Arms are healed - back to treatment

Good day

The past couple of weeks have been busy and filled with many unexpected events.  The usual life throwing whatever S*#% it can, testing our resilience to negativity and our grasp on hope. 

To summarize in reverse order what is going on:

This past week my grandma passed away.  The funeral was held July 7th.  Though being sick for the past few weeks had kept me from visiting her during her final time with us.  The quality time we
spent over the years will be remembered and cherished.  Those times were a gift which shall never be taken for granted.  Everyday I am going to miss her and remember her. Especially when I am getting ready to go fishing.  Those pink skies at night I know will be her keeping watch.   Love you Grandma. 

Pink sky at night Sailors delight.    

Pink sky in morning Sailors warning.

We moved into our new home mid June as well and of course the day before had to go in for a minor procedure.  After the surgery I was not to lift anything - get help on moving day.  And was not feeling very good.   Life's timing - always perfectly horrible.  Slowly we are getting settled in and comfortable.  

The rash on my arms has finally healed up and now just the scarring remains.  What a slow and annoying process.  But it is done now and back to treatments we go. 

Had first treatment on the new regiment last Wednesday.  This one will be every 2 weeks and be done over 3 days.   Wed in hospital for treatment - Friday bottle disconnected at home. There are some odd side effects with this one. 

- drinking cold fluids can make you feel like your choking
- hand and feet tingling can be severe
- the other typical side effects associated with chemotherapy which have been detailed over time.


These new challenges we are ready for and will face head on.  There are still many options out there for me and I will keep on picking them off.  Insanity maybe defined as trying the same thing over and over hoping for a different result.  Well call me crazy but I know we can get the result I am hoping for.  Healing, medications, hope, faith, prayers, nurishment and even my blog will play a role.  But golly gee there Gilbert - I will get there.  With a smile.  

Stay tuned for more updates and maybe some fishing tales   Excited for some muskie fishing on Lake St Clair again this year.  http://www.muskie.name/   This is the charter we have booked.


Keep on smilin.  If I can do - so can you. 

Jtee

Still in Limbo

Good Day

The day started with a grulling 3.5 hour drive to the hospital.  Yupp over 3 hours there - at least it was 2 hours home including a pit stop.  There was a bit of waiting and some short discussions but no real firm decisions.

The company conducting the trial has requested a new CT Scan to compare with the last one.  Which means they are considering keeping me on as part of the trial.  Just hope for the right results.

So off I go again tomorrow back to T.O.  to meet with the dermatologist about me rash.  Hopefully he can recommend something to help clear this up faster.  Or at least minimize the discomfort.  After that meeting back to Princess Margaret to discuss what is going on.  May know more tomorrow - may not.  If there is a change I shall do up a quick post.

If not - the picture says it all. 

 Keep on smilin  the world just might smile back. 

jt


 

Time for a verdict and Relay on Friday

Good Day

Something I can relate to and  it is funny that is the typical doctor positioning as well.

Tomorrow is the day - to Trial or not to Trial - that is the answer we seek.  Now you may be asking the question - but what do you mean there JT oh Smiley one?  What is going on with the trail?  Why would you not be trialing?
Well seems this "nasty rash" thing could get in the way of continuing with the clinical trail.  Seems the combination of the medications has caused a condition called Vasculitis.  Which in mild to mid cases is treatable and simple to cope with.  In extended extreme cases the condition be extremely painful and potentially damaging to additional organs causing major complications. So right now the risk is very limited as a very mild case.  Continuing though with a full dose treatment could be very very risky.  Tomorrow I find out if the organization trailing the medication will allow my treatments to be suspended a bit longer while I recover and then continue on a reduced dose.  Perhaps the Vasculitis will not reoccurr.  The other option is that continuing is to risky.  Myself - lets continue on a reduced dose.  The risks are understood and with recent results being so positive it is tough to not want to.  If the skin condition returns - by all means STOP and stop quickly.   So 12  - 16 more nail knawing hours of waiting to know what is happening..... uugghhh.  Fingers crossed.   Trial to continue on reduced dose to continue with great results.  Will send out a message Tomorrow or Thursday to let you know what is going on.

