Latest chemo

Started the new round of chemo on Thursday afternoon. Some of the side effects I may encounter: Hair loss (almost a certainty - may start within a couple weeks); Low blood counts; Numbness, tingling, or burning in the hands or feet; Fatigue and weakness; Mouth sores; Joint and muscle pain; Stomach upset and/or diarrhea. So far no major side effects. Yesterday I felt great, although I got really tired by the end of the day. Today I don't feel terrible, but not good. I guess just sort of lethargic.

Vicki is supposed to give me a haircut sometime today as preparation to losing my hair. I had grown my hair longer to make it lay down better. I think previous chemo had caused it to want to just stick straight out. I haven't really enjoyed the longer hair, though, so getting it cut doesn't bother me. Even losing the hair on my head doesn't bother me as much as losing eyebrows and eyelashes. That just seems really weird. Not having to shave will be nice, but not being able to grow a mustache will be difficult. There has been very little time during my adult life I have not had a mustache.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Wednesday January 19, 2011

Met with the Oncologist this afternoon to go over the new chemo regimen, the possible side effects, etc. The first treatment will be tomorrow afternoon.

Joe is a Rock...

Vicki

Not exactly the news we hoped for...

We got home Tuesday night about 8:00. The trip home was very uneventful. That was what we wanted after the trip down through the snowstorm in north Texas. I was aware we would probably encounter snow on the way down, but I didn't think it would be too bad. I was wrong! I don't remember traveling in any worse conditions. For about 25 miles we had to follow a car averaging about 15 mph with visibility of only a few car lengths. All in all we drove on slick roads for about 100 miles and the snow added about 2 hours to our trip.

My test results were not so good. There are numerous very small spots in my lungs that are very likely tumors. There is also a small, new spot on my liver. The tumor that received the radiation in November is larger, but Dr. Abbruzzese thought that could be due to the radiation. The primary tumor on the pancreas is "largely unchanged" according to the radiologist.

This is somewhat hard to take since I don't really feel sick, I don't look sick, and I don't act sick, but there is something in me that could make me very sick. Well, we'll start another round of chemo next week and pray it works as well as the chemo I started about 21 months ago. I will be getting Gemcitabine and Abraxane if insurance approves. Otherwise it will be Gemcitabine and Docetaxel. Gemcitabine is one I have had before. Abraxane and Docetaxel are the same class or type of drug and Dr. Abbruzzese was not too concerned if insurance didn't approve Abraxane.

Either of these drugs will probably cause fatigue, and this time I could lose my hair.

Time for a check-up

Sunday (1/9/11) we will head south to Houston. This will be my first CT scan since radiation in November, so I am pretty anxious to know how I'm doing. I've been feeling good and my energy level has been the best in a long time. I still need plenty of sleep, but I've made it through each work day in good shape.

Between Christmas and New Years we went to Ben & Sally's for 3 days and I helped Ben put sheetrock on the ceiling of their extra bedrooms and part of their upstairs hallway. The hardest part was carrying that stuff up the stairs. In spite of being really worn out, it felt really good to do some work like that. I honestly didn't know if I would have the strength and stamina to do that kind of work, but I did. The sheetrock work is the start for Ben to get a nursery done by July. Most of you probably already know, but Vicki & I will become grandparents in early July. We have already offered more time to help Ben with the project.

The weather forecast indicates we may be driving through snow in North Texas tomorrow. Why do we have to go south to see snow? By the time we get to Houston it should be dry, but it will still be chilly, darn it! Looks like it will be cold when we get home on Tuesday. If we are home early enough Tuesday, I will post my test results, otherwise it will be Wednesday night before I post.