Round 3 Session 3 - still interrupted

Good day to all.

I am writing this note during a period that was reserved for my 3^rd session of Chemotherapy.  In my last note I had indicated that the 27^th of Dec would be my date for Session 3 but that changed shortly after I had completed the note.  I received a phone call from scheduling to say that the Christmas break was jamming up the available services and they had moved me to early on the 28^th of December.  That resulted in my plan to have my requisite blood tests on Dec 27^th in preparation for the treatment.  I ventured to the hospital early on Monday morning on the quietest streets I have ever experienced in Ottawa.  It was like a ghost town and I was able to get to the hospital in record time.   At the hospital I was greeted by the “blood letters” as they were in severe shortage of patients to ply their trade on.  We chatted in our usual and casual way and I discovered that they all enjoyed Christmas and were all in awe of the ferocity of Mother Nature as she dropped freezing rain over the city the day before.  Shortly after arrival I was on my way with samples flowing to the labs for testing through their internal systems.  I was also quite confident that all would be well as I had enjoyed a balanced diet, appropriate amounts of rest, lots of sleep and some good samples of red wine. 

Later that day, while I was working the keyboard of my computer, I received a call from the scheduling office to cancel my 28^th appt for treatment based on the blood test results.  Unfortunately the scheduler had no further information and suggested I contact Martha the following day.  Sure enough, the issue is that my WBC is still too low.  As I had suspected that was the issue, yesterday I turned to the Internet to see what could be done “naturally” to instill some development of new WBCs in my body.  All the articles I read agreed that Chemotherapy is a cause of decreased WBC count and only some agreed on natural ways to improve the count.  Some ways included drinking lots of water (where have I heard that before) to flush the system, eating garlic, eating probiotics (yogurt), consuming selenium (for its antioxidant properties), consuming more citrus fruits, and of course there is the vine of some exotic tree in the Amazon rainforest which is not readily available.  I also found that the things to avoid are sweets and sugar.  OK so there goes access to all the sweets that are around the house from Christmas.  I was informed that red wine was still a good source of “something” to help WBC as was some beers that use selenium in their brewer’s yeast.  You have to love science as there is always some good news scattered amongst the doomsday stuff.  As a result of that research (I use the term loosely) I should eat more citrus, yogurt and drink more red wine and beer.  I can live with that.  I am going to seek some additional advice from my Dr team as these delays leave me with a sinking feeling that I am giving the bad guys extra time to be destructive while I wait for my crippled system to produce WBCs.  That is somewhat unnerving as I am trying to get the upper hand here in this cat and mouse game of finding and maintaining the best quality of life with this disease.

I just heard back from my Dr’s representative and she is of the mind that my next Chemo will not be re-scheduled before the Jan 10^th planned session due to the Christmas backlog.  It seems they are only administering Chemo to new patients over the next short while to reduce the burden on the reduced staff.   So I wait and hope that the WBC count changes before the 10^th.  On the 10^th I will be going to the Queensway Carleton Irving Greenburg Centre as there is some pressure on the TOH Chemo services due to volume.  Those who live closer to satellite operations are being moved from the centre.  I will be interested to see how they operate as I will certainly compare the service I have grown to know and understand.

On a much more pleasant front, we enjoyed a new tradition this year at Christmas.  It turns out that this year the “kids” took control of Christmas celebrations as Neill and Lee took on the Christmas evening gathering with the Hempel and Rodier clans and Tara-Lee and Brehn took on the Christmas day activities.  Christmas eve was a very nice evening of chatting happily about all manner of fun things while enjoying a delicious meal sitting around a large table.  Paul made his tortiere and Lee made a very tasty cannelloni dish along with a variety of support condiments and taste treats.  After a fine evening we retreated to respective houses for the dark hours in hopes that Santa would judge is kindly.   

Christmas 2016

In the morning we started the day in PJs sitting in Tara-Lee and Brehn’s living room in awe of the vision of presents under the tree and the glee that came with watching Kaia be exposed to this tradition for the first time.  I must say that Santa seemed to judge us favourably as the number of gifts under the tree was very large.  The day slipped by as we lazily opened gifts and chatted excitedly about presents given and received.  Somewhere in there we took time to prepare and enjoy our traditional ham and cheese crepes and of course the Christmas  morning Mimosa.  My observation was that for a group who had promised to cut back and be thrifty around Christmas there was a large booty after all the presents were opened.  I call that a “wildly successful fail”.  It was tons of fun watching people get their surprises and we also enjoyed a remote connection with the Pemberton family and watched Skylar and shared opening presents from each other through FaceTime.  Later in the afternoon the Hempel family arrived for dinner and exchange of gifts.  Our turkey dinner and the assorted fixings were all delicious and we count Tara-Lee and Brehn’s initial effort at taking on this tradition as a great success.  The evening sped by and we broke to get some sleep late in the day.  All in all a very fun and enjoyable Christmas for all of us dotted with great food, drink and conversation with a healthy sprinkling of good humour and laughter.

I hope that you had a similar experience with your respective families and that the New Year will bring you new and enjoyable experiences throughout 2017.

Love to all .....

Round 3 Session 3 - Interrupted

The week started with a flurry of appointments at the Ottawa Hospital at 7:30 am.  I visited with the blood letters who drained an appropriate amount of blood and collected some urine samples.  My instructions for the urine test were much clearer this time and all went well.  The ladies were at odds about instructions about holiday blood services but I ignored their chatter as I was not scheduled over the holiday.  I then walked over to Timmy’s for a breakfast sandwich and a tour of my e-mail inbox. 

