Hi everyone, just woke up after the long fly back home. I just wanted to clarify something, for those of you that haven’t read my blog from the beginning, I have been going to Cancer Treatment Centers of America since last May. I would trust no one else on this planet with my cancer treatments. They are the best…period.
There was a time I was considering doing chemo here locally I could not find an Oncologist here that would follow the DX from CTCA. The 2 Oncs that I saw here both insisted that I should be on Avastin, well when I got to CTCA I had asked my Oncologist Dr. Pisick about Avastin and why he hasn’t tried it. He explained to me that when I arrived in May my cancer had mutated so far along that the pathologist was unable to tell which subtype of NSCLC I had, it could be either squamous cell or adenocarcinoma. They could not tell which, they leaned toward squamous cell. Dr. Pisick informed me that the reason he did not use Avastin is because if my sub type was adenocarcinoma it would have made my lungs bleed and most likely I would have died in about 3-4 months.
Unbelievable, I can’t fathom that Dr.s can be so adamant about trying new drugs on people with no research, no background, just insistence because they think they are right. And they are willing to put your life on the line to find out. That is why I trust only CTCA, Cancer is ALL that they do, and they do it ALL kinds of ways. If your not there you need to get there. THEY ARE THE BEST CANCER FIGHTERS ON THE PLANET! Anyway enough from me for now, day 2 of chemo next post. love you all!
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Back in The Saddle
Well first thing I found out when getting to Chicago was when you have lung cancer breathing dry frozen 4 degree air is hard at best. I had several coughing fits when outside (what fun). Anyway, had my CT and PET scans yesterday, had my team meetings today. Team meetings are when you discuss the results of your scans with your Dr., Naturopathist, Nutritionist, and Care Management.
So, yes my cancer has grown, however, it has not grown past the point when I was diagnosed back last May. So, when I went to the hospital they didn’t have anything to compare they’re CT scan with so they saw what they thought to be out of control cancer.
I can’t say how relieved I am to have had the chance to talk to MY oncologist at CTCA. He explained everything in detail. I am back to my old funny self, I have such a piece of mind (ahhhhh). Ok real quick, he has me back on infused chemo (Alimta), every 3 weeks, indefinitely. We will do scans after the 4th cycle. So tomorrow we fly back home, have to get up very early, so I’ll add more later.
God Bless and love to you all!
So, yes my cancer has grown, however, it has not grown past the point when I was diagnosed back last May. So, when I went to the hospital they didn’t have anything to compare they’re CT scan with so they saw what they thought to be out of control cancer.
I can’t say how relieved I am to have had the chance to talk to MY oncologist at CTCA. He explained everything in detail. I am back to my old funny self, I have such a piece of mind (ahhhhh). Ok real quick, he has me back on infused chemo (Alimta), every 3 weeks, indefinitely. We will do scans after the 4th cycle. So tomorrow we fly back home, have to get up very early, so I’ll add more later.
God Bless and love to you all!
Thursday, December 9, 2010
When It Rains It Pours
Had a visit to the hospital today, unscheduled. The last 2 weeks I’ve been coughing, and its been getting steadily worse. So believing I was being hit with another round of pneumonia I went to the ER. My complaint was shortness of breath, a little chest and back pain, and this cough. Well the Dr. came in, talked to me about my condition, my status with cancer and suggested I do a chest x ray. After she saw the X ray she came and suggested that I do a CT scan. This I knew was not good news. After reading the CT she let me know that my cancer has spread through my lungs more so than the CT scan I had 6 weeks ago. Fortunately for me I am scheduled to go to CTCA this Monday. It was a bit disconcerting but I’m hoping I can still kick this cancer in the butt with a bit of help. I’ll drop more news next week. Oh the temp in Chicago will be 4 degrees =p Can’t wait!
