It has been about 6 months since my last post and no news has been good news! It seems like just yesterday I was diagnosed, while in reality it was just over 1 year ago I was in the hospital having needles inserted in my neck collecting cells! In fact, it was one year ago TODAY that I first met with Dr. Bui (radiation oncologist) and Dr. Agarwala (oncologist) and the "treatment plan" was laid out to me. Since then, I've had a life altering experience that hopefully has made me a stronger and better person.
I had my 3rd PET/CT scan back in mid March and again, I am so glad to say it was as good as could possibly be. Drs. Yen, Agarwala & Deb are all very encouraged with my results and all but one area in my throat has TOTALLY resolved itself and the only area showing any "levels of activity" has been reduced to almost nothing. This area has been attributed to the healing process which STILL continues. I was given the option of waiting 3 months or 6 months before my next scan and chose to compromise at 4 months. I am now scheduled for July 9th.
The side effects that I've previously mentioned are still with me and I have been taking a drug called Saligen for the past 4 months to help produce saliva. It seems as though it may be helping a bit and Dr. Yen said it could be a year from the end of my treatments before I start to see a change. I am holding out hope as that day is July 21 (a day I will always remember!). My sense of taste also seems to be giving me hope too as things are starting to taste a little better as well.
I hate to complain, especially after recently attending two funerals in 2 days. The first was Sally "Christie" Murphy's who bravely battled lung cancer for 3 years and lost her battle at the young age of 48 and the second was Winnie Erdman who lost her battle to pancreatic cancer. I also had attended a funeral just over 2 years ago for my high school buddy's brother, his name was Steve Jubinsky. Steve was just 45, a few years younger than us and I remember saying to myself, what a horrible way to leave this world...Steve had lost his battle with the SAME cancer that I had. I count my blessings everyday and pray for a cure. I pray for all those battling this terrible disease and for those that lost the battle as well as their families.
I am also very grateful to have reached the 1/2 century mark this past Saturday. What a
difference a year makes! Last year at this time I was in no mood to celebrate a birthday, let alone anything. I was having a few crazy thoughts about whether I would even be around to see this 50th birthday... so when people ask "how does it feel to be 50?", my response is "pretty damn good!". My wife and kids made it extra special too...Dana got me 2 tickets to game 6 of the Flyers game against Boston last Wednesday; then a nice night out on Friday with an old friend; then a nice "Surprise" dinner at Prime (old Steak & Ale) with my family superceded by another "Surprise" gathering that awaited me at the Sands casino on Saturday night. I couldn't have asked for more!!
I am also very grateful to have reached the 1/2 century mark this past Saturday. What a
difference a year makes! Last year at this time I was in no mood to celebrate a birthday, let alone anything. I was having a few crazy thoughts about whether I would even be around to see this 50th birthday... so when people ask "how does it feel to be 50?", my response is "pretty damn good!". My wife and kids made it extra special too...Dana got me 2 tickets to game 6 of the Flyers game against Boston last Wednesday; then a nice night out on Friday with an old friend; then a nice "Surprise" dinner at Prime (old Steak & Ale) with my family superceded by another "Surprise" gathering that awaited me at the Sands casino on Saturday night. I couldn't have asked for more!!
I am truly blessed and hope to only have to update this blog with continued good news after each of my future PET/CT scans. Until then...God Bless
