All Testing Done

Well, I have had my three month testing done! Pet Scab, MRI, Bone Scan, CT Scan, Xray, and Lab work. I am officially in remission. I do not have to go back to the oncologist for 3 more months! Hooray!!!!!!!!! I will have to go to the Cancer Center once a month to get my port flushed but that is it.

My blood counts are still a little low but not below the normal range. I am not anemic and Dr Adams says it will just take time to build back up because they were so low when he put me in the hospital. I still get tired easily but can do just about anything I want, if I stop occassionally and rest. Am still having trouble breathing but Dr. Adams said with the damage I did to my
lungs smoking for 44 years and the damage he did with the chemo and radiation that was to be expected.

He prescribed a pill for me to take to raise my blood pressure. He felt that was the reason for the dizziness and weakness. They seem to have worked as I am not getting my dizzy spells any longer. My hair is growing back fairly well. Wearing it spiked now and only have a couple of bald spots in the back.

We had a wonderful time at the beach. Walked the beach some, the guys went fishing and Mike actually caught a rather large Kingfish. We had it cleaned and took it to a restaurant and they cooked it for us. I read a lot and rested and the rest played on the beach building sand castles.
I think a wonderful time was had by all.

I am going tomorrow to have my port flushed, Wed to take my Aunt to the Dr. and Thursday to Weight Watchers and then out to supper that night with my son and his wife, and possibly my daughter and her family. So you see I am getting out and about again. Need to find a spot in there to go and get my nails done.

Thanks to all of you for the prayers and support. It definitely worked and it seems God isn't through with me yet so am sure he will give me the strength I need to do what ever He has planned. Thanks again I could not have done it with out all of you.

I AM NOT HAPPY!!!!

I know I have not posted in about 6 weeks but kept thinking things would get better and I would be able to post a more positive outlook. There have been a couple of positive things. We did get to go to the river with the kids the day before Father's Day and Mike did a cook out for us. Was really neat. Have been able to go out with friends for lunch a couple of times and that was nice.
Had a couple of friends in for coffee one Sunday morning and that was great.

Have been twice to have my port flushed since I am not using it at the present. Have only been once in 6 weeks to get my nails done and of course have not needed a trip to the beauty shop at all. However, my hair is beginning to grow back. It looks like a new baby's, in that it is thin and sticks straight up on top. Looks as if it is going to be gray. However, I can live with that, and if I don't like it, can always get my favorite beauty operator to color it for me.

Saw the doctor on 6-27 and he seemed to think all was going just as it should. He told me I was not going to start feeling like my old self for at least 6 more months. He said when he put me in the hospital my body was nearly completely depleted of all body fluids and my blood counts have still not gotten back into the normal range. Guess that i s why I have no energy. He also told me, which was supposed to be encouraging I am sure, that he had another lung cancer patient that had lived for another 3 years when she reached the point I am at now. This was very discouraging to hear. If a year of hell only gives 3 more years of life, what is the purpose? Maybe I would have had a better past year and a couple more without all of this! Then I came home and checked on the cancer site to find a support group of lung cancer survivors and guess what? There aren't any! That really hit hard!

My blood pressure is running low, 92/63. Said I needed to try using more salt. He felt the low blood pressure was what was making me so dizzy. The nausea and burning skin he felt was still a result of the chemicals in my body. I am still having a very difficult time breathing and am sure part of that is the heat and pollution.

It is now time to do the three month test to see if everything is alright and be sure the cancer has not spread anywhere else. I went Monday for lab, chest xray, CT scan and bone scan. I went Tuesday for MRI. I go next Wednesday for PET scan and then will set up appointment to see oncologist and radiologist. Maybe once we get the results of these tests it will improve my out look and attitude. I sure do hope so.

To say all of the above has not effected the IBS would be silly. My stomach is worse than it has been in about 8 years. Sure having to be careful what I put in my stomach and that makes me not want to eat at all. But have been splurging on the ice cream and all the fattening stuff while I can. Have put 5 of my pounds back on and guess I better start watching or will go over where I want to be at the end of all this.

