Half Way

Shrinkage
You can contact me at smedwards80@gmail.com

Three weeks of treatment finished, three more to go. Many have asked how I feel. This past week was difficult but has nothing to do with my cancer!! Last Tuesday I tweaked my back bending over the dishwasher incorrectly. Please everyone remember to engage your core muscles, and bend your knees. The back is better, but not best yet. Arrgh!

The medication for my cough has helped a great deal. I can talk again and only cough occassionally.

Last Monday the doctor said my tumor had gotten a little smaller. On Friday, the Tech said there was substantial shrinkage. What does that mean? And, what is the difference? Today, I saw the doctor again and got to ask questions. She showed me several CT slice pictures with before treatment, and as of today. My unprofessional eyes could definitely see some shrinkage on one of the slices, but substantial shrinkage on a different slice. Any shrinkage is good shrinkage!

Yippee!!

Second Week Finished and Ketogenic Info!!       
You can contact me at smedwards80@gmail.com

I have completed two weeks of treatment. Yippee! That is 2/6 or 1/3 or 12/33 (days). It was just nice to get to Friday and be able to eat regular meals without fasting. Three meals on Saturday (today) I had my treatment times all the same this week. Being able to plan  eating and fasting and resting at the same time each day helped a lot. I felt much better this week than last week. Yippee!

My cough is not painful this week, another Yippee!  But, I do cough more if I talk. So, I try to write, type or text. One day Andre' took my notepad and wrote his reply just for fun. We're all about fun. The Radiatiion Oncologist gave me a prescription for "Tessalon Pereles" for my cough. We will give it a few days to see if it helps.

A dear friend, Sharla, sent me a link to a TEDx TALK on the Ketogenic diet. I thought it was amazing. So much understandable information in one short talk! If you would like to learn more about the diet, I can only say, "Watch it, Watch it, and Share it".

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zYcjnGi5cOs

P.S. Whoever left the Hyacinth on my doorstep, thanks so much. Another Yipee!

Small Things

One Week Done

The first Saturday of every month my doctor, Donna Frisch, has "Walking with the doctor, at Canyon High School". We walk for an hour, try not talk about medical issues, and just have a nice time.  I went late. I knew I couldn't walk the whole hour, but my Doc. is not just a Doc., I consider her a friend. Since I have finished one week of treatment, Dr. took a photo.

Saturday was pretty good. Sunday, tough. If I talked, I coughed a lot. And, most of the time I would get a railroad spike stabbing pain in the back. Sometimes the front. Right side. Radiation doc. said the tumor and lung have no nerves. So it is the chest wall that has pain. Today has some pain, but much better.

I give thanks for small things. 1/6 of the treatment finished, and a little less pain when coughing.

Saturday, March 3, 2018