The World of Geoffrey

Moving on with life

2011-05-24T10:08:00.001-07:00

Cancer is a glance over the shoulder now, rather than a glaring issue in my sights. I still want to track the crazy events in my life, so I expect I will start blogging more.

The fun recent event is my son Hudson's jump (ha!) into BMX racing. I've wanted him to race, but, more than that, I wanted him to want to race. We went to the BMX track a week ago, and decided to have him race. He rode. And rode. And didn't stop until I pulled him over and told him he had to drink something and eat something.

There were four boys in his race. First place qualifies for the main and moves on in each of three rounds. Hudson was racing for the final spot. The other boy rode right into Hudson's rear wheel at the exit of turn three and fell over. And Hudson kept on riding. Third place. Pretty good, considering his BMX skill has some distance to go. He sits and pedals the whole way. No standing, no real cornering, no pumping the bumps. Just pedaling. I'm thrilled for him.

Then this past weekend, he was riding at the park during a group BBQ. Just riding. No urging from dad. He just liked riding. Makes me grin.

"You're cured."

2011-03-24T13:58:00.001-07:00

Well, five years after being cleared by the PET scan, I went to the oncologist. He looked at the blood work, looked at me, and said, "You don't need to be here. You're cured." I'm sure he was saying other things, but that's all I really focused on. Cured. I need to go back one more time, but I'm done with lab work. The only lab I have now is my Chocolate Lab, Chase. The only Cat scans will be when my cat, Murray , checks out my lap as a place to sit. And, the most painful thing will likely be errant knees from small children while wrestling. Of course, a good side effect of the TC is now the chance of my kids making contact dropped by 50%.

I know that other folks will read this on occasion. I go back and re-read it occasionally. The last thing I have to say is, God is good, even in this sort of situation, and, while it isn't fun during the whole thing, this too shall pass.

Of course, I ought to throw the big thank you out there to all who kept an eye on me, and walked through this with me. Most of all, thanks to my dear wife, Melissa, for whom this was probably worse than it was for me. After the two bouts of cancer, then my appendectomy a couple years ago, she just looked at me one evening, and said, "I've enough of the "In Sickness" thing for a while, how about we try the "In Health" for a bit?

So, take care everyone, and God bless.

Almost done

2009-09-17T15:08:00.001-07:00

Well, I'm done with CT scans. It's been nearly 7 years since my original diagnosis. It's been 3.5 years since chemo. From here, it's blood tests every 6 months until 5 years, then annual until ten years. I can give blood again, so I actually look forward to doing that.

I really thought cancer would change my life. It did, but not how I thought. The one thing is it allowed me to speak into people's lives when they've been affected by cancer, either directly, or a loved one. People understand that I have been there, so I have permission to talk about it.

Thankfully, my time can be focused more on others now, and less on me. I play with kids, go on walks, pet the dog. My competitive nature was pretty much eliminated. Oh, it's still there, but not like it was. If I have a strong day, hooray! If someone else has an even stronger day, hooray!

Oh, and my haircut is way shorter now.

One year clean, hooray!

2007-04-23T14:58:00.000-07:00

I went to the CT scan today. Okay, I don't have the results yet, but I am confident it will come out clean. The radiation place is interesting. I am led to a room, asked to change into a toga-like thing, and asked to wait until I am going to have some drug (radioactive iodine) injected into me. Pretty much, it feels like a cult, and I am there for my brainwashing. I then go to the CT scan. It is a giant donut you go through. It feels a little bit like Stargate. It feels and sounds like I could be transported somewhere else suddenly. Anyway, thanks for following my journey.

Using cancer to spread awareness

2006-11-01T14:16:00.000-08:00

Okay, now I'm getting carried away with using my cancer survivorhood as a way to reach a lot of people. This blog has been linked from roadrunnersports.com, because my picture and a blurb about being a cancer survivor was in the catalog. Then, I allowed my picture and my story to be used by the blood drive folks as a reason to give blood. Note: if you have received blood, tell people, and give a hearty thanks. If you can give blood, do it. If you hate needles, think about the folks who are getting the blood. More needles than any one person should ever have. Now, I've linked my blog to http://www.re-mission.net, a website designed to help young cancer fighters and sufferers. I plan to keep spreading this blog's locale as wide as possible. That said, I will probably actually post to this blog at least a couple of times per week. Next post: what I've been up to, and how my body is doing since it stopped getting chemo"therapy" (Sounds kinda like "shock" therapy.

Hudson on You Tube!

2006-08-02T11:09:00.000-07:00

Well, I finally got the Hudson Chronicles on You Tube. Do a search on Hudson Chronicles, and check out his debut. Episode 1 is big cycling stars warning of his taking over the Tour, and Episode 2 is his work in the wind tunnel.

I must confess, I'm becoming fond of the Colbert Report. One thing I've noticed (okay, among the things I've noticed): He is a total softball interviewer. Not in his questions, but in his guests. Think about it: he only interviews "famous people" and "politicians." If he was a real newsman, he'd interview someone like, say, me; a guy with no major fame points, and requiring him to have interesting dialogue when the interviewee may be entirely uninteresting. So, c'mon, Mr. Colbert, show some courage and interview the likes of me! I'll crush you with boredom! I'll smother you in uninteresting dialogue! Bring it!

Evangeline Joy Mayne

2006-07-17T16:12:00.000-07:00

We have arrival! Evnageline Joy Mayne arrived on June 20 at 6:41 a.m. She was 7 lb. 12 oz., 19 inches long. We arrived at the hospital after 5 a.m., so it was a pretty quick event. She's oh so adorable. On Sunday July 10, we were back in the hospital with her, because she had a fever of 101.8. It turns out she had a urinary tract infection, but it was kind of scary for a while. They tried to check for menengitis, which involved poking her in her lower back a bunch of times. She didn't like that. Neither did we.

Well, we are all home now, trying to get into the swing of things. Hudson adores her, almost too much. He keeps saying, "Hey baby" and "Hi baby" and wanting to kiss her again and again. Sometimes, she just wants to sleep, and it becomes quite difficult to sleep when someone three times your size keeps kissing your noggin.

So, here we are, a family of four. Pretty wild stuff.

The Great Arrival is near

2006-06-19T15:33:00.000-07:00

Well, the past few months have been wonderful. I got my first haircut in five months last week. My blood levels have gone up, and settled back to their unimpressive norms. Life is fantastically normal. The big news is that Melissa is due on Friday. Last night, she had contractions for a while, but she got up and walked it off. Thankfully, Hudson slept in, and we still got some pretty good sleep last night.

The direction of this blog will be very baby/family-focused. How great is that?

Loving my cold

2006-04-05T09:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I had my last non-monitoring event yesterday. I got my final Aranesp shot. Now, all that remains are monthly blood tests, and thrice-yearly CT scans. Yeah! I will continue to blog occasionally, and appreciate all the readers and comments I've received.

