Chemo cancelled............

Why is it such a letdown, when you're already for the chemo poison to be slowly dripped into your body?  It's like you're all dressed up and no where to go.  Like you psyched yourself up for this mess to happen and then they take it away from you.  Like is this cancer going to get a jump start because you missed this session?  I can tell you it just does.  There is absolutely nothing wrong, just a precaution against worse things happening if they went ahead with the chemo.

Platelets were fine, white blood count was fine, Alk Phos was 108, remember that was the number that they wanted to see lower ( under 125 ).  All good right!!!!!!!  Well now they found this new number, they had been pointing it out on the blood work print outs for some time, but it was always good.

Neutrophils  normal 2.5 to 8 range, today it was 0.9.  It has been from 1.7 to over 5.5.  And, why are they important?

Since white blood cells, or neutrophils, are the body’s main defense against infection, neutropenia can lead to fevers and infections.

 more in a minute.

Now, I suppose you want to know what I did for that minute?  My honey had a very nice plate of nacho'es prepared and I needed to eat them while they were hot,  yum, yum, I'm full.

From another web site:

Chemotherapy can weaken your natural defenses

Chemotherapy (also known as chemo) works by killing fast-growing cancer cells. Unfortunately, chemotherapy drugs can't always tell the difference between cancer cells and fast-growing healthy cells, including red and white blood cells. As a result, one of the potential side effects of many types of chemotherapy drugs can be a low white blood cell count.¹ Chemo that causes this side effect is described as myelosuppressive (my-eh-low-suh-PRESS-iv), because it suppresses your production of white blood cells. A low number of a specific type of white blood cells called neutrophils—also known as neutropenia (new-tro-pee-nee-uh)—can put some patients at risk for infections and may interrupt chemo treatment.¹ In fact, complications associated with a low white blood cell count are the most common causes of dose reductions or delays in chemotherapy.² A sufficient white blood cell count may enable your doctors to administer chemotherapy according to their treatment schedule.

So it was just a precaution, I'm fine.  Just take 2 weeks of chemo off, and let the body rebuild itself.  My next appt with Onc. and chemo is Jan. 13th.

Happy New Year to all, God Bless you, Captain

Doing Just Great

Still working, I really have no problems other than mental thoughts every so often.  Made Chili for the babe and me last night, just had a bowl for lunch.  Tonight the owners of the flower shop where the babe works are taking us out to eat catfish at a local, well known, almost famous catfish restaurant.  That will be nice except I will miss Notre Dame kick some booty.

Speaking of the babe.  I have to tell you that she doesn't really like "the babe"  She thinks of Babe the giant steer in the old Paul Bunyon story when we were kids.  I only call her that because of her best friend from childhood who is on me all the time for calling her my wife.  I can't think of anything else, maybe you could give me some assistance with a different name.  I've always called her my wife, for whatever reason.  Oh, I know the reason, another day, another story.

Thanks for all your prayers, although this year has been different to say the least, all is well, and things are moving forward for the better, and not the worse.  I'm happy, but sometimes emotional very easily.  Live has certainly changed but God is still here with his healing hand on my shoulder.  I'm sure of it.

Have a Happy New Year, and Good Health to all.  Will see you in chemo tomorrow.

God bless, Captain

The Day After

The presents are all opened, the tree is bare, in hopes that St Nick only comes once a year...............

Just made that up, gona have to stop watching MTV and those rappers, hahahahaha

Hope all of your had a nice, relaxing Christmas without much hustle.  The family was great, the food was great.  I did fine, I'm fighting a cold and yesterday I just felt weak in my legs and arms, like achy muscles, today better.  Getting ready to buy the babe a breakfast somewhere here in town.

Have a great Day, God Bless, Captain

Chemo is Dripping

Blood work all came back ok. Working thru chemo now. Probably another hour and half. Stopping at Honey baked ham on the way home see what they have left, mb quick last minute shopping, not more than 45 min worth

Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and healthy, Happy New Year. Thank you all for your support and prayers as we battle thru this disease. God has his healing hand on my shoulder and good things are happening.

God Bless you all, Captain and babe.

Monday of Christmas week

Not many shopping days left til we must present the presents and be happy.  Thoughts of prayers go out to my nephew who fell off his roof putting up some Christmas lights.  He broke his lower right leg, ankle in 2 places.  He will now have a life of setting off all security booths at every airport in the world.  And I say  """ What were you thinkin' """   He had surgery last Tuesday and they placed some metal plates and screwed it all back together.  He is fine, but has a long road to recovery.

I'm doing fine, getting ready to walk, Yes walk, to the bank and the pharmacy downtown again.  All this exercise is making me hungry.  Then to order a few more things online for Christmas, I know shipping and yes, it will get here in time.

So Have a Merry Christmas, and we will talk again b4 the big day.  God Bless, Captain

Operation Fish Attack is A Go

Sorry, I guess you want to know what I'm talking about now.  It is not a hallucination, or "chemo brain" as some have called it. 

