As some of you know, I
have stage 3 colon cancer. I have six months of intensive chemo and a few weeks radiation/chemo. After the results of my PET
scan, it was decided to start the radiation/chemo halfway through my intensive chemo (around 1st week of January)... when
finished, I'll finish the last three months of intensive chemo. I have a good prognosis.
I switched to MD
Anderson, it's so much better, at the other place, I will not name, patients are treated more like an assembly line.
I don't have the complete schedule yet, but
will probably be finished with my treatments by the end of May, 2009... then will have the corrective colon surgery (I have
a wonderful surgeon) and hopefully be back to normal and running around by mid-summer.
I
have so much thick hair my doctor thinks it's possible I won't lose it all, it'll just thin.... although the amount of hair
I see every day come out in the brush makes me wonder how there'll be any left after I'm finished with my treatments. I told
Ahmad to be firm and bring out the electric shaver if he catches me doing "Comb-overs".
Feb '09, had some difficulties in February
and at the Altomonte Hospital for nine days; seems i have some areas in my colon that were burned from the radiation, not
too much of a problem unless I eat... anything. There were times in the hospital (the un-named one) that they couldn't get
the pain meds right (strength/dosage), I'd beg Ahmad, while curled up, to just hit me over the head with something... not
to worry about brain damage, I was in a hospital... they could fix that... but just to please knock me out... of course he
wouldn't... but I really wanted him to at the time. Every thing's much better now.
As I said above, this month, March 09, I've
switched to MD Anderson Hospital and very pleased with my medical team. I've finished my radiation and resumed the last 3
months of chemo treatment.
Talking with some of the cousins and looks like
we'll (cousins, aunts & uncles) get together in August, in Las Vegas, to celebrate some birthdays and our Anniversary
(Aug 7th). The last time we got together in Vegas was August 2005 (Click underlined)… and I've missed the last couple (or three) reunions in Oklahoma (2005 Osborne Reunion) , so it'll be great to get together with those that can make
it. Any friends who want to join us that week (to be announced) it would be great for you to join us in celebrating life and
Ahmad's and my 2nd anniversary. Vegas is a great place, there are dinners & shows you can get together with others, and
so many other things that there is plenty of personal time one can spend if they want.
I'm hoping I'll be up to the Osborne reunion in June (Altus, OK), just won't know until closer to the date.
Looking forward to a wonderful and healthy last half of 2009!