Let's look at where I stand today:

I put on 13 pounds over the past six months. Most of that was during chemo.
I have my first cold in many months, and am kind of relishing it. I don't like being sick, but it's good to rest in the knowledge that it will run its course, and I'll be fine.
I don't really have to shave, except my 'stache. If I don't shave at all, I would be a bald man with thinning eyebrows and a fairly dark moustache. My wife thinks it looks, well, not so great. So, back to shaving a portion of my face.
I am regaining energy at a fantastic clip. I have goen from being unable to run four miles just three weeks ago, to running 7 miles, and carrying on a conversation the whole way.
My taste buds work well again. Lettuce still has a less pleasant aftertaste to it.
My wife and I have used that time to develop better habits. We spend more time chatting, more time praying, less time watching TV, and generally building our marriage.

So, was cancer/chemotherapy a good thing? Well, I don't recommend it, but it went fairly okay for me.

One more note: I will be having a celebration for being free of this stuff. It will be on April 29, from 2-5 at our house. You can RSVP by simply posting a comment stating you are coming to this blog. the more the merrier! If you need directions, you can let me know by commenting as well.

Prayer 2, Cancer 0

2006-03-20T18:14:00.000-08:00

The score is up. Again, prayer has beaten cancer. I considered it beaten the first time. Cancer did make attempt on goal, but it never scored.

I had preliminary results last week, but did not have "final" results. Well, I still don't have final results, which is the fancy written-up results. Nevertheless, I am considering myself done. The report I do have says that the radioactive glucose was present uniformly, and was not focusing on any part of my body. Thus, no cancer. Hooray! I had an Aranesp shot today. I still am low on red blood cells, and my whites are low normal. However, there is nothing that would cause them to go lower. All that is left is a blood check on Thursday, another Aranesp in two weeks, then nothing for four months! All I have left is CT scans every four months for two years.

I did find out my chemo buddy John, who went through four rounds, needs surgery. Please keep him in your prayers.

Speaking of which, if you did pray for me, please leave a comment. I would love to see how many folks prayed for me, and would also like to see God get the glory for this. It's not just that I am okay now... it's that I kind of skated through without any really bad side effects.

As for me, I am a changed man. I know what it is like to be tired and slow, and plan to be very supportive of tired and slow folks on the bike rides, even if I ever stop being one of them. Also, I see that God really took care of me, and I do want to see God glorified in all that I do. Not that I can repay him, but simply because I want to. Also, I have found that I am well-loved by my friends and family. I hope I can bless them in return.

PET scan done

2006-03-16T09:58:00.000-08:00

Well, the PET scan went just fine. I was hungry, but other than that, no ill effects.

I went in, they explained the procedure to me many times. That was certainly comforting. They did tell me that I wouldn't glow, and that it was a common question. Ah, but they never asked about their urine. Well, that didn't glow either. I got my radioactive glucose shot, and they told me to really relax for twenty minutes. They said that flipping pages in a magazine was too much effort, because it used muscles. Talk about being a couch potato! Put that remote control down! Too much work! After 20 minutes, I was able to read a magazine. Then, after an hour, I meandered to the machine, laid down, got a blanket, and basically zoned out for half an hour. They came over and told me I could go. I asked her if she knew there were 217 holes in the speaker grille. Apparently, she did not.

I gotta say, it did feel like a brainwashing center. Relax. Just lay in this big whirring machine. Here are some IV drugs. Everything is okay... I think I'll stay away from solitaire for a while (Manchurian Candidate reference).

Today, I gave more blood for bloodwork to my phlebotomist. I think I need to bring Bridget some cookies. She is quick with the needle, it doesn't hurt that much, and she is excellent at hitting the vein the first time.

PET scan tomorrow

2006-03-14T12:45:00.000-08:00

I'm definitely doing better. In fact, I think my hair is already growing back. Certainly not setting any hair speed records, but it was smooth last week, and it is scruffy now. Hudson giggles when I rub him with my scruffy noggin. Pretty cute stuff. Also, I have a run that I do that is four miles, and I completed it without walking yesterday, which is a big step for me.

Tomorrow is a big day for me. I have my PET scan. I'm not allowed to exercise for the 24 hours previous, nor am I allowed to take anything by mouth (fluids, food, dirt, etc.) for the six hours prior. The appointment is for noon, and I have to be there 30 minutes early. Then, they put some radioactive sugar in my blood, which you would think would turn me into a superhero, like HyperMan, or something, but it makes any tumors glow. I'm not sure what happens when they find that I don't have a tumor. That's my plan and prayer anyhow. I suppose if I don't have a tumor, I just pee it out, which makes my urine like a brilliant shaft of light. I'll have to pee my name in the snow. Then, my name will be in lights. I'm actually not sure if this is medically accurate, but close enough. I have the scan at noon, then I am going out with the family and my parents, considering I will be quite hungry.

We had my parents over on Sunday afternoon, and made a very good dinner. Tonight, we have our friend Bob (yea, Bob!) bringing a meal over. Again, let me say how much my family has been blessed by the bringing of meals. They've all been very tasty, and appreciated.

I will get the results Monday.

Hey, when you pray for me, also drop a prayer for Karen and Paul and their newborn son Paul. Karen had a C-section last night, so pray for her recovery. They thought their son would be a daughter. Surprise!

Still turning the corner

2006-03-10T11:00:00.000-08:00

It's been a pretty good week. I've been a little tired on my bike rides, but, all in all, I feel fine. I got another Aranesp shot on Tuesday. My red blood cells are improving, but verrrrry slooooowly. I now have a hemoglobin (or haemoglobin, if you are snooty) of 10.3. Last week, it was 10.0. It's a start. I'd actually be pleased if I was just below 12 on my next blood test, so I can get another Aranesp shot the week after. Here's the story: Medicare defines under what circumstances I can be covered by insurance to get another shot. I need to be below normal for people.

Now, the bottom end of normal for people is 12. That happens to be the low end for women. The low end for men is 14. So, there you go.

My platelets are up to 305. Granulocytes are up to 8828. Blood is good. Not running at full speed, but I'm hanging in there just fine.

I think I'll take this opportunity to send out a general thank you to the mass of love that my family has been getting through this. The meals, the babysitting, the cards, the general kindness, the landscaping, all of which are very much appreciated. Melissa and I are going to have a big Thank You/End of Cancer party at some point. We are still in the early planning.

I was told on Tuesday that I am allowed to start shaving with a blade. I now have a very smooth face and a very smooth head. I still had some splotchy fuzz on my noggin, and decided to shave it all off, so I can start from scratch when it starts coming back. I've been told it may be two months before I have any growth. I've been told I look like (fill in the name of a famous bald guy) many times.