My 8:15 am appointment with Dr Jonker was in Module C and I checked in at the time of the appointment.  I was then ushered into a room by a new nurse who listened patiently about my experiences of the last two weeks.  She noted the key issues on my file and weighed me and then disappeared.  My next human contact was with Dr Jonker this time and we had a good chat.  He was satisfied with my reactions and the way I was managing them so his recommendation was to stay the course and have my Chemo treatment thee following day with the same cocktail that was prescribed last time.  We chatted about Christmas and I took the opportunity to remind him of my vacation period and scheduling around it.  He was OK with the plan.

So off I went happily confident that all was as it should be.  I went to the Superstore for some shopping for fruit and other staples.  While I was in there I received a call from Martha, Dr Jonker’s clinic nurse.  She had just received the blood test results and my White Blood Cell count (WBC) was below normal and they were going to delay my Chemo by one week.  That called changed a bunch of things for me.  Not only did I now have to deal with bloodletter’s Christmas schedule but it also was a kick in the teeth as I was familiar with the WBC process that I had dealt with in previous Chemo Treatment sessions.  It meant that I could go three weeks between sessions or rely on a very expensive self administered shot just after Chemo was completed to heighten the development of WBCs post Chemo treatment.  In addition, this revised schedule was going to put a pressure on me around my holiday plans.  Bottom line – I was bummed out as I thought I had some control over my schedule.  Not so as this is now in the hands of my WBC count.

Now my next Chemo is now on the 27^th of December with blood tests either the Friday before or early on the 27^th.  On a more positive note, this revised schedule ensures that I will be able to enjoy the Christmas meals and festivities without Chemo side effects.  That is not too bad at all.

Other things that happened over the past few days were very positive as we visited my Toronto family for a couple of days.  Tara-Lee, Kaia and I set out by car last Thursday and spent a few days with Lucy while we shopped, ate, visited friends and family, ate and rested.  It was a good visit which ended with a post snow drive back to Ottawa on Saturday.  That night Freddi and I were invited to a gathering of some Lake Bernard friends and family to enjoy some cheer and some Christmas food delights at the Hempel cottage.  It was a very nice evening of laughter, good food and cheer.  On Monday I had a dinner date with two lovely ladies who I worked with and have stayed in touch with.  Having dinner with them and catching up on our lives was a very positive ending to a tough day.  It is these encounters that provide a source of positive energy to get through some of the tougher times.

I expect that I will not to adding to this blog before Christmas as I am on that holding pattern.  Therefore I will take this opportunity to thank you for following this trail through the woods and send you off with my best wishes for a Happy Christmas and a Frantic First with your family and friends.  It is a time of year to relax and enjoy time with your closest people.  That is what I will be doing.

Love to you all .......

Second week Session 2

The second week is now underway and I feel the urge to get a few things off my "todo" list.  Well I always have that feeling but right now I feel I may be able to accomplish some of those tasks.
My physical situation is much better as I seem to be stabilized in all areas.  Nausea under control, input/output seemingly OK, sleep is possible and my general attitude about things is much more positive.
 
This week I will be attending the Birthday Dinner, this evening, when Freddi takes us out for a special dinner each year.  We have selected Gazellig once again as they have small plates, great food, exceptional service and will be able to accommodate Kaia in one of their roomy booths.  I am looking forward to that as we always have a great fun filled evening.  In addition this week we are going to the NAC with friends and family tomorrow and then Tara-Lee, Kaia and I are hitting the road again.  We are driving to Mississauga to visit with Lucy and her family.  This trip will serve to introduce Kaia to that part of the family as well as to drop off some Christmas presents to the assembled family.  It is always fun to visit that group around Christmas as the kids are still of the age where they get excited about Christmas.

Today I set up our outside tree and put some lights on it.  It is a beacon on our deck to all who happen to be around the lake (once the ice is firm).  In addition I set up our inside tree to fall and be ready for decorations on the weekend.  All of this is late this year but what can I say.

On another front on Sunday we were invited to a gathering at Tara-Lee and Brehn's home to fete the season with some of Tara-Lee and Brehn's friends.  It was a very nice time with lots of kids and noise and very good food.  We enjoyed visiting and then settled into a quiet evening with Tara-Lee and Brehn where we celebrated the season, special occasions and watched Kaia settle in for a long night sleep after an exhausting time with many guests.

I do hope all of you are getting your shopping done and checking off your individual "todo" lists as Christmas fast approaches.

Round 3 Session 2 continued

(written Dec 11, 2016)

Today is the occasion of my daughter’s birthday.  That brings a smile to my face as I recall Freddi working diligently in the kitchen in our house in Russell ON as she prepared my birthday dinner for family and friends.  She had been on her feet, setting the table and cooking her heart out to entertain the assembled family and friends.  At one point she told me that we should sit down and that I should serve up the beautiful roast beef dinner to our guests as she was going to lie down since she had been in labour for the past few hours.  To my surprise, she was not kidding and we were on our way to the hospital in short order.  I believe our guests had a great meal and sampled the fine selection of wine but we were not part of that portion of the evening.  Tara-Lee was born several hours later in Ottawa.  That started a life of a cheery little girl who has spent a good deal of her life bringing happiness and smiles to many people on our planet.  To that little girl I say “Happy Birthday” today.

In addition today is day 6 after my last Chemo Session and things are starting to become clearer.  First and foremost, if I follow thee Dr recommendations things will go better.  My side effects have been reduced now that I am taking the drugs and drinking more water.  They are certainly not eliminated but the impact is certainly way down.  I had some bouts of nausea, tiredness, lethargy and of course the usual input output issues accompanied by fairly significant cramping.  It is unfortunate that one cannot predict these issues as that would allow one to better plan the day.  But one cannot plan and one needs to have proximity to bathroom facilities and plenty of drinking water. As I look ahead it is my hope that the effects will continue to diminish and allow me to be more fluid in my activities.

