Now and Then...

I'm feeling a lot better today. I set up my Tiki lamps by the pool last night and swam for a long time. I really like Pete Townsend and this song too. I don't know if there's a secret message in this post

And There's One "I" in Alive

I survived yesterday and last night. It was one of the worst so far. The nausea has been a new thing over the past few months. I think I'm 1/5th of the way to being done. I sure as hell hope so. Sorry for the drama, I wrote what I felt

There's No I in TEAM But there's Two in Idiot

Chemo 66 was Monday, I think, I'm losing count, I was up since 3 am puking and trying to shit. I came into work at 7 am. I'm in so much pain I wish I was dead. I hate to say that because I really love life but those of you with cancer can relate I'm sure. Why the fuck did I come in today, the world won't end if the book doesn't get out...

Beautiful Boy

I listened to this on my way to work, I lost it.

Close your eyes
Have no fear
The monster's gone
He's on the run and your daddy's here

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Out on the ocean sailing away
I can hardly waitTo see you come of age
But I guess we'll both just have to be patient'
Cause it's a long way to go
A hard row to hoe
Yes it's a long way to go
But in the meantime
Before you cross the street
Take my hand
Life is what happens to you
While you're busy making other plans

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy

Before you go to sleep
Say a little prayer
Every day in every way
It's getting better and better
Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful
Beautiful boy
Darling, darling, darling
Darling Sean

Sex, Drugs and Rock & Roll

Now that I have your attention, I'll start my post. I haven't been posting as much as I used to. Part of me feels that I want to draw my focus off of the cancer/chemo and just ride it out. It's not that the side effects are easier, it's just that I've done this 65 times. It's fucking boring. When I first went on chemo, I had a different regimine. It was an every two week deal. I would go on a Friday, get many hours of stuff (4 I think, I have probably blocked it out) then I was hooked up to a little pump about the size of an old walkman tape player. That had a bag of meds that was pumped a little at a time for two days. I had the needle in my port that is in my upper chest. At first, they gave me a bag to hold the pump and the meds that was big enough for a loaf of bread, It was huge. Then I was able to fit it into a nice fanny pack and no one really knew I was on chemo. Then, on Sundays, a nurse would come up to the house and needless to say, our clothes were off and ... oh wait, wrong story. Right, the nurse would come up and remove the needle and flush my port blah, blah, blah. Fuck, all I'm doing is talking about chemo. Ok, so now I'm drinking a Saranac Mountain Ale and it is hitting the spot. I also took a few percocets earlier and just finished smoking a little nausea medicine (wink). I feel good. Monday I go for the double dose and I won't feel good so WTF I say. I was reading part of an article in The New Yorker about Timothy Leary, the LSD guy. I've done LSD many times. I probably did more chemos though and LSD is WAY more fun. The last time I did it was probably about 20 years ago when I was 28. I was an avid mountain biker at the time. I didn't race or anything like that but I would ride every weekend. My buddy Henry and I drove to NH and biked up Mt Washington which is the tallest mountain in the NE United States. Also, the highest wind speed recorded ON THE ENTIRE PLANET was recorded there. 233 MPH. We also biked up Mt Mansfield which is the tallest mountain in VT. Both of these mountains had roads but still, it was a fucking climb. The bottom photo is me (far left - in more ways than one) with some friends while we were on acid for the last time. Me had made Spanish Omelets with psilocybin mushrooms in them. I enjoyed them a lot. So anyway I got to thinking that if I had the chance to do the shrooms as we used to say, I most likely would do them even (adn especially) since I have cancer. I'm not afraid of my age being a factor with the shrooms, it was always a nice mellow high. I have been feeling very connected to that cosmic consciousness as of late. Yeah, I know, it's the pot, percocets and beer. Be that as it may, I have been connected. I'll leave it at that. This has been going on for well over two years. I don't see any shrooms in my future because I know no one who is into that and I would not seek them out. I do think I would enjoy it a lot but I'll probably never find that out...

On top of Mt Washington in August

On Mt Mansfield

In the woods back in the day

Ripping at Mohonk NY

Mistaken Identity

I was coming back from chemo around 11 am today. I saw a beautiful Asian woman who looked so much like Boo. I stopped and said hello to her. She was not impressed. Oh well, I had to say hi to her.

