Cancer Patients and Survivors

It has been a while since I posted much. We took a couple of trips this year so far , on the motorcycle. The latest on was on the Lake Michigan Circle tour. It was so nice.

All the little tourist towns and seeing the lake every once in a while and the small beaches. We stayed up in the town of Leavering at a very nice family owned motel. That evening there was a very good restaurant across the street from the motel and the supper we had was very good.

We were up early the next morning and went across the Mackinaw bridge as the sun was coming up. Absolutely fabulous. Me who is afraid of heights, didn't pay any attention to that as the sights were so engrossing. The sun was a big, red ball coming up over the horizon. The lake was calm and traffic was very light.

You don't realize how many islands, inlets, coves and harbors there are in that huge lake.

The Upper pennisula was very nice also at least until we got to the western side. Then started the towns one after another until we got to Chicago, Il. When we got on the Tri-State we were behind a truck carrying a container. All of a sudden we hit something and couldn't even stop any where until the first oasis.

When we got there we found out that we had a bent rim, a cracked rim and a messed up tire and a messed up brake cover.

Only 90 miles fro home and we rode it in a tow truck. Then came getting the talking to insurance, ordering parts, and fixing it so we can be out on the road again.

Everyone have a nice day and may each day get better for you.

I just have to say that I continue to be healthy and to let you all know that I never thought I would feel this good again after 2 years of hell. I know I came close to giving up a few times, but with the support of this group and my family I am back to my old self despite the fact that I still feed through a tube and my saliva has been gone for all that time. I always have a bottle of water with me and the worst thing to me was the loss of my teeth as I hate my dentures, but all that is small potatoes to feeling like myself again. I now know that you can survive and adapt to most any situation and still feel human again. I welcome my feelings with this quote.
O sweet September, they first breezes bring the dry leaf's rustle and the squirrel's laughter, the cool fresh air whence health and vigor spring and promise of exceeding joy hereafter.
- George Arnold

I had my partial masechtomy on Monday and got a good pathology report back last night. The margins are clear and the surgery was a success. I am on to radiation as soon as the wound heals, and feeling a whole lot better about life, love and the kindness of others. I am surrounded by caring friends and a son and daughter-in-law I can count on through thick and thin. This group has given me hope and courage. I have made new friends here that are really special because they have traveled this difficult road ahead of me. They/you have served as my guide on this journey back to wellness. I thank each of you for your support and kindnesses. One hurdle down, one to go!

Hi all,

Just a quick update on home my recovery is going. Swallowing and related items are the major recovery issues at this point. Two major milestones where reached today. First I took my espresso machine out of the mothballs today, got some fresh espresso beans and powered the thing up. I have a Rancillo Silvia and with the proper grinder and fresh roasted espresso beans you can make espresso shots that are as good and in some cases, such as Starbucks, better than you can get at coffee shops. Its great to be dealing with fatigue in the traditional manner again, with caffeine.

The second milestone is that they put me on another drug that has to be taken 3 times a day. With a PEG tube this is a real pain. I measured the pill and with some of the dilation procedures I figured I would give taking it normally, i.e. orally with water, a try and it worked! Yippee! Now I can take this med at least without having to do the whole ritual of crushing it up, mixing with water and using the PEG tube.

Drinking espresso at home and popping pills in the traditional manner, now I am living the good life. :-)

My cancer blog is at www.nasowhat.blogspot.com.

Standing for what you believe in regardless of the odds
against you,and the pressure that tears at your resistance is COURAGE
Keeping a smile on your face when inside you feel like dying,for the sake of supporting others is STRENGTH
Stopping at nothing and doing what's in your heart that you know is right... is DETERMINATION
Doing more than is expected to make anothers life more bearable,without a uttering a single complaint... is COMPASSION
Helping a friend in need,no matter the time or effort,to your best ability is LOYALTY Hold your head high and be the best you can be when life seems to fall apart at your feet Facing each difficulty with the confidence that time will bring you a better tomorrow, and never giving up is CONFIDENCE Hold your Head High and make your life better every day. Anonymous Copied from a fellow cancer survivor

just to get you up to date,my step sister had her surgery Friday,and is doing O.K. she is doing pretty good with the pain-a little depressed,to be expected-doing o.k.so far-will up-date more later!!thank for being here!:),<3

I have squamous cell cancer (had?) on my nose and went in for surgery today to get it all. It's called a Moh's Procedure (where are Curly and Larry when you really need them?), named for the guy who invented it. They numb you up, carve out a piece larger than the biopsy site and look at it under a microscope. Then they repeat this until all the cancer is gone. It takes all day and you get to know the other "nose jobs" in the waiting room. The two scalps and one arm apologized for crowding in on "our" time. At the end, presumably they've gotten it all and send you home with pain pills and a huge gob of gauze on the end of one's nose. Try going to Starbucks and ignoring the obvious looks of curiosity and discomfort on everyone's face. It'll cheer up just about anyone. Then you wait. I don't go back for two days to get reconstructed until the 1) doc has time and 2) insurance will pay (do both on the same day and insurance claims *two* surgical procedures were done, then pays the cheaper one only). So I guess I won't be going to work this week. I can't see me getting a mask on over this gauze. I also need to learn how to wash both hair and face without getting the site wet. Can you say "limbo"? The recommended reconstruction is to take a like-sized piece from in front of the ear - on the same side so that you can sleep on the other side - and then suture into place with a plastic, protective cup over the site. As long as it doesn't look like the cup I just bought for my jock son. . . The scar in front of the ear looks like the kind found on plastic surgery patients but, no, he won't tighten anything up for me while in there. Darn! I'd also love it if he'd shave down the other side of my nose but he thinks I'm only kidding. As long as I don't end up looking like Michael Jackson, I'll be OK. I'd hate to have my nose fall off in the office when I take my mask off to talk to a patient. Not good for business. A graft of this type is recommended rather than letting it just grow in (leaving a crater), pulling it together in a looooong closure down the length of my nose (possibly coming apart and leaving a long crater, instead), and cutting a flap up from my cheek (need I say more?). It's also what he'd want for himself. If it fails, there are other options still open. I haven't needed any pain pills but I'm watching Olympics and that's distracting enough for me. I've been through radiation burns requiring morphine and this is nothing at all. Anyway, it got my kids to call me today. Ha!

Went for chemo # 3 but my white blood cells were way to low, 2.8 ,so they gave me a shot that is supposed to help raise the white blood cell count. However I'm sure there are foods that you all know of that will help too. Looking on the Internet I've found that orange fruits and vegetables are supposed to help, such as carrots, mangoes,squash, and yogurt. I have been eating well and have been eating yogurt too so don't know why they went down, any suggestions?

While my husband was having chemo we were either given or bought a book in entitled Planting A Seed To Grow A Cure,it is a book compiled by the patients and Employees of thexas Cancer Center here in Denton,Texas.
It includes poems,sayings and helpful suggestions from the patients and employees. It also includes recipies from them. Off and on I'll, post some of the contents of this book.
Here are some patient resources see firdt reply.
Multitasker