Note from Erin: I'm going back and posting from Dad's original emails, so you can catch up. The actual first date of this blog was in January 2015.
I am sending this email out to some that may not have gotten the previous email.
I was diagnosed about 10 days ago with colon cancer that has spread to my liver.
Any one who gets this is free to share it with others. I would rather people know straight up rather than try to get information from the rumor mill.
The Guy Version
Had port implanted by surgery on Wednesday. The surgery went well, however, horrible vomiting for 7-8 hrs. Almost kept me in the hospital.
Thursday I went into work before 8am, and saw several clients. I felt tolerably well.
First round of chemo yesterday. No problem
Visiting nurse came yesterday when we got home hooked me up to IV pump, which I keep on for 46 hours. Main side effect of chemo so far is extreme sensitivity to anything much colder than body temperature. Most noticeable on hands.
My mood was raised significantly this morning when I got an offer of $450 for a lightning rod point that I had listed on Ebay for $299.95. I thought my price was outrageously high. But I think it was hand made, and no one has seen one like it. And it is broken!!! If you want to see, it go to Ebay and search for “Lightning Rod Point Rare Folk Art.”
Thanks for the massive outpouring of support and offers of help. Joyce has the burden of doing so many things, and friends are helping her too.
The Gal Version
Wed Joyce and I both woke up early, decided to stay up. Shopped at Meijers on the way to the 6:30 appointment at Kettering to get the port installed. The port was installed by 9:30 am, and I was back in recovery room. Normally people are discharged within about an hour. However I started vomiting continuously until about 2:30. They seriously considering keeping me over night. They said if I would not vomit for 30 minutes they would send me home. I left the hospital about 4pm. I vomited almost the whole way home and some after I got home. I felt punky most of the evening.
I went to work on Thursday, and saw several clients. Felt tolerably well.
Friday I had a 12:30 pm appt. with Kettering Cancer Care (my oncologist's office)to start my chemo, round one . Everything went smoothly during the day. I expected to start feeling badly during it, but I left feeling about the same when I went in.
The main side effect that has kicked in is sensitivity to cold. It started immediately. I had been warned numerous times. It is worse than I thought. The main challenge is touching things with the hands. Also what you put in your mouth. I figured “cold” was fairly cold, like getting something from the freezer. Wrong. Anything that is less than about 80 degrees. Some things at room temperature are too cold. I had to heat up a fig bar to eat!! Washing hands is a pain.
The sensation is most pronounced on fingertips. It is like a hundred needles pricking you. And the sensation continues for quite a while after touching something too cold. I have taken to wearing gloves a lot. My body doesn't feel cold. Just things I touch or put in my mouth.
The visiting nurse arrived shortly after we got home yesterday from chemo. She hooked me up to a portable pump. I was expecting to have a fairly small compact pump, which I do. But there also is the IV pouch that needs to be carried around. So I got a 16” x 6” x 4” bag, big enough to work, but far from being convenient. That gives me 46 hours of 5-fu, a drug that they did not give me at the chemo center.
Today, I have felt tired or tire easily. I took a shower, which was nice, as I have not been able to do that since the port was installed. I have been warned side effects may be felt later. Obviously lowered immune function means a whole different way of living and being near other people.
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