Doctors Visit today

Today I will be going to get the results of my CT scan which took place in January of this year. I try to get my CT scans at the same place on the same machine for consistency so there won't be much variance in the photo as the latest CTs are compared with the older CTs. I also have to stop by the Heart / Lung Clinic to pick-up my prescriptions (a side note about prescriptions use the mail order, get a 90 day supply, and compare the prices with one of your local super store pharmacy's to get the best price, my first set of transplant meds cost me $410.00 and that was just for 1 month.).

Oh well heading to the hospital with my Raegan as a sidekick I am keeping her out of school today as she was sick all last night. I try to shelter the girls from as many of the medical hurdles I must stumble through as possible but today she will get to hang with me as we go to this routine oncology visit, pick up prescriptions, and pick up my oral device from my dentist office (to help with the sleep apnea due to the prednisone swelling the neck 20 inches and growing back to my football days eh???)

asbestos cancer |lung cancer help |leukemia |metastatic breast cancer |copd |

BAD news from the CT scan results

The CT results revealed a 7mm spot of interest in the bottom right lower lobe of my lung (at this point we don't know what the spot is); it is too small to wand, and would not be seen by doing a bronch; so keeping with the aggressive treatment plan that I have set for myself since my diagnosis the logical course of action is to surgically remove it then get the pathology report on it to help determine follow on treatments.

The news really didn't surprise me, I wish I could have heard it three or four years down the line but its all good I will just have to increase my exercise regiment over the next 3 weeks I am thinking about (75 minutes on the treadmill, 100 push ups, and 100 reps with my ab will each day until....)

I am glad that my sidekick for the day wasn't really aware of the news I was receiving in the doctors office, I had here playing games, and drawing pictures on the computer.

cervical cancer |chemotherapy |lung cancer surgery |lung cancer doctors |small lung cancer |

It's all good

I will do anything to be able to watch March madness

I am not worried about this spot at all, what ever it is (we won't truly know until extensive pathology is run on it). This spot was always a possibility (whatever it is) I was just hoping to get the news I got from the oncologist a couple of more years down the line.

I appreciate the prayers and well wishers thoughts and comments, but I will be alright I haven't forgotten how to eat elephant (one bite at a time). You should really pray for my family (R³); and the medical staff particularly the nurses as I will probably work their last nerves I am gona give 'em hell. (remember my history of going AWOL Stanford '07)

I am disappointed that I might not be able to work on defensive drills with Raegan "Da Glove" she is a defensive nightmare on the basketball court. Last week she played her man so hard she guarded him to his moms minivan after the game was over.

I am further disappointed that I won't be able to be as active with Ravyn "No Sports Nickname Yet" as she starts soccer soon; I think she will be more advanced than "Da Glove" was at 3 only because she has been watch her big sister and all the practice we have been getting in. I was also hoping to start running sprints by starting Ravyn on a two wheel bike this spring.

I am still undecided about school, I am in the program and with a cohort, the engineer department is aware of this latest hurdle, so I just have to make a decision.

PET scan on Friday

Thorasic surgeon meeting on 2/19/09 (next Thursday)

lung cancer alternative treatment |head and neck cancer |nexavar |cell lung cancer |mesothelioma lung cancer |

PET scan

PET scan today, haven't had one of these in awhile. This will give us an idea about what the SPOT is and where it originated (possibly) .... oh yea also if there are any more SPOTS anywhere else that haven't been observed by a CT scan.

lung cancer information |new lung cancer treatment |cancer facts |kidney cancer |lung cancer surgery |

Monday (no news yet)

No news yet, or at least I have not heard anything from my medical team. I think I will give the SPOT a name since it is big enough for that now (7mm) I think I will name him Jack. Jack the SPOT

chemotherapy for breast cancer |mesothelioma lawyer |cancer facts |chemotherapy lung cancer |sorafenib |

Lazy Sunday

Lazy today, as I get ready for my needle biopsy on Monday at the SPA. I am going to pack a bag and leave it in the car just in case those performing the biopsy enjoy my company so much that they decide to accidentally puncture my lung and cause me to stay in the hospital for a few days.

lung cancer cure |bone marrow transplant |emphysema |pleural effusion lung cancer |adenocarcinoma cancer |

biopsy Today

I had my biopsy today, a large needle was inserted into my back to extract a sample from JACK the Spot on my right lung. The procedure was complicated due to the size of JACK the Radiologist that performed the procedure was aided by a CT machine, I was awake during the whole procedure as I had to control my breathing so the doc. could access JACK (a spot on the lungs is a moving target).

