Here I Go Again

I have begun a new treatment of a Cancer Preventive drug called Alimta. You can read more about it here:  ALIMTA

This drug will maintain the effect of my initial Chemo treatments and help to keep the cancer from re-appearing in another form. I believe in my soul that the Lord has healed me... and, I know from the previous medical treatments that my Doctors have been doing everything they can and that the PET scans and blood tests and CAT scans show that my Cancer has been checked and knocked out.
There is a possibility that the cancer can creep back into my body however, and I have chosen to continue with this new treatment in hopes that it will help others that are faced with this choice. If it works, of if it helps to extend my life and add some knowledge for future patients and future studies then it is a good thing. If I had chosen not to do this treatment and lived another 5 years...who knows...if I take this treatment and live another 5 years, they will be able to tell if it was the result of the treatment or if the treatment was negligible...and, that would be good knowledge for the drug company and for the future patient.
The infusion last only about 15 minutes, but they again filled me with premeds and gave me a B-12 shot. All of the premeds and the B-12 seemed to be to help with my energy levels...I wasn't given these with my other Chemo drugs and they really wore me out...so, this stuff must be powerful ! When I got home, I had been stuck about 3-4 places !  Anyway, no ill effects and I went for a walk afterwards and then ate an egg and drank some ginger ale. I grabbed some SOBE water(Hooray for SOBE, I need to write them), the only good stuff I can find, along with Grapefruit juice--NOT from concentrate-- that is all natural and does not ruin the experience with a lot of sugar or Sucralose...I can't believe they sneak that stuff into SunnyDlite orange juice, local home-made Mehaffies Apple Pies, Five-hour energy drink, Fuze, etc.
I know they must get a good price cut, but if their customers perceive (wrongfully or rightfully) that sucralose and aspartame cause medical problems and they lose a lot of good customers, then was it worth it...there are a lot of Dummies and Gamblers in the business world and they realize their idiotic mistakes much too late...think with your heart and head, not with you wallets and your crotch !
So, so far I am feeling pretty good. My last chemos kicked into high gear 3 days later and lasted a week or more with bad energy and roving pains...but manageable. I fully plan to kick back hard at this treatment...I am going to look for work and try to get off disability...it doesn't pay the bills and I don't want anything holding me back from enjoying life...even if I can work part-time, I should be able to afford extra ice-cream and balloons and what-not...
Anyway, the treatment today actually lasted from 8am to Noon because of the premeds and watching for reactions and getting blood results. the nurse was surprised that I was Stage IV Lung Cancer and looking and doing so well !  And, all of the nurses had to laugh when I read them that a side effect of Alimta might be that my hair would fall out....It was just starting to GROW-BACK !!!!
  Oh well...

Life is Good...Life is an Adventure !!!

Last of the Chemo !