Relay for life is happening all over the country in the upcoming weeks.  This year we opted not to join in with a team.  That will be next year.  Smiley's Sidekicks will be kick'n butt.   
Not to say we are not joining in the celebration at all.  This Friday Cambridge Relay for Life will be

happening and I will be joining in the Survivor Lap.  Opening Ceremonies begin at 7pm which includes the survivor lap and luminaries will be lit around 10pm.  I invite everyone out to cheer on ALL survivors.  Look forward to seeing those who can make it. 


Cambridge Relay for Life
Preston High School   550 Rose St  Cambridge, ON N3H 2E6


that is it for now

Smile and Smile some more and if you feel like not smiling - try it anyways bet ya a giggle follows.

Jtee

How about some CT results?

Good day





 
So before we get into the good stuff here is a little tid bit of info or a joke. Once read you may find a need to shake your head afterwards in question of who would post such a thing.  Well shake away - cause I would and just did.




 



So made it into Toronto last Thursday night for the CT scan and we were able to get some results on Monday.  They are positive - yupp we have SHRINKAGE.  And with shrinkage comes big smiles.  At this stage I am classified as stable as the results are positive but still minor in degree.  From reading the report the lung nodules have stayed the same and the lesions on the liver have decreased in size.  There was also some noticeable reductions in the stranding along with the main tumor in the rectum.  That is very exciting as there has never really been changes in those areas before.    We are very happy with these results in such a short period of time.  Hopefully we can continue with treatments and great results.   Right now medication is on hold while they work on clearing up the skin rash.  It has gotten bad and spread all over.  Met with a dermatologist the other day for a biopsy of the rash to test.  This way they can figure out what medication.  Then the hope is the medication is not a conflict with the trail drugs so we can continue with both.   So fingers crossed everyone and a couple of prayers for compatible medications then continued results.  

Going to go now and have a beer.  (just 1 though) 

Keep on smilin and enjoy'n the sunshine.

jtee

Give a BIG warm welcome to Spring

Good Day


  Well the snow has finally gone and made way for the April showers which should bring us some May flowers.   One of our neighbours already has a flower bed full of Daffodils.  They look wonderful and brighten my day when I see this big bunch of hope.  

I am looking forward to having a great summer, lots to do.  A new fishing rod and gear to break in, some craft beers to sample, lazy days in the sun to be had and some washer games to win.   Sounds pretty good to me - all are welcome to join in! 

                                                                                                                              

 The trial treatment is going well.  Driving from KW to Princess Margaret downtown Toronto can be llllloooonnnngggg some days.  Soon the travel will be cut from 1-2 times per week to once every 2 weeks.  I can handle that.   

    Some of the side effects have been tough.  One of the side effects is a acne like rash which of course hit me full force.  For a while there looked like a teenager with an extreme dermatological skin problem.  Then it spread to cover pretty much the entire torso.  Though after a rough weekend of being sick the doc decided to suspend treatment for a week.  Skin cleared up nicely (90% better) and energy levels returned.  Once treatment resumed the rash has returned just not as bad.  At least I get lots of rest, plenty of sleep.  Fatigue is another side effect and is there in full swing as well.  Just taking it all day to day.  Hopeful for the future and looking forward to the upcoming CT Scan.  Going in tonight for the test and should have results within the next 2 weeks.   Will update as soon as we know something.  Fingers crossed and prayers for either stable or reductions - just as long as there is no progression. 


Relay for life this year for me is going to be basic, I will be attending the Kitchener event as a survivor and participating in the survivor lap.  Next year we will look at having Smiley's Sidekicks get together to raise some funds, bring about some awareness and have some fun. 

