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The Last Treatment
You can contact me at smedwards80@gmail.com

Before I start about me, let me say how wonderful all the staff at 21st Century Radiation is. In the beginning, they made authorizations and test scheduling happen with unbelievable speed. Each day there were smiles, kindness, professionalism and comedic comments. I was able to bring a CD of hymns to listen to so I could go to my happy place and think of the love, the many blessings and tender mercies I have experienced.

Today was my last treatment. It was supposed to be Monday, but last week when I had a CT check, there was not enough shrinkage to do more of a pinpoint treatment on the remaining days, so they just gave me extra days without changing the amount. Flexibility is a good thing.

It will be interesting having to think about my meals now. For 7 weeks my breakfast has been the same thing. I didn't have to think much about my one "Real Meal" as twice a week people from church brought a dinner. There was always enough for at least two days, sometimes more.  For the rest of the day, I fasted. How many ways can you fix plain water?!? Though I daily thought of my previous Ketogenic diet, I just couldn't do it. I am not sure what direction will be next. More prayers for direction and guidance.

As far as physically, so far the journey has been pretty good! I was told I may have some tanning or pink sunburning at the treatment site. There is a patch of tanning on my back about 5" x 5" a smaller area on my front. A sore throat was possible and may need numbing medication. Nope, but on some days if my posture wasn't perfect, and if I swallowed a big bite, it felt as if a pill went down sideways and got a bit stuck. Not for every bite. I just had to be careful. Coughing could be a problem. It was, but I was coughing even before treatment started.. For awhile if I talked, I coughed. Sometimes a lot. I started taking Tessalon Pereles it has helped so much that instead of taking it 3 times a day, I can take it once for two days, then skip two days. Tiredness compounding as time goes on. I did not experience debilitating tiredness. I did need an afternoon nap. I tried not to over do it, but I did pretty much what I wanted, even yard work and washing my car. I have wondered how much had to do with the radiation itself, or my most interesting diet. I have read in several places that fasting actually helps your normal cells be stronger and the cancer cells be weaker for treatments. That may have helped with everything also.

Now we play the waiting game. Radiation can keep working for some time after treatment ends. If you want to know more go to:  https://www.oncolink.org/frequently-asked-questions/cancer-treatments/radiation-therapy/how-long-after-radiation-can-tumor-keep-shrinking I will have a follow up appointment in a month, then schedule a CT to see how things are going. I will do my best to try to forget about it for a month. It's time to start working on the "Bucket List", but that will have to be in another post!! Stay tuned......

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

Adjusting

Specifics

I am trying to adjust from a Ketogenic diet, to a fasting, sugar, normal/Ketogenic diet. Actually, my stomach is trying to adjust. Why am I doing this? Read on.

I know that God has a plan, and can give us direction. He doesn't reveal his plan all at once, but will direct us to a "best" path if we listen carefully. A brother at church approached me one day with much insistence regarding treatment his father (Carl) did for his cancer. I felt as if he was supposed to tell me, and I was supposed to listen, investigate, and consider.

I have read in several places that fasting before Chemo actually helps normal body cells and weakens cancer cells. Carl did fasting. Though I am not having "Chemo" I am fasting before my Tomo treatments. Can't hurt might help. Carl, who is also a scientist and physicist did a lot of cancer research. His conclusion is that cancer cells are most vulnerable when they split.

Now you have to pay attention here. When I had the Pet Scan in December I had to make the cancer cells hungry, then feed them sugar so the scan could track how aggressively they were feeding. So, if I fast, then feed them sugar, they will go spaz (my version of them being aggressive and splitting) while I am getting a treatment. Hopefully this will take out more cancer cells. Again, can't hurt, might help. My Radiation Oncologist said that Chemo also makes the cancer cells more receptive to the Tomo treatments, but I really do not feel Chemo is for me. Here's hoping sugar will make them more receptive.

So, I fast, eat a meal of sugary stuff about 1 1/2  hours before treatment, let it digest for awhile then eat a normal meal then repeat. Today was the best day so far for my stomach, BUT it is only day 5 of 33. So if you need anything to pray for, pray for strength, and a happy stomach!

Oh, what kind of sugary stuff you ask? Marshmallows (they have to be toasted), orange juice because the sugar is absorbed quickly, I started with Brach's orange slices,  switched to  chocolate "m & m's"(but I think I have to switch again.) I believe I have allergies to chocolate! (Extreme runny nose which causes much coughing.)  And a slice of lemonade pie. This is all from what Carl did. Whatever great things happen, he and God get the credit.

End & Beginning

The End, and The Beginning

I gave my two week notice at work, and this would have been my last week. But, on Sunday afternoon my boss called and said I didn't have to come in anymore. I did have to go in to collect my belongings, but, that was the end.

Today, Thursday, February 22, 2018 @ 2:00 p.m. I had my first Tomotherapy treatment. We took pictures. After getting in my "stabilizing shell", Bob had to leave the room. We don't want any radiation "Beamlets" getting him. Treatment took about 15 minutes. I could hear the Beamlets pulsing around and around my body. I would rather have Bones from Star Trek give me some kind of pill (see Star Trek IV movie The Voyage Home) But, I have also been waiting for a food replicator. Maybe someday.

 
My stabilizing shell. My hands hold the two white posts.

 


Ready to "Go In" the tube. the table is flat and hard.

Busy

(FYI - somehow you can leave comments. At bottom of post, I think click on comments/no comments.)

Never a Dull Moment.

This week was busy. Preparing for Tomotherapy.

Monday, pick up two bottles of barium stuff to drink for the abdominal CT on Tuesday. AND, hydrate!

Tuesday, drink the stuff, (yuck, and yuck), get scanned, get a dye injection while still on the table for the thorax CT, then get scanned again. More hydration to clear the dye.

Wednesday, worked the afternoon shift training our new office person. I think I talked for 3 hours straight. More talking usually means more coughing.

Thursday, 8:15 a.m. phone call "Can you come in now for a mapping scan?" Sure. They put my head and arms (above my head) in a foam thing that sets. I have to be in it to hold me in place for treatments. It was interesting trying to get out after it was hard. They also put three tattoo dots on me for positioning. They are about the size of a pin head. THAT HURT! What are people thinking when they get real tattoos? Later another dye injection for a brain MRI. More hydration to clear the dye. (Yes I do have a brain, and no cancer there!!) Last stop, the Lymphatic massage.

Friday after work I had time to go to Mary's office to lie on the Migun Massage Bed. I got to relax!