Surviving Cancer – Couldausedanotherday

How’d ya get in that there wheel chair?

I am just about halfway through my radiation treatments.

In the first week, I needed a wheel chair to get out of the hospital after radiation treatments. In the second week, the pain was much less and I was happy to be walking without assistance.

About the pain, it’s not the radiation that’s painful, I think it’s a combination of lying on my back on what feels much like a concrete slab, and what ever it is going on inside my lower back.

Each day, the treatments are a little more tolerable and the sleep situation is a little bit better. It’s been great to sleep in a bed again, even though restricted to one comfortable position (the right side). In the last couple nights, that sleep comfort zone has expanded nicely.

Jon Cadd, and often his wife, Cher, drove me to about half of my treatments and some doctor appointments. I would often look out the window and catch Jon mowing our lawn. He also helped me with some painting, moving boxes and furniture, taking out the trash; he walked with me, prayed with me, and sometimes just stopped by to visit. Thank you, Jon & Cher.

I’m still losing weight because I just don’t have an appetite. I’ve lost about 25 pounds, and I am extremely disappointed to have to report that my shirtless silhouette remains indistinguishable from that of Homer Simpson.

My Oncologist says “the indicators” lead her to believe the cancer I have is Plasma Cytoma, which responds very well to radiation treatments. In about a week, I will have a bone marrow biopsy. This will be done to rule out the possibility that the cancer is Multiple Myeloma, which is very similar to the other, but has no cure.

As I have said before, I so appreciate your prayers. I don’t know how to thank you. I can’t imagine going through something like this without God’s Awesome Peace. Knowing that you pray for me (and with me) overflows me with a loving, lifted up feeling I can’t explain (but, I sure do love it!).

Thank you,

Scott

What are you doing for the next 28 days?

Monday was my 3rd radiation treatment, and I’m happy to report that it involved notably less back pain than the first two. I appreciated the wheel chair transport after the first handful of treatments.

I’ve been falling asleep very easily lately. I don’t know if it is the pain medications, or my general lack of sleep (or both!). I started sleeping in the rocking chair, switched to the recliner we borrowed from Grandma, but then discovered by accident that I actually sleep better at the dinner table.

I put my pillow where my plate would be, and I could sleep for much longer periods than in the recliner. But, how nice it was last night, the first night I slept in my bed in three weeks. I kept waking and standing up, just to see again that I could actually stand without assistance.

I am continually amazed by the help and the offers to help, the reports and promises of prayer, the cards, letters, and emails, and other acts of kindness Diane and I have been overwhelmingly blessed with. I was talking the other day with a friend about the question, “Does God speak to you?” Wow- My answer is, God has so many voices and so many hands.

I have a doctor’s appointment on Thursday. That will probably be an x-ray and possibly the bone marrow biopsy. I’ll let you know how it goes.

Later, Scott

Another Cancer?

Hi, Everyone:

Diane and I learned today that I have another cancer – unrelated to the Prostate cancer of recent months.

This cancer is in my spine and is called Plasma Cytoma or, it could be Multiple Myeloma. Both are similar. We will know which one I have after a bone marrow biopsy.

The doctor agreed that my pain level is currently too high to go for the bone marrow biopsy, so that will come after the radiation treatments have started, and those will be everyday for four weeks.

Treatment for both cancers include radiation, could include surgery, and the Multiple Myeloma would include chemo therapy.

*At Josh & Katrina’s wedding, my back was hurting*

Getting to this point, I feel that I am putting together quite a resume as a patient with my growing list of x-rays, MRI’s, PET scans, CT scans, biopsies, catheter usage, and enough IV needles that I think I could install the next one myself. I’m feeling quite practiced as a patient, but I’m not sure just where these credentials will get me.

I don’t know how to respond to all the love and support directed to Diane and I, except to say thank you. The things you say and do come to me as more evidence of God’s Love and Peace. Thank you each for being part of that.

Scott

Just another back pain?

This will be an update for some, and an announcement of sorts for others. Although there is no concrete news to share, I want to let you know what’s going on.

A couple weeks ago, I began experiencing back pain as I have many times over the years. Monday, June 27^tharound 3:am I went to the emergency room for extreme back plain. They took a couple x-rays which showed nothing, so the Dr. sent me home with pain pills.

The pills didn’t help, so I went back to the ER. They did an MRI which revealed a crushed vertebra, and the word tumor was mentioned. Now that I have had cancer, I guess there will always be that double checking to see if it has come back or spread. I must say the needle biopsies in my back were the worst physical pain I have endured.

Luckily, I have been working on the shower base in the new bathroom and I do have cement available

If it is cancer, I’m told I have a few options in hoping for a cure. If it’s just your everyday run of the mill crushed vertebra, there is talk of filling it with cement.

I spent a few days in the hospital and now a few days home in grandpa’s recliner.

Diane has been wonderful in taking care of me. Tuesday I go early for a PET scan (I guess I’m supposed to take both cats), and a CT scan, and Thursday we are supposed to get the results of many if not all the tests.

If you are on the list of folks who pray for Diane and I, Thank You. God’s love and mercy are infinite, and although I feel a bit like a prayer hog lately, I think its okay to continue tapping into that overflowing source of peace.

Thank you, each of you who pray for us, and thank you (Jon Cadd) for helping me walk and find things, thank you for making me laugh, and thank you for mowing our lawn.

Many thanks, until later,

Scott