Over the week I managed a couple of outings for shopping as Freddi was off on Friday and we ventured to Wakefield for a quiet lunch at Hibou and some Christmas shopping.  All went well and we had some good food and managed to get some gifts at the various shops in the village.  It is nice shopping in a less busy environment than the malls in the city.  Other than that I was pretty sedentary and I read, cooked and did my Christmas cards by the fire. 

I am smiling as I think about how I was about to start this next paragraph.  My initial thought was that “The big news of the day is ...” when I realized that although big to me it is of little consequence in the bigger picture of life around us.  In a time when people are still talking about the impact of the American election, the issues of Canadian parliament paralysis or moving too slowly, the Pheonix pay system for the public servants and atrocities happening around the world, I am excited by the fact that the ice has moved into Lake Bernard over night.  Although pretty microscopic in importance it is still a big event that only happens once a year – in my world.  But it has happened and now we settle in for a long cold winter period for which we must seek relief from time to time.  My thoughts are turning toward Hawaii for certain now.

Round 3 Session 2

On Monday morning I made my way to TOH to do my standard pre-session blood tests and to meet with my Medical Oncologist to report on the reactions/side effects over the last two weeks.  The first part was relatively simple as I renewed my friendship with the ladies on the Cancer Centre “Blood Letting Unit”.  Nothing much new there with the exception that one of the staff members was dropped by her husband of 40 years and she has never been happier.  Things get pretty personal pretty quickly in that unit.  My regime of blood tests has been adjusted for this session.  It requires some complicated instructions about a urine test.  Firstly, I have never studied for a urine test and secondly, I always thought I knew what I was supposed to do.  Not so ......

After the visit to the blood unit I killed a bit of time before meeting with the Dr. Robillard who was interested in my details of my reactions and was somewhat disappointed that I had experience the side effects that I did.  In discussion she learned of my aversion to drugs and she gave me good advice: “Take the drugs! .... and drink more water” and my life may be better.  I considered myself told.  My test results were sufficiently good to allow me to go forward with Session 2.  We also discussed my vacation plans to ensure that this does not get in the way of my life and established plans.  She noted our plans and agreed that we will be OK to travel and put Chemo on hold for a short period.  I thanked her for her good advice and understanding and I went about my day.

Today I went to the Chemo Unit as scheduled and had a slightly anxious feeling.  I have no idea why I was anxious and I had assumed because I did not sleep well last night.  This was reflected in my Blood Pressure being elevated above the level acceptable for one of the cocktail components.  This resulted in a delay to the start as I tried to relax and get my BP in the acceptable zone.  That did not happen so a Dr. Consultation was necessary and the Dr. decided to proceed but to also prescribe some BP meds for me.  Now this is not new to me.  I have always had “white coat syndrome” when in hospital but this time it did not abate with time.  I now have a follow-up in two weeks to see how that is going.

The actual Chemo was uneventful and of course the nursing staff members are nothing but helpful in making me feel comfortable while getting me out of there to fulfill their commitments to other patients. The upshot is that I am a bit tired and just about to re-evaluate the drugs I have been given and start a regime to ward off some of those nasty side effects.  It is my hope that the plan will lessen some of the inconveniences I experienced in Session 1.

I hope the week ahead is a good one for all of you.  

Week 2 after Session 1

The second week after my first go around was better than the first week.  I still had some physical inconveniences as my body struggled with intake/output issues but I tried to manage those things with some sort of confidence.  I did have a couple of days with some serious cramps and some resulting bowel issues but these things subsided a little each day.  I may have brought some of this on myself as I avoided some of the medications that I had at my disposal due to my desire to go it without drugs and heal myself.  I have now learned that I should do as I am told and take the drugs and drink more fluids.  Both of those actions will reduce the impact of some of these side effects.  Hopefully my apparent learning disability will be put aside for Session 2.  I am currently at the hospital in the process of Session 2 but I will talk to that experience later.

In my last note I had expressed some concern about meeting with a financial planner and having to bare my soul as a poor provider and planner of our financial affairs.  Freddi and I had that meeting and were extremely pleased as the experience was nothing like I had imagined.  Our new planner is a 37 year old family guy who was open and experienced in making sure the process is not onerous or foreboding.  We chatted for a period of time and he expertly culled certain foundational information from us including some of the things that we were concerned about and some high level assets and liabilities.  From there he offered some unique thoughts and approaches and a commitment to go away and shape a high level plan that we could flesh out over a period of time.  The subsequent follow-up note from him laid out a good set of objectives, actions and a timing horizon that was not too onerous or pressing.  All in all it was a good experience and we are both are very happy with the direction we are heading.

In addition, in my last note I had eluded to the opportunity of traveling to BC to visit with “the boy” and his family.  Tara-Lee, Kaia and I set out early Thursday morning (Nov 29) to fly to Vancouver and work our way up to Pemberton.  It was a full 12 hour commute and a challenge for someone at the tender age of 11 weeks.  However I had forgotten that Kaia was experienced in transcontinental flying.  She turned out to be the least stressed of all of us and she slept when we were in transit and entertained us while we were in between flights or car rides.  She is an intrepid traveler and Tara-Lee managed to have Kaia’s flight log book updated by the crew of each flight we were on.  It was particularly fun traveling with Tara-Lee as she knows so many people in the airports and on the various WestJet flights. The whole travel experience was very enriching.