# 65

I'm in for # 65, Last week sucked. The side effects, while not as bad as they CAN be, were still painful. I am finding that the last few rounds have caused more nausea too. I do have some pill meds for that, but I'm going organic on that front and smoking a little reefer. It's been proven that it lessens the side effects but if you believe the a-holes at the FDA, they would disput it I'm sure. Let's see what they think if THEY have fucking cancer. A different story I'm sure. I didn't feel like posting last week, I did on my other happy blog. I'd rather just try to make like all is well. I also had a problem with one of the nurses her last week. she set up my pre-meds, then left for a meeting and never started my chemo meds. An hour later the a different nurse came in and noticed that the one never started it. I was LIVID to say the least. I was beyond LIVID. I just went back there a few minutes ago and told the woman who schedules everything that I do not, under any circumstances, what her again. One other time she had to jab me 3 times before she got the needle in the port. I don't need this shit, I don't want this shit, and I'm not taking this shit. This is a great side effect of the cancer. I have ZERO tollerance for a lot of stuff and I'm not afraid to tell someone off. I realize everyone can have a bad day, but she had two and her quota is used up in my book. NEXT...
I had a very good Father's Day yesterday. The kids gave me nice cards, Grif made something in school for me, and Dana got me a nice Farberware cooking set. I do have to return it because it's the non-stick stuff. I don't like that plus it's not really good for you. They say that too much heat can cause it to release carcinogens. I'm thinking of the kids more. The only thing is that they require more care. Dana and cookware do not get along very well. She has even melted a saucepan once. I did manage to do a lot of swimming this past weekend, it was great weather for it. I hope to do more tonight. Well, I should start chemo soon. I did relink my happy blog to this one again. I'll see how it goes. I"m sure I'll get nutty again and de-link it.

# 63 The Rash is Back

I have the second one of this hopefully final round of chemo in the morning. I just did a guestimate with how many more I'd have. It was 6 months so that's 26, If this holds true I will have 24 more after this one. My skin had gotten pretty bad. This first picture wasn't even when it was that bad. I think I look more pained because I seem to have a kayak inserted into my head.



This other picture was taken maybe a 3-4 weeks ago while I was home recovering from lung surgery. My skin was noticably better. That is the real bummer about the Erbitux. It wreaks havoc with the skin and nails. My rash is starting again already. It's getting bad on my face and torso. I do have some creams to put on and I guess it helps somewhat. I have heard too that many people have it worse than I had it. I'll be happy if I get the same reaction this time. I still can't get over how I've had 62 chemos and still have hair.

An interesting thing is how people perceive me with the rash. I don't always notice it because it's on MY face, I don't have to look at me. The rest of you do. I've had people stare and walk around me like I have leporsy or something then others pay me no nevermind (whatever the hell that saying means). I find if I act natually, most people don't make a big deal out of it. None the less, it's a discomfort to say the least and it looks creepy but this is a wonder drug that is saving my life. I have been fortunate that two new drugs came out for the treatment of colon cancer in the past 2 1/2 years. I've had both of them. Some people's insurance companies won't cover the cost (about $17,000 a pop) so they are either having to pay for it themselves, or seek another treatment. That's another thing to be grateful for.

My sister in law's friend has a sister who was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. I don't know what stage she is at but she did have colon surgery first and now this week she is getting a port for administering chemo put in and she starts chemo this week too. She kind of wants to talk to me and I was like sure, of course. I'm rather up front with all of this and anyone who is in the same or a similar boat I am more than happy to speak with. I had called one guy in the city who's wife was having a pump put in too. We spoke for about an hour about what she could expect from it and how it feels and all of that. This new person though is very shy about talking about it it seems. She wanted to know (or had heard) that I have a blog. Now, no one (with the exception of a co-worker who I trust) has read my blog. My wife knows I have one, but she never demanded or even asked to see it and I never offered to let her. She knows it's like a journal and respects that. But, I do have two blogs and I have written some things that may not be bad or false, they might cause me some problems shall we say if the wrong people read them so I don't want to let this woman see the blog because it could get back to my SIL, then to my wife, then I'd have to eat a meal that she cooked for me and I'd be a dead duck. So I offered to contact her by email if that makes her more comfortable. I do hope she writes me but I'm not going to lose sleep over it by any means. I do find it helpful to talk to others who are going through what I am because they can relate to the puking, depression, anxiety and all of the other fun things about chemo and cancer. It's almost midnight. I'm still kind of wound up. I have to get up at around 5 am, then leave for the city by 5:40 so I can be on the East Side by 7:15. I do have only the single dose tomorrow so I should not have too many stomach issues and I can get out of there by 10 am and off to work
(I hope)
I didn't realize I had so much to say tonight...

# 62 done, 25 more to go

I had chemo yesterday (Memorial Day). It went well, it was an easy commute in and out of the city. I am starting to feel like shit already, I started the morning off with a nice puke. Probably due to the megadose of chocolate Ice Cream after the grilled spring onions. I'm back at work today also. I have to get aclimated to it again. At least I see my therapist today. I feel like crying because I don't want to do this anymore but I have no options. I'm not as brave as many of you may think at times

Last Day Before Chemo Starts Again

	If the movie doesn't play, you can try this link or right click it and save to the desktop.

Good(ish) News

I don't know why I have trouble absorbing good news, but I do. My Oncologist said I may just have 6 more months of chemo then I may be done. The operation was a success, my lymph nodes were negative for cancer, and they got the two spots of cancer out.

"D-Day" as in Doctor Day

Today I meet with my Oncologist. Scared shitless right now, waiting for the percocets to kick in, then the xanax. I'll post results later

Fuck

I can't believe how much BS I get from my family. I ask Dylan to make sure he has clothes for his concert yesterday and guess what, he has no fucking clothes and the concert is in 45 minutes. Dana's no fucking help either

Blah....

