Road block

I was in the cancer clinic yesterday and showed off my red peeling swollen rash to whoever needed to see it.
The outcome is that we will miss the next round of chemo to deal with the rash before it gets infected. The way we are going to deal with the rash is cover the area with burn dressing and have a home care nurse change it daily. I’m disappointed that we need to interrupt the chemo regime but if an infection starts in me the chemo is stopped so better interrupt than stop. I’m wearing burn dressing now and there is some relief – much better. We are praying for quick healing and a continuation of treatment.

Rounding the Curve

Can you see the smile on my face? Can you sense the joy in my heart? The tumours are shrinking! This is news gleaned from the CT scan taken last week. Dr. Ho gave us an overview of the images and a rundown of the numbers as she inserted a sincere and subtle “Thank God.” I had three tumours in my head. Now, the scan shows one tiny mass behind my eye and a larger mass filling my whole skull. (I hope the big one is my brain) This is the result of the 5 radiation treatments I had back in April – radiation has been active in my head all this time. The chemotherapy drugs are doing their work too. The lung tumour is breaking up and of the 3 lesions in my liver 2 are specks and one is smaller. Our Chemo Capers are rounding a bend.
Now I need to stay in the healing mode as we see how God’s work continues to amaze us.
Negotiating this curve on our journey can be like taking corners on a motorcycle. When you are riding into a curve, reduce your speed before starting to lean into the turn. Then give it throttle as you are coming out of the bend. Timing is key. When you lean and begin to accelerate will determine if you come out of the corner with a thrill or a spill. Spinning rubber with tires down or shooting sparks with your feet up.
My point is –it is time to give glory to God and stay focused on the healing mode.
Looking at the big picture – it just doesn’t seem fair. Why do I have to deal with a terminal disease like lung cancer? It is not fair that I live my life with a wonderful wife, a fantastic family and loads of supportive friends.
It is not about being fair. Like in a hockey game. The game would be fair if you gave each team their own puck before you blew the whistle to start the game. Kind of stupid but fair.

I have been given all this as my life to live with Him who gave it to me.

The best before date.

You probably don't know this bit of information that I'm going to share with you because I haven't told many people. Just Jody and Bob who were there at the clinic with me when the oncologist gave us a run down on where we were at with things.This was back in March when I first became a cancer patient, Dr.Ho said what she said when she first met me because I asked what I asked. My question was, " I have a large non-small cell carcinoma tumour in my lung. The cancer is in stage 4 and has spread to other parts of my body...." Then I stumbled around for the words to finsh my question which I didnt want to know the answer to. " What - where does this - is there a time line?" At this point Dr. Ho, almost blurted out, "12 weeks to 5 years." Then she comprehensively gave us a background on statistics and how they come into being. Learning what I did about statistics - I felt that it was a mute question so I didn't let "12 weeks to 5 years" be my guide. However, it does light the trail differently.
All a somber subject, eh?
But, if we take the 12 weeks - we can say that I'm past my expiry date. Like food in your fridge. Open the jar a take a whiff. That's just like me. Let's see, 12 weeks would have been sometime around the Benefit Concert June 11. That was a great party! Good thing I was still on the best before side of life while I was hugging all of you. I'm still good for hugs - I just won't be as fresh with you as I was before the expiry date.
Does best before mean worst after ?


Jody and I are very thankful and would like to extend our gratitude to the saints who sponsored our time away. We had a short vacation in July to recharge our energy. This is a photo of us with some local people we met while we were away.



Actually, we were all waiting for the BC Ferry to take us to Victoria! The group we were visiting with are a soccer team here for the F.I.F.A. Tournament during that week.

Terminal

This photo is me with my latest side effect. A rash. It starts on my face then tapers off as it reaches my knees. It's itchy - I am uncomfortable with it. Yes that is how I will describe it - uncomfortable. There are other words that I could use to describe this condition.


One word I did think about was terminal, this word could be used but it has a dark and final meaning that sends chills up and down the spine. This horror movie effect that has been instilled in us from the likes of Vincent Price and Stephen King. So frightening because it is T-E-R-M-I-N-A-L !
But wait a minute it is just one of the meanings of the word termial. Let's not forget that a terminal is a place where people go to get on an airplane or a bus or a train. They leave their baggage for someone else to deal with and the climb aboard and head off for their destination. You stand in the terminal and wave good bye and cry a tear because it's quite possible you will never see them again. Oh, I guess this could have a dark and final meaning to it also.
How about, terminal - a device for changing the flow of electricity or any moving energy. As the energy moves through the terminal, the switch is moved and the energy is stopped and never will continue it's original path because of the terminal. Gee, that sounds dark and final too. So, let's forget the the word terminal. My rash is just uncomfortable.

I think I need a nick name to acknowledge my new look - Terminal Head ? Flakey Face ? Rash Hole ? I'm open to suggestions.
I'll be back on line next week.

Hung Over

The trial has begun. I am now in the cluches of the best clinical cancer Doctors and nurses that this country has to offer. They want to know when I sleep , wake-up. How much I eat or drink. It is a little intrusive but considering the situation I can put up with that much loss of privacy. The main story here is the drugs. Once a week I'm in the chemo chair for a 2 hour drip of cetuximab and benadryl (to prevent an allergic reaction) Every 3rd week I'm in the chair for 3 hours receiving cetuximab with a chaser of pemetrexed. Dr. Ho the oncologist said that I had no proplem with the first round of chemo so she is not worried about how I'm going to handle this trial. I think she is wringing her hands with glee as she and her collegues watch me boil over in some chemotherapy crescendo. A funny thought from a dungeon scene from any B grade movie. Actually, Dr. Ho really has no mad scientist in her that I can see. I truly believe she is an oncologist so she can help people cure cancer and see colours that they have never seen before. Dr. Ho has been very caring and informative to Jody and I throught our whole time at the cancer clinic.

BIG Thank you !

Monday June 11 was a huge success on all accounts. The Kits auditorium was sold out and everyone had a fabulous time. See, I told you that it was going to be lots of fun. I would like to share some photos from the Friends of Meeks Variety Show.

John Kaplan

Sand and Mike Battie with special guest Art Ross.

Bing Jensen

Ray Roch

Neale Bacon

Charlotte Diamond

Jim Raddysh

Nelson Kaplan


Iain Duncan

Norma McKnight

Mike Battie

Paul Hann

Meeks Family Circus

Side Effect

This is one side effect that no one told me about and one that I never expected. An infection in my arm from having so many needle pokes. Too many blood tests and IV hook ups left me with a swollen and sore left elbow. I called the nurse at the cancer clinic and their advise to me was to have my GP look at it. Dr. Miller fit me in to his busy day on Monday and wanted me to go to the ER to have an ultra sound and/or antibiotics (IV antibiotics? ok, I'm not afraid.) This past Monday was "VGH annual why hurry day". Jody and I checked in the ER at 12:30 and did the first of 3 IV antibiotic treatments then left the ER at 7:00pm. We were assured that it was especially busy in the ER that day and when we returned for the other IV antibiotic treatments we would be fast tracked. We were. We went back on Tuesday and Wednesday and things were much faster. However, on Monday I noticed lots of standing around and Tuesday and Wednesday there seemed to be professional people moving around the hospital. So we got through that with a bottle of horse pills that I need to take 4 times a day. Jody says any day not in a hospital is a good day.
Officially I have volunteered for the chemotherapy trial that I mentioned last week so now I have to go through more tests to see if I actually qualify. Either way, I will begin treatments June 20. Pray that these drugs will do what they are supposed to do against the cancer. Pray also for me as I recover from these drugs and begin the rest of my life.