Taking some time off

I am taking some time off from the blogosphere.

I am making my way back to work and I am about to begin writing about the events in my life from roughly November 4th 2006 (date I found the lump) to May 18th, 2007 (remission).

I recently had an interview with a local Police Dept regarding a position as a Dispatcher. Of course there is Starbucks and some other freelance jobs I have held in the past.

Anyway if anyone is still reading this blog, I'll be back in a few weeks.

Be well.

Body Still hurts...Not sleeping well.

Body still hurts something awful. I have to learn to be patient with my body catching up with my head.

And I am not sleeping well at all. While activity seems to help the constant aches and pains, when I wake up the next day...my body is screaming at me.

I guess it's more about taking baby steps and not pushing myself too hard.

Body still hurts...

My CT scan came back fine.

My MRI however, seems to have located a herniated disc on my lower left side.

Denise (one of the head nurses) called as Dr L is on holiday...she advised me to contact a Neuro-Surgeon to further investigate the numbness (which is on the right side, not my left) and perhaps he can reconcile the herniated disc on the left with the numbness on the right.

I'm hoping for "no sugery required" if the first surgeon I consult suggests it, I'm getting a 2nd opinion. I DO NOT want to be cut open again.

As far as the escalating pain in my left leg which seems to be prinarily located in my knee and then radiates to my ankle and occasionally to my hip, Denise said that it can still be the chemo washing out of my system and it can also be "new" damage to already creaky knees brought on by the chemo. Chemo can lead to ostioperosis.

She said to give my body a couple of months, once it has had a chance to repair itself, we will see what I am left with.

At the moment I'm taking 3 Tylenol just to take the edge off. It hurts that much. I'm about to take 4.

So while my mind knows I am fine, no more cancer, no more chemo (today would have been a treatment day) my body is slow in catching up.

In October I will be 38. But right now my body feels like I'm 88.

MY ONE HUNDREDTH POST!

I had my CT scan yesterday. MRI scheduled for today.

I am only one full week out since my last treatment. I don't think my body is beginning to repair itself yet, perhaps after next Tuesday (which would have been a treatment day). However, I am acutely aware of the "things" my body currently has wrong with it.

I read the following once: "One disease, long life. No diease, short life" and it makes perfect sense to me. I am listening to everything my body is telling me. Every ache, pain or twitch may or may not be anything to be concerned about, but being aware of them means I will likely "Catch" the next thing that could develop into a health issue.

The numbness in my right leg is about a month old now. (the MRI today is for that)-I agree with Dr L that it's a nerve issue, but I'm certain it's part of what I'm calling: My Chemo Fall Out.
The nerves in my leg may be damaged from the drugs. It's certainly a possibility. The joint pain in my left knee is still there to a degree and while I have had knee problems for years that too could be part of new long term damage caused by the chemo.

The only true test regarding any of this is when my body realizes the chemo has stopped and the repair work it begins to do. The result of what my body repairs and what it doesn't is what I'm left with...I guess.

I'm trying to do my part. I began taking Cod liver oil (pills), Fish oil and Garlic (pills) on Monday. I am drinking V8 now thereby adding more veggies than the ones I usually eat with dinner. (My wife who is a great cook in my opinion and is not afraid to experiment with cooking always has 3 pots on the stove. Meaning -unless it's pasta there is always a starch and a vegetable with dinner) We do have fairly balanced meals. The V8 should build on that. I am also about to start taking Apple Cider Vinegar by the spoon everyday as well. All these things are good for the body and I believe my body has been missing them to the point that I developed Cancer.

In the very near future I plan on "juicing" and the primary goal is to BOOST my immune system so if ever there is a chance a rogue cell goes haywire and decides to become cancerous my immune system can and will handle it.

I may not be the next Jack LaLanne but I may become a disciple of his. His mantra: "If man made it, don't eat it" screams volumes to me.

Raw foods, Live foods, in most cases Organic foods are the only way to go. Buying local, seeking out "grass fed" cattle and milk ie: organic and not Hormone injected beef and milk can only improve our lives.

Road side fruit and vegetable stands that can still be found here in Sussex county are quickly becoming our new grocery stores.

As far as I'm concerned now: if food has a shelf life...it will kill you.

LAST TREATMENT came and went...

July 3, 2007. My Last Infusion of Chemo came and went with no fan fare. It's over.

I developed a numb feeling in my right thigh between my last two treatments which Dr L didnt think was drug related. But he removed the Vinblastine anyway. He ordered an MRI to investigate the source of the numbness, he feels it's definitely nerve related, not Chemotheropy related.

The Oncology nurses felt otherwise. A couple of them verbally remarked that the Numbness was related as they hooked me up for my last treatment.

Who has it right? Dr or Nurse? I wonder.

In the meantime I'm writing this 5 days removed from that last treatment and feeling better everyday. The numbness is still there and not subsiding in the least. I also developed a severe pain in my left knee (joint pain??) that is typical of my treatments. It too has not subsided but seemes to be getting better, more or less everyday.

So as my focus returns to becoming a normal person again I have plans to alter my diet accordingly, arresting my intake of sugar, adding more veggies, water, activity and suppliments like Fish oils, Garlic, Flax Seed and such.

I told Dawn sitting in the waiting room on Tuesday, if this (cancer) ever shows up again...I'm not doing the chemo thing, I'm going whole foods, raw foods, live foods. 100% detox and that is part of what I start doing now. Total rewiring of my injestion of foods. A total life shake up.

I believe a lot of what is killing us is the foods we eat, followed by the way we eat.

It is common sense, EAT TO LIVE not the other way around. It's life or death and I came a little too close to playing with fate when they discovered the Cancer on my kidney, let alone the Lymphoma. Environmental carcinogens aside...I can't do anything about those. I can control what I eat and how I eat.

In the coming weeks Dawn and I are going to start the Weight Watcher's program she lost weight on before and after the kids. I need to drop some more weight and keep it off. I may well be on my way to being a total health nut. We'll see.

Anyway, I have a CT scan sceduled for next Tuesday and then I'm free until my next check up in October.

Back to (whatever) Normal is...

My Cancer Soundtrack

As I approach my LAST infusion of Chemo (tomorrow July 3) I thought it fitting to finally post the songs that make up my Cancer soundtrack. Over the last six months I found that these songs fit my life in one way or another. They were chosen mostly for lyrical relevance and maybe a chuckle or two.

That's Life: Frank Sinatra
It's Always Something: Rick Springfield
Better days: Goo Goo Dolls
I want a New Drug: Huey Lewis and the News
Maybe Tonight, Maybe Tomorrow: Wideawake
Keep Holding On: Avril Lavigne
Story of My Life: Bon Jovi
Mountain of God: Third Day
It is Well with My Soul: Audio Adrenaline
Welcome to Wherever You Are: Bon Jovi
I'm No Superman: Lazlo Bane
Good Riddance (Time of your life): Green Day
Always Look on the Bright Side of Life: Monty Python

I've tentatively titled it: "Too Much Livin' Too Do." I don't have links attached to these songs (sorry) I'll try and correct that in another post.