Tom has found that it’s easy to fall asleep on Friday and Saturday following his chemo treatments. He’s also found that it’s easiest to let his beard grow for a couple of days so that he doesn’t have to maneuver in the shower with his Superman cape (to protect his port from getting wet) and doesn’t have to risk exposure to Kryptonite (a cut from his straight edge razor). So after treatment number two, he’s only experienced hot flashes and extra tiredness as side effects. His blood counts have held steady so far with his hemoglobin dropping a little after his first treatment. He met with Dr. Danzo and he gave Tom the O.K. to start taking iron supplements to build that up his blood a bit more. That was a relief to Tom because he was worried that he would have to start including liver in his diet. That was also a relief to Peg because she didn’t want to be the one to have to cook it.

As each day passes beyond each treatment, Tom gets stronger and feels better. People who see him are surprised at how good/healthy he looks. He’s had some of his best golf games (at least the ones that he talks about) since he has started playing again and he decided that it would be worth it to purchase a season golf pass at Currie. He plans to golf enough to make it worthwhile even if only plays nine holes or less.

He continues with his acupuncture treatments, one before and one after chemo. We feel that it is helping. His acupuncturist, Shirley Moore from the Family Wellness Center in Midland , spent some time working and studying at Sloan-Kettering where acupuncture is an accepted part of all their cancer patients’ treatment. They have found that it shortens healing time after surgeries and can really help lessen the side effects from chemotherapy; which we have found holds true so far with Tom.

Tom has attended a number of Loons games and plans to get to as many home games as he can. He continues to climb the “umpteen gazillion” steps to the top and doesn’t use the elevator. Peg drops him off at the front gate so he doesn’t have far to walk and they use the Loons’ paid parking lot so that they don’t have as far to walk to the car after the game. (Unfortunately the parking fees mean one less beer that Tom can buy at the game.)

Treatment number three will start this Wednesday and once Friday rolls around, he will have completed 25% of his treatments. We appreciate your continued support and prayers that everything continues to go well for Tom as he continues his fight---even when he is sleeping!

Ready, Set, Go!

Tom has now completed his first round of chemo. He got hooked up at the hospital (doctor’s office) infusion room on Wednesday morning while sitting in a big Lazy Boy- like chair. We were told ahead of time, “it’s just like being in Archie Bunkers living room”; so Tom felt right at home. First thing in his “cocktail” was anti nausea medicine, then he got a two hour dose of one kind of drug, after which they gave him another kind of medicine via his pump, which he wore home. He has worn the pump in a fanny pack for two days and nights and got it unhooked Friday morning. The only thing “bad” about the pump is the pumping noise it makes every 30 seconds which really is only noticeable at night while lying in bed. Peg thinks it sounds like one of those cartoon snores and Tom thinks it sounds like a bird pecking at the window. Very minor issue considering that he will only have to wear it 11 more times for 46 hours per time.
Nurse Amy read through all the possible side effects of the drugs, so that Tom would know what to possibly expect: nausea, mouth sores, diarrhea or constipation, loss of appetite, insomnia and peripheral neuropathy to name a few. It sounds like all the disclaimers to the meds they advertise on TV. She said with the drugs he will be taking, he probably will not lose his hair. He told her, “It’s too late, it’s already happened. But since this drug does not cause hair to fall out, does it cause hair to grow? She laughed and said she’d have people lined up to take chemo if that was the case.
Anyway, here’s the good news. Tom hasn’t experienced any of the major side effects with this treatment. (Knock on wood.) We feel that the acupuncture treatments are really helping in this regard. The only thing he did experience were a few hot flashes. Yes, ladies, I said hot flashes. Peg has had to bite her tongue as Tom has gained new insight to many “female” experiences through this ordeal: an incision similar to a caesarean or hysterectomy, bloated stomach, wearing a girdle and hot flashes. Actually, Peg gives him credit for handling all the above without too much complaint.
Tom is feeling better and stronger everyday. He’s beginning to do some light yard work and mowing the lawn. He takes a nap when he feels tired. He’s enjoying reading books and watching baseball games and hockey on TV. He’s looking forward to more Loons games, Bullock Creek softball and baseball games and going out on the golf course. His plan is to return as much as possible to a normal routine that includes time with friends and family, breakfasts at the Boulevard, occasional trips to the Casino, and looking at (not working on) Peg’s honey-do list; all worked around chemo, blood tests, acupuncture and doctor visits. He is no longer an invalid; he enjoys visitors; he likes to get out of the house. Feel free to call or drop by for a visit; if he is tired, he’ll say so. He’s being cautious (Peg told him he’d better be) and careful and listening to his body (it makes some very interesting sounds).
So now we’re in countdown mode--only 11 more treatments to go—a 48 hour treatment every two weeks. Keep tuned in as Tom continues on his Road to Healthy.
Know that your prayers and encouraging, positive comments are helping immensely.