What a week!

We waited several days to get the radiation treatment schedule but once we did, thinks started rolling.  We went in Wed. for a trial run (I know, what?, they already drew targets on my body, now they need practice?)  Anyway, I did not feel good this week and the trial run took over an hour.

Thurs.:  First treatment at 11:00 and it took about 25 minutes.  Boy, I came out feeling fine and thinking there's nothing to this.  Not so fast Buster!  In less than an hour after the treatment, I suddenly felt nauseous
but it passed quickly.  Then, I ate.  For the next 3 hours or so I threw up and felt terrible.  I rested ok Thurs. night but no eating.

Friday:  Treatment at 11:15 - still no eating and I looked and felt awful.  I asked for meds. for nausea but of course you have to wait an hour or so to see the Dr.  (treatment was quick again).  He did give me something while I was there which helped even though I still felt awful like I was going to throw up.  After we got home, I worked on drinking, eating some soup and sandwich.  That took until about bedtime, but it did stay down.  Dr. also gave me extended pain meds. which helped me rest well.

Today:  Still not great, but I've felt better today than I have for days - still working at eating and drinking.

I don't usually share all this information but several of you express interest in knowing and we appreciate  you wanting to "do something".  For now, your continued prayers and support are the best.

My dear friend Pat sends me cards from time to time and the last one included a thought that I make part of my prayer several times every day - Lord, help me to want what you want!  What a concept.  Thanks for all your encouraging thoughts, Pat.

Busy Sat.!

Chris, Gracie, and Isaiah came over to help me plant shrubs and fill the strip between sidewalk and driveway with dirt.  Mostly Chris did the work but Gracie moved a lot of dirt and Isaiah got a lot of dirt on him - everyone had fun.  Johnson showed up when most of the work was done (of course) but we let him join in some raking and cleaning up.

Then just before dark, these members of our Bible Fellowship Class (know to us as Sunday School) showed up to sing Christmas Carols.  What a great group.

Still another direction!

Part of what we learned today at the dr. visit I think we already knew - the cancer is growing.  Dr. Aklilu recommended a couple new directions.  1)  I go again Thurs. night for another of my favorites (MRI) in preparation for radiation treatment on my back.  There is a spot on a bone that they think is causing the pain and by treating it with radiation they think that will relieve the pain.  I'm all for that!  Radiation treatment has not yet been scheduled.  2)  He has recommended a clinical trial at Duke.  We have a consultative visit at Duke 12/19/11 to find out what is available and what is involved.  I don't care for the idea of going to Duke for anything, but I'm ok with their medical expertise and reputation - just don't try to take me to Cameron Indoor Stadium for treatment!

40 YEARS!

I can't believe it's been 40 years!  Our family helped Eleanor and me celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary this week.  I don't say it very often but it's always been true - God blessed me with a wonderful partner.  She is constantly thinking of and doing for me and others.

The pictures below represent a peek at a wonderful evening provided by our children (mostly Kelly and Jen) and grandchildren.  Our dining room was specially decorated with seating for just the two of us, we were escorted to the table by grandchildren, the ladies prepared a wonderful meal, and the grandchildren served the entire meal to us, then entertained us with singing.  We always go somewhere special to eat for our anniversary and this was by far the best!  The service was fantastic!

The wonderful waiter staff

Reserved seating

Special escort to seat

Other than the celebration, it's been a tough week.  Since our dr. visit last Mon., the mouth sores returned  

and I've had to discontinue the chemo again.  Almost suddenly, the sores exploded all over my mouth so eating, etc. is challenging.  I have been able to stay in bed all night most nights with medication.  Thurs. night, we had scans and finally got away from Bapt. hospital around 10:00pm.  We have another dr. appt. Tues. morning to get results.  Please continue to pray for results, dr. decisions, and strength for us to deal with whatever actions or changes may follow.

Another Dr. appt.

We had a great Thanksgiving with children, grandchildren, my sister, brother and his wife all present.  Needless to say, there was lots of activity - it's always fun to see the grandchildren play together.  On Friday, David helped me with some winterizing chores and we finished mowing the grass.  I think we have finished turkey leftovers so Thanksgiving is over.


We had the two-week follow-up visit with the dr. today.  Since I'm still coughing, experiencing pain, and sleeping short periods only(maybe 2 hours before coughing), he wants to do scans again.  Therefore, I go for CT and MRI late Thurs. afternoon and Thurs. night this week and return to him next Tues. to find out what he sees and what do we do from there.  He suspects the cancer is growing but wants to know before we change anything.  I don't like the scans, mainly MRI, but am glad he wants to know and not just assume.  He did give me pain and sleep medications.  We'll see if they help - maybe I can sleep in bed instead of my recliner.

I've had better weeks!

The last week or so is the first time I've felt less than normal from cancer.  While taking sutent (chemo drug) I felt very fortunate that the side effects were mild but it was always nice to get a break and feel normal.  I started taking the reduced dose of afinitor last Mon. but before that, I had begun coughing more and had a dull somewhat persistent pain in my side.  I've now taken afinitor for a week with no apparent side effects but the cough persists and the pain is not better - maybe worse.  Therefore, I called the dr. today to see if we needed to check on the pain.  His response through the nurse was that the pain was probably from the cancer - hoping the afinitor may lessen the pain in time.  My next dr. appt. is next Mon.  While I'm experiencing effects for the first time, I'm not in great pain.  Coughing, most sever when I'm laying down, makes sleeping all night a challenge.   I just don't feel good, and it's easy to choose to do nothing.

As always, thanks for your concern and continued prayers for me and my family.

New drug update and golf trip

Sixteen crazy golfers just returned from Myrtle Beach after three days of golf and fun.  We had a lot of fun, some good weather (bad for Nov. Fri./Sat. but Sun. was nice), so-so to bad golf although some guys played well.  I especially enjoyed having Chris and David join us for the first time.

Today has been a busy day after returning from golf trip.  Workmen showed up at 7:30 and started working on our new circle driveway - so much for sleeping in!  It's about 5:00 now and they're long gone with the driveway complete!

We had dr. appt. at 2:00 today.  For those not aware, the mouth sores got so bad last weekend that the dr. took me off medication (10/31) until they clear up.  Today, he decided I needed another week to heal (my mouth has improved the last day or two where I can eat without great pain but I'm still well aware they're there).  I have another dr. visit next Mon. at which time I'll resume afinitor at half strength assuming my mouth has completely healed by then.  I'm hoping half strength works since I felt very good otherwise on this drug, and still do.  I felt good on the golf trip, just didn't play very well.