Donations to the Cancer Society are always needed so if you wish to still do so, as around I am sure there is someone close to you participating in a Relay for Life fundraiser or click  DONATE to connect directly to the Canadian Cancer Society. 

DONATE

Keep smilin eveyone

Jtee

The trial has begun.

Good Day

Spring is almost here how about some jokes to warm ya up.   Some good chuckles always work for me.

Q. When do monkeys fall from the sky? 

A. During Ape-ril showers!

Q: What flowers grow on faces? 

A: Tulips (Two-lips)!

Q: What does the Easter Rabbit get for making a basket? 

A: Two points just like everybody!

Monday March 10th was day 1 of the clinical trial.   Arrived at 930 and out at 4pm, considering treatment is actually only an hour a long day of waiting around.  Lots of waiting around then more waiting while trying to leave downtown Toronto.  Right after treatment was nice to not have to coup with nausea or deal with totting a "bottle" around for 3 days.  The minor side effects I have started to experience is a skin rash - on my face - starting to look like a 13 year old covered in pimples.  Yupp pizza face once again.  Went back on March 17th for a routine check up and all looks good so far.  There are some odd side effects for us to watch for and some severe rare side effects.  And by severe there could be blindness, fluffing of skin (skin falling off) and liver failure.   Now those are rare side effects and no need to be worried.  This risk is worth the reward. 

That is really it for now.  Treatments will now go on for now - no defined end as of yet.  That is the hope that this trial will bring us.  Another step forward.  

For now - thanks for checking in and looking forward to summer.

Bye for now and keep on smilin.  

Jason

Crazy couple of weeks.

Good Day

Here are some obvious one liners for your enjoyment.

How many sides does a circle have? Two: an inside and an outside.

What cruises down the riverbed at 60 mph? A motorpike with two side carps.

And to go along with the past couple of weeks and events:
What did Tarzan say to his wife? "Jane, it's a jungle out there!"


 CT Results:  in summary - crappy.    The scan showed progression in the liver spots and spots in the lung.  Which means the chemo treatment being administered has stopped working allowing the cancer cells to grow.   Now that this has happened the Doc will stop this first line treatment and look at another standard treatment - short form name FolFox.  Similar to the first treatment FolFuri the main drug is just changed.  So that is the standard process and treatments.  Once first line stops working move to second line.  Then once second line stops working move to third line.  Once third line stops working - well hope there is something else out there.   

The opportunity I have though is slightly different.  Because of the genetic testing performed back in October I am able to participate in a clinical trial at Princess Margaret Hospital in Toronto.  This will begin on March 10th.  Had to go through a number of tests and exams before being approved and all appears to be good.  Was a long day of 5 apts some lasting almost 2 hours.  

Not only did the scan show cancer cell progression, it also showed some obstructions to the right kidney causing improper function.  So the specialist has recommended having a stent (a tube) inserted between the bladder and kidney to prevent the pinching or blockage.  So this was done on March 4th.  Non invasive procedure which I was extremely happy to be knocked out completely for. Cause the only way to gain access to your bladder without making an incision is to up through exit already there.    Stent is done - beside a little discomfort - recovering quickly.

Then between all that there is an issue with high blood pressure - so now I am on blood pressure medication.  This chemo stuff is really making a mess of me.  Skin irritations, bad blood veins, and now high blood pressure.  What else is there to do though.  Nothing - gotta do what needs to be done.        

Other News  We were planing a trip for the end of March to visit Dallas for a few days, spend some time with Ryan and Barb and my cousin Kathy and Ron.  Then we were off to New Orleans for a few days. where we were meeting up with some friends from Kitchener.  Now with the clinical trial I had to cancel. The Doc will not allow me to leave the country during the initial cycles of the trail.  I have encouraged Teresa to go to New Orleans with everyone else and enjoy herself.   She deserves it.  It has been rough since the CT results.  


That is it for now.   

Still smilin and hanging in there.  and encouraging you all to keep smilin - it will brighten any gloomy day.  Try it.  

Jt