Friday, August 7th

This will just be a quick update. Carole and I met with Dr. Smith, my radiation oncologist today. My blood pressure was up a little, as was my weight (up about 8 lbs since I started radiation and chemo). Obviously, those things haven't had a negative effect on my appetite. All of my blood counts are within normal levels, and I continue to be tired every afternoon, but I feel pretty well overall. I know my balance and motor skills are better now than they were before the treatments started. Starting tomorrow we're going to cut back on decadron (the steroid I've been taking to reduce brain swelling caused by the radiation). I'm hoping that change will help me sleep better through the night and suppress my appetite a little bit. I have completed 31 radiation treatments, with just 3 to go. After next Wednesday, I'll get a month off from both the radiation treatments and the chemo capsules I've been taking every night.

No chocolate malt today - the pants keep getting tighter. I did, however, get a good sandwich from Jimmy John's. It was way better than the Weight Watchers meals I used to eat every day for lunch.

Yesterday afternoon, Andy and Tory came up and helped do some work around the house, then they went to school and helped Carole start getting her room ready for the start of the new year. In the middle of it all, Tory took Carole for a massage. They both came back saying they felt much more relaxed. During that time, Andy stayed here and trimmed some bushes, touched up some spots that needed painting and a few other odds and ends while I napped. Tough life for me, huh?

Today was a rainy day in Iowa, so Carole went to a movie with a friend while I napped for a while. We're anxiously awaiting the arrival of the Lindholms, our old neighbors from down the street and friends from Finland. They should be here on Sunday afternoon. I know we have a lot of news to catch up on.

Brian thinks I look like Uncle Fester. Say it ain't so! I'm definitely not ready to agree with him.
There's not much new to report here, just five radiation treatments to go, then a month off. I still get tired in the afternoon, and I'm working about half time. I'm ready for the daily ride to Iowa City to be over, and I'm sure Carole is ready for the daily drive to be finished. Everyone at the U of I Hospitals & Clinics has made the experience as good as could be expected, but that doesn't mean I'm not ready for the treatments to end. On the way home today, we stopped at Whitey's. They're still at the top of my chocolate malt list, and for those of you wondering, it's always chocolate. I know what I like best, and I don't get the urge to switch (I do wish they had Leffe Bruin on tap, though).
Carole and I have been watching a lot of TV on DVD's the past few weeks. We've made it through the first seasons of "Lost" and "The Unit", and we're hooked on both. Now we've started the second season of "Lost". Hopefully it will be as good as the first season. We also just finished watching the Reds beat the Cubs. I don't quite know how that happened because the Reds have spent the last two weeks making everybody they play look like World Champions. What can I say, in spite of the way they've been playing, I'm still a Reds fan.
I'll post another update after Friday's visit with the doctor. Hopefully, there will be nothing new to report.

Monday, August 3rd

I got what was left of my hair cut yesterday. What remains is my "old man" look. You can see the field of radiation is fairly large because that's what has caused all the hair loss. The doctors have told me the chemo drug I'm taking does not typically cause any hair loss. I sure hope they're frying the real target with the radiation, and not just my hair. I'm still feeling pretty well, and I just have seven more radiation treatments left, at least for now. Once the radiation is finished, I know I'll have a month without any radiation or chemo. After that, it's another MRI, then evaluate it and decide the best course from there.
This weekend was relatively restful. My lovely bride and I ran several errands on Saturday morning and went to dinner with friends on Saturday evening - veal parmigiana - and I had heartburn all night.
Carole has been a real trooper through all of this. She has basically given up her whole summer (a big deal for a teacher) to take care of me, and she's managed to do it complaining a lot less than I have.
Because of my weight gain (and tight pants), I decided on Friday afternoon that I wouldn't have another chocolate malt until at least today, but last night a friend brought one to my house. Of course, I couldn't turn it down. I didn't have one today to make up for the "extra" one I had yesterday.
Thanks again to everyone for the cards and comments that seem to keep coming every day. Every single one is appreciated.

Friday, July 31st

The radiation "boost" started today, and I have to say, there didn't seem to be much change from before. I only have 8 more radiation treatments to go! Fridays are my normal day for the nurses to check my blood pressure (up a touch this week), temperature (normal) and my weight (up 2 lbs.; thanks, chocolate malts). After those pleasantries, we met with my radiation oncologist, Dr. Smith. He didn't say anything about the blood pressure or my weight, so I'm working on the assumption that neither is a problem. Dr. Smith seems more interested that I still have a healthy appetite, and that I am not losing weight. He checked my scalp (and the scar from the biopsy) and said everything looked good -two thumbs up, I guess. He didn't even review this week's blood work with me, and I didn't get a call from my chemo oncologist which is a good indication all the counts are within the normal levels. I'm still feeling pretty well, the only time I really get tired is the middle of each afternoon, when I usually nap for about an hour. No other significant side-effects except for the major hair loss from the radiation. I'll be getting another haircut on Sunday afternoon.
On the way home from last Wednesday's treatment, Carole and I stopped at Red Robin, so I could try one of their chocolate malts. I liked getting all the extras in the ice cold stainless steel cup (something I didn't get, but expected from Steak & Shake). The "malt" flavor seemed to be missing something, so I've decided it ended up not being in my top 5. To eat, I ordered their Royal Red Robin Burger (the one with a fried egg on top) which was excellent, and I would recommend as long as you like eggs.
It turns out I made a big mistake a couple of days ago when I mentioned that I had not sorted through my drawers yet. It seems Carole had forgotten about it, and the reminder means I have a job this weekend. I can't wait!
Carole got out golfing yesterday afternoon, and she's playing in the Linn-Mar Foundation Outing today. To be safe, I think I won't talk about how she feels about her game (she did have a couple of pars yesterday). At least her ankle and hip seem to be holding up okay.
We don't have any travel plans this weekend. I think I still need to recover from last weekend's trip to Chicago. However, we're looking forward to going to dinner on Saturday evening with some good friends. Is it me, or does my life revolve around food?
I hope you are all doing well!