Once in Whistler we dropped into Gray’s construction site to see the project he is currently engaged in.  This project is to transition a spacious 3 storey condo into an even more spacious 6 story condo.  No big deal to Gray as he is very familiar with all of the details of the project.  To a person like me it is a daunting challenge with hundreds of possible problems to overcome.  I was very happy to see his site as he has spoken of the project over the last 6 months and it helps to see what he was talking about.  We then moved on to Pemberton to connect with Bree and Skylar.  Skylar was really happy to see Kaia (her cousin) and was very attentive.  As Gray and Bree had a Christmas party to attend, Tara-Lee and I held down the fort with Skylar for the evening.  She was enthusiastic to show us her school work and her skills in colouring and craft projects. 

Friday was a nice low key day doing only what we wanted to do.  It was a relaxing day where we enjoyed seeing some of Tara-Lee’s friends and some trips to the shops to get food for dinner and gifts for the upcoming Christmas event.   Friday evening we enjoyed a tremendous sushi dinner that Bree prepared.  We repeated the same plan for Saturday with the exception that we went to the local high school for a craft fare which was attended by about 80% of the folks who live in Pemby.  It was fun to see how many folks Gray and Tara-Lee knew from the area.  This town is certainly a community of like minded souls who enjoy the great outdoors and the joys of raising children.  Later that day we put dinner in the oven and then went to a cocktail party at one of Gray’s client’s house.  This is the client who invested heavily in re-doing the inside of his rather large and detailed house.  It was fun to see the final product of his 2 years work at this site.  I believe I could learn to live in such a house but it would require some significant adjustments for me.

On Sunday we made our way into Vancouver and caught couple of flights to get home that evening.  The overall trip was a success as Christmas presents were delivered and received and we managed to have a relaxing weekend together.  While we were away Freddi had the opportunity to make Christmas decorations happen throughout the house totally unencumbered by my opinions and thoughts.  She did a great job nd added some new and interesting approaches to our regular decorations.  I guess all she needed was a clean slate and no outside “suggestions”.

In summary, my second week after session 1 was a fun filled week with only a few inconveniences due to the treatment.  My next note will provide some insights into how my session went today.

Be well and happy ...... 

Post Round 3 Session 1 continued.

It is Tuesday now and 7 days have passed since my first go-around with this cocktail.  During that period of time my body has returned to somewhat normal operation and my mind is clearer for sure.  Yesterday I notified the Nurse of the various effects that I have experienced over the last week.  In most cases all of the reactions/effects were as expected but one was of concern as it was not in any of the material or expectation.  It had to do with some blood in my stool that should not have been there.  I, personally, am not surprised as that area has been the focus of many new activities starting up after the removal of the Ileostomy.  I await any further comment from my nurse.

Today I feel more normal and I am now waiting to see my dentist as I work through long planned appointments this week.  I had one with my “eye guy” yesterday but was unable to chat with him as he took an extra day off and I will see him in January instead.  His team conducted their normal baseline glaucoma tests.  There is one test in that series that is video-game-like test where you click every time you see a light flash in a sphere.  For some reason, that test drives me crazy and it lasts forever.  Apparently it is only 5 minutes per eye but it is irritating – perhaps only to me.

Over the last couple of days I have received a tremendous amount of support from the folks I sent my note to on Friday.  Please be assured that I appreciate all of the support and enjoy hearing from each and every one of you.   It is nice to catch up and hear about what is going on in your lives too so please do not stop dropping a line.  I also got a lot of support for the blog idea and only time will tell if it is an effective tool to communicate and share information.

To that end we spent the weekend at Lake Bernard doing some of the winter-ready tasks that have been left undone until now.  With the help of Andrew on Saturday Freddi, Tara-Lee and I wrestled the docks into their winter position in hopes that we do not have as much damage by the ice as we did last year.   I believe we will still have several weeks without ice in the lake but we will be ready when it comes.  Tara-Lee and Kaia were with us for most of the weekend and they provided us with lots of entertainment and diversions.  All in all a good weekend.

I have been pondering my situation over the past few weeks and have resolved to get some things out of the way.  These are things that most people have already addressed but in my “invincible suit” I have left some of them undone or at least incomplete.  So I am turning my attention to such things as a complete financial plan, a current will and last testament, a complete “death book” and of course the needed Bucket List.  Don’t get me wrong, I do not have any information that you are not aware of but I am feeling conscious of my mortality in this current situation.  It is also something that I felt was only fair if I tidied up some of my affairs to make life easier for Freddi and my family.  This, I remind all of you, is something you should address and have behind you regardless of your current situation.  I admit that I have been lax in these areas with the exception of ensuring that there were traces of effort along the way.  Tomorrow I am meeting with my financial house representative to structure the diverse information about assets and liabilities. This is one task I have been avoiding as I was always comfortable with the knowledge that there was something to manage and therefore there was no need to worry much about this.  However, the state of semi-retirement has caused me to think more about this and I am seeing the cracks in the mortar on this uncharted and not so well thought out plan.  Tomorrow I have to face some smartly dressed young math major at the office in a big building with lots of glass and stainless steel and admit that I have done a crappy job of managing my finances.  Then I will have to listen to this wiper-snapper tell me all the things I should have done.  I feel very much like Stephen Leacock when he wrote of his Financial Career https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9IV6xT00ZZ4 .  I expect it will all work out in the end and we will get to a plan but not without some squirming on my part. 

Some of the other things I mentioned will be addressed as we move forward getting our proverbial stuff in order.  I am particularly fond of thinking about the Bucket List as it seems to be less responsible than the others.  I wonder why that is .......

On Thursday of this week I am departing for my Christmas visit to Pemberton to deliver the Rodier Christmas gifts for the family.  That trip has recently become a tradition and I thoroughly enjoy the visit each year.  To enhance this trip this year I am going to be accompanied by Tara-Lee and Kaia.  This should be a lot of fun as we work through travel and visiting together.  I know TL and Kaia are good and easy travellers but it will be different as usually I do it alone.  I am sure there will be some fun events as we work our way across the country.  We plan on returning on Sunday as I have some tests that must be completed on Monday to allow for a second session of Chemo on Tuesday.