I had been doing ok with the surgery, although I still hurt a lot unless I take many percocets a day. I woke up this morning however throwing up and with the shits (at the same time of course) I hate all of these side effects but I'm not on chemo so I'm not sure what is happening and why. Probably something I ate. I will most likely start chemo again in a week or two. Not looking forward to it at all. I really hate it.
I can't believe these past two years. I just want to cry, I wish it would end (happily).

I've upped the amount of percocets I'm taking again. I had been eating about 12 a day and the funny thing is that no one can tell that I'm high. I've always been good at being high, but not acting or looking it. I guess its probably more of a curse.If I got caught at it more often I'd probably stop it. so now I'm back to taking more. It just feels like a hot knife is jabbing me around the area under my right breast and rib cage. I imagine that is where the removed the part of my lung. I can't feel were the lymph nodes were removed. I hope to ask him this week when I meet with him. This morning was very rough too because it was the first time I puked since I had this operation. That hurt the area where they cut me very much. I also had a sneezing fit and that was unbearable. Luckily I'm not big on the allergies or I'd be fucked.

I was supposed to go to have lunch with some friends from work today. It was my friend Debi's bithday. I just work with such a remarkably wonderful bunch of people (and most of them are women too which makes it even better because they are all supportive and are very easy on the eyes if you know what I mean. Hell, I'm sick, not dead. I think there was also part of me that didn't want to deal with all of the questions and comments too, but I know I didn't fabricate this. Jeeze, today was only the third week since my operation. I will say this, I seem to heal reather quickly for the most part.

I hope I sleep better tonight. I see my therapist tomorrow. I told her that she looks great in peach colored capri pants. I actually said "You look peachy". I know I broke some sort of ethical code of not being able to compliment one's therapist. hey, she's an attractive woman and she looked realy great in the pants. So shoot me

Happy HNT

Roller Coaster

It's amazing how much I rely on my medications. I didn't take anything for pain yet today or any of the many other meds I take, and all I can think of saying is FUCK EVERYTHING.
It occurred to me that my new normal is like the same ones I've had for the past 26 months. I'm either on fucking chemo, or I get a break from chemo because I had another part of my insides cut out of me. Hardly a break, ya know? I'm also participating in an acupuncture pain study. They taped these small needles onto various parts of my body that may or may not be in the right places depending on if I have the placebo ones or the real ones. I get phone calls asking me about my pain. Is it a zero (no pain) or a ten (much pain). How the fuck do I know. You dive into a pool of water and you're wet, that's it. If they asked me 3 years ago how much pain I'm in, I'd have a much different answer. Now, I've been in constant pain since Sept 04. Period. Some days I act better than others and some days I take 14 percocets. Do you have a fucking 15 on the pain scale lady? That's where I'm at! I'm so tired of this grind. Now I'm off chemo while I heal (at least I can shit in peace) then I get an x-ray on May 18th along with a CT scan that day. I will also see the lung surgeon, then see the foot doctor who will no doubt cut up my nails with no anesthesia. Then the following week I will see my Onc who will tell me the wonderful news about how we don't know why your abdominal lymph nodes are enlarged but we'll hit you with another 40 rounds or so of chemo. Gee, will it be the same stuff or something else? I turned off comments because I don't want to hear any. No pep talks. I'm sure in a day or so I'll be able to fake it again and will turn them back on.

Don't Click on My Ass

What the heck do you all know? I know you only want me here because of my booty, but that works for me. Thanks, you're all great friends.
"you like me, you really like me"

Coming Along

Things are coming along, I still have trouble sleeping because it's difficult to lie down but the pain is getting a little less each day. I need to start walking more to build up my lung capacity. It's very beautiful up here in NY State with the trees blooming, I want to take it all in and enjoy. I know my last couple of posts have been rather depressing. I don't know how many out there have had major surgery, but it really sucks (cancer aside). I do feel like site is becoming too pathetic so I may cut back on my posting unless I really have something to say.

Post-Op

	If the movie doesn't play, you can try this link or right click it and save to the desktop.

Butt Friday

Boo and Paula, this one's for you ladies. The Erbitux had made my beautiful blemish free butt no longer blemish free. I do think I'm on too many percocets. Now that I've done it, I think EVERYONE should post pictures of their butts on Butt Friday. The tubes are out, I got through the night okay and I'm set to go home. As usual, I expect some nonsense about the papers not being in order or something delaying this. I have been telling them since I saw the Doctor at 6 am that he said I can go, I am calling Dana, and I am leaving at noon. I don't want them to telling me at 11:45 that I need an xray or some excuse. I really get very antsy and I can't and won't stay around. If I have to bust out of here, I am doing it. It's going to take a while for me to get back to some sort of normal. Hmmm, maybe this is my new normal for a while. I do have to finish sealing the deck in the back of our house so I can do that while sitting and just take my time. I still can't believe that I was in for another surgery, I thought it wasn't going to happen. You just never know what life is going to throw your way do you...

I better not see my ass floating around the internet ;-)