Friday, June 1st was my 6th and final Chemo. From previous experiences, I know that I will start Monday with the side effects of roving pains and diminishing energy levels. I have found that starting the day with a boiled egg gives me enough energy to go visiting for a few hours. I usually get a bitter taste in my mouth and the things that have always tasted good---don't taste good anymore, e.g. cinnamon rolls, ham loaf, hamburgers, pizza, toast and jam, etc. I eat romaine lettuce with paul newman olive oil dressing and pickled beets and parmesan cheese. I have soup and I eat baby food: turkey and rice, sweet potatoes and oatmeal and fruit.
As for liquids, I used to drink Sunny Delight because it was the only orange juice that didn't give me acid indigestion. But, I found that it contained the artificial sweetner, sucralose, so I stopped buying it. I stopped buying fruit juices because half the time they contained sucralose or else they were from concentrate and had a lot of artificial flavoring and colors and preservatives. I stopped drinking Gatorade because they began adding sucralose ! I used to buy an occasional 5-hour energy drink but, they too, added sucralose! Bummer !
I bought Grapefruit juice because it was all natural and NOT from concentrate. It used to be very tart and bitter, but I discovered that because of the change in my taste buds, that it actually tasted sweet and full and I actually could feel it nourishing my body ! And, I discovered SOBE Lifewater which comes in a lot of flavors and has a variety of herbs and vitamins. I like yumberry and dragon berry and ginseng. This is a good value and good nutrition and tastes great. It works for me !
I also discovered that if I drank bottled water it would go down into my lungs on the 3rd sip ! But, I can drink a carbonated drink or one of the above drinks (grapefruit, SOBE) and they don't go down the "wrong pipe". Drinking the occasional Dr. Pepper or Coke or ginger ale, etc., tasted great and went down happy and smooth ! Screw you, Mayor Bloombird and your addled, megalomanical ideas on what people should be eating and drinking---your thought process is as twisted as Caligula's...
And, a Vitamin D supplement, I took on numerous advice(s), kept me from getting a cold or infection.
I also took a Vitamin E supplement in the form of Fish Oil.
I am on a regimen of pain killers and had to watch out for constipation. Louis Armstrong used to promote Swiss Kriss (I found this via my brother) and it works great ! I shared it with several deserving friends and they thanked me profusely...because it worked great for them as nothing else compared!
I experienced some apprehension as I readied myself for my last Chemo (I know, this segue is skewed). It is because of the waning of energy the days before a Chemo. 3 weeks from now, when I no longer have treatments and my energy begins to fade...well, what will happen? And, the joint pains and worries about finances and work and life, etc. Will they become magnified?
But, I faced the day and thanks to the new tie that my good friend, Susan F (nee E) made for me, I set out for the regimen. Thanks also to Donna for the ride to the treatment. And, thanks also to my dear wife for coming to take me home afterward.

The staff at the hospital, where I take my medicine, are excellent and are very professional and happy. I need to remind myself to do something special for them (along with finding the means to pay their bills !).
I, of course, slept through the treatment. It started at 8am, and although it usually lasts until 4pm, this time it was over by 230pm. I awoke at 1pm and the nurse was changing my med. Then I went back to sleep and re-awoke at 215pm and she said I was finished !
After I got out of bed and put on my shoes and gathered my belongings, I made sure the two nurses had clown noses and stickers and chocolate candy. Then I asked one of the nurses to hold my video camera and film me as I tested my motor skills. I tried to juggle some clown noses. As jugglers are well aware, lightweight objects don't juggle well. But, I tried anyway and met with no success. I did find, however, that I could bend down to pick up the noses without getting dizzy. Then I tried throwing my hat in the air in hopes that it would return to the top of my head. I am want to do that from time to time. It is a great crowd pleaser---no matter the outcome, because it is a ClownThing ! Reviewing the video, I see that it worked far better than I thought it would!
I have learned from these Chemo treatments that if you have good and varied support groups. If you have a good Spiritual foundation or maniacal philosophy (I have the Spiritual foundation, thankyou). And, if you have a dedicated and experienced and positive Medical Team. And, you maintain a positive and uplifting attitude. If you carry a Smile with you and share it Whole-heartedly. If you make sure to engage in moderate exercise: short 100 yard walks, Tai chi, stretches, yoga breathing-responses, etc.; and, the use of Eucalyptus Spearmint body lotion for joint pain and aromatherapy. And, if you begin to experience Chemo-brain (very real)--then, decide that the only priority is not remembering things but just going forward and seizing the day (carping the diem). If you decide that life is for living! Having a fatalistic attitude is counter-poductive! Dream your dreams and forget about your problems. Don't focus on "fighting" but rather, use this health set-back as a learning experience. Put on a smile-- learn all about yourself and others. Don't draw-up a bucket list. Every move you make from now on is a bucket list. As you wake every morning, know that everything you experience during the day is special and inspiring and educational and take advantage of that ! In other words, as you witness the Sun rise in the morning, don't say to yourself, "This could be my last..."  Instead, say to yourself, "That Sun-rising is really beautiful...I should go visit someone and tell them about it !"  Then, get moving. You never know what Life has in store for you unless you let it show it to you and then share it with others !

Life is Good...Life is an Adventure !

Here is how I left my last Chemo:

                      short video:                   The Off-duty Clown Returns !