I hope to get some sort of feedback in a week, I am not too sore right now, but I think my back will be hurting more in the morn. Judging by where the needle was inserted to do a wedge resection they are going to have to break some ribs in the middle of my rib cage; entering from the back.

breast cancer stages |copd |bronchogenic carcinoma |copd symptoms |lung cancer treatment |

2009 Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo

Having fun at the Stock Show this year since the weather was nice.

lung cancer side effects |early signs of lung cancer |mesothelioma cancer |bladder cancer symptoms |lung cancer doctors |

My Neck, My Back

STAYING HOME TODAY, feeling bad and don't want to be renarcotized (a new word I learned from one of the radiology nurses he explained that being renarcotized is simply getting remedicated after a procedure by medication that has been absorbed in the bodies fatty tissue thus not being used during the procedure but released into the body later AT THE WRONG TIME).

OoohhWee, my neck hurts, my back hurts, my arm looks bad at from the IV site.



My neck hurts probably from the way I had to hold my head during the procedure; it kind or reminds me of how your neck bothers you at the beginning of any football season regardless of what level you are playing on. For the first two weeks of contact your neck along with other body parts are going to be sore.


The biopsy site is a little sore, my neck and arm bother me more.



The IV was only in my arm for 5 hours, it was sugar water and only ran for about an hour during the biopsy.

lung cancer info |breast cancer facts |chronic obstructive pulmonary disease |lung cancer facts |lung cancer treatment options |

Give me some news Already

No news yet on JACK.

Back to work today.

My IV site looks bad, like I took a line drive off my arm (note: a bruise like this on my arm means I kept the ball in front of me).

lung cancer treatment options |squamous cell carcinoma |early signs of lung cancer |new lung cancer drug |lung cancer treatment centers |

First Soccer Practice

Still I wait no news about Jack (the spot).

On a brighter spot today was Ravyn's first soccer practice, I think she is the youngest one on the field and the only one who hasn't played yet. She did pretty well, when she wasn't calling for mommy, and running over to us thinking she needed more Gatorade (it was her first practice she will get better, she will have to gain more independence and know we support her even if we aren't standing right beside her.).

cancer drugs |small cell carcinoma |lung cancer charity |non small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma |small lung cancer |

The Holding pattern cont....

The holding pattern continues, I am not worried or stress if Jack (the spot) turnout to be Jackass that is cancer it will be dealt with. A recurrence would not scare me as it was a known possibility going into this process, we will cross that bridge when we come to it. After dealing with .....OLOGIST and ....IALIST out the Yazoo you learn how to sit through anything you learn how to wait.

lymphoma cancer |prostate cancer surgery |pancreatic cancer |single cell lung cancer |chemotherapy for breast cancer |

Got my news

Well it seems that Jack the spot is Jackass the cancer nodule. The initial biopsy results are in now more lab test are needed to determine what kind of carcinoma we are dealing with this time. Jackass will be dealt with as we have dealt with the previous cancer, in the most aggressive way possible, so I am having the surgeons go ahead and start the process of scheduling a wedge resection.