Once again, thank you for your support and feel free to correspond through email.  I will do my best to respond in a timely manner.   Be well and happy....... 

Post Chemo Round three - Session 1

Sat. Nov 26, 2016

Today is Saturday and it is day four after the commencement of my new Chemotherapy sessions.  In this update I am recording some of the more significant reactions I experienced during my week on Chemo.  I am doing this to ensure that I recall what happens and in what sequence.  That will provide me with a gauge for some weeks in the future where timing is critical as I try to maintain a somewhat ordinary lifestyle.  There is probably more detail here than most would prefer to read but I just have to get it down.

I approached this chemo session with great trepidation as I was informed they were changing “my cocktail” and I was to expect a number of different side effects.   With each defense mechanism comes a series of short comings that we normally would not appreciate or request.  In this case the Dr Team was aware of my neuropathy (causing numbness and ill effects to my hands and feet) resulting from the last go-around and decided to avoid the drug that was known to cause such effects.   This replacement drug is known to upset the bowel and cause cramping and frequency or inability to pass a stool at all.  As a result, the team armed me with Imodium as well as a highly effective stool softener.  When I questioned this practice of being prepared for either reaction I was told that I would know what to do.  Now that gave me a great deal of confidence!  I started to see some of the humour that would result in this treatment.

On Tuesday I sat through my three hours at TOH in the Cancer Centre and met up with some folks I had not seen for the past year.  At the end of my session, where the nurse kindly reminded me of all the things I had inadvertently forgotten, I was tethered with my mobile Chemotherapy bottle and sent on my way.  Being somewhat stupid about this stuff, or non-acceptant of the inability to function completely after a treatment, I set out to a number of small chores for the balance of the day.  I succumbed and only completed half of the inventory and returned to the house to rest.  That night I watched too much Homeland as the steroid they administer during the session tends to override the practical sleep patterns. 

On day two I decided to stay close to home and rest when possible.  In so doing I managed some catnaps plus experimented with some of the drugs they had given me for various effects.  Without going into any detail, I have to report that all of the drugs are very effective.  The nausea drug relieved the nausea, the constipation drug relieved the constipation, the diarrhea drug did not do its thing quite as quickly and I did not try the other more serious drugs which are the second line of attach drugs.   I did manage to sit down and read about all of the potential side effects of the chemo drugs and then the other drugs to fight off those side effects.  I do believe that I need to spend more time with my pharmacist to better understand this seemingly counterproductive war of effects of these drugs.   I did manage to eat and drank lots of water as I had been instructed.   That night I did get some sleep but that was accompanied by some very vivid dreams.

On day three I wanted to stay close to home but I had to go to the CCAC office to have my bottle removed.  That was a relatively simple procedure and I renewed some acquaintances at their clinic.  Once freed of the bottle I ventured outside with my list of things that I had to do.  Once again I only managed to get a few things done and reluctantly returned home to sleep.  I was also experiencing cramps which led to periods of reading in the upstairs bathroom.  In the evening I tried to eat a regular meal that I had prepared for Freddi and myself and managed to get most of it down.  I did get some quality sleep over that night.

Today I am feeling much better but still require a dose of Imodium from time to time.  The cramps are still present but they are only occasional but severe when they come.  The fogginess in my brain had been lifted and I was thinking more clearly (or so I think anyway).  My energy levels are better and my sense of humour is returning much to Freddi’s chagrin.  There are some chores to be done to ready our environment for winter and I believe we could get some of them done.  I am sure that by tomorrow I will be ready to take on more and will have passed through most of the inconvenience of this session.  I have 11 days ahead of me before the next session.

Be well and happy!

 

Nov 25, 2016

Part 4 - Nov 25, 2016

This part of the blog is new as we set up and prepare for the next stage in this challenge.  It starts with an introductory e-mail and will continue with some updates as activities and milestones are passed.  It is my hope that I will be able to capture my thoughts and reactions to the future events as we walk this trail.  To ease access to new information I will make each entry a separate entry and these can be accessed through the first page index.

Please feel free to send me your thoughts as I appreciate hearing from you.  I draw to your attention that your comments below will be public and an alternate method would be to address your comments to my e-mail directly if you prefer privacy with your thoughts.


Friday, November 25, 2016

I have not provided an update to this group of friends and family since February because there was really nothing new or interesting to report on the subject of my challenge with Cancer.  During that period I have enjoyed a great and normal summer doing all of the things that we do during a hot summer.  We had some great family events during the summer and at Thanksgiving where all of us were together at the cottage enjoying seasonal activities.  The largest event this period was the birth of Tara-Lee and Brehn’s little girl on September 19th.  That provided all of us with much joy and happiness as Kaia Elizabeth is a happy and healthy bright spot in our family.

But, to get to the matter at hand, that same day I was invited to have my Ileostomy reversed on September 20^th and I happily accepted that date.  Dr Auer and her team performed the surgery late in the day and I was up and about in hospital, the next morning.  The recovery from that situation and surgery was far greater than I ever imagined and now in week 9 I am still being very careful about intake and output.  It has been suggested to me that will be the case for more months ahead.  I am Ok with that as the alternative, which I lived with for more than one year, is not a very convenient or happy place to be.  So check, another milestone achieved.

