Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Twenty Four Months
Wow....it's been twenty four months since I completed all my chemo-parties and I feel great! Every three months I go in for blood test and a visit with my doctor! He asks a few questions, checks me over closely, and tells me to come back in three months! Each year I have a CT that photos by body after I have consummed a quart of liquids that show up on the photos....if any sign of my old problem (cancer) show up. So for....I am clean...clear and that's great. Dr. Kerr reports that since I have been 24 months and am still "clear", I probably will be "clear" forever! And there's no downside to that!
Unfortunately, this has been an expensive experience with the many visits, bloodtest chemo parties, CTs, etc.; fortunately, Medicare plus my Plan F medicare supplement paid for all of them! Thank you...Thank You! My Plan F supplement cost a little extra as compared to all the other medicare supplements available; however, Plan F pays 100% of required payments not made by Medicare! If my supplement had paid less than 100%, the cost would have been painful plus the time, pain, etc. of going through the invoices, making payments, etc would have substantial.
Unfortunately, this has been an expensive experience with the many visits, bloodtest chemo parties, CTs, etc.; fortunately, Medicare plus my Plan F medicare supplement paid for all of them! Thank you...Thank You! My Plan F supplement cost a little extra as compared to all the other medicare supplements available; however, Plan F pays 100% of required payments not made by Medicare! If my supplement had paid less than 100%, the cost would have been painful plus the time, pain, etc. of going through the invoices, making payments, etc would have substantial.
At my last Chemo Party, I weighed 230 pounds (height 6'3"); today, 210 pounds! I feel great and am appreciative of Dr. Kerr and his team for helping me with this unique opportunity. I am especially appreciative of my soul mate, Joyce, who was there everyday for me on this special journey. Love you babe!
Labels: lymphoma
Wednesday, December 20, 2006
Five Down....One to Go!!!
Monday was my fifth Chemo Party! The last one will be on January 10th...if the test afterwards shows that the Dr.'s gameplan was successful. We feel that it has been! The growths on my neck are gone! Dr. Kerr feels good about where we are now.
When he asked me Monday about how I was doing, I told him I had a sore spot on my butt because so many women had been patting me there because they thought I was so cute with my bald head. Without an expression, he said, "I better take a look at that!" I think he was serious. I laughed and said, "That's just a fantasy!" He laughted and said, "I never know about you and Joyce!" We knew him in Toastmasters 10 years ago and liked him then also. I had no idea what an Oncologist was then. I now know that every patient he has places their life in his hands. He has to develope a "game plan" to destroy the cancer. I am thankful for his competence.
Dr. Kerr's gameplan included three different pills that I take for five days after a Chemo Party to offset the "negatives" of all the chemicals placed in my body to eradicate the bad cells. They have reduced the number of rought hours and days for me. The VA has provided theses for me for $24 per session. Those same pills would have cost us over $225 per session if not for the VA.
The gameplan has also provided that I take shots for five days after each session to increase the production of "good" cells to replace the cells being destroyed by medications poured through my body during the Chemo Parties. If enough good cells are not produced, my immune system could be weaken and I would have to "stay in" to keep form catching something from someone that could could be a "biggie"!
I go in every Monday for blood test to see how well the booster shots have been doing. If they are working well, I don't have to take another booster shot. After
my last test, the nurse said, "You did good....You can go and do anything you want to when you want to!" I said great, "Can't wait to tell my wife!":
When he asked me Monday about how I was doing, I told him I had a sore spot on my butt because so many women had been patting me there because they thought I was so cute with my bald head. Without an expression, he said, "I better take a look at that!" I think he was serious. I laughed and said, "That's just a fantasy!" He laughted and said, "I never know about you and Joyce!" We knew him in Toastmasters 10 years ago and liked him then also. I had no idea what an Oncologist was then. I now know that every patient he has places their life in his hands. He has to develope a "game plan" to destroy the cancer. I am thankful for his competence.
Dr. Kerr's gameplan included three different pills that I take for five days after a Chemo Party to offset the "negatives" of all the chemicals placed in my body to eradicate the bad cells. They have reduced the number of rought hours and days for me. The VA has provided theses for me for $24 per session. Those same pills would have cost us over $225 per session if not for the VA.
The gameplan has also provided that I take shots for five days after each session to increase the production of "good" cells to replace the cells being destroyed by medications poured through my body during the Chemo Parties. If enough good cells are not produced, my immune system could be weaken and I would have to "stay in" to keep form catching something from someone that could could be a "biggie"!
I go in every Monday for blood test to see how well the booster shots have been doing. If they are working well, I don't have to take another booster shot. After
my last test, the nurse said, "You did good....You can go and do anything you want to when you want to!" I said great, "Can't wait to tell my wife!":
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Some Good.....Some Not So Good.
I was really getting convinced that I was going to ride through these Chemo Party experiences without having any downside but the past two days have been on the rough side. I have met a number of Chemo Patients at the hospital that said they had a hard time after #3 or #5 etc. I now know that I am normal....not that I want to be this normal.
My mouth became contaminated several days ago even thouht I was washing it out with a mixture of baking sodda and salt as prescribed. Yesterday, I sent Joyce to the drugstore to get something for a extremely sensitive tongue. The only thing I had that felt O.K. was a milk shake. While there, she phoned my doctor's answering service. The on call doctor phoned me at home immediately. We had a nice visit and he explaned that I was sas simply 'normal' under the circumstances. I gave him our pharmacist's phone number and he phoned in a prescription. Joyce came home with a bottle of red stuff entitled CP:Mircle Mouth Wash by ALBE. WOW it is powerful! After swishing my mouth with two teaspoons, I feel like I have been to the dentist that deadened my upper and lowers. It last for about 20-30 minutes!
