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.
Guy Version
- The reports of me being in hospice is a false rumor
- The reports of me being in remission is also a false rumor.
- The latest two round of chemo have been some of the easiest -relatively speaking
- Neuropathy- pain in fingertips and pain in toes are the predominant challenges
- Proprioception explains a lot especially when it is affected by chemo
- Chemo received 10/29/2014 and 11/14/2014... Next 12/05/2014
- Closing the office. Last official day this Wednesday, 11/26
- January 18- Sunday from 1-4 at the Comfort Suites Troy will be Joyce and my retirement/ 45th anniversary/ 1 year of surviving cancer event. Join us if you can. More details later.
Gal Version
One of my clients came for an appointment about 2 weeks ago. I was puzzled when she gave a sigh and said she was glad to see me. Her family physician (who I've worked with for 20 years or so) had told her I was in hospice! I had a good chat with him later in the day, and surprised him with my correction.
Paraphrasing a Mark Twain quote: “The reports of my imminent death is highly exaggerated”
Neither am I in remission. When one has stage 4 colon cancer there is no talk of remission. I am assuming continual treatment. No one talks of cure, no one says how many treatments. Just keep “knocking the cancer down.”
The last two rounds of chemo are probably the least side effects of any for a long time. No mouth sores, no peeling. Pain/numbness in hands and feet are the challenges, but they are manageable. I can tie shoes, zip zippers and button most of my buttons! The sensitivity to coldness is much less severe than in the past. The real test is how soon I can eat ice cream or have ice in my drinks. Only a couple of days when it is much of a challenge. I can't hold cold things out of the freezer for very long, but much less use of my gloves than in the past.
Proprioception – a new word I learned that seems to explain a lot. My coordination and loss of balance has been some problem. Discovered that chemo impacts proprioception. Proprioception is the ability of knowing where your body is in space. I trip over my own feet when turning suddenly. Walking to the bathroom in the middle of the night is challenging, as I find it hard to keep balance, but not dizzy or anything. Most people can close their eyes and touch the tip of their nose. I miss by an inch or two.
When you drink too much, you lose your proprioception. Joyce just doesn't like the idea of me driving for some reason.
I am learning the benefit of “OK Google Now.” Talking to my android smart phone or computer sure saves pain in the fingers from typing. And when fingertips are numb, hard to touch the correct place on the phone.
Getting back on the pump has been a huge help. No more walking around Kroger! Also going 3 weeks this time as normal day for chemo would have been “Black Friday.” I guess the staff at the infusion center wanted to go shopping.
Closing the office has been emotionally difficult. And then we have to liquidate almost everything in the next month. Bringing some furniture home, and getting rid of some of the stuff at home. Quite a challenge. Joyce is the trouper. We have to keep records for 7-10 years so bringing home about 6 file cabinets of stuff. Making room for the essentials is interesting. Plus shifting many things around in our home to keep what we want, eliminate less important things.
I thought it was time to get an update out, as people have been emailing me wondering how I am doing. Not too bad....compared to some other times in the past 9 months.
Always glad to hear from you. Hopefully I can do better at answering emails since retiring. Thanks for the concern, thoughts and prayers.