By the way I like this surgeon, he delivered the info to me by phone after I called and left the message that I was canceling my appointment this coming Thursday if there weren't any results in yet. To drive 100+ miles round trip to just sit in an office, have my vitals taken and talk about possible scenarios would be an inefficient use of all our time. He knows that I have been in this rodeo before and cancer and pending surgeries won't buck me. BTW elephant taste best with ketchup.

asbestos related lung cancer |lung cancer signs |kidney cancer |lung cancer info |treating lung cancer |

It is going down on Friday 3/6/09

On Friday I am scheduled to have a wedge resection on my right lower lobe at UT Southwestern in Dallas, TX. I expect to be in the hospital for a least a week. It is ironic that I am having a piece of my new lungs removed on the same day two years later of getting the call about a transplant match and the actual transplant.

non small cell lung cancer treatment |lung cancer center |chemo for lung cancer |ovarian cancer |lung cancer symptoms |

It my anniversary

It my anniversary; well actually the next today and Friday make two years since that fateful night and day at Stanford University Medical Center (the transplant night). I was hoping I could say I am cancer free but maybe I can, more pathology will be done on the tissue cut out in the morning.

prostate cancer |asbestos related lung cancer |lung cancer alternative treatment |non small cell lung cancer adenocarcinoma |cancer drugs |

My schedule is taking shape

my surgical schedule for Friday and the events leading up to it are taking shape. I will check in on Thursday at the hospital to have all my pre-work done. I am not nervous at all it (the trips to the hospital / Spa are routine).

asbestos |neuroblastoma |non small cell lung cancer treatment |cell lung cancer |pancreatic cancer |

AWOL (one flew over the cuckoo's nest)

Random post

one flew over the cuckoo's nest

It is nice outside I think I will possibly be going AWOL (I have a reputation to keep up), Short Bust (Ravyn) and I had a date scheduled for Friday (we were going to the zoo and ride the train and merry-go-round); guess we will reschedule.

I have been poked, x-rayed, and I think I just signed the stimulus bill; I am burned out from watching the NEGATIVE news; fallen in love again with the hospital food emmm home cooking; and am disappointed in the Cowboys decision about TO his dismissal won't fix the problem.

I expect to set a new chest tube record for one lung, I anticipate 3 chest tubes in my right lung and hopefully they won't be breaking any ribs just using a spreader to separate them which is going to really make my back hurt.

lung cancer information |chemotherapy |erlotinib |breast cancer treatment |nexavar |

They let me sleep (Not really)

It is amazing what 4hours and 26 minutes of sleep will do for you I feel like I have just finished hibernating. The needles have persuaded me to get on up out of the bed, and I also need to reload my IPod so that I can have something to listen to in the ICU (instead of the machines). Finishing up a Sudoku, sending e-mail, and of course paying bills and finalizing some additional tax information (brought some tax law info to read up on..... lots of medical deductions).
Shower time, looks like the operation will access my lungs through my right side and spread the ribs (that hurts your back BTW) and I still anticipate 3 chest tubes. Are scars still fashionable???

Got gummy bears for the girls, and some coloring pictures and homework (math / sitewords) for Raegan to work on when they visit. I guess we will have to do a better job explaining my illness as Raegan is asking more and more questions about why daddy always goes to the hospital.

cervical cancer |chemo |metastatic breast cancer |bladder cancer treatment |adenocarcinoma cancer |

Delayed

The surgery has been delayed for a little bit, there was a complication with the surgery before mine. I am hungry, I need food soon. I wonder if the hospital will require me to where a hair net, (i.e I have no hair on my head). 0837 CST

Let try again, attempt number two. 0947 CST

male breast cancer |lung cancer bracelets |asbestos lung cancer |prostate cancer |lung cancer types |

Cancer Homiee stoped' in on me

A. Marshall came by to see me today, it was good to see her and trade info. about my path to lung transplant and her eventual listing. Thanks for the magazines too.

chemotherapy lung cancer |pancreatic cancer |chemo for lung cancer |asbestos |lung cancer causes |

Uh it's Thursday

Busy Busy Busy day.....

I had to drop yet another class as I was attempting to get my 4^th Masters.... through this whole round of medical stuff SMU Bobby B. Lyle School of Engineering has been very understanding and accommodating throughout all of this. I did have a hard time doing the right thing in this situation (dropping the class) makes me feel like I am quiting.