Other family notes: Hudson is still 97th percentile on height at 35.5", and 90th percentile on weight, at 30 lb. Our little girl in the making is doing fine.

Well, we have five days until the PET/CT scan, and ten until the report. Keep praying.

Movin' on up!

2006-03-06T10:33:00.000-08:00

I just found out my blood test results. Apparently, when I requested that my results be sent STAT on Friday, they thought that meant Some Time, Any Time. Anyway, Melissa thought I was looking less pale this weekend, which is a good thing.

So, white blood cells are at 35.7, hemoglobin is back up to 10.0, and platelets are at 171 (more knife fighting). I have a request in to get more Aranesp this week, as 10.0 is still 4-5 pints low. Still, it's 20-ish% higher than Tuesday, so I am out of the transfusion concern range.

I have discovered another reason to have chemo. Note: I DO NOT ACTUALLY RECOMMEND GETTING CHEMOTHERAPY UNLESS YOU NEED IT. DO NOT SUE ME IF YOU TAKE THESE REASONS AS VIABLE MEDICAL ADVICE. I WILL INVOKE THE "PLAINTIFF IS AN IDIOT" DEFENSE. Anyway, the other reason chemo is a good thing (ho ho! a joke!) is that a large group of guys came over on Saturday afternoon and did a whole heap of gardening work. Why? I know, you think they are doing it for blog credits. Who wouldn't want to have the high honor of being mentioned in my blog? Turns out, not the case. These guys are all from our church, and simply thought it would a blessing to a friend. Well, I was blessed! Honestly, I don't even know all of their names. But they pulled weeds, spread mulch, trimmed bushes, mowed, edged, and generally made the yard look amazing! Many thanks to Jon, John, Kurt, Brad, Zzzzac (it's more fun to say it that way), Mike, Steve (who came over and shoveled a yard of mulch by himself, as well as doing some weeding), and the rest of you whom I can't remember right now.

One less pleasant side effect: by brain is dealing with low oxygen. It is really weird. There are two ways that I've seen it manifested. First, I have brain reboots. I'll be talking about something, and then completely forget what I was talking about. On Friday morning, I was on a teleconference, and was three words into making a comment, and had a reboot. I tried to fake my way through it. Sadly, someone called me on it, and asked me to explain further. I had to confess I had completely forgotten what we were talking about. I had a recovery, but it was a little embarrassing. Secondly, I use the wrong words. I'll be talking, and the wrong word comes out. Very bizarre. Happily, I know it is only temporary. Sadly, I will no longer have an excuse for seeming to be a blithering idiot if it occurs after June. Actually, I be a sleep-deprived father of two, so that should buy some blither leeway. Now that I think about it, what does it mean if I blither. No one ever talks about having blithered in the past. Just looked it up...it means to babble, to talk foolishly. I guess I do blither right now.

Melissa and I went to a birthday celebration at Cheesecake Factory on Saturday at the mall. I've never seen traffic like I did that day. Of course, it made sense, being March 4 and all (???). It took about 10 minutes to get out of the parking lot, and they had attendants directing traffic. We will avoid malls on weekends for the rest of time. Hudson was a champ at the restaurant. We had to wait for a while for a table, and he was totally fine sitting in his stroller, and pointing at cars and the moon and people and hooting with excitement. When he gets really excited, he does this screech that I think sounds like I would expect a pterodactyl to sound. We've also discovered Hudson is a very expressive child. Some toddlers sit quietly in crowds. Not Hudson. He points, smiles, waves, screeches, and interacts with anyone and anything around him.

Anyway, apart from the possible Aranesp shot, we have the PET scan on March 15, and results on March 20. Many thanks for the ongoing prayers.

Me, sans hair

2006-03-02T12:20:00.000-08:00

I thought I should post a picture of me with the shaved look. It is a silly picture, but, hey, I'm a silly guy. I also thought I should post a picture of a much more attractive bald guy.

No mo' chemo!

2006-02-28T12:18:00.000-08:00

Hooray! I had my last Bleomycin today. It went smoothly. No big deal, no scary reactions. However, the blood test was not so rosy. My white blood cells are fine, but my hemoglobin is not so good. I'm currently at 8.8, while normal is 14.0-17.6. To give you an idea of what this means, imagine giving blood. Instead of one pint, you give 6-7 pints. That would put you where I am. Also, my platelets are at 38. Normal is 145-450. If they drop to 20, I need to get a transfusion.

Keep in mind, Bleo doesn't decimate the bone marrow, so I should be on my way back up. I will test again on Friday or Monday to verify that things are getting better.

My PET/CT scan is scheduled for March 15 at noon. I'll see the results on March 20. Pleas pray that everything is negative. No tumors. Tumor bad. Bad, bad, bad tumor.

So, I will sit tight, hang low, and take it easy until next week. I have no real restrictions anymore, which is nice.

I am quite pleased to be through with chemotherapy. I even got a little certificate from the oncology office. I truly don't want a transfusion unless I actually need one. They use big needles and it isn't fun to sit around a hospital for hours. Prayer in this area is greatly appreciated.

More blood tests, more sleepy

2006-02-24T14:00:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, I went in for my blood tests. For the first time, the phlebotomist (good word. Say it out loud. Phlebotomist. Phlebotomist. I'm not sure what is more fun to say, phlebotomist or sphygmomanometer) had to poke twice to hit a vein. Her first try, she thought one vein would hurt less. Well, it hurt plenty, but she couldn't make it work. So, back to Old Faithful, and that hurt a little bit, but I don't think I will let them dig around anymore. Fast and sore is better than slow and just as sore.

I got my results, back, and I knew what they would be before I got them. I've been extra tired, so I figured my reds would be around 10 (reminder, 14-17 is normal). Sure enough, it was at 9.3. To get an idea of how it feels, go donate blood, ask them to take five pints instead of one, and that will give you an idea of how things are. My platelets are at 64, which is also low. I'll have to put off my knife fighting for another week. My white blood cells are just fine. In fact, I'm still above normal on my grans.

So, no transfusion, but I'm going to have them check my blood counts again on Tuesday to make sure that I haven't dropped any further. My Aranesp shot should kick in soon, so I expect my reds to start climbing back up.

Well, the wart on my foot is pretty much gone. Hooray for chemo! Also, I haven't had to shave for weeks now, due to the elimination of all growth. So, the side effects can be good. Granted, that whole blood cell decimation thing isn't so much fun.

Anyway, I'm feeling okay. I get tired easily. No biggie.

Thank yo for your continued prayers. My PET scan will be somewhere around March 15. Then, I can be done. I'd really rather not have surgery. That would mean going to Indiana. Who would ever want to go to Indiana? Sure, they have a velodrome, but it's probably a little too cold too race on right now. I guess there's that fantastic food for which Indiana is famous.