My son and I are going to Key West, FL for a deep, deep , deep sea fishing trip.  Just a long week end unless there is more than an inch of snow and we can't get a flight back to Indiana in mid February.  lol

How did this happen you say?  My brother and his sons live in the Ft Myers area of Florida and so the plane makes a direct flight there.  We have free ( I'm thinkin' ) lodging there.  On Sat. morning we will have transport to Key West, about a 3 1/2 hour drive by land.  We have the Fisherman's room arranged at the hotel there.  Don't know what that means, maybe it smells like fish and they can't get it out of the carpet.  From there my nephew's ( code name Sidewinder )  brother-in-law ( code name Boyscout ) who is a licensed fishing charter boat captain has a deep, deep, deep sea boat ready, fueled and ready to leave the dock.  We are going for a record catching fish of some kind.  I don't even know what we're going to try and catch.  Surprise, sssuurrrrpriseeeeee.  Look what's at the end of the line.

Should be a lot of fun, get some sun, livin and lovin with family, and maybe catch some fun fish.

Off chemo today, next Friday is meet with Oncologist and chemo again.

Today I got some exercise.  Anybody who fell out of their chair please return to the full upright position.  I walked uptown, went to the bank, then went and ate biscuits and gravy,  I know, I know, ruined the walk but who cares.  Live everyday.  Of course I had to walk back, don't you dare think I hitched a ride somewhere.

Thanks to all for prayers and positive thoughts,  remember the Reason for the Season,  God Bless, Captain

 

Hustle and Bustle of the Holidays

Has hit us like all others.  The babe is getting ready to leave me today and get some Christmas done.  I have to get a package up to the Post Office, give them a little money to support their efforts.  She is meeting the daughter for lunch while out on the town.

I'm doing most of my shopping online this year.  It comes right to your door, no fighting to find a parking space, no traffic, no people rushing you, loving it.  I ordered some stuff from Walmart on Sunday and 2 out of 3 boxes were delivered yesterday on Tuesday.  I know UPS will be busy this week and next.  Then for 1 week we will be looking for things to do.  That's the week between Christmas and New Year's.

I'm feeling fine, do not worry about me at this time, just the overall healing process is still needed, but I do not act nor feel like I have cancer.  I'm working just fine, strength is ok, ribs are almost healed.  We just pray for total healing from above.

Love you all a lot, thanks for all you do.  God Bless, Captain

I Must Write Something

Something.  Looks like a warm up for this week.  Maybe I'll be a weatherman when I grow up.  Can miss the prediction with out any fall out from the boss.  Viewers understand. Money should be good. 

Ok, back to life as it is.  All things are proceeding on the good side of anyone having cancer.  This week is off and chemo free.  I go back to the Oncologist on 12/23, and chemo afterwards.  Have more ???? to ask him.  I'm feeling fine, yesterday I didn't have much energy, and laid around, and kept falling asleep.

Today is our daughter's "42nd" Birthday, where does time go?  It seems like just yesterday I was spanking her for something or the other.  I've pushed her in the fishpond once trying to get her to straighten up.*  They just won't listen.  Always asking for something, heck, I got a call this morning.

Anyways,  " Happy Birthday Honey, may you have a great day and many more..." What else can I do but post it on the web for all to see.

Thanks for the thoughts and prayers, God Bless, Captain

* The fishpond incident was incorrect as posted above, she fell in the fishpond and I was there to save her life.  Like she still gets the story wrong.

At chemo

All is well, blood work is all good. Alk phos #117, platelets 196, drip, drip as we speak. Going out to eat lasanga tonight with old friends.

Feeling good, probably going to work tonight. Have moved to job with much lighter work. Did I say I have 2 cracked ribs? On the road to recovery, working thru the pain.

Did I say I'm gaining weight, drs. r happy, babe is happy, I moan getting on the scales. I'm really joking here, as I'm only 7 #'s up, not like I've gained 25 pounds.

Thanks for the prayers, its working, God Bless, Captain

Do You Love me.............

Got you there............  Hey I just found out about this site, Sue is a friend of mine fighting this same deadly cancer.  She posted under comments a couple of days ago and I just found out she is having a fundraiser for Cholangiocarcinoma cancer.  On April 14th, of 2012 we're bowling for her, and ME and all the others fighting this rare disease, that gets so little research dollars.  All the money raised goes to the foundation, none to Sue, none to me or anything else. 

I know you all can't be in Indy to bowl, but here is a website that has been set up

Fundraiser for My Cancer

Please consider this option as a way to help us all fighting this disease.  As Jimmy V says, it may not save my life, but it may save the life of my children, grandchildren, friends and others.  

