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 20th 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 29th 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 7th 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
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