In late October I was invited to do my routine CT scan and endured the horrible liquid they push on you for 2 hours before the tests.  The tests are simple and pain free so they go quickly.  Dr Auer had set up a follow-up appointment for the surgery on October 29^th where she expressed her happiness that my recent surgery was successful and I was on the road to recovery.  However, she had seen the results of the CT and the blood tests and felt compelled to update me.  Unfortunately she had no good news on that front.  The test showed additional and new Cancer cells in my liver and now in my lungs.  I was hit with a severe sinking feeling as I had an inkling of what was ahead.  Dr Auer detailed what might happen but I had to wait one week to see Dr Jonker (Medical Oncologist) to get the skinny on what he thought we should do.  I met his associate on Nov 7^th who informed me that I would start chemotherapy treatments immediately on a two week cycle.  The only difference from previous treatment would be the “cocktail” they used for the treatment.  My bigger cycle would be three months with 6 treatments in total for this go-around.  Then there would be a re-assessment and then start again.  No one was very clear about the number of cycles or the eventual outcome of such steps.  The aim is neutralize the cancer and prevent growth and movement.

The last two weeks have been a time to reflect on the situation and ready myself for the Chemo process.  This offered some personal challenges but it also changes my outlook on what I can and cannot do for the upcoming period.  Once again I will have to assess my physical limits and make sure that my emotional state stays strong and positive.  I should be able to do this but will have a better idea when I understand the effects of the “cocktail” I referred to.  Freddi, Lucy and I have just returning to Ottawa after a 7 day respite in Cancun.  The weather was warm and breezy and a good spot to decide on some things.  (Happy to share my thoughts on MX at another time).

One thing I pondered was how necessary it was to send numbers of emails to you my friends and family.  To reduce that flow I have decided to put my thoughts and writings into a Blog which I have called “Newest Challenge”.  That way, if you are interested in what is happening, you can go to the site and see what has transpired.  This will eliminate those update emails I have been sending out.  It is my hope that the blog will update and inform others while providing me with a platform to organize my thoughts and write about my experience.  The writing is cathartic for me and in some cases of interest and informative to others.  The blog can be found at http://paulrchallenge.blogspot.ca/. I have completed the set up to include some of the previous history of this challenge so all is in the same spot.  For new information, please look at the most recent blog entry. 

Feel free to drop a line at my emails should you have any questions or would like further clarification of current situations.

I hope this finds all of you well and happy and enjoying each and every day.

With love, Paul

Part 3 - August 2015 - Feb 2016

This part of the blog is based on e-mails that were sent out to a group of friends and family.  These e-mails log my activities and progress  from  August 2015 to February 11, 1016.

August 28, 2015 – Note sent out from Tara-Lee

Hi All,

I just wanted to send all of you who have stayed close along Dad's journey a quick update on his surgery day. 

First and foremost I want to thank all of you for keeping so closely in touch with him along this journey. It has buoyed his spirits in many a quiet moment. As you all well know, Dad is a warrior and has kept a hugely positive, zen like head space as he's navigated the ups and downs of this journey. 

Today was a daunting day, but in true Paul Rodier style he embraced what was ahead of him with resolve and was met with great people looking after him along the way. Both his Drs worked very tirelessly on a long surgery to a good end. Dad will fill you in on more details when he is up to typing. 

We just wanted to take a quick moment and let everyone know he is doing well and resting. Thank you all again so so much for all of your love and support!! It means the world to all of us! 

 Love and positive vibes to all

Tara-Lee and Freddi 

September 10, 2015

Good day all, this is day 13 in the hospital and I have been pretty silent as they have managed to keep me pretty busy over the past period.

First I would like to thank Tara-Lee and Freddi for communicating with you after the surgery.  I was very happy they did that and have certainly appreciated their support over the past few days.  I have communicated with some of you through various means over the this period but feel I am strong enough right now to get out an update to let you know that I am OK and getting better daily.

The past few days have been a trial but rest assured that the actual surgery seems to have achieved the objectives.  Both Dr. Teams were able to have at me and do their necessary work.  It was an exceptionally long day of 18.5 hours from arrival at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) until I was installed in Room 7118.  Once I woke up the next day we started the road to recovery with the excellent help of the Registered Nurses, Technicians and of course the ever present Dr. Teams.  In the first few days I made some progress and even started to eat some small things but a turn of fate introduced some complications that required attention. 

I have had three issues to deal with that were not necessarily in the Plan.  I seemed to reject food, had an internal fluid mass that was of interest and I had some draining issues around my incision.  Each of these issues have been addressed over the last few days and the individual specialist have started me on a new course to recovery.  For example, today I will move from supported diet and liquids to add some whole food.  Granted these are small amounts and small steps they are movement in the right direction.  The fluid mass is still worthy of note and following but no radical actions will be required in the short term.  On the incision front I am equipped with a fancy new draining VAC that is drawing the unwanted fluid away and allowing and encouraging healing of the incision.  All three things seem to be working in harmony as I am feeling better today.

Although I am attempting to make this brief, I have to add that I am extremely impressed with the level of care I have received and the compassion and caring provided by the RNs, technicians and hospital staff.  They have been wonderful even when things looked grim.

My departure date from here is still a discussion point with the professionals but I now do see that I will be able to get out of here one day.

It is my sincere hope that this finds you and yours well and happy and I once again thank you for your continuing support.

With love ....... Paul

September 19, 2015

Good morning, I am so pleased to update you that I woke up this morning at Lake Bernard.  Freddi picked me up at the interim holding condo in Ottawa and we had a nice evening and dinner with Tara-Lee.  It has been 3 weeks since I left here and the fall and sunny weather has made some significant changes in the environment.  It feels very good to be sitting on the porch enjoying the view, the smells and the quiet.

Firstly, I would like to thank all of you for your support over the last period as I have received phone calls, e-mail and cards from many of you and I have enjoyed the visits I had in the hospital.  I can simply say thank you but remember how important it is to support someone who is sick and in need of stimulation.  Your continued support and interest is a very powerful thing. 