One to go...

2006-02-22T11:24:00.000-08:00

I have only one treatment to go! Next Tuesday, I will receive my final Bleo treatment, and shortly thereafter, I will get my PET scan. I'm still trying to find out exactly when that will be. We want the chemo to have done its work, but we don't want to wait too long.

It's been nearly a week since I've updated the blog. Jeepers. Happily, my absence is due to being able to get around and spend time with my wife and son.

I spent the weekend relaxing. Actually, Saturday was my most tired day in a long time. I slept maybe six hours during the day. Then, I went on a bike ride on Sunday and Monday. I am very sloooooow. Very. Like, amazingly slow. It is nice to know that I will only get in better shape from now on. Unless, of course, I have to get the surgery. I've decided I don't want surgery. Thanks anyway.

Anyway, on the rides, I went my own pace. Basically a really fast running pace. Actually, on some hills, I'm sure a fit runner could have passed me. Thankfully, that never happened. My ego would be shouting, "Oh, yeah? Try chemo!" Of course, my ego is not so big anymore. Maybe my ego is made from fast-growing cells, so it has been affected by the chemo as well.

I went to a meeting at work, then quickly left, because 4 out of 6 people were sick. Egad!

Yesterday, I actually drove myself to my Bleo appointment, and that went just fine. I also got my Neulasta AND my Aranesp. My poor bone marrow will be working overtime, which means very likely bone pain.

I'll try to post something soon. I've got blood panel tomorrow, then the weekend, then next Bleo, then the SCAN. That will certainly be something worth posting about.

The Home Stretch

2006-02-16T15:44:00.000-08:00

It's hard to be motivated to post when it feels like things are going smoothly. I'm in my final full week of chemo, which is kind of fatiguing, but I can handle fatigue. Reminds me of a great line from Remember the Titans which I didn't get until I watched with subtitles.

Coach: What is fatigue?
Team: Army clothes!
Coach: What is pain?
Team: French bread!

The days have been long. 4-5 hour sessions, and I've been getting home between 2 and 4 p.m. They dropped my dosage for one day, yesterday, because my platelets were a little low. I got a new CBC today, and they have more than doubled since last week! My hemoglobin is down to 10, but that isn't an immediate concern. My gran count is still above normal. Next Tuesday, along with Bleo, I'll get a Neulasta shot AND an Aranesp shot. The poor bone marrow will be working overtime. Then, more blood tests on Thursday, and one more week of Bleo, and that's the end of my chemo! God willing, it's also the end of my treatments. Given the option, I'd rather not have the RPLND surgery, but God has taken care of me so far, so I certainly have no reason to worry.

Other fun things that have happened: I went on a mountain bike ride with my dad on Sunday, and we toodled around Balboa Park. Lots of fun...there was a concert at the organ pavilion, and went on some trails and paths and generally went at a blistering pace, meaning that if you eld your hand against the tire the entire ride, you may have developed a small blister.

Melissa and I went to a wedding on Saturday. Congratulations Lisa and Mike! It was a beautiful day, and we got to see folks I hadn't seen in some time. Also, I felt pretty hip in my suit and shaved head. Hudson stayed the afternoon with my parents, and that was fun for him. I don't think he would have enjoyed the wedding.

Monday, my dad took me to chemo. We had a wonderful chat, and then he ran an errand for me, which takes me to Tuesday. Melissa brought me in, and I had roses waiting for her at the office. She was surprised. It was a small challenge to do something for my Valentine, but she is such a sweetheart, how could I not? Many thanks to dad for helping me out. That night, Melissa's mom was staying with us to help out, and her brother came over to visit, so we had a lovely Valentine's Day dinner, but I was the only one with a valentine. Melissa's mom's was home in Mesa, and Melissa's uncle's was on business in Texas. Last night, Melissa's mom went home, and her sister flew in. Boy, are her arms tired! Anyway, she'll be here for the remainder of the week, which is nice, because she hasn't been here in over a year. Of course, we haven't been to her house in even longer.

I'm sure other things have been going on, but I've got woozy chemo brian right now. I have caught myself a couple times today completely losing track of my, um, ooh, look, pretty colors.

Tomorrow is my last full day of chemo. It has actually gone by fairly quickly. It won't be over for some time, though. Five years, in fact. That's about when I get the all clear. I'm aloud to donate blood then. Speaking of which, thanks to all who are giving. Even if I don't get it, and I hope I don't, no offense, someone else will be very happy to receive whatever you give.

Information Time

2006-02-10T09:14:00.000-08:00

Over the past couple days, I have found out all sorts of great news.

I went in for my blood test yesterday, and just got my results back. I have a hemoglobin over 12, which is the highest result I've had since they started chemo. I have high white blood cell count, and a high absolute neutrophyl count. My platelets are on the low side, but that's okay. I guess I'm banned from knife fighting for now. I got the okay to go to a wedding tomorrow. All in all, things are very good.

Yesterday, I went with Melissa to her appointment, and she had an ultrasound. Everything was there, the kidneys are working fine, the heart is beating away, and she is an active little tyke. That's right, Hudson will have a little sister! We're both very excited, and I will spend the next 10-15 years training Hudson to look sufficiently menacing while asking, "Why are looking at/talking to/being in the same county as my sister?" Thankfully, Hudson will likely be a big kid, so he can achieve the right look.

I am now welcoming suggestions for the name of our baby girl. Sponsorship deals will be considered. Perhaps it will mean our little Nike Walmart Mayne will suffer some teasing, but it will all work to build character.

Anyway, this past week has been phenomenally uninteresting on the health front. I've felt absolutely fine, and the Belo went smoothly, and the blood test was easy yesterday. I've worked almost the full week, and got a fair amount done.

As if those aren't enough blessings to induce many rounds of praising God, Hudson has slept in past 6:30 for the past two mornings. Yee ha and whoo hoo!

Nearly normal

2006-02-06T14:24:00.000-08:00

Went for my blood test on Thursday. For those of you keeping track, that would be sixteenth stab. (I'll try to verify that, but I think I've only had one Aranesp shot, and two Neulasta shots) I got the results Friday morning. Hemoglobin is still in the 11's, grans are above normal, platelets are fine. Wonderful news! I celebrated by running at lunch. My running partner would normally be 10 beats per minute faster than me, because I have a lower max heart rate than he does. On this run, I was about 15-20 beats per minute above him. So, I got a WAY better workout! Ha!

The family went down to Coronado on Saturday afternoon. Melissa had forgotten, but it was the fifth anniversary of our engagement. I proposed at Star Park on Coronado, and we actually have a permanent plaque at the bench where I proposed. Great story, but I'll share that when I have nothing else to report. We went to dinner at Island Pasta afterward, and had a very nice afternoon.

