Home Sweet (second) Home

We have made this our home for thirteen days... with eleven more to go. No complaints, the arrangement has worked out well, just as it did back in March. We are getting anxious for Thanksgiving because Ben and Sally are flying in that morning. We have been planing our holiday meal and tomorrow we do our grocery shopping. It's going to be a wonderful three days!

Is it ironic that I am taking radiation treatment for pancreatic cancer during November, which is pancreatic cancer awareness month? Is it also ironic that purple is the color to signify pancreatic cancer? I've tried to wear some purple each day to signify the awareness, and some of you may appreciate the purple in my wardrobe.
I've finished a full week of radiation, now I get 2 days off. I really don't feel much different after 5 radiation treatments. I don't feel sick or rotten like I did back in March. I am a little more tired even though I have been spending 9 or 10 hours a night in bed. The doctor told me I probably wouldn't have nausea this time since the location of the tumor allows the radiation to miss the digestive tract. Also, I'm not taking any chemo drugs. They did tell me, though, that I may experience some nausea and more fatigue toward the end of treatment because my body will be dealing with all the cumulative damage from the radiation. Hopefully, the worst damage will be to the cancer cells.
We haven't done much of anything since we got here. I guess I'm a little lazy about getting out. It seems like we have to drive a ways to get to anything. The weather is supposed to be really nice this weekend (sunny and 70s) so we'll probably get out and do something.

Joe

Back in Houston for a spell

We got our trailer and us back in Houston, parked in the same site in the same RV park as last March. Almost feels like home. All the neighbors have changed, though. Even the park hosts are different.
Today we saw the Radiation Oncologist to discuss my treatment. No surprises. I will start treatments on Monday, November 15, for 3 weeks. The doctor didn't think I should suffer much as far as side effects, since the radiation will be away from major organs. He said the liver can endure more radiation than any other organ. I'll probably still have some fatigue, but that is a cumulative thing. It probably will get worse as my treatment progresses.
Since we don't have appointments for the next couple days, I guess we've got a little time to play tourist before getting down to business. I did forget some insurance papers which I will have to deliver tomorrow. Other than that, no commitments.

Joe