If dropping the class was not enough I really really feel bad that I let Ravyn down today. As I was getting the girls ready for school this morning I told her that I would come and watch her at dance class today. When I picked her up she reminded me several times that I didn't come to dance class today. I had a scheduling conflict due to the war on lung cancer, I was being interviewed by the New York Times which will help break the stigma and raise awareness about lung cancer, but I sure do feel bad about missing dance class (very rarely do I get a chance to go to Ravyn's dance class). I have already promised to attend next weeks class but I already see a conflict there too, I have all day doctors visits in Dallas.

Soccer practice was good Ravyn is becoming more independent and comfortable being in a new environment.

neuroblastoma |lung cancer drugs |emphysema |chemo |chemotherapy for breast cancer |

Dam April fool's

Still sore, still trying to recover but my wife once again played her yearly April Fool's joke. Since she gets up butt early in the morn to commute to Dallas she called me on my cell phone to say she had a blow-out while she knew I was still sleep. I start telling her to call triple A (AAA) then she blurts out April Fool's....... I throw my phone and go to bed....... pay back is comin'.

non small cell lung cancer treatment |kidney cancer |lung cancer bracelets |lung cancer treatment centers |cancer therapy |

ER visit from hell (Father's Day)

Yesterday I felt really bad and tried to tough it out as long as I could but in the end I had to get a ride to the ER. My wife is still out of town that is why it took me so long to go into the ER, I had to find someone to watch the girls for me. I got my sister-in-law to watch the girls and drop (STRESS the word drop off) at the ER at about 10 PM CST. I could not hold any fluids down, eat anything, or even take my meds; on top of all that I was vomiting all day. The visit to the ER close to my house (Southwest Side of Fort Worth, TX) was horrible:

• They don't take the precautions that should be taken when handling a transplant patient
• Most of the medical professionals I was treated by had never dealt with a lung transplant patient.
• They refused to contact the transplant doctor on call at the hospital where all my post transplant care is given.
• These doctors (loosely used) basically gave me some IV fluids, some anti-nausea meds, then sent me home (discharged at 214 AM CST) Knowing I had no one at home to watch me, not knowing if I could take my meds, and also with the knowledge that I did not have a ride home. When I told them I had no was home at 214 AM they said I could just sit and wait in the waiting room.

After this experience I hope I NEVER HAVE THE MISFORTUNE of Being TREATED at Harris Methodist Southwest's ER staff ever again.

cervical cancer |bladder cancer symptoms |lung cancer side effects |bladder cancer |asthma |

Can't get the shot, Can't find the shot H1N1???

I seem to be spinning my wheels, wasting my time trying to find the H1N1 shot, and anyone to give it to me. The H1N1 vacine seems to be as illusive as big foot or the Locheness monster. I have asked many if not all the providers that I see and it seems I am getting the party answer, ?if we get it, if we don?t run out, blah blah blah?..?; I am not going to worry about it my H1N1 care will be as it was before when the Type A flu loomed within my household, REACTIVE and 10 times more expensive (time, money, and pain). If I don't get the vacine I will keep staying away from large groups.

UT Southwestern, for instance, requested 157,578 doses. The state shows shipping orders for 12,050 doses. But the hospital has only received 3,500 doses, spokesman John Walls said.

Source: From
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-fludoses_10met.ART0.State.Edition1.4b515e9.html

Nov. 10, 2009

gemcitabine |mesothelioma lawyer |asbestos related lung cancer |small lung cancer |cancer lung lining |

surgery went well

I am sitting in ICU in some pain and discomfort but that was to be expected. I guess I lucked out... I only got two chest tubes. Rhonda and I are just watch TV, I think I might try to walk tonight.

prostate cancer surgery |lung cancer drugs |nsclc |colorectal cancer |small lung cancer |

Saturday one day out

I am one day out from the most painful medical procedure that I have ever undergone. YES this procedure was more painful than the actual lung transplant.

some random Spa pictures

see the arm pit to arm pit scar, chemo port scar, chestube scar(s), countless other scars


eat now!!!!

non small cell lung cancer treatment |pleural effusion lung cancer |cancer drugs |gemcitabine |bladder cancer symptoms |