Yesterday was the Great Airing of Amusing Commercials, with some football in between. Our friends Steve, Nancy, and Linda came over, and they brought the party to us. Steve brought and grilled many brats, many chicken legs, and pounds and pounds of veggies. They also brought ice cream and chips and salsa. Melissa and I made potato salad the night before, and Melissa made brownies and guacamole (not to be eaten together) that were both excellent. Much eating ensued. Steve, et al, were kind enough to leave all the leftovers with us. Today's lunch: brats, a chicken leg, grilled veggies, and potato salad. Tomorrow's lunch: More of same! Yum yum yum yum.

I am felling pretty good. My hair has achieved a neutral position. There is zero growth (I haven't shaved for two and a half weeks) and zero loss (still have fuzz on my noggin and stubble on my face). This week would be the week for hair loss if there is any.

Final notes: God is good. He has taken care of me, my wife, and my children. He has made the chemo treatment several steps above bearable. Also, my wife has been wonderful. She's working extra shifts at home so that I can have all the rest time I will take. Also, the gender check for our child to be born later will be on Thursday. Assuming the little one is cooperative, we'll post the results shortly thereafter, and the name suggesting may ensue. And, no, we won't name the child Remember D.

hot throat

2006-02-01T13:36:00.000-08:00

Well, another Bleo went by, this one without issues. I took my Tylenol, and got through fine. My red blood cells are back up to 11.3, which is low, but not scary.

I actually found the red cross contact for where my blood came from, and emailed him and thanked him. Turns out my blood came from a University of Wisconsin blood drive. And that whole thing about donor confidentiality is a lark. I just asked, and the donor is a sophomore in computer science, who grew up in the northern parts of Wisconsin. He has two sisters, and enjoys swimming and ice fishing.... Actually, I made all that up. I have no idea who the donor is. I do know it came from Wisco, because there were stickers on the bag that said "Madison" and "Badger Bonanza" or something like that. And I did email the red cross rep there, and he appreciated my email. Okay, now that you're really confused, let's move on.

Another interesting thing about the blood: unit 2 had much higher iron. It was visibly a deeper red. I would think midwest blood wouold be chock full o' iron, being that they eat steak, as opposed to us boneless-skinless-chicken-breast eatin' folks. For clarafication, because you may still be reeling from the previous paragraph, the adjectives "boneless" and "skinless" refer to the chicken breasts, not the folks who eat them. Side note: why are Costco chicken breasts so incredibly huge compared to other chicken breasts? At the Foster Farms ranch, do they corral separately the extra-busty hens? I think my brother lives somewhat near one of the ranches, so maybe he can go take a gander at some chicken bosoms, see if there is any distinction, and report back.

So, I got some iron-rich blood. Good stuff. Higher RBC. Also good. Got another Neulasta shot as well. More white blood cells. Good. Throat feels kind of burny. Not as good.

This brings us to today. This morning, I thought I might go for a run at lunch. Instead, I went for a lunch stroll. It was really nice out, so it was good to get some exercise. Now, I'm just sitting here at work, killing time, flicking boogers at my co-workers. Yawn yawn yawn. Oh, wait a second. My boss reads this blog. Um, um, actually, I am hard at work analyzing the finite elements of the bending moment, um, cantilever, uh, aw, jeepers, where's the delete key?

Prayer requests II, etc.

2006-01-31T08:53:00.000-08:00

As a reminder, I covet all y'all's prayers. Current requests include the following:

- Of course, I wish to see how God can and will use this chemo for His glory.
- We still have a small child on the way. Pray for continued health for Melissa and the baby.
- End o' cancer. I would be thrilled if the cancer was completely gone after the chemo so that I did not have no undergo surgery.
- Side effects: No nausea, vomiting, etc.

interesting side note: it seems that the chemo is eliminating a wart I've had on my foot for a very long time. How great is that?

Also, if any of you blog-readin' folks have prayer requests, feel free to post them in the comments section. It would be my joy and privelege to pray for you.

I'll post this afternoon with results from today's Bleo, results from the blood panel, and any other random tidbits that happen today.

Stab stab stab

2006-01-28T21:14:00.000-08:00

I had my blood transfusion this morning. All in all, it wasn't too bad. I must say, getting stabbed with such regularity is kind of wearying. I got stabbed for the blood, then they do a blood panel immediately following the transfusion which takes another stab. The blood panel was taken by a paramedic intern, which means a two-try stab. He was actually a very nice guy. Plus, his mom has leukemia, which breaks my heart. Being that I have cancer, I very quickly learn that just aboyut everyone has a loved one that is going through cancer, or has gone through it. Also, on the scale of things, I guess my regiment may be pretty rough. However, I have a known end. A lot of folks who I see in the treatment room have either very long treatments, or they sometimes don't even know when the end is coming. One fellow, John, was doing simlutaneous chemo and radiation, and had something like 20-30 radiation sessions he was going to. Oof.

I get stabbed again on Tuesday for Bleo and my Neulasta shot, then Thursday for a blood panel, then I get four days off! Yay!

How low can I go?

2006-01-26T18:31:00.000-08:00

Well, apparently the oncology nurses don't want to let me get any lower. My hemoglobin is down to 8.6 As you may remember from a previous post, 14 is the lower end of normal for a dude. So, I'm getting a blood transfusion. I certainly have some associated prayer requests:

- That I would get blood soon. The biggest question is whether or not the hospital can find a bed for me. All things considered, I'd like to do it all tomorrow. I have chemo in the morning, and hope to do the transfusion in the afternoon. Now, the transfusion itself takes four hours (I'm getting two units), so I'd like that to go smoothly as well. If I do get the blood tomorrow, it will be a long day.

- I'd like the blood to be clean. I'm not that worried about it, but my wife has some concerns, so I'd like her to have peace about the whole situation.

- I'd like my red blood cell booster shot to kick into gear, so that I have some more wiggle room in terms of having enough red blood cells.

- This is going to be at the same hospital I had the chemo-thon before. I would certainly like this to go more smoothly and more quickly.

On the brighter side, I have oodles of white blood cells and infection fighters, and I actually feel pretty good. I'm not allowed to running around, but that's okay. I plan on doing plenty of running around and romping with my children when this whole thing is completed. So, good blood, soon, and smoothly. Lots of double-o's.

Things that I gotta say

2006-01-25T18:28:00.000-08:00

There are some things that I gotta say to any and all readers.

One item applies to all the guys out there. Go to the doctor for annual physical. I used to hate going to the doctor. All the poking and prodding was just weird. After getting stabbed and filled with chemicals, let alone the number of men who poked at my scrotum when I first got testicular cancer, none of the prodding bothers me anymore.