So to end on a more positive note, we are scheduled to leave on 8-1 to go to Padre Island with Lori and Mike and their family. Liz and the kids will be going and Mike's mother and granddaughter. Will be 10 of us and should be fun.

I ask that all of you continue to pray for God to give me the strength to handle whatever is ahead. And forgve me for not being good about emailing or calling. Guess I have either withdrawn from the whole or put a shell around me.


Love to all.

Getting Back to Normal

I am really not all that sure what normal is at this point. I am feeling okay and just relieved to be in remission. I am sure any of you that have had cancer, understand what a scary thing it is to say "in remission". I am thrilled but still leery. I am getting my strength back slowly but surely. I am able to do more each day. I do get out of breath very easily. The pulmonary doctor had prescribed symbcort to help with the damage to the lungs and esophagus but the insurance would not approve it for me. The doctor said there were two components in the symbcort I needed. So he has prescribed two inhalers for me and there is one component I
need in each one of them. Just means I have to use two inhalers each morning and night. A real pain!

I get dizzy when I have been sitting down and get up, or have been bending over and straighten up. Unsure what that is all about. Figure I am just not getting enough air in my lungs at that time. As long as I stay upright, I do pretty good. Do still cough some but not really a lot unless the humidity or pollution is high. And of course in Texas the humidity is normally high. I see the oncologist and have lab done on 6-23. Will ask him about it then. Will give the inhalers time to see if that helps also.

I am not able to stay outside very long or even if I get hot in the house I have a prickly sensation to my skin. The doctor says it is just all the toxins from all the meds working out of my system.
Hope it hurrys up!

I have been keeping my flower beds weeded, cleaning the house-what gets done-Leo still does the floors, vacuuming and mopping. I have been able to go shopping, grocery and cloths. Had to have some new clothes as nothing I had would fit. I am trying to gain about 5 or 10 pounds back. Shows too many wrinkles in my face and arms at this weight. Makes me look at least 80! Of course it takes me quite a few rests to get it done. But figure that is what it is going to take to get my strength to come back.

However, my hair is coming back! If any of you saw Garth Brooks on the CMA's that is exactly what mine looks like. It is like a burr haircut and just as grey as can be. Also very thin. But it is coming!

I guess my biggest problem is that I have been neglectful of my friends and family. I seem to have become withdrawn I guess. Everyone has been so wonderful to call and come by but I just don't seem to want to be around people or at times even talk on the phone. Or even do email. And as most of you know, this is not normal for me. Maybe some of you have been through this and can tell me what I can do to overcome it.

Okay enough for now. Thanks to all of you again for the prayers and concern. I love each and every one of you.

Wonderful News

Got the good news today and the doctor has given the all clear! Prayers have definitely been answered.

The CT scan shows NO Cancer anywhere in the chest, lung, or breast area. Dr. Adams said he would be lying if he told me I did not have a cancer cell but the only way to find it at this time would be to cut me open and search. And we are not doing that. The scan showed the scar tissue around the aorta has even shrunk more.

I do have significant damage to the esophagus but it will get better. It is causing some reflex and still some pain at this time and may always be a problem, but I can handle that. I am still having difficulty breathing. but Dr. Adams said if I had continued to smoke and if they had not found the cancer, I would be on oxygen before long anyway. The pulmonary dr had "suggested" a couple of inhalers but more or less left it up to me as to whether I used them or not. I thought the breathing problem was due to weakness and had not been using them daily. Dr Adams said DO IT! So have one for maintenance and one for emergency when it gets worse when the pollution is high. I also have some reflux that may or may not all go away but Dr. Adams already had me on Nexius.

He said it would take me 3-5 months to get my energy level back to normal. He said I was at rock bottom when I was in the hospital 3 weeks ago and it would just take time. I can tell a remarkable difference in the way I feel just in one week. Even though I still can't do more than 5-10 minutes without having to sit and rest it is better. I am able to eat some food this week and know that will make a difference in my energy level.

My blood and platelet counts have come up tremendously. My platelet count and white blood count are at the bottom of the expected range but at least in the range. The red blood count is just about 1. below the expected range. Sure being able to eat will make that better also. I do not have to see the oncologist or go for lab for six weeks unless something unexpected happens. I see the radiologist tomorrow, unsure just what for. I guess to talk about the damage to the esophagus.

