Well, dang...the cancer's back...

[TQ]

Had a pretty rough time of it last night. I think because of my appetite being originally suppressed by the ulceration at the tumor site that I'm down on nutrients and, as a consequence, I'm being affected by chemo related nausea.
All I can take in it seems is warm milk with Instant Breakfast. I finally took a painkiller around 2am along with the milk and was finally able to get some sleep.
Funny...I was never hit this hard all during 2006 and this is only my first treatment.

[XJ.]

Originally Posted by TQ

Even back in 2006 I still worked out in between treatments, although I had to modify the resistance considerably due to my lowered oxygenation. I plan to continue that during these next several months, as well.

Have you talked to your Doc about EPO to boost your red blood cell count?

[TQ]

No, I haven't. back in '06 my count was normal for someone undergoing chemo. And I can still exercise, just not with the accustomed endurance.

[XJ.]

Well, I'm not expert (duh!), but EPO can give you a boost in energy, especially when exercising. I'm pretty sure Lance Armstrong was on it when treating his cancer (though