This leads to second item. Guys, do a testicular self exam regularly. Just check 'em out when you shower once a week, and roll them around, looking for lumps in all the wrong places. If you think you may have found a lump, go to the doctor. Do not pass go, do not collect $200. When I first found my lump, I thought, huh, weird. Two weeks later, when I indicated it to my wife, she said I had to go see a doctor. My intial guy response was, pfeh, who needs a doctor? The next day it struck me: either nothing was wrong, and I needed to know that, or something was wrong, and I needed to know that. Putting it off was going to gain me nothing and make my wife nutty. Please, please, don't wait. All the guys I see in chemo have similar stories of how they think it's something else. Maybe it is, but maybe it isn't. It's worth the co-pay.

Finally, there is something even more important to me than those items. If you have been reading my blog, you have probably noted that I am professing Christian. Not perfect, just forgiven. If you have accepted Christ as Lord and Savior, that's wonderful, and I ask for continued prayer. If you have not, please start seeking, and if you have questions, ask away. Jesus Christ is real, and I ask that you consider what that means to each of you. He has been my Rock and my Refuge throughout chemo. If you aren't sure if you are saved, again, I would be happy to talk about what it means to be saved. It doesn't take some long special ritual or drawn out process; it simply confessing your sins, asking for forgiveness, recognizing that Jesus paid for your sins, and accepting that payment in full.

I realize the last item is uncomfortable for some people to talk about. Right now, it is a lot more uncomfortable for me to ignore it.

God bless.

My worst day ever

2006-01-25T18:14:00.000-08:00

As promised, here is my worst day ever. When I say "worst day," I mean with reference to intestinal issues.

As I previously mentioned, it started when I ate a leftover sandwich that I had left in my car for a couple of days. I never ordered mayo, so I figured it would be fine. The roast beef was a little funny, but, hey, how bad could it be.

I worked at Six Flags Magic Mountain at the time, and it was my day off, so I figured I would go and hang out and ride some rides. After an hour a so, I was a little queasy. I went to the first aid area, and asked if I could lay down. I rested for a while, then the Bad Food Rejection System (BFRS) went into full effect. I hurled. The nurse ran in, slid a bedpan over to me, and said, "Throw up into this!" I said, "Sorry," and, thanks to her Impressive Bedpan Sliding Aim (IBSA) I managed to throw up into the bedpan the next time.

The bedpan has a limited amount that it could hold. I filled it three times, at least. I remember it being more, but I don't want the time since it occurred to contribute to exaggeration. Anyway, my stomach was pretty empty, so I thanked the nurse, signed out, and went out to my car to drive home.

I was pretty drowsy at this point. I was okay for a while, but then, on a straight road, would close my eyes for the count of one, then reopen them, because it was too hard to hold them open. I made it home, by God's grace, and wandered into the bathroom. After about twenty minutes, I felt okay enough to go to my room, which was about twelve feet away. I got up, started stumbling to my room, and just as I entered the doorway, I stumbled, made a hard left and smacked face first into the door jamb. I made a U-turn, and hit the door jamb again. Another U-turn and smack, followed by a back up and smack, followed by another face smack, then I passed out.

Some time later, I woke up, and crawled into bed.

Now, if my wife says she thinks that food in the fridge has gone bad, I always believe her, because of that incident. Anyway, never risk it. Good advice.

More of same

2006-01-25T18:08:00.000-08:00

I had another uneventful day of chemo. I went, read, watched a movie, did my Bible study, and that was about it. I came home, ate some lunch, and took a nap. I went for a hike up on Black Mountain, where my lack of red blood cells was evident in my tiredness. Nevetheless, it was wonderful to get outside.

One thing I'm not sure I've noted before is my chemo weight gain. They give me some sort of steroid, and that contributes to water retention. I weighed in at 167 on Monday morning. I weighed in tonight at 174. Oof. Also, my pulse on Monday morning was 55, and was 72 this morning, and my blood pressure is slightly higher. Overall, I get amped. This does not help me sleep. However, the sleeping drugs they have me take does help. I still get up at 3 a.m. every morning. I lay awake for about half an hour, then finally fall back asleep.

However, my hair is still there, I have very little nausea which is easily controlled by my anti-nausea drugs, and my GI tract has been fairly comfortable. I notices that it becomes more sore when I eat really high fiber breakfast cereal. So, I can live without that for a while.

The worst day ever...

2006-01-24T17:08:00.000-08:00

is certainly not today! No shivers, had a nice nap, and the chemo session went by fairly quickly. Today is Melissa's birthday, so the same gang that celebrated my birthday is celebrating hers. This dinner is a bacon and butternut squash pasta dish that I made for her last year. I must have done okay. Actually, it's just the same recipe. It isn't the actual food I made last year. We ate that food then. For dessert, she's getting cheesecake with berries. Her mom made the cheesecake. I was a lazy lump.

As for what was my worst day ever, I'll save that for another entry. It all started when I ate my leftover roast beef sandwich in high school that had been sitting in my car for a couple of days...

We're trying to teach Hudson to play the kazoo. He doesn't quite get it. He does like it when we play, though.

Happy Birthday to me!

2006-01-22T19:00:00.000-08:00

What a wonderful birthday! My wife made me pancakes in the morning, then I took a nap. While Hudson and she napped, I watched some football, then we all hung out in the afternoon. My parents came over, and Melissa's mom is in town to help out for this chemo week. We had a yummy dinner, and my mom made a delicious cake. It feels weird to think I'm starting another cycle yesterday, because the last EP cycle seems so long ago. The mostly shaved head is the only real reminder that I'm even going through chemo, apart from the endless desire to nap. Anyway, I am thrilled to say that there really isn't anything on the chemo front to report. Now all I need to do is remember when and what drugs I need to take before and after my chemo treatments.

A nearly normal day

2006-01-21T17:25:00.000-08:00

Today, nothing happened. How awesome is that?! I went for a long-ish bike ride, which was more tiring then a non-chemo ride would be, but I took it extra easy, and felt pretty great at the end. Melissa went to a wedding shower while Hudson and I napped. We hung out in the afternoon. I ate food. I chilled.

The one thing that wasn't quite normal is, my hair is finally falling out. I'm starting to get some glossier sections on my noggin. I expect to be a cue ball by Tuesday or so. I'll probably go over it again with the clippers so I don't make my pillowcase all furry, and I don't have a splotchy noggin. (Now, for the first time on stage, Splotchy Noggin!)

Tomorrow is my birthday. Luckily, I'm old enough that having one be a little less noticed is okay, but of course notes and comments with birthday wishes are always wonderful (hint hint).
Melissa is making me a yummy meal. Did I mention how wonderful my wife was? Good.

Neulasta working at last-a!