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
A New Twist
Well I won’t lie to anyone here. I’ve decided to get a “Medical Marijuana” license and try “legal weed” to help fight my cancer. Sounds wacky eh? Well I’m a pothead of younger days, and I’ve tried to stay up on cannabis medicinally and the help it can do for whatever ails you. “Run from the cure” was very interesting video I just recently watched about a man named Richard Simpson who grows marijuana and pulls the “THC” from the plant. The form is an oil that he gives to several people with “cancer”. According to him and the other people (including a Canadian Police Officer who was fired) they were “cured” no trace, no tumors, nodda cancer. He claims no one will listen to him and you know what I believe him. After all pharmaceutical companies would not want that word out would they? I have St4 Lung cancer, I figure I have nothing to lose by trying it and my life to gain. So i got my license, I went to a dispensary got some oils, weed, and “edibles”. I’m almost tempted to go to Canada and find this man, he says he will give the oil to anyone who wants it “free”. So you ask how am I taking it? Vaporization, its similar to smoking but the flame doesn’t touch the plant so there is no smoke. Plus the edibles aren’t to bad, you have to like the taste of bud though. Dad if you read this please, you once told me the reason you didn’t smoke pot was because it was illegal, well for me its not illegal anymore, and for anyone else in California and a few other states. I can tell you this for sure, since I started vaporizing, my vicodin intake has been cut in half, I hope to stop the vicodin entirely by next week. Food for Thought God Bless
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Long Days Longer Nights
Well it’s been an interesting few days and nights. My sleep pattern is just out the window atm. I take a sleeping pill called Zolpidem (Amblien), in fact I break the pill in half its so good. The thing is when I’m on this dam computer I lose track of time easily. I look at the clock it says 8:00. (You want to take this pill before say 10pm) Then I look at the clock its like 12:30! Argh! If I take the pill then I won’t wake up for like 12 hours and then when I do it takes almost an hour for me to become conscious. So I don’t take it and then I don’t sleep =/. So I wind up literally passing out from exhaustion like at 6:30 in the morning. Thank God my wife is coming back home (she has had to stay away because she caught the flu) She keeps me and my meds on the straight and narrow =) I don’t know what I would do without her! Still taking the 500mg horse pills of Levaquin, still hear a crackling in my lung when i breath in deep and slow =(. I’m hoping that changes soon or it could mean another stay at the hospital. Sorry I haven’t been leaving any witty comments lately been kind of tired. Hope everyone has a great week!
PS: Did want to rant about one thing. California approved medical marijuana a couple years back, this last election Prop 19 would have legalized it. I was going to vote no, but when the U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. sought to disabuse California residents of the notion last week. “We will vigorously enforce the Controlled Substances Act against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law,” It dawned on me. WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT NO LONGER MATTERS, WE NOW ARE BEING TOLD BY THE GOVERNMENT WHATS GOOD FOR US AND WHATS NOT…This is no longer a democracy.
Prop 19 did not pass, but it shows that the government no longer is “For the people, by the people”, the government is now “Telling YOU People”.
For the people that voted against Prop 19, Don’t bitch about the BILLIONS of tax dollars wasted on busting people smoking pot, don’t bitch about the drug dealers in your neighborhoods selling it to your kids, you had a chance to make a change and instead you let the government “TELL” you whats good for you. How long before they “TELL” you your life isn’t worth saving because you have ST4 cancer? That there is someone younger that needs it more than you?
I’m all for helping out the poor, but I grew up in Jersey City watching the PIMPS with 25 kids cash their welfare checks at the bank every Wednesday, while my Dad busted his ass working as a fireman getting paid less than the garbage collectors, working 2 other jobs and paying TAXES.
I’m sorry there I go ranting off about politics, it just pains me to see whats become of our America. It’s now “Theirs”. God Bless.