From a health point of view I can now officially report that I am significantly lighter than when I left here.  What with the removal of parts, lack of food for a 10 day period and laying about in various reposes for 3 weeks I have shrunk!  It is my serious target to reverse that over a period of time.  I am advised that I need to be cautious for 4-6 weeks and I respect their estimates on that front.  I am now learning about my new diet restrictions (low residue) but I do not see them as too restrictive – with the exception of no peanuts which are a favourite of mine – and Freddi and I are watching this area of mending carefully.

When I left the hospital on Tuesday of this last week, I was freed of all of the IV lines and for a short while I was limited to simply an ileostomy.  It felt so nice to walk without my stand and bags.  However, shortly after arriving at the condo a Community Access nurse arrived and connected a portable vac-bandage over my wound.  This machine draws away water and encourages healing.  It is an amazing device and my healing process will be reduced easily by 50 %.  In her most recent visit on Friday she told me I may be able to lose it next week.  It does restrict movement much but it is just one of those inconveniences with benefits.

So the upshot of this update is to tell you that I am making progress, understand what I must do next and to start the process of rebuilding.  I will be in the condo for another week or so and then will return to Lake Bernard to enjoy the fall season here. 

Once again, thank you for your continued support and I am happy to respond to your individual interests in my well being.  It is also my sincere hope that bit of news finds you well and happy and enjoying everything that you do.

With love ...... Paul

October 4, 2015

Good day to you.

 It is Sunday morning and I am enjoying sitting at home after a great family breakfast.  It is a cool September day with only occasional sun breaking through the clouds.  But that is not why I am keying this note today.

As you might recall I was released from the hospital after 17 days of care by the good folks on 7East of the TOH.  For my convalescence I chose to utilize Tara-Lee’s condo in Ottawa as everything is on one floor and it was convenient and available.  I stayed there from Sept 15^th until September 30^th.  On the last day I migrated to the cottage to continue my convalescence enjoying the transition of the seasons.   While in Ottawa I was visited by the community care nurses regularly to change the vac-bandage and teach me about the maintenance of the Ileostomy.  In what seemed like no time the vac-bandage did its magic and sealed the wound in record time.  I was able to shed the portable vac-bandage by Sept 24^th.  One more attachment left behind.

Being at the cottage has been a very inspiring and I find that my energy level is creeping back up but naturally not fast enough.   I will be seeing a Physiotherapist this Tuesday to try to get some muscle re-built and start a regular exercise program.  This operation and hospital stay has left me very weak and down approx 20 lbs from my normal weight.  As a result I tire easily and am not getting the restful sleep I require.  My approach to this is to resist the temptation to get involved in boat activities, fall cottage activities and minimize my list of things that I would like to see done.

A recent visit with Dr. Auer gave me some insights as what my immediate future will be.  The next steps commence on Oct 8^th when I will start another 6 rounds of Adjunctive Chemo which is the insurance chemo treatment administered after surgery.  I think of it as the last rinse of the cycle before normal life can be resumed.  These sessions are targeted at two week intervals and hopefully my WBC count will support the shortest overall timeframe to get through these rounds.  Dr Auer suggested that once complete and out of Chemo for a month she would be reversing my ileostomy and starting a normal body function again.  If I see this timeframe correctly and all the stars align I should be ready for a vacation in Hawaii for early March 2016.  One always needs goals and that is mine at this point.  I have been in this process for the last 12 months so getting through the next 5 months should not be too hard.

In addition, I would like to express my sincere thanks for all of your inquiries, cards and thoughts as they have made this much easier knowing that you are in my court.  Thank you.

One last point, and an important one for sure, we are going to be having our Thanksgiving dinner here at Lake Bernard with our entire family together as Gray, Bree and Skylar are coming next week to spend a peaceful week with us.  We are all very excited to have them visit and know that we will share some great times during their visit.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving to all of you and I hope that the weekend will bring great family times for all of you.

With love ...... Paul

November 5, 2015

Good morning to you from beautiful Indian summer soaked Lake Bernard.  It is a sunny warm (for Nov) day in a quiet calm environment that so differs from the busy summer timeframe here.

It has been a while since I wrote to you as there has been little to write about.  However I have had some update requests and felt it was now time to update all of you about my rather routine schedule these days.

First I want to update you on our Thanksgiving timeframe as we had Gray, Bree and Skylar here for the week starting on Thanksgiving weekend.  We also had Tara-Lee home for the period and Brehn dropped in later in the week.  It was a very busy but fun filled family time.  We managed to eat well, laugh lots and we managed a couple of cool boat tours of the fall colours.  We spent the time just being family and tackling some of the fall projects.  Overlapping the final day of their visit was a visit from my brother Richard, Barb and Tiffany who dropped by for a couple of days.  That was also a very low key visit but most enjoyable as we do not see that part of the family very often.  It was a busy time but most enjoyable enjoying family time.

My treatment plan is around the adjunctive Chemo which is very routine as my Chemo starts on alternate Wednesdays for 3 days them 11 days getting stronger again before we start the process again.  That process will continue for the next 8 weeks.  My first Chemo session in this round was a little tougher as I was weak and run down as a side effect of the surgery.  To that end I have started a Physio Therapy program to re-build my strength and muscles that were zapped while in hospital. Tuesday was my best day for a long time but I am now in the Chemo cycle so I cannot say that about this particular day as I am in day 2 of 3.  During the days at home with Chemo I have a bottle which is emptied into my blood stream through this miraculous little heat pump that is affixed to my chest.  That is a 46 hour process that causes some inconvenience ass it is yet another appendage on my body.  The system is removed on Friday.