2006-01-20T14:38:00.000-08:00

I had more blood tests yesterday, and my WBC (White Blood Cell) count is much higher! It has gone from 2.7 to 14! My granulocytes (infection fighters) have gone from 1500 (Tuesday) to 16000! Wow! My haematocrit has gone all the way from 31.2 to 31.4! Okay, that's not so amazing, but my platelets have also gone up more than 70%. I'm actually allowed to go outside and talk to people, at least the ones that don't have restraining orders. Ha! I'll be here all week. Tip your waitress. Try the fish.

But seriously, that was wonderful to hear, and emans that I can a beautiful weekend. This is good, because Sunday is my birthday. I'm going to be really, really old. (Audience: How old are you?) I'm so old, I saw Star Wars when it first came into the theaters!

Speaking of being old at movies, I saw something which I thought was very funny at my last chemo appointment. There was a very thin, slightly frial elderly lady there, probably in her eighties. She was watching a portable DVD player and was wearing full headphones, which was funny enough. The nurse asked what she was watching. The answer: Wedding Crashers. She kept saying "this is stupid" and "I don't get it." She didn't smile once. When I got home, i told my wife that if I wanted to make a funny documentary, I would take a nursing home full of people, and make them watch movies like American Pie and Wedding Crashers, and record their reactions. It still makes me chuckle.

The Kindness of Friends

2006-01-18T21:09:00.000-08:00

We have been overwhelmed by the kindness of all the folks we know. Okay, maybe not overwhelmed. Perhaps a better word is wonderfully blessed. Okay, two words. Anyway, being surrounded by many friends who care deeply for us, pray for us regularly, and are generally there for us, makes this whole ordeal much more bearable. It's never going to be a question of how we could possibly handle something; instead, we have a group of people who we know are the answer to how we are going to handle everything. So, a big thanks and a giant group cyber-hug to you all.

Bleo-tastic? More like Bleo-awful.

2006-01-17T20:59:00.000-08:00

Well, that wasn't fun. I went in today for a Bleo shot. One of Bleo's notorities is that it can cause the chills. So, I get my Bleo, stop at work and pick up my laptop (my white blood cells are so low I'm not supposed to go to work tomorrow), and head home. As I head home, I start to shiver and shake. Not little ones, mind you. Have you ever seen the cartoon where Wile E Coyote takes earthquake pills. That's pretty much what it was like. I come home and crawl into bed. Hudson, thank the Lord, was sleeping. Melissa went into action. She started a shower for me, and helped me get my socks off. Seriously, I think I would have fallen over if I'd tried to remove them myself. I stepped into the shower, put in the stopped, then lay down once the water level rose. Melissa got me a pillow, some washcloths, some water, and some Tylenol. After about 20 minutes before the shower and 20 minutes in the shower and tub, the shaking finally stopped. Also, my sense of temperature has been all over the map. Funny thing is, I feel better now than I did last night at this time. My tongue and my keister feel much better. Anyway, another night's sleep, and I am done with chemo for cycle one.

Tapioca pudding challenge

2006-01-17T10:04:00.000-08:00

I love tapioca pudding. Not the stuff from the store, which is basically lumpy vanilla pudding, but the real homemade stuff.

I tried making it. It says stir continually until it reaches a full boil. So I stir and stir and stir. Then it starts to boil over. Pretty full boil in my book. I take it off the heat, and it cools, becoming a lovely tapioca soup. Pretty tasty, but way too runny.

Last night, my wife took a shot. No boiling over...perfect constistency. Delicious. Apparently, another lesser known side effect is the inability to make pudding. Go fig.

I've also asked my mom to make some for me as well. They tell me I can't overeat while I'm on chemo, and it's a gentle foos to eat, so that means lot so tapioca! Mmmmm....

A pain in the keister

2006-01-17T09:59:00.000-08:00

Gosh, no one warned me about this. Yesterday, my keister felt like I had received a colonoscopy with the device wrapped in sandpaper. If you had told me "There are fires on Uranus!" I could not disagree. It would hurt if I moved from the sitting up position to the leaning forward position. All in all, not fun. Happily, now it feels more like an overly warm enema. Not painful, but very noticeable.

My other pain is my tongue. It keeps rubbing my teeth on the right side, and I think the chemo makes it heal more slowly, so I need to make sure I chew on the left side only to keep my tongue from fighting my teeth. So, I don't a loss of appetite, as much as a loss of interest of food entering or leaving my body. Again, happily, today is better than yesterday.

Prayer requests

2006-01-15T18:11:00.000-08:00

I've asked for prayer, and I figure I should give some actual specific requests.

Low side effects (see previous post)
No infection
No delay to chemo
Complete tumor elimination: if the chemo doesn't complete the work, they'll go in there and hack out my lymph node
Continued health for wife, son, and bun
Strength for wife as caretaker for Hudson and me
See God's hand in all of this, and some of the ways that God is using my chemo for His glory
Growth in my marriage as a result of all this

Not that bad...

2006-01-14T21:54:00.000-08:00

I must admit, there are some unpleasant side effects, but, in the scheme of things, they are more like toe stub irritating than paper cut irritating. Perhaps I should start Geoffrey's Scale of Irritation (GSI). At the top is having your hand nibbled off by a cannibal. What's the politically correct term for a cannibal? Person Consumer? Muncher of Mankind?

Anyway, here are some things that I deal with right now:

bad sleep - I wake up several times a night, and stay awake for a while at about 4 a.m.
tired - low red blood cells, body fighting cancer, weird chemicals...makes sense
roto-rootered throat - sometimesit feels like someone took a steel file and ran it up and down my esophagus. Just another good reason to eat ice cream
blood in the mucus - When I cough, there is often a small amount of blood in my sputum (sputa?)
can't play piano - actually I never could. would like to, though
occasional temp swings - I get sudden chills, or feel extra warm
headache - that's why God gave us Tylenol

There are probably other ones, but nothing is really beating me down. I truly hope and pray it is this way all the way through.

Oh, my sheared head is growing back. My guess for joining the severely follicularly challenged: Wednesday

Blood counts and results

2006-01-14T09:28:00.000-08:00

As I continue in my treatment, I think I have reached my nadir. Look it up. Just kidding; it's the low point in a blood cell count. My reds are up from a week ago (Hooray, Aranesp!) but my whites are down (C'mon, Neulasta!). Happily, my whites are still just barely within okay. So I don't have red light nor a green light...let's call it amber, for caution. Please don't breathe on this blog if you might be sick. I'm actually also checking my temperature while staying away from anyone who may be sick. All in all, I'm feeling well.

I read The Magician's Nephew yesterday. It's part of The Chronicles of Narnia, sort of the prequel to The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe. Good book. I really enjoy C.S. Lewis's writings.

Anyway, I'm off for a walk with the family before the rain comes.

Feeling sheepish...