I know there is no way I could have gotten through any of this without all of you. Family, friends and my Leo---- who continues to be my rock to hold on to when the times get so rough. I know that God and the prayers have made it possible for me to be able to say I AM CANCER FREE. I am not in denial that I will be doing a lot more testing. Every 3 months to start but at least God has removed what was there.

Thanks to all of you!

Charlie

Stumbles Along the Way

Well, we have had a few stumbles in the last few months. I have finished up all my chemo and we quit the radiation with one treatment left. When we added the chemo to the radiation, it really did its number on me. Got to the point we were doing lag work nearly every day and all of my counts were doing nothing but going down. Last Saturday I took another fall and it had gotten to the point it was all I could do to walk across the room. When I fell, I cut my lip open, bruised my chin and my right knee. On Monday when we did lab Dr. Adams decided it was time to put me in the hospital. My platelet count was 20, white cell count 1.3 and red count was 7.1. Potassium, magnesium, and calcium were completely depleted. Was seeing spots before my eyes 90% of the time and had a pounding in my head that sounded like someone putting a roof on next door. That was about 95% of the time on that. Was having nose bleeds again and coughing up blood again. So into the hospital we went.

By Tuesday am my counts were down even further. While in the hospital they gave me 6 pints of blood, 2 bags of platelets, 2 small bags each of potassium, magnesium and calcium. Tuesday night finally put me on oxygen as I was having such a hard time breathing and my oxygen level was way down. Finally released from hospital Thursday evening. Had to go back to lab and dr on Friday am to be sure they were still climbing and had not taken a downward turn again. They were up some more. My platelets count is now back up to 21. Yeah!!!!!!!!

Go back to the infusion center in the am, yes Sunday morning, and have lab and if the counts are not still coming up will have another bag of platelets. I don't know how I would have handled all of this had it not been for Leo, Lori and Liz. Lori stayed with me every night and Liz and Leo split the day shift. I do not remember ever being so sick in my life. I am still a long way from being ready to run any races but am so much better than when I went into the hospital it is amazing. I know I still have to take it easy and with all the help I am getting that is really the easy part.

I was supposed to have had my last radiation last Tuesday but with being in the hospital and only having the one, Dr Adams and Dr Lee agreed one was not going to make all that much difference. If my blood keeps going up and everything stays on track I will have a CT scan on my chest on 5-19, See Dr. Adams on 5-20 and see Dr Lee on 5-21. The CT scan will let us know if we have all the cancer that was in the lung. BUT then we can not do any further testing until 7-21. Insurance says we can not do any of the other tests until 90 days after the final treatment. The latter part of July we will do bone scan. MRI, Pet scan, CT scans and anything else the doctors can think of doing. Just keep praying everything is going to go according to God's will and we will be okay.

Last week-end Lori came over and planted my new flower garden. So many pretty flowers and such beautiful colors. Can't begin to tell you what all she planted but it certainly is enjoyable watching it grow. She also put pretty cooper colored markers with the names of each flower on them so I would know what I have. I had gotten my finch feeders hung and have so many beautiful gold finch flitting in my back yard. Counted 20 one afternoon.

Disappointing me so much was the fact that my cousin from Borger was in town last week-end and had planned to come over on Sunday afternoon and spend Sunday night with me so we could just sit and visit. However, when my blood dropped so low, I couldn't have any company. Was certainly upsetting since we have not seen each other since 05. But her granddaughters live not too far from here so perhaps it won't be long until she is in town again and we will be able to visit.

I read an article today about knowing what your rope is and holding on to it. You are each a thread in my rope. Your love and support are what is keeping me up and going. I also know God is the glue that holds the threads together. Thanks to all of you for your prayers, cards, calls, love and support. I know I would not have gotten this far without each and every one of you. I have about 100 messages in my mail box but wanted to get this off to all of you and let you know what is going on. Love all of you.

