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Nov. 30:  The last few days have gone pretty well other than I continue to be difficult to get lined up correctly for the radiation.  On Mon., Wed., and Fri. they take x-rays to confirm position and I end up being on the "rack," unable to wiggle, for nearly an hour.  Today was Thur. so they just line up the marks and shoot.  I seem to be improving in the ability to hold fluids and Dr. S. seemed to be happy about that.  On Wed., he said that most people who lost 20 lbs in the time I did would be in the hospital.  He said he couldn't believe my sodium levels didn't fall through the floor.  We attributed that to beaucoup amounts of Gatorade  I drank (I'm going to buy stock in it I think).  He thinks that the Platinum "whacked" (scientific term) the ability of the tubules to reabsorb water and that they are apparently repairing themselves. I hope so because, as I mentioned earlier, it could affect the ability to keep me on the Cisplat.  Also took blood yesterday but I don't know the results yet.  Expectations are that the blood levels will hit their low next week.  That the most dangerous time for me regarding infections, bleeding, etc. and the worst for energy since the hemoglobin will likely be low as well.  Then as soon as I start to rebuild, we start a new round of chemo (Dec. 11th).  Maria continues to be hugely supportive and loving, as well as staying on top of my schedule and pill regimen.  I doubt I could do all this without her.  She spends so much time fussing with me that she's not spending nearly enough time in her studio so... as soon as I get better, I'm gonna go fishing for a week or two and let her recuperate.  It's the least I can do :-).

Dec. 5: Eddy came by and put up our Christmas lights. He was fresh from the barber's where he had his head shaved, in solidarity with John (aka Baldy). We all enjoyed the razor clams for lunch and then Eddy took John in for his infusion and radiation treatment. I drove into Portland to visit with some teacher friends and was reminded of how much "fun" it is to sit in traffic for nearly two hours (due to an accident on I-5). Still, it was fun to get together with my friends, one of whom is a "miracle boy." He is the only person I've ever heard of who survived pancreatic cancer, which he had last summer. It was heartening to see him so well, after the ordeal he's been through.

Dec. 5:  Nothing overly exciting for the last few days.  I started feeling puny again over the weekend so went in for a 1-liter infusion on Saturday and again today.  I think I'm drinking enough but I still seem to get dehydrated.  I can tell because I start getting dizzy when I stand up.  I had a 40 point drop in blood pressure today from sitting to standing.  That's a good indicator.  My eating is okay I think, although I have to force myself to eat sometimes.  I'm maintaining my weight at least. I had blood drawn today, too, in preparation for my appointment with the oncologist, Dr. S., tomorrow.  We will probably talk about whether it's okay to go ahead with the regular treatment next Monday (11th) or not.  I hope we can.  I'm not looking forward to it, but will be anxious to get it over with.  I've been having a fair amount of pain in my neck and left shoulder - likely related to the tumor - and some headache problems that have prevented me from getting a decent night's sleep, even with sleeping pills.  I can't take aspirin (blood thinner) so the doc gave me some "stuff" for the pain.  I took one last night and it helped a lot and I slept pretty well from 11-4 but then woke up.

Dec. 6 The other good news we had today was that John’s been handling the chemotherapy amazingly well. His white blood counts are still within the normal range and the only levels that are low relate to his red cells. That explains his low energy, but the doctor says John’s kidneys are filtering correctly and he is exceptionally fit, so he’s going to go ahead and give John his third dose of Cisplatin on Monday, assuming his blood levels hold steady. He’ll probably give John the fourth dose on the following Tuesday, but does have a back-up drug, in case complications arise.

I guess next week will be a tiring one for John, so we’re going to get Michael and Maureen to help us pick out a Christmas tree on Friday. Treatments will be over on the 18th and then the doctor says we have a 2-4 week window in which to evaluate surgical options and either schedule surgery or decide against that option altogether and treat the tumor with higher doses of radiation and chemo drugs designed to kill anything the first round of chemo didn’t get. For now, though, we're just glad the first set of treatments will be over soon!

Dec. 11 Yesterday (Sunday) my sons, Jeff and Michael, came over and we watched a most abysmal loss by the Seahawks to San Francisco and part of a couple of other games.  Jeff is the latest inductee into the Solidarity Club as you can plainly see.  I think he looks great.  Today I started the 2nd round of chemo.  Started at 8 this morning with a blood draw (levels are still holding up pretty well), x-rays and radiation treatment, and an appointment with Dr. H, the radiologist.  Then to the infusion center for the start of the second round.  Today I got the whole enchilada again: Cisplatin, Etopison, Ativent, Lasix, Lorazipam, forisan, exomethosone, and 3 liters of Saline.  The whole infusion took from about 10:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m.  Besides Jeff, Michael and Mo, and Tom Iverson came by to chat and spend some time with me.  Tom filled me in on what's going on with CBFWA and the Council processes.  I'm home now, drinking everything that doesn't move, and will likely spend most of the night peeing.

Dr. S. stopped by and said the he would be talking with the radiologist and the surgeon about what to do after the radiation and chemo treatments are over next week.  I don't have a clue at this point, other than there are some options.  I'm interested in the BEST option (duh!), but it's not clear yet what that might be.  There seem to be some significant pluses and minuses to each, and each has some words thrown in like "survival" and "quality of life."  Maria and I are going to have to put those into some kind of context fairly soon.  If anyone out there has any bright ideas, please let us know :-).

