Sunday, March 29, 2009

The Longest Damn Six Weeks I Can Remember

Hello Family and Friends:



I am a day late in getting this week's update out as we were busy yesterday at a family reunion for Annette's family and I still wasn't feeling very well following the final chemo treatment on Thursday. However, I woke up this morning feeling much better and I even had some appetite for the first time in 3 days. Thank God for little things.



Yep, we're done with this phase of our treatments! Six weeks of radiation treatments (28 in total), and 6 chemo infusions of one drug, two of another, and 28 days of oral chemo pills (10/day) and we're done. Thank God. In reflection, I can say that I had 3 pretty good weeks (1, 2, & 6) and 3 that were a struggle (3-5). While it is physically challenging, I can say the mental challenge was more than I expected it to be. The mind can be a very powerful thing, (even mine,) more so than I can recall at other time in my life.



The simple act of saying "chemo" over the past several weeks often brought about involuntarily gagging. Also, for a couple of weeks there, I couldn't even hear the word chocolate without getting queasy. This was due to the first time I got so sick from the chemo I upchucked my lunch which included a chocolate dessert and got to see it again. Little things like that play with your mind which in turn controls physical feelings. Smell associations are also something I am now dealing with. I have no desire for coffee anymore as I associate the smell of coffee with the RT waiting room where they had coffee and cookies for the patients. Weird. Maybe I need a hypnotist to get me back to my old self. Oh well, there are worse things for sure.



Overall Week 6 was good until Thursday's chemo infusion. All I had was RT the first 3 days and that was no problem. Got the infusion and I was fine for about 8 hours until I got sick and I haven't felt well since then, until the middle of the night last night. Then it broke much like you might expect with a fever when it breaks. As I said, weird but true.



We are home now and in the rest and rehab role. We have nothing further until 4/22-23 when we return to Duke for two full days of follow up testing, bascially doing everything they did originally (pet scan, endoscopy, etc.) to see how effective all the treatments were. A decision will be made at that time as to when my surgery will be but they anticipate approximately 2-4 weeks following that, or around mid-late May. I need to put some weight back on as I have lost about 20 pounds recently. This is not the type of diet one wants to go on. My muscle tone is gone.



I probably won't update my blog much here for a while unless things change. The doctors told me I should start feeling somewhat normal again in about 10 days. To that I say hoorah as I'm sure Annette does too. She has been an amazing trooper throughout this entire process supporting me in every way and bugging me to take medication or food or whatever when I didn't want to. She has had to lather me up with skin creams lately, mainly on my back, as I have very dry skin now from the RT. I'm sure I couldn't have gotten through it without her. Even Guinney, our dog, was right by my side much of the time I was sleeping as she knew I wasn't well. Every time I would upchuck she would start barking at me like she was giving me encouragement.



Well I guess that it is for now. I can't thank all of you enough for all of your well wishes, your thoughtful cards, and, most of all, your continued prayers. They were all more welcomed than you can ever imagine. Also, please continue!! We need and appreciate every single one. I also love to hear comments back from you either via the blog or via e-mails. It reminds me just how blessed I am.



Love

Drew

6 comments:

  1. so glad you're done with all that! we're proud of you. i didn't know about guinney barking! that is really funny. love, robin, mark and marjorie

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  2. That is one hell of a way to loose 20 lbs. From your pics it looks like you lost more than that. Are you finding clothes in your closet you haven't been able to wear in awhile that now fit you?

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  3. Hey Drew! You're amazing! I know you'll be glad to have some R&R for the next few weeks. Enjoy the warm weather, some walks with Guinney, and hopefully some nutritious food. And, hey clinical hypnosis can do wonders. Scott could give you some tips. Take care cuz!

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  4. Hi Drew, Congrats on phase one! I guess that the Tarheels winning is good news for you too. we are still in prayer for you. I am enjoying your positive attitude, and sense of humor. I like the part about your powerful mind. I haven't found anything that will get me off chocolate yet, and I am not willing to try your way.I guess I am going to keep these extra pounds for a while. Have something good to eat, (your Mom says so) In Him Pastor David

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  5. wow Dad those pictures really put into realization what the last 6 weeks have been like for you. Well, hopefully the sickness and rotten feeling is behind you. You only have a summer filled with boating trips, relaxing, and good food prepared by Annette to look forward to, and don't forget Robin's grandbaby #2 that you need to be ready to meet in the fall. We pray for you daily Dad, and are so glad this part is over

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  6. Drew - We are so happy that you've made it through this and are looking forward. There are too many golf courses you've not set your eyes on, too many friends you haven't seen for a while, and too much fun to let lie. You and Annette have much to be thankful for and so do we. Be well my friend. And I'm threatening to come out to visit sometime soon....So there!

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