New feeling, old ailments and new ducks.

Here we are a week after my last post.

In general, the week was a good one. I have worn red shirts each day. I kind of hope to wear one each day for the rest of my life.

Tennis, bridge, work and a few days away have filled the seven days. It feels good. The contrast with many months of chemo makes it feel especially good even if there are ailments

Ailments? Yep. There are four.

The shingles nerve pain is still present. The painkillers are helping some. I will be glad when it goes away.  The level ranges from 3 to about a 6.

I also continue to have neuropathy, particularly in my fingers. Have you ever taken five minutes to open one of those plastic bags at the grocery store for fruit and vegetables. I have because of the neuropathy. Similar experiences can be found in press seal bags and opening my Imodium tablets.

Related to the neuropathy is a continuing (if not increasing) sensitivity to cold. I find rooms cold that others find warm. Air conditioning and freezers in grocery stores drive me crazy, just walking near them.

The final continuing issue is my bowels. It is all very unpredictable. I am reminded of that classic book that we discussed in junior high: Race to the Outhouse by Willy Makit. Sadly, once in a while the sequel comes to mind: the same title, but written by Betty Wont.

I understand that these side effects will improve over time. How much time? Who knows.

On the positive side, I am happy to report that Aflac has friends. We got another order of Epsom salts and with it, a yellow ducky. I have chosen to call it Tape. (Figure that one out.)  In addition, I have two other ducks with the research manager's and my names on them that I got at a small celebratory dinner. The ducks were used as place cards.

And so, I now soak with a flotilla of ducks. I wonder if they have the same reproductive tendencies as rabbits?

The ducks seem to appreciate the Soundscape music that I listen to during soaks,.

Over the next week, we expect to be adding Essiac tea, Hydrogen water, far infrared sauna treatment and CBD oil. If my bowels ever behave, we will start a 30 day detox program. I will report on all this next week.

I bet that you are looking forward to that!

Red Shirts and Their Consequences.

Tonight, I had reason to reflect on the past 6 1/2 months as I had dinner with a few friends and family to celebrate the results of my journey thus far.

It is remarkable to look back and see what I have gone through and what the research manager has achieved to get me to this point.

I have from the beginning said that I was going to live to the relatively ripe age of 86, but I got an email today that convinced me that I was wrong. The email told the story of an 87 year old woman who always wanted to go to college and finally got the chance to go. Heck, if you can meet 87 year olds at college, then I will want to be part of the action! So, I am officially upping the goal to at least 90.

The whole day was good: another red  shirt day. I have bought more red shirts and received red shirts as gifts. I am thinking of wearing a red shirt every day of my life.

Tennis (not so successful), breakfast (normal), a little work (boring) and a bridge game (successful) were all part of my day.

I am thinking that it will get pretty boring to hear about red shirts and good days seven times a week and therefore, I am moving to weekly entries for this blog. I expect that it will be each Wednesday evening until further notice. I will save up all the juicy bits each week and regale you with anecdotes once a week.

Thanks for hanging with me thus far.

Time for Cash Cab and a soak. Aflac and I will enjoy some "us" time.,

The Die is Cast

I started today with a different book opportunity.

One of the books that the research manager has found helpful is "How Not to Die." It advocates a plant based diet.

Today, I learned "How not to Lose at Tennis." The first lesson: Go out to play when it is starting to rain. When it is not possible to play, you cannot lose! This may be a short book, however.

I did a few organizational things, did the breakfast routine and then we headed to the cancer center.

My blood pressure was good and my blood numbers were ok. I still need to work on white blood cells and red blood cells.

My urine tests were all good,.

We then went to meet with Dr. Patel. He told me that I needed to continue with his maintenance program and that if I did not, the cancer would recur in three to nine months. I told him that I wanted to take a break. He reluctantly agreed to going three months with no chemo and to do a petscan in three months, with a CEA test in 6 weeks.

This will show whether our program is looking to be successful or not. The research manager has reinforced with me that we need to stick strictly with the program to prove that what we are doing is the right thing.

One of the activities is Far Infrared Sauna. I got a call from the surgeon who put in the port. he indicated that the port will not be affected by the heat, but he clearly regards it as "homeopathic" and therefore suspect. When I phoned the manufacturer of the sauna to ask about the port issue, the customer service person began by indicating that if I was pregnant (expecting a child) I should not use it. Thankfully, my new granddaughter has been born since until then, I was expecting a grandchild.

The far infrared both helps the immune system and fights cancer. I will try it shortly.

After thousands of people presumably thought about submitting a name for my rubber ducky, we have culled through the five or six entries that poured in (from 3 people) and selected Aflac as the duck's name. Absolutely nothing will be awarded to the person who submitted the winning entry. It happens to be the driver.

I will be doing a few more daily blogs this week and then intend to switch to a weekly attempt to entertain and inform the masses.

That's it for tonight. I am going to tell the ducky the good news about his name.

The Name Game

This was another good and busy day.

I played two sets of tennis. After the normal breakfast routine, I did some work at home and then headed out to do some errands.

