We're done with Radiation!!!
Three Weeks. We get about three weeks off of Chemo too. First of many MRIs is scheduled followed by an evaluation.
Two Months. The radiation doctor says damage will continue for a while even though the treatments are finished. It's about two months to see what recovers. This might be a TMI (Too Much Information), but the obvious physical effects are 1) the hair loss over the left ear, 2) the eyes feel like they're sunburned, and 3) inside my nose is gross. The hair loss was expected and it'll come back or it won't. It's pretty much dead to the touch right now. I saw the beam cross my eyes several times during each treatment. I think this will come back. I felt and smelled a zap to my nose every treatment. There are no bad sores or pain. Let's just stick with "gross". I think this will heal too. The other effects are harder to guess what improvement will occur in the next two months. I sometimes have a hard time coming up with the right words and my "speeling" is poor. We talked with the doctor about loss of short term memory as a common effect of the treatment. This is a big one. I've been using my brain solving hard problems and learning new complex things, so some of the time I still got it.
One Year. Chemo will restart after the evaluation for a year.
I read aloud page 47 of 531 of the Book of Mormon today. Nephi includes wisdom from Isaiah from the brass plates in his record.
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
6 More
We're almost done with the radiation treatment. This week and next Monday!
I want to thank my hero, my sweet wife Melody, for all her efforts. We drive into and out of town for several hours Monday to Friday for the treatments (24 so far). I appreciate that she takes care of all the hard stuff like dealing with the disability company (it seems like hours and hours of her day are spent getting them to do their job) and keeping me up with all my medications (yet another battle fought to get the medication delivered, again lots of time and effort on her part).
The doctor says that some people have the "fog/fatigue" lift a little within a few days after finishing radiation. That's my plan :-)
Even as it is now, if there's something I really want to do (like the going away event for Melody's brother and family who left Tucson) I can be sure I rest much of the day and I'm fine.
For those keeping up, I read aloud page 39 of 531 of the Book of Mormon today! I'm not sure if I'm ahead or behind schedule. Nephi's brothers gave him a hard time about building the ship and he's trying to help them understand things.
I want to thank my hero, my sweet wife Melody, for all her efforts. We drive into and out of town for several hours Monday to Friday for the treatments (24 so far). I appreciate that she takes care of all the hard stuff like dealing with the disability company (it seems like hours and hours of her day are spent getting them to do their job) and keeping me up with all my medications (yet another battle fought to get the medication delivered, again lots of time and effort on her part).
The doctor says that some people have the "fog/fatigue" lift a little within a few days after finishing radiation. That's my plan :-)
Even as it is now, if there's something I really want to do (like the going away event for Melody's brother and family who left Tucson) I can be sure I rest much of the day and I'm fine.
For those keeping up, I read aloud page 39 of 531 of the Book of Mormon today! I'm not sure if I'm ahead or behind schedule. Nephi's brothers gave him a hard time about building the ship and he's trying to help them understand things.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Don's 531 Day Plan to read the Book of Mormon aloud
A number of people asked about coordinating with my 531 day read aloud plan for the Book of Mormon. I don't remember exactly when I started, but here's what I'm going with.
17 Aug 2014 is hereby declared as Day 1! Page one starts with "I NEPHI, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father;" I complete any partial verse, so that day ended with verse 5 on page 2: "with all his heart, in behalf of his people".
Today is 9 Sept 2014, so I should have finished page 24 which starts with "And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms."
Alas, I had to read a few :-) extra to catch up, but as of today, I finished page 24, finishing with the top of page 25 "upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them."
Maybe somebody can help me with the date. What day will be day 531? That's when I will finally read Moroni 10:34 "And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to the rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite and I am brought forth triumphant through the air to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen."
17 Aug 2014 is hereby declared as Day 1! Page one starts with "I NEPHI, having been born of goodly parents, therefore I was taught somewhat in all the learning of my father;" I complete any partial verse, so that day ended with verse 5 on page 2: "with all his heart, in behalf of his people".
Today is 9 Sept 2014, so I should have finished page 24 which starts with "And it came to pass that the angel spake unto me saying: Look! And I looked and beheld many nations and kingdoms."
Alas, I had to read a few :-) extra to catch up, but as of today, I finished page 24, finishing with the top of page 25 "upon the waters, and upon the land also, to battle against them."