Dec. 11 Jeff and Michael also brought in our Christmas tree and set it up. Thanks a BUNCH, guys!  I'll get the lights on and maybe Lynn and I can decorate it tomorrow on John's birthday. Lynn and Phil are coming over after work for a visit. I'm glad John has a shorter visit to the hospital tomorrow so he can enjoy most of his birthday at home! Dandy told me she's planning something special, but you know how flaky she is.

Dec. 18  I had a fairly uneventful final week of radiation and chemo.  I did an early morning blood draw at the infusion center today, where Marcia deftly negotiated a needle into a vein that was smaller than the needle.  Then off to radiation where Igor and Brunhilda squared me away on the "Rack of many and varied tortures" for the last time for a while (click thumbnail to enlarge).  When the intimidating machine finally spit out the last of its 6 "ppsssssssssssssssstttts" into my chest, they gave me a Certificate of Excellence, signed by all the folks there.  Then we hugged, shook hands, danced, wept, exchanged Christmas gifts, sang a few sea shanties, and planned a barbecue for this summer.  You get pretty close over the course of a treatment phase and these radiologist folks are great.  Why, I think I even saw Dr. H., who is very professional and serious, begin to crack a smile once today! 

After the gala in the radiation center and before they could strap me back in for what Igor called "one last jolt for the road," I headed over to the infusion center for a visit with Dr. S., who cleared me for my last big chemo, and to see all my favorite infusion nurses.  Dr. S. said that my blood is holding up remarkably well but that the next couple of weeks will likely fix that.  He did say my blood scotch level (BSL) had been dropping consistently since we began treatments, but that he wasn't worried.  The good news is that we were able to get the full course of the "good stuff" [sic], Cisplatin, in.  That's the stuff that gives me the best shot of being around long enough to grow some hair back.  The next steps are to watch my blood levels for the next couple of weeks while this last chemo continues to do its thing and to schedule a CT Scan and/or PET Scan to assess the status of the tumor.  Then Dr S., Dr. H., and Dr. Ss (Surgeon), will decide if an operation is indicated or another course which includes several options involving more chemo, cyber knives, leeches, and facial herbs.  Don't you just love options!  For now, Maria and I are ecstatic that we get a couple of weeks mostly off except to go in for hydration infusions and Doctor visits.  Stay tuned for more.

Dec 19  Well I thought I could make it through the day without an hydration infusion but got to feeling puny again this afternoon and thought I'd better go in.  It was a good thing.  My standing blood pressure was 38 over 24.  The nurse said that could be a new record for the Center.  I find I get a bit light headed when it falls that low.  It's this dam kidney thing going on again where my kidneys won't reabsorb fluids so it's a one-way shot through me.  Last time it began to repair itself during the 7-8th day after the Cisplatin - hopefully early next week.  In the meantime, lots of drinking, peeing, and IVs.  I'm feeling good now.  Will have a fire in the fireplace and curl up on the couch with my little bride and watch some mindless TV.  Ain't it Great!!

Dec 20  Here we go again!  By the time I got up this morning (3:46 am) I was dehydrated and dizzy again.  Daughter Lynn came by this morning and took me for an infusion where I again was refilled with 2 litres of saline (we even thought about a third).  I also made appointments for tomorrow and Friday as well. Then we came back and she made lunch for Maria and me.  Lynn wanted give Maria a break from the daily routine of chauffeuring me around, and likely wanted to see me as well.  She's the Good daughter!  Alas, Maria used the opportunity to scrub the floor and vacuum.

Dec 20  John's entry sounded like a piece of cake, didn't it? Actually, he's been dizzy and uncomfortable all day. In his words, "I feel like I've been poisoned." Well, he has!

He was wide awake at 3:45 this morning, so we talked awhile and he finally got up around 4:30. After a bowl of cereal, he was feeling dizzy and decided to watch the morning news from the couch. By the time I'd finished cleaning up the kitchen and wrapping a couple of Christmas presents, John was sound asleep and didn't wake up until I came back from my workout at about 7:45. He went to the infusion center with Lynn, but didn't feel as perky as he usually does after an infusion.

Eating is still difficult, with the added slight pain he's experiencing when swallowing, but today he did manage to enjoy a couple of bowls of Grape Nuts (the new craving) and a delicious salad Lynn made to go with left over chicken and rice casserole (by Paula Jones). Yum! John is right! Lynn is such a good daughter! And don't get me started about her Christmas sugar cookies (drool, drool)!

The chemo-head makes it hard for him to concentrate on anything for too long and he's had a couple of moments today where he seemed to have spaced out or something, causing a gap in his memory. He even got light-headed enough to fall once. We're not sure if he passed out for a second or not, as he doesn't remember. I was upstairs when I heard the thud and came running. I imagine the memory thing might be related to his very low blood pressure and dizziness; they are probably all connected, somehow. Anyway, I called the doctor this afternoon just to let him know that John has been in for an infusion every day this week and still has extremely low blood pressure and dizziness, plus is losing liquid rapidly. John's next appointment isn't for another week and I thought maybe Dr. S would want to know what's been going on. I figure it's his job to tell us if any of this is significant or not. He called back and chatted with John and will check in on him tomorrow when we go in for the next IV. You can bet I'm girding my loins to tell the doctor anything I think is relevant even if I have to arm wrestle John to get air time! ;-)