2006-01-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

Well, hair loss is imminent, so my wife took the shears to my head last night. It makes my noggin a little chillier, but, happily, I don't have a hooribly misshapen head. My son giggled at it, and had fun touching my remaining fuzz this morning.

Also, had blood tests this morning. Results tomorrow, I'm expecting the best.

Wonderful news and timing

2006-01-11T18:10:00.000-08:00

Another reason to be happy I have chemo now...we have our second child on the way! The due date is in June, so this whole ordeal will be over with, and I should even have some hair back! Melissa (my wife) just had a checkup yesterday, and the heart is thumping away. When we have gender, I will welcome name ideas, and post sonogram pictures. Considering our last name is Mayne, names like Hugh or Chicken Chow just don't work. Keep that in mind.

What to do?

2006-01-11T18:06:00.000-08:00

Being that I am not elderly, many of my friends simply have no idea how to deal with my being cancerous and sick. For folks that are out there, whether it's for me or someone else, here are some ideas:

- Look for ways to help the caregiver. My wife is taking care of me and my young son, and it is wonderful if people can help take care of her. Meals are always welcome. Phone calls and emails are also helpful.

- Friendly emails to me. Short phone calls. The one thing that will probably increase as time goes on is my fatigue level.

- Swinging by and hanging out. That is welcome as well, as long as you are healthy, and don't expect much in the way of movement.

How blessed am I!

2006-01-11T18:02:00.000-08:00

Today has gone well. No real sickness, good appetite, minimal drugs needed. I do realize how blessed I am. I have wonderful wife and adorable child. I have a great job, great place to live, and great family and friends. I have a cat on my lap right now that thinks I'm great, or at least sufficently warm.

I thank God and my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ for helping me through this process. Even if chemo were rough and pukey, I would rejoice, because there are always more than enough reasons to rejoice and be thankful.

Wacky dreams

2006-01-11T10:49:00.000-08:00

Wow, Bleo is not a friendly drug. I heard that I might get chills, and I got them in a big way just before going to bed last night. I shivered for a while. Then, the dreams began. I kept dreaming that I didn't have enough chemo, and they needed to do emergency IV's last night, and the nurses were hurrying to get more chemo into me. I woke up a dozen times or so.

Today is much better. Work is going well, and I don't feel too woozy.

Bleo and me

2006-01-10T17:02:00.000-08:00

I have a new song to the tune of the dog song, B-I-N-G-O...

I get a treament for disease, and CHEMO is its Name-O!...

Went in today, got my Bleo, got some Neulasta, total of maybe an hour. Then, I went for a ride on my bike. This was a challenge. A normal person's hematocrit is 41-50. Mine is 32. The doctor gave me some Aranesp (what some Olympic athletes got busted for), so hopefully I'll be better soon. However, for this ride, I felt like I was riding at 12000 feet. Hey, it's all good training. It's just that much easier for me to have an elevated heart rate.

By the way, here is a list of items that aren't chemo, that I get on the side:
Zantac, Zofran, Compazine, and Ativan are anti-nausea
Stool softeners, because most of the anti-nausea is also constipating
Neulasta, a white blood cell booster
Aranesp, a red blood cell booster
Glutamine, to prevent extremity numbness
I think I'm also getting some steroids
I'm afraid the Rite-Aid folks are starting to recognize me.

Hospitals and doctor's offices

2006-01-10T16:54:00.000-08:00

Most of my treatment is at the oncology office. After going to the hospital once, I realize how wonderful this is.

A typical treatment in the office involves showing up, sitting in a recliner, getting an IV, and chatting, reading, or listening to music. My total time in the office is the time of the treatment, plus maybe 20-30 minutes of setup and teardown.

At the hospital, I showed up at 10:40 a.m. to get checked in for an 11 a.m. appointment. I was in my room by 10:50 a.m. So far, so good.

They don't mix the chemo until I get there. That can add an hour to the total time. Sadly, that was not caused the majority of my delay. They had to get a special IV nurse to do the IV. I didn't have an IV in my arm until 2 p.m. In addition, they were out of beds in the mental health area, so I ended up with a patient in the room next door throwing punches at a doctor. It took a total of 8 hours for a four hour treatment. However, I did get to watch a fair amount of World's Strongest Man competition. So there's that.

Why me?

2006-01-09T18:17:00.000-08:00

This is a question that strikes many. Why, of all the people in the world, am I one to get cancer? Well, I actually ask, why not me? Frankly, there are a lot worse situations I could be in with a lot worse prognoses. Looking at the side effects (acne, hair loss, low red blood cell count, low white blood cell count, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and so on), it really is pretty manageable. I wouldn't ask for it, but I'm not doing too bad, thank you.

One major factor to my high spirits is my friends and family. I have many people praying for me, and I truly believe God has a purpose for this. In fact, from the time I was first diagnosed three years ago, I have often said that either I was cured, or God has a really good reason for me to have chemo. I must say it is pretty exciting being involved in something that God has a really good reason for.

The surreality of it all

2006-01-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

Today I was feeling pretty okay, so I drove in to work. It was kind of surreal. Here I am, driving down the freeway with a whole bunch of other folks, and everyone has their own concerns. Someone needs an oil change, someone has a sick child, and here I am: a current chemo patient, trying to put the final blow on cancer.

It makes me realize that whenever there is someone on the roadway that seems to be behaving in a bizarre manner, I have no idea what is wrong with them, and it isn't my concern.

Tomorrow, I get my Bleo and my Neulasta shot, which will help boost my white blood cell count.

Round 1 Chemo

2006-01-08T17:53:00.000-08:00

Well, it's time to start posting so that people can stay up to date on my chemotherapy. I'll add details as I go, but the short version is this: In December 2002, I was diagnosed with seminoma, the "friendlier" version of testicular cancer. I had the offending fella removed, and went on surveillance. Just before Christmas 2005, a tumor was found in my lower right lymph node. On Tuesday, January 3, I started my first round of BEP (Bleomycin, Etoposide, and Cisplatin). I have three rounds total. The EP is 5 days on, two weeks off, and the Bleo is once a week for nine weeks. The total treatment is nine weeks.

So, here are a couple of interesting things that have happened so far. First off, the side effects have been minimal. I'm a little queasy sometimes, but the anti-nausea drugs have done their job. Hair loss will probably happen next week.

Also, my wife and I were a little concerned that I was recommended that I use Bleomycin, as that can cause, in some patients, lung damage. I'd rather not have that. So, I emailed one of the top guys in the US for testicular cancer, on Christmas day. He emailed me back, at eleven that night, reassuring me that I needn't worry.

Finally, I do most of my chemo in an oncology office, but had to have it yesterday in the hospital. The IV took three hours to get started, and they were out of beds in the mental health area, so I had a patient throwing punches at a doctor in the room next door.

I'll probably continue to play catch up with the posts.