" Cancer may take away all my physical abilities, but it can not take away my mind, it can't take away my friends, and it can't take away the love I have for you all as I and others battle this disease. "

Thanks in advance, God Bless you all, Captain/Grover

Good Week End

Feeling fine, Sunday felt chills and just sore legs, today all gone.  Saw the grand kids both Sat. and Sunday.  Got a new car on Saturday, I think I was in some coma after spending 2-3 hours with them, yeah, yeah that's the story, and I'm stickin to it.  At least with the babe. 

Got a 2012 Honda Accord on lease.  Zero down, no money at signing, 35 monthly payments, then do it again.  Last Monday we sold the Impala.  You know how hard it is to have 2 drivers and only 1 car.  We had to really plan and hustle to get things done.  And that was only 1 week.  No new tires needed, no battery, just 4-5 oil changes for the next 3 years.  I'm sure that in 3 years, some auto company will be offering zero down again. 

If any of you acutally go to the cancer page that I posted on Saturday, I post under the name of Grover, FYI.

I just don't want anyone to know who I really am.  Now if I just hit the lottery, I'm already set up living anonymously  ....lol.

Thanks for your prayers, God Bless, Captain

Sorry, I missed yesterday

Liver is functioning great, Alk Phos number was 111, still within the normal range, platelets, and all else were good.  Chemo went fine, got to sit and talk with Cindy from Monrovia who is battling the same disease and we're both using the same Dr's at IU.  Both diagnosed about the same time so we're like buddy's fighting this together to conquer and win against this evil disease.

The Dr's ( Oncologist and surgeon ) have discussed my case, looking at past CT scans and have decided that once again I'm not normal.  First to even get such a rare disease, and now my insides are put together in such away that the Liver pump is not really an option.  Something about needing to place to put the pump inside the body, and the way the arteries and veins are hooked up won't allow it to operate properly.  And that is OK with me, because I really wasn't to hip on the idea at this time.  I mean the chemo is working and the tumor is shrinking why change now?

But they are cautiously optimistic on some future possibilities.  I don't want to even talk about them now, because of the chance of setbacks down the road.  We are trying to temper excitement with reality.

But know this, God is working with me every step of the way, and healing is taking place that just is not expected with this cancer.  Of course this cancer has it's own website and discussion board, I'm talking with people who have the cancer, with children who's parents have this cancer, and parents trying to help their children through this battle.  It is very emotional because we have recently lost 4 people who were diagnosed just this summer like myself.  I'm now reading about a 46 year man, diagnosed this summer and getting ready to go into Hospice.  It is not a good cancer to have.

And that is why I have to praise God and thank him for being with me and the healing that has occurred.  I truly believe we are seeing a miracle take place here on God's timetable.  I don't know why me?  But, if you sometimes have problems believing there is a God out there that works in your everyday live, think of me, and what is happening.

If you want to follow more, the website is  http://www.cholangiocarcinoma.org/index.htm
go to patient support and choose discussion boards.

Sorry if I got religious on some of you, but I'm here today because God is watching over me.

Thanks for your prayers, God Bless you all, Captain

Thursday of Babe's party

All things are under control, the women who are helping with the cooking will be here starting around 1 PM, then the house will start smelling wonderful.  The floors have been mopped and tables dusted, I think we are ready.  I must remember to start a fire in the fireplace for the girls.  I'm ready to spend the night in the bedroom with a TV and a book.  Hopefully the book is good.

How about them Indiana Hoosiers ( IU basketball team for you out of state'ers )  Beat NC State last night, I know they will lose soon, mb Kentucky, but it is exciting again to see them starting their comeback.

I know I said I was fine yesterday, and I am with the cancer and all.  You know an article I read this AM said that my cancer strikes 2 out of 100,000 people, and ain't I special, 1 of the 2.  It is also 99% fatal, but the treatments are getting better and are encouraging to us 2 people. lol, ( about the 2 people not the better treatments. )

But I'm having trouble with my ribs.  I smacked them good about 2 weeks ago, of course it was on the right side right above the liver.  But then on Thanksgiving I was carrying in some firewood and really had a ligament or something snap out of place and then back into place, but it was so painful.  I can only imagine that these ligaments lay side by side, kind of like tightly holding your fingers side by side, and then one finger slips up and across the next one beside it, then returns to it's position.  It just tears up that area with soreness for a while.  To all those thinking the worse, it has happened before and I'm really sure that it has nothing to do with cancer spreading somewhere else.  So no panicking please.

I went to work Monday and Tuesday nights and on the second night had really re-injured the ribs again by lifting heavy stuff.  I took last night off, and tonight and Friday because of chemo.  Hopefully with 5 days of resting Monday will be OK again, or I will push for light work.

After getting this disease, it was really hard watching Jimmy V week on ESPN and hearing his speech again.  My eyes were definitely tearing up, actually for some reason, this week has been emotional anyways.

Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers, will talk again tomorrow from chemo.

God Bless you all, Captain