Charlie
Charlie's Journey

The Joys of Cancer

The joys of cancer never seem to end! At present time, I am having radiation every day Mon thru Fri. Only have 13 treatments left. Yeah!!! Monday the doctor discovered that the radiation was burning the esophagus and the spinal column. So had to go to simulation again and have a new mold made so they could send the beam to the same place but through a different pathway. I have had horrible pain in my throat and chest due to the radiation being so near the esophagus. Therefore I am on 4 different pain meds and can't really say any of them are helping. It is very difficult to eat and hard to talk. Not to eat anything hot or cold. Room temperature. Nothing spicy or rough. What does that leave to eat? They also take an xray once a week in radiation and I have to see the radiologist doctor once a week.

I have chemo once a week now. They said that would make the radiation more effective. Only 1/2 the strength of what I was getting at the first. But still takes 3 hours to run it through. Only 2 more chemos!
Double yeah!!!! HOWEVER, they discovered yesterday, due to low blood pressure, 86/54, that I am now dehydrated. They added a liter of fluid to my chemo yesterday. That added an hour to the chemo time. I will have another liter of fluid tomorrow and see where we go from there.

Had to go to the family doctor on Monday as had to have a physical in order to get my prescriptions refilled. Everything went well there. Did have to do some lab but not for blood count as have to have that done at the cancer center once a week. Dr. Bruchow, the family doctor, called this am and my cholesterol is way up again so am changing my meds on that. Have to see him again in 2 months.

Also saw the pulmonary doctor, Dr. Gilbey on 3-25 for a breathing test. Saw him again 3-31 and seems I have 55% damage to my air ways. But they are clear of cancer. He put me on 2 inhalers to see if he would help to improve my breathing any at all. Also said my sinus were out of wack (anything about me that isn't)
and put me on nasal spray and pill. See him again in 6 weeks.

Did have one bright spot in all of this as Kaye Lynn and Robin came in on Easter Sunday night and spent Monday with us and left early Tuesday. Sure did enjoy having them here. Was such a special time.

I know I need to send email to many of you personally and believe me you are all on my mind. But as perhaps you have figured out, I just don't have time for much of anything except doctors. I have kept each one and will get them answered but may just take me awhile. Between keeping the roads hot and trying to get some rest it just doesn't leave much time.

I do so appreciate all the calls, cards, email, and most definitely the prayers. There is no way I could get through any of this without all of you, God and Leo. Thanks so much just for being there for me.

Love Charlie

THE GOOD - THE BAD & THE UGLY

THE GOOD

Got everything done and did get the radiation started on 3-3. Made 3 days and all was going well---until the snow hit! Can you believe 3 inches in Ft. Worth, Tx? We have two pretty high overpasses to go over on the trip to Arlington, so had to cancel the 4th day. Called them and they said that was fine as I had enough of the radiation in my system and they would just add one extra at the end of the 35 days. Continuing radiation 5 days a week, with lung xray once a week and seeing the radiology doctor once a week No side effects so far. All good!

Went the 5th and had the camera put down my nose to check the airways and be sure they were clear of cancer. Also to check the lungs to be sure they were as we thought. All was good and everything just as we had thought and all tests had shown.

Had grandson who is in the Coast Guard with us for the week-end and that was absolutely the best. He is stationed in W. Va and was in Dallas for a two week school. Had the week-end off and so we got the benefits. We had not seen him in over a year so was wonderful. While he was here we were able to get with the three kids that live here and their families and enjoy a meal and each other.

THE BAD

All of my doctors got together and decided since I had "taken the previous chemo so well" I should do some more. According to them, the chemo will make the radiation more effective. My blood counts are not back up to normal as yet but "they are not in the dangerous area". So beginning tomorrow morning I will have chemo once a week. On top of the radiation 5 times a week. The dr did say the medications would be the same but only about half the dose each time.
So I am looking at 5 more chemos.

THE UGLY

I do not have time for anything except doctors any more! Radiation 5 times a week, chemo 1 time each week, Chest xray 1 time a week, see the Radiology doctor 1 time a week and now we will be doing lab once every week to keep a check on my blood. Oh and I also still have two appts with the pulmonary doctor! I don't even have time to go and get my nails done. But at least I do have doctors that are taking care of me so guess that is the up side.

More later!