Tuesday, July 28th

We finally got to talk with my radiation oncologist today about last week's MRI. We didn't learn much new. You're really not supposed to analyze this MRI too much because it's not uncommon to get false readings from the images. They tell me if you want to measure any changes in the tumor(s), you need to wait until 30 days after you finish radiation before getting and evaluating a new MRI. That gives the swelling a chance to go down. The pictures from last week will be used to refine the target of the radiation I'm getting every day. Those adjustments will be implemented with this Friday's treatment. The plan is to continue the course that was originally planned. I still don't have many side-effects from the chemo, but the radiation seems to be having a cumulative effect because I'm starting to get a little bit more tired every day. I'm still working for Genencor from home about 4 hours a day - mornings are best.
Food still tastes great to me, and I do still have my appetite, and it is growing (like my gut). I got Dairy Queen malts both yesterday and today - still good! Andy suggested a couple of different places to try in Iowa City, but I need to find out exactly where they are.
Carole started cleaning carpets today. She's driving me crazy with all her busy work, but the good news is, I still haven't had to sort through all of my drawers. I think Carole needs to get out golfing again before school starts. She needs to release some frustration, and I'd prefer it not be on me.
Thanks again to everyone for all of your kind thoughts, your prayers and especially your friendship. I can't put it into words, but I really appreciate everything you've done for Carole and me.

Last Friday's treatment and visit with the doctor was uneventful. I gained about 1 1/2 pounds last week, but the doctor didn't say anything about it. I guess that means I don't need to worry about it, either. When we left the hospital, Brian wanted to try a chocolate malt from Whitey's. Unfortunately, we arrived just after a full daycare class of kids arrived, so we decided to skip Whitey's and go to Dairy Queen instead. It was good, but Brian and I were both a little disappointed that we missed Whitey's. After we got to Chicago and got checked in the hotel, we met Carole's brother, Jim, his wife, Nancy, their oldest daughter Christine her husband, Christopher, and their boys Brad and Ben at the Weber Grill Restaurant in Lombard. It was great food and company. Of course, I ate too much again.

On Saturday, we went to the Reds vs. Cubs game.


Brian, me, Carole and her brother, Jim (one Cubs fan in the bunch)

Why did I ever ask how many games the Reds could lose in a row? It was a perfect day for a baseball game, but the result wasn't what I had hoped for.


Brian and me (that's Carole's Leffe Bruin in the foreground) Cheers!

After the game, we went to the Hopleaf Bar north of Wrigley Field that has Leffe Bruin (my all-time favorite beer) on tap. Thanks to Tory for the suggestion. I have to admit the Leffe Bruin tasted better than any of the chocolate milkshakes or malts I have tried so far. On Saturday evening, we went to Portillo's, had an Italian Beef Sandwich and one of their chocolate malts. Maybe it was the Leffe still being on my mind, but the malt was not quite as good as one from Dairy Queen.
Sunday morning, we were up early and on our way back to Cedar Rapids. We met Andy and Tory for lunch in Iowa City, and we were back home by about 1:30 PM. It was a fun and tiring weekend. Carole has been doing laundry since we got home, and I think she's trying to get fired up to resume driving to Iowa City every day. I keep telling her I'll drive, but she's not very agreeable to that idea.
Tomorrow, we meet with the radiation oncologist who will review last Thursday's MRI with us and discuss any changes they will, or have already made, in the radiation treatments. I wish I knew whether or not I should be nervous about what he will say, but I really don't have a clue.

Thursday, July 23rd

Today, Carole and I took my car in for service, then I had my usual radiation treatment. Immediately after that I had an MRI. Let me assure you that spending 45 minutes getting rattled and shaken around in your own private tunnel is no fun. After that, the day got better. We went to Whitey's on Washington Street in Iowa City, and I had the best chocolate malt I've tasted so far - a new #1. It was totally different than the one I had last week at the Whitey's in Coral Ridge Mall. Just goes to show that the person actually making the the malt makes all the difference. After the malt, we went to lunch at Z'marik's Noodle Café which was excellent as well. Then we went to Andy and Tory's house and I crashed on their couch in front of the television while we waited for the car to be ready. Carole ended up taking a walk around the block while I was resting. The car was ready at about 2:45, and ended up costing less than I expected. That was a nice surprise.
Brian is on his way to Cedar Rapids tonight, then after tomorrow's radiation and doctor's appointment, we're headed to Chicago for the weekend where we'll visit Carole's brother and a big part of his family and go to the Reds vs. Cubs game on Saturday. I'll be wearing all my Reds gear! How many games in a row can the Reds lose? Next update probably won't be until Sunday or Monday.