The good news is that I enjoyed chicken fried steak for breakfast this morning and didn't think about my toungue one time. Unfortunately, I still feel like crap...or normal under the Chemo Party expectations.
My mouth became contaminated several days ago even thouht I was washing it out with a mixture of baking sodda and salt as prescribed. Yesterday, I sent Joyce to the drugstore to get something for a extremely sensitive tongue. The only thing I had that felt O.K. was a milk shake. While there, she phoned my doctor's answering service. The on call doctor phoned me at home immediately. We had a nice visit and he explaned that I was sas simply 'normal' under the circumstances. I gave him our pharmacist's phone number and he phoned in a prescription. Joyce came home with a bottle of red stuff entitled CP:Mircle Mouth Wash by ALBE. WOW it is powerful! After swishing my mouth with two teaspoons, I feel like I have been to the dentist that deadened my upper and lowers. It last for about 20-30 minutes!
The good news is that I enjoyed chicken fried steak for breakfast this morning and didn't think about my toungue one time. Unfortunately, I still feel like crap...or normal under the Chemo Party expectations.
Tuesday, October 24, 2006
Why Lemon Head....look?
Could be because I am drinking a lot of LemonGrass Tea....thanks to Keiths' fast actions. A potential Condo renter phoned one day and said that her husband was told he would die of cancer six months ago but amazingly he was doing well and was going to work a few hours each day. The only explanation was that she had been adding lemmongrass to his diet. She said that she felt that the lemongrass had to be the "difference". Keith phoned a few minutes later and I told him what the lady had told me. Within an hour I started receiving E-Mails from Keith's research on the "net". The research showed that LemonGrass had an ingredient in it that caused cancer cells to committ suicide. Keith's E Mails also informed us that we would be receiving LG Tea Bags in a few days. We gave some of the bags to a new friend that is 100% disabled with MS. We both are enthused about our LG tea. We don't know if it will make a big difference. I know that my constipation problem has been much less since I have become addicted to relaxing with my hot LG Tea. I will report on this in a month or so. In that report I will report on my friend with MS's opinion of LG Tea on his disability! In that post I will include some the research that makes us feel this could be a difference!
Monday, October 23, 2006
Thanks Lynnea and Keih for Let's Us Travel With You!
We have loved being with Keith and Lynnea and their friends in Hawaii! Check out their recent photos from beautiful H.. Just ckick on Keiths Web Site up on the left and then on click on Recent... photos. You will be glad you did! Regards!
7 Day Blood Test after 2n Chemo Party...C+
I got a C+ today on my blood test. I say C+ because three numbers were lower than the 7 day test after 1st Party. However, they really could be rated an A- as they are still within range that permits my immmunity system to being effective. That is, it's safe to live a normal life! If my 7 day b. test after my next Chemo Party is similar, we will hit the road for a 2400 mile joy ride to Mobile and Cumming, Ga and possible a few other favorites! Please pray for good b. test scores and lower gas prices! Haven't shaved in 7+ days and my baby face.....or my lemon head..is still turning the ladies head. I say lemon head because I am drinking a lot of lemon grass tea and my head does look a little like a lemon! I will tell why I am drinking lemon grass tea on my nest post. Now I must give attention to my "Honey Do!" list! Regards!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Saturday, October 21, 2006
5 Days After 2nd Chemo Party
I feel great! I have had five blood cell booster shots, and 10 peels to prevent inflammation, 12 to prevent nauseau, a few Tylenol PM....and now I look forword to Monday when blood test will show how well the booster shots did their job. Hopefully, my immunity system will be strong.
Now I am thinking hard on how to get a patent on my smooth baby face that's turning the womens' heads. I haven't shelved since early Monday AM and they are looking...!
Also have gotten a few smiles when I remove my old black leather comboy hat(3 1/2 gallon size) and let the ladies see my beautiful shiny head.
Now I am thinking hard on how to get a patent on my smooth baby face that's turning the womens' heads. I haven't shelved since early Monday AM and they are looking...!
Also have gotten a few smiles when I remove my old black leather comboy hat(3 1/2 gallon size) and let the ladies see my beautiful shiny head.
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
48 Hours After 2nd Chemo Party
Monday night after my 2nd Chemo Party I felt great but didn't have any desire or need to go to bed. I simply was not sleepy. Around 2 AM I took two Tylenol PM and fineally went off to sleep around 6AM. When I went in to get my Booster Shot the next day, the nurse told me one the medications in my Chemo Party the day before would do that. Yes, I felt "rought" most of Tuesday because of lost of sleep. Last night was normal. I take one peel every 8 hours for three days after a C-Party that offsets many of the "negagtives" of Chemo! They work great! I take two other peels each morning for 3 days after Chemo that give me a "spin" for a little while. Two crackers with peanut butter do a pretty good job of reducing that spin. We go through a lot of peanut butter. We went to our first lunch at the Senior Recreation Center today. Food and company was good. Tonight we are going to a movie at AMC at Valley View with a group from the center. Cost is Free! This Senior Thing is not all bad.