Maybe somebody can help me with the date. What day will be day 531? That's when I will finally read Moroni 10:34 "And now I bid unto all, farewell. I soon go to the rest in the paradise of God, until my spirit and body shall again reunite and I am brought forth triumphant through the air to meet you before the pleasing bar of the great Jehovah, the Eternal Judge of both quick and dead. Amen."
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Chemo and Steroids
Melody has been learning about the steroids I'm taking with the Chemo pills. The steroids main purpose seems to be to prevent and reduce swelling in the brain. First some good news. Since 2010, the Chemo pills have gained much improved access to the brain (something about a blood/brain barrier), improving and lengthening life another six months or so on average. I'll take it!
The information she read says that the steroids destroy the muscles and that many are now in wheel chairs and walkers because they didn't exercise enough when they could. So, I'm bumping my exercise period from 2 hours (6 to 8 am) to 3 hours. Today I walked/ran 2 miles for the first time in a long time. I typically spend my morning repairing things around the house, doing dishes, laundry, cleaning floors, yard work. What ever works to get my heart rate up and use my muscles. Next I walk. Last I do a variety of exercises and stretches followed by some light weight lifting on my arms. I still have another two weeks of PT on the left shoulder, so they don't want me to get those muscles sore.
The information she read says that the steroids destroy the muscles and that many are now in wheel chairs and walkers because they didn't exercise enough when they could. So, I'm bumping my exercise period from 2 hours (6 to 8 am) to 3 hours. Today I walked/ran 2 miles for the first time in a long time. I typically spend my morning repairing things around the house, doing dishes, laundry, cleaning floors, yard work. What ever works to get my heart rate up and use my muscles. Next I walk. Last I do a variety of exercises and stretches followed by some light weight lifting on my arms. I still have another two weeks of PT on the left shoulder, so they don't want me to get those muscles sore.
Monday, September 1, 2014
Photon Torpedoes to the head
I hope you enjoy Labor Day 2014. I'm having a good day!
Thirty radiation treatments five days a week for six weeks. I call them Photon Torpedoes as they are a form of high energy light. I've completed 10 treatments so far. The primary purpose seems to be to slow down the spread of the cancerous glial cells (called Glioma) throughout the rest of my brain. The primary purpose of the Chemotherapy seems to be to kill fast growing Glioma in my brain as they spread. This treatment is three pills a day for six weeks. I take them at night before bed. Small fingers of Glioma were observed in the microscope during the surgery heading out from the removed tumor. They may already be small bits of Glioma in the rest of my brain. None is currently visible on an MRI. The doctors say there is probably not any cancer in any other part of my body except my brain.
I then get a break from treatment for two to four weeks while they assess the effectiveness. If nothing unusual, the standard protocol is I get to take three chemo pills every night for the next 12 months.
Oh, my sleeping is much better now. I get asked about this frequently as I went months without proper sleep. We moved the evening steroid to noon and it helped greatly.
Here are some details about the radiation machine and the treatment. My head is strapped down to the table with a mask over my face. The machine then uses x-rays to align the table to 1 millimeter of the MRI image for precise aim. Once it starts sending out rays, it follows a designed pattern to focus on the 2 cm around the removed tumor and to minimize the damage to the rest of the brain and head tissue (eyes, teeth, skin, hair, etc.).
Thirty radiation treatments five days a week for six weeks. I call them Photon Torpedoes as they are a form of high energy light. I've completed 10 treatments so far. The primary purpose seems to be to slow down the spread of the cancerous glial cells (called Glioma) throughout the rest of my brain. The primary purpose of the Chemotherapy seems to be to kill fast growing Glioma in my brain as they spread. This treatment is three pills a day for six weeks. I take them at night before bed. Small fingers of Glioma were observed in the microscope during the surgery heading out from the removed tumor. They may already be small bits of Glioma in the rest of my brain. None is currently visible on an MRI. The doctors say there is probably not any cancer in any other part of my body except my brain.
I then get a break from treatment for two to four weeks while they assess the effectiveness. If nothing unusual, the standard protocol is I get to take three chemo pills every night for the next 12 months.
Oh, my sleeping is much better now. I get asked about this frequently as I went months without proper sleep. We moved the evening steroid to noon and it helped greatly.
Here are some details about the radiation machine and the treatment. My head is strapped down to the table with a mask over my face. The machine then uses x-rays to align the table to 1 millimeter of the MRI image for precise aim. Once it starts sending out rays, it follows a designed pattern to focus on the 2 cm around the removed tumor and to minimize the damage to the rest of the brain and head tissue (eyes, teeth, skin, hair, etc.).
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