Hello all,
I have been a bit remiss with the updates so I will dive in with what
is going on:
I had my Hickman Line removed. Not really a big deal - a little local
freezing of the area, a LOT of tugging on the line (seriously, I
thought the doctor was trying to land a record sized marlin) and then
nothing. The doctor then showed me the foot and a half of line that
was in my chest, still covered with some blood. I was tempted to
cradle it in my arms and take a photo but apparently that is not the
standard process after getting these things removed. Oh well. Yet
another opportunity for a relatively original Facebook profile picture
gone.
I had two PET scans. Both were considered inconclusive as they did
light up but this was at least possibly due to the radiation
pneumonitis. It did mean I did not qualify for the drug study that I
was looking into but the reality is this is not necessarily a bad
thing. This drug could have been a gateway drug and who needs to be
all hooked on phase 3 clinical cancer trials - constantly searching
for the next new cancer drug to cure my fix? Best to just pass on the
whole process, I say.
I mentioned the radiation pneumonitis - I got a chest cold and that
seemed to spark a recurrence of the pneumonitis. Not as bad as the
first time which completely knocked me out but it certainly weakened
me.
We went down to Florida to get some much needed sun in the middle of
March (and get away from Toronto's one day "It's Spring!" teases
before slamming us with frigid, cold, rainy weather). The kids loved
the warmth, the beach and especially the pool. It was great to get
away but I was having issues with the cough and fatigue down there and
had to go see a doctor.
I had an interesting discussion with him... the probable cost of my
treatments for the lymphoma would exceed $500,000 (and possibly get to
$1 million) in the US. Try paying for that with no insurance... ouch.
I really wonder why so many Americans were against universal health
care.
Anyway, when I returned I got a script from my doc for a steroid to
minimize the inflammation of the pneumonitis. Unfortunately the
steroid also affects the immune system (lowering it) and allowed me to
get my first case of Shingles (adult chicken pox if you have had
chicken pox as a kid).
You kind of have to laugh.
I am now on an antiviral to minimize the effect of the Shingles. It
does not look pretty but it does not seem to bother me too much. It
is not particularly contagious as unlike chicken pox it is not
airborne. You would have to touch an open blister (and almost none of
mine have opened) and I am wearing turtlenecks to cover up anyway. It
is also seemingly only contagious to those who have never had chicken
pox.
Anyway, this could take a week or weeks to clear up (everyone is
different) so of course we suddenly finally get some nice weather here
in Toronto so my turtleneck style choice looks totally ridiculous.
Ahhh, what we we do for fashion. Anyone who wants to support me by
wearing turtlenecks as the temperature approaches 20 degrees Celsius -
feel free to join the revolution! Summer is obviously the time for
neck wear!
Anyway - the bottom line is this, I feel pretty strong despite some
complications and I am in a good head space. I hope that this finds
all of you in a similar situation.
To all the mothers out there, have a very happy Mother's Day. I know
that my mom, my mother in law, and my wife all deserve it, they are
fantastic people who do a tonne and sacrifice a lot - especially for
me. So, please accept my thanks from the bottom of my heart - I
definitely do not say it enough.
All the best,
Rob
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