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.
Report Update , John Swank
started 9/26/2014----then finished on 10/16
Most recent was August 29. 2014
[Editor's note, it also included 9/5/14. He also called this one both 10/15 & 10/16. Was sent 10/15. Chemo Brain!]
Guy Version
Only hurts when I walk, stand, pull up zippers, button shirts, type....
Had a really bad week September 12-19, but I sent Joyce on her vacation anyway
Had a good week with my sister, Becky, who came to stay with me while Joyce on vacation with her sisters. Managed to work in some fun events in the area, although took it slow. And Becky got a workout pushing my wheelchair.
Have quit oral form of 5-FU chemo which was disastrous. Now back on pump.
Infected large toenails are now the big challenge as inhibits walking and adds to the pain
Have decided to close our office at Thanksgiving time.
Erin home October 1-5 as she was worried about her dad. Fortunately by the time she got here, I was feeling pretty good. I spent 8+hours in the workshop teaching her to use the lathe. **
Planning celebration of 45th anniversary and retirement on January 18th Sunday afternoon.
I have had a number of people say to me, “so you are in remission.” When you have stage 4 colon cancer there is no talk of remission, and there is not a set number of treatments.
Gal Version
Been six weeks or so while since I have written an update, so here goes.
9/26/2014
What a few couple of weeks. I had my second round of Xelota, (oral form of 5-FU) which I took orally for 14 days. The neuropathic pain (hand and foot disorder) kicked in with vengeance. Could not walk barefooted on hardwood floor or ceramic tile. Just slightly better with shoes on. Used wheelchair if went any distance at all. Typing was intolerable, so learned to use Google word recognition.
On Saturday, September 13th, I felt crappy, and started running a fever of 99---then over 100. (Crisis point in Chemo world). Stayed high and headed to 101, so called oncologist on call who said what we expected---go to ER. I was expecting to be hospitalized...but blood work and immune functions were fine. I appreciated his conservative approach...we could throw antibiotics at it, but not sure what we are treating. Temp continued high on Sunday and Monday. Monday. Got IV infusion as dehydrated. Temp up to 102 which is critical. Monday night had urinary track infection, so now the doctor knew what to treat. So started a week of Cipro....Temp went down, but pain in hand and feet horrible. Could not eat or drink much for about a week and lost 10 lbs.
Joyce almost canceled her trip (on September 17th) for the 19th Sister's week south of Charleston, but I insisted she go. She needed a break and got one. My sister, Becky, came to stay with me....and do some day trips. Becky was a trooper, pushing me in a wheelchair around, including an 1.5 hr tour of the Kitchenaid plant in Greenville. Really enjoyed the Packard Museum in Dayton, as dad had two during the time we were growing up..Very embarrassing at the time, 1948 Packard in 1959. A tub when all the new cars had wonderful fins. Becky learned to drive on one. See Becky with one like she learned to drive.
Decided to postpone chemo on September 19th, as just barely feeling better.
The next week we managed to get back on the 46 hour pump I wear...Much fewer side effects....
So started the pump on September 26th.
10/12/2014
Still a lot of neuropathy, pain when walking, numbness and pain in hands, and lots of peelings. Shed all my skin on palm side of hands, and big chunks of skin off feet.
Both big toes have loose and infected toenails. Very Painful.
Scheduled to have chemo this past Friday (October 10th), but decided to take a 2-3 week break to give the compounding effects of the chemo a chance to quiet down...less “hand and foot syndrome” hopefully.
Also I started antibiotic for the nail bed infection, and will see a podiatrist on 10/13.
Going to have a cat CT scan 10-24-2014 to see status of cancer in colon and liver. Then will start up chemo the next week. The most recent tumor marker number (CEA) was 5.7...closer to the goal of 2 or less. Very good since started at 924!!
In the midst of this, Joyce and I made the decision to close the office by Thanksgiving. Started in Troy doing counseling in September 1985, so have 29 years of stuff to deal with. It is emotionally difficult. Many of the clients are like family.
On a more upbeat note, Joyce and I are planning a celebration. Mark your Calendars for Sunday, January 18th. Will be somewhere around 1-5pm. A belated 45th anniversary event, retirement celebration, and a year surviving cancer. It will be in Troy, the location to be nailed down in the next couple of weeks.
Erin flew in and was here Oct 1-5. She was worried about me. My first reaction was that it was unnecessary and foolish of her. But I am glad she came. Went to Shaw Farms (Joyce's aunt an uncle) in Milford. Erin looks forward to that. It is a huge deal.
www.shawfarms.com
** A special treat for me was spending about 8 hours or so using the lathe. Erin had never used a lathe before. I find it one of the most fun workshop tools where in a relatively short time can turn out something interesting. You can see some of what we did
here.
As of now, it only hurts when I walk or stand or type, or try to zip up pants or button shirts. Joyce does the driving and I use a wheelchair if I have to go very far. But strangely, otherwise feel pretty good.
Thanks for the many notes. Your prayers and support are appreciated.
John Swank 10/15/2014
PS: Went to podiatrist Monday and after she radically trimmed back the two large toe loose toenails, the pain is much less when I walk. And the antibiotic is also helping. You are spared the photos!!!