I am trying to move up my next sets of appointments to ensure we get through this program at the earliest date possible.  I am not sure how successful I will be but the end is in sight and perhaps I should be more acceptant of the schedule that my Drs have in mind.  Both Freddi and I are ready for a post program vacation as this has been a stressful year.  We shall see what we can organize for the New Year.

Thank you for your continued support and taking the time to read this update.  Now get back to whatever you were doing and make it a great day.

With love ..... Paul

December 22, 2015

Good morning, I hope this day is a good one for you.  As I look outside and see white stuff all over the lawn and in the forest behind the house.  Today is the first full day of the Winter Solstice and the days will start to get longer starting today.  That is good news to me and I hope it fills you with hope that the dark season is retreating.

But alas, that is not why I am tapping out this note today.   I am writing today as it has been several weeks since I last wrote to update you on what is transpiring in my challenge with my health.  In my last note I explained the routine process I was embarking on and some thoughts on what might be the subsequent process.  Well, the picture is a little clearer but there still are some factors which could alter my optimistic view of the days/months ahead.  Most importantly, last Friday was the end of my last scheduled Chemo treatment for this cycle.  The treatment was routine with some nausea and listlessness and the requisite lack of sleep.  However, it was the last one and that is very welcome news for me as I now will not have to be exposed to this treatment in 2 weeks hence.  The current view is that I will have 6 weeks where my body can expel the remnants of the Chemo uninterrupted before I have my next CT Scan.  The scan is input for the Medical Oncologist (the Chemo Guy) to assess the presence of any of the “bad guys” and then decide if all the elimination routines over this year have been successful and I can be declared “Cancer Free”.  That is the ultimate goal and to hear that phrase from Dr. Jonker will be very welcomed.  The test and subsequent meeting with Dr. Jonker will happen during the last week of January.  They are scheduled and in the interim I will continue to build mass, strength and eliminate the remnants of the Chemo.  That means regular diet, exercise based on my Physio Therapist program and drinking lots of liquids, some of which will come in colourful wine bottles.

Once I am finished with Dr. Jonker I will be meeting my Lead Oncologist (Dr. Auer) who will then decide upon the reversal process for the Ileostomy that she created when doing her surgical procedure back in August.  It is my hope to have that done and over with prior to our Hawaii vacation at the start of April.  That will mark the removal of all physical evidence of the health challenge and start a new phase as a Cancer Survivor.

All is very positive at this juncture and I thought it was a good time to share this news with you.  Also I would like to thank you for your interest, support and messages over the last period.  It is always nice to hear from you and be assured that your attention and support has helped me to get through this rather lengthy and trying year undertaking some rather demoralizing, inhibiting and in some cases humiliating experiences to achieve this rather sought after goal.  My spirits are very strong right now as I enter the “Wait” stage in anticipation of a good result.  And I have you to thank for the support that bolstered me through this last year.  Thank you.

I include here my best wishes for a Happy and healthy Christmas holiday and my sincere hope that the New Year brings much happiness and great moments for each and every one of you.  I hope this time is filled with great family events and the exhilaration that come with the Christmas season.

With love ...... Paul

11 February 2016,

Good evening from a cold Lake Bernard.  I hope this note finds you well and happy.  Since I last wrote to you Freddi and I managed to get away for a short Dominican Republic vacation.   We flew down on a Saturday in January and relaxed at an all-inclusive Lifestyle Holiday and Vacation Club in Puerto Plata.  We have never been to an all-inclusive but we got a handle on how to benefit from such a program pretty quickly.  We managed to eat well, drink tropical drinks on the beach and rest and read.  It was a truly a relaxing time.

When I last wrote I was entering into a period of “wait” for results of treatment and tests.  That period is now over and we are settling into a different routine.  On Monday this week I met with Dr Jonker to get the results of my CTScan and blood work from January.    The results were very positive news as I was told there is “no presence of Cancer” based on the testing that was done.  That means that I am now on the watch list for every 3 months for a period of time.  I am very pleased with that news as it tells me that the last year of treatments and surgery have paid dividends and I can start to resume my normal patterns.  There is only one thing left to remind me of the surgery and that is the ileostomy.

Today I met with Dr. Auer to get the disposition of the ileostomy.  She was very happy about my test results and then she asked me if I was ready to have my ileostomy reversed.  I asked her if she had time this afternoon but then she explained that it isn’t that simple and that there are a few folks ahead of me on the list.  However, she did do the documentation to get me in the queue and to start with a test that will determine if I am ready for reversal.  I do not have the dates but suspect that the test will happen pretty soon with the operation for reversal to be sometime in late April or perhaps a little later.  Her scheduling person will reach out to me in the near future.  This means that this will not happen before our early April family vacation in Kauai but it is in the works.  Apparently, the surgery is tricky and there will be some time to re-adjust to normal bowel functions but Dr Auer was pretty confident that my surgical effects will be marginal as I am in pretty good health and fortunate enough to have had a successful August surgery.

 As an aside, I have recently undertaken a Gov’t contract for a short period at ESDC (Economic and Social Development Canada) to provide some strategic advice for a large crown project with multiple stakeholders.  I started two days ago so I do not have a fix on the work yet but long enough to know that this will be a challenge for all involved.  This opportunity was presented to me by one of the members of our networking group and demonstrates the power of networking. 

All of this news is very good news to me and my family as it clearly indicates that the time invested in treatments and surgery were worthwhile and that we are heading to a better time ahead.  The last year has been stressful, uncomfortable and difficult for many of my close family members but I have to salute them and you for sticking with me through that year.  It was very reassuring and comforting to have you in my court and I will treasure that for a long time.  Since I will likely have little to write about after the reversal of the ileostomy I will likely not be a regular in your “in” box but that will not mean that I have forgotten your investment in my year.  I thank you for your support throughout this period and wish you nothing but good health and happiness as this year unfolds.