The most important stop was at a place called Colon Hydrotherapy. They have a far infrared sauna that we want to be part of my routine going forward. It is great for detoxification, among other things. The interesting thing is that no one can tell me if it is safe to do with my port. I think it is, but the medical community seems to not understand these alternate therapies and basically refuses to advise on this issue.

Tomorrow is a big day as we meet with Dr. Patel and will be advising him of our decision re no more chemo. I feel good about this.

I used my new checklist today and it works well. I just have to follow it each day.

I received a few suggestions for a name for the rubber ducky. The three leading contenders are Aflac, Quackers and Tape. See if you can figure out "Tape." The sentimental favorite is Aflac, given that Aflac sponsors the video bonus question on Cash Cab some of the time. I may decide this issue tomorrow.

I met someone tonight that is going to their 50th High School Reunion. I have never met anyone that has attended as many as 50 high schools. Her father must have been with the military.

I decided to try to ease out of the pain pills for my shingles. The scabs are gone, but the pain persists. It has been running at about a 3, but with no pain pill this morning, it is more like a 5 or 6 tonight.

I am tired tonight and going straight to bed. I won't have a soak again until I know the ducky's name.

Looking Ahead

I had another good day today. I am expecting that to continue in days to come. I even went to the thrift store to see if there were any red shirts that I could purchase.

I am making progress on a checklist to live by. I expect to have it completed tomorrow. It is a little complicated to schedule the number of activities, particularly when some require empty stomachs and wait times before eating.

I used to be impatient to eat, but it is slightly easier to wait when we are talking green things instead of chocolate cake. In actual fact, I am getting acclimatized to the green things.

The research manager has had enquiries from four people in the last three days about the program that we are following. She has done a great job with me and so people are looking for help either for themselves or friends or relatives.

I have begun the process of converting the blogs to book form. I would hope that what I have written might inspire many and that in turn the research manager will be able to help them.

I truly feel that what we have achieved is noteworthy. It will be interesting to hear what Dr. Patel has to say. He has found my previous petscans noteworthy.

I got an email today, telling me that the reason that they were excited was that having a clean report would mean that they would not have to read the blog about red shirts, Cash Cab, driver issues and rubber ducky et cetera any longer. She was fooling but it does raise two important issues.

The first is exactly when to end the blog. I suspect it will be soon.

The second is that the rubber ducky does not have a name. Someone was upset to learn that I fall asleep in the tub with a ducky whose name I do not know. Suggestions are welcome.

I will soon go for my soak. I may tell the research manager that I will listen to soothing music but end up listening to the football game.

One final note. Has anyone seen a bar of dark chocolate? I had two on my desk, but one is missing. This is a possible case for Investigation ID, although I doubt there are any fingerprints.

Quietly Happy

Today was a good day.

I played two sets of tennis. I did the normal breakfast routine and then after a little computer work, I went shopping. I find that a little computer works almost as well as a big one.

I had run out of water with higher ph and am amazed that regular water, even that which comes from springs cannot compare. I had to get my two favorites....Essentia and also Evamor. Evamor tastes the best but I can also got a case of the Essentia with bottles that I can carry with me.

I have been busy most of the day and just now am slowing down. I still have my weekly email to do. If I do it tonight, it might be a weakly email and so it might be best to wait till the morning.

I am still trying to adjust to the events of yesterday. All are very excited. I am happy but not as excited as most. I have been trying to figure out why.

When I awoke from my colonoscopy and learned that I had a tumor and then had a cat scan and found out that my cancer was stage four, I knew that it would be treated and effectively healed. Some others were a little more freaked out. And so now, those that were freaked out are excited and those of me that knew I would be healed are just quietly happy.

Obviously, there have been many aspects to the healing. All have had effect. Chemo, research manager, diet, supplements and prayer.

I even think that Cash Cab has had impact. Speaking of which, I have to go. I am missing it.

Celebrate

How do I report on today?

I think that the bottom line is the best place to start.

My petscan report was very good. I talked to an oncologist friend and he said, "The report is excellent. Congratulations." Another doctor friend who also deals with oncology said basically the same thing.

The report has several references to "Normal." Normal is good.

The report says that "there is a normal pattern of heterogeneous uptake in the liver.":

The research manager is excited.

And here I am a little stunned. Finding all this hard to believe and wanting to wait to talk to Dr. Patel until I celebrate.

Hold the phone. My brother-in-law just called from Chicago. He is a newly retired breast cancer specialist. He heard the report and confirmed that I have reason to celebrate and so celebrate I will. Chocolate cake and ice cream with chocolate syrup......... Oh......those aren't part of the new program....... Supergreens and avocadoes for all!

Thanks to all for your encouragement and support and a special recognition of the research manager for doing all she has done. I love her almost as much as she appears to love me.

I did not mention yesterday that during the petscan I looked up and saw a small opening and a note adjacent to it. The note was upside down and I looked it. Without my glasses, it took a little time to focus on the sign which read "Laser aperture. Do not stare at opening." Hmmmmmm.

Time for a celebratory soak. I would tell you that I will listen to "Soundscapes" but two nights ago I said that and the research manager caught me listening to the baseball game instead. So no promises.