PS: Did want to rant about one thing. California approved medical marijuana a couple years back, this last election Prop 19 would have legalized it. I was going to vote no, but when the U.S. Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr. sought to disabuse California residents of the notion last week. “We will vigorously enforce the Controlled Substances Act against those individuals and organizations that possess, manufacture or distribute marijuana for recreational use, even if such activities are permitted under state law,” It dawned on me. WHAT THE PEOPLE WANT NO LONGER MATTERS, WE NOW ARE BEING TOLD BY THE GOVERNMENT WHATS GOOD FOR US AND WHATS NOT…This is no longer a democracy.
Prop 19 did not pass, but it shows that the government no longer is “For the people, by the people”, the government is now “Telling YOU People”.
For the people that voted against Prop 19, Don’t bitch about the BILLIONS of tax dollars wasted on busting people smoking pot, don’t bitch about the drug dealers in your neighborhoods selling it to your kids, you had a chance to make a change and instead you let the government “TELL” you whats good for you. How long before they “TELL” you your life isn’t worth saving because you have ST4 cancer? That there is someone younger that needs it more than you?
I’m all for helping out the poor, but I grew up in Jersey City watching the PIMPS with 25 kids cash their welfare checks at the bank every Wednesday, while my Dad busted his ass working as a fireman getting paid less than the garbage collectors, working 2 other jobs and paying TAXES.
I’m sorry there I go ranting off about politics, it just pains me to see whats become of our America. It’s now “Theirs”. God Bless.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
CANCER IS NOT A DEATH SENTENCE!
No I’m not sorry about the caps. What I am sorry about is the fact that there are STILL Dr.s out there telling people they are going to die, and giving them deadlines. Hey Dr. LEE in Temecula, Ca. remember me? According to you I was to die yesterday. That’s right 6 months that’s what you gave me, remember? I do! I bet you not only don’t remember but I bet you also told that to several other poor slobs. People with cancer don’t deserve this kind of treatment from Dr.s! The Hippocratic Oath is an oath historically taken by doctors swearing to practice medicine ethically. What is ethical about giving someone a death sentence??? jaimie03 asked for help, please advise her, she’s scared for her Mother because some lame Dr. gave her Mom a death sentence!
Cancer is not a Death Sentence, even if your at ST4, I am living testament to that! No thanks to Dr. LEE.
God Bless
Cancer is not a Death Sentence, even if your at ST4, I am living testament to that! No thanks to Dr. LEE.
God Bless
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“Can’t we have some choices besides “sucks”?? Just because we have cancer doesn’t meant we want to sound like low life rednecks. Having cancer is bad enough.”
Posted on October 19, 2010 at 11:52:56 PM by susan (unverified)
I’m sorry susan to say this but I take a bit of offense at being called a “low life redneck”.
The logo to this site has always been “Cancer Sucks”, I’m sorry if its not politically correct for you, but then that begs the question? Why would you blog on a site you don’t like?
God Bless.
Ignorance SUCKS
Being judgmental SUCKS
Getting banned from anything Jill…SUCKS
see how useful this word is? I am now going out to the front porch to chew sunflower seeds and look at the broke down truck in the yard.
Love Yall
Mac
Fun to Vent?
I was raised in the South. And it was many years ago, I guess. No self respecting person (especially a woman!) would wear cuss words on their clothes!! Yes - I see that all the time at clinic for chemo. One man even wears a black shirt with white letters stating FU*& Cancer. Unbelieveable but true. To me --- that is the ultimate example of letting this disease beat you. It has stolen even your dignity. Look? Even in this e-mail he is known as the man with cuss words on his shirt. No thanks. And thankfully my son felt the same way. His chemo tee shirt said Livestrong and another one said Survivor. Apparently most people feel differently.
Good luck to you,
Susan
May God have mercy on you Susan Williams Tucker, I’d be hard pressed to. For those of us that don’t know what I’m venting about check out Jill’s post for a vote, also check out Blogforacure’s facebook page and look for Susan’s comments.
Posted on October 20, 2010 at 12:10:51 PM by Donnie (
Donnie you were my very first supporter and I love you dearly. BUT please my friend stress is our enemy and let no one piss you off least of all whats her face…there you see I have forgotten her name already.
Much love to you and your family and of course our very dear friend Jill, whom without, none of us would have met.
Dani xx
Thank you for this post. You put into words what I could not. I woke up this morning upset about this, trying to think of how to voice my thoughts.
I was annoyed, but not offended by her objections to Cancer Sucks, which she voiced when Jill took a poll on FB a while back. If you don’t like that kind of language, you have a perfect right to say so. However, you do NOT have a right to attack a group of good, loving, generous people who are nearly always willing to agree to disagree about things in order to work toward the greater goal of supporting each other through very, very difficult times. We are not hurting anyone with this slogan. We are helping many, many people. We are not wrong here. If you don’t like the slogan, don’t buy the tee shirt.
Susan revealed on FB in response to Jill’s Cancer Sucks poll that she lost her son to cancer 2 years ago. While we may not agree with her that “Cancer is Merely Highly Unpleasant,” we can pray for her and her family.
Peace,
Kathy
Don Venice October 19 at 9:57pm
Susan now that my temper has flared I’d like to be a bit more sensible, have you even bothered to read the blogs? Do you have cancer? Have you ever had cancer? If so then what the hell are you about? “Dignified” blogs against cancer? Are you serious? Cancer is shit, its despicable, it destroys lives, it destroys children, it destroys families, it destroys LIFE, How in the hell can you call us undignified? Are you kidding me? And you think our blog is fun? If you were in my face I would slap you. You have no idea what your talking about even if (which despite how mad I am at you I wouldn’t wish it on you) had cancer ever in your life. I suggest you read the blogs before you judge us undignified. Then have the courtesy to acknowledge me or any of the others on Blogforacure.com
Susan Williams Tucker October 20 at 6:30am Report
I do have cancer and I lost my 25 year old son to leukemia in September of 2008. Have a nice day.
Don Venice October 20 at 9:15am
Susan I will have a nice day, but please before you go and judge someone or something you know nothing about I suggest you do some research, read our blogs, see what we are about. I apologize to you for my reaction to your comments, in my eyes you attacked what has become a family for me, unjustly and uncalled for. For that I am sorry, but please I don’t want you to turn away mad, please take the time to read the blogs, you may not like our logo, but I’m sure you’ll like us. God Bless you in whatever you do. I to like many others on our blog have lost loved ones to this horrible disease. We do not “trivialize” cancer, its killing all of us on Blogforacure in one form or another. I will pray for your son and you.
Thats where we have left it, hopefully she does read out blog and see what we are about.
God Bless
Susan Williams Tucker October 20 at 10:40am Report
I have read the blogs. You may be surprised to learn that I have actually made a friend through Blog For a Cure and we support each other through Facebook and e-mails.
I was raised in the South. And it was many years ago, I guess. No self respecting person (especially a woman!) would wear cuss words on their clothes! Yes – I see that all the time at clinic for chemo. One man even wears a black shirt with white letters stating FU*& Cancer. Unbelieveable but true. To me—- that is the ultimate example of letting this disease beat you. It has stolen even your dignity. Look? Even in this e-mail he is known as the man with cuss words on his shirt. No thanks. And thankfully my son felt the same way. His chemo tee shirt said Livestrong and another one said Survivor. Apparently most people feel differently.
Good luck to you,
Susan
I decided not to respond any further. Apparently Susan and I come from 2 different upbringings. I was taught “All is fair in love and war” I am at war with cancer, I will do, say, feel, whatever I need to to beat it. I don’t have time for “dignified, fair, politically correct”, battles.
So Susan good luck with your fight and may God be with you.
I started to speak back to her yesterday in the middle of the ‘vote’ blog, then erased it, not wanting to feed into her bitterness. But last night I couldn’t bite my tongue(fingers?).
After I called her that not nice name I felt bad and posted my apology to everyone here. Imagine my suprise this afternoon, seeing what I started?
Amen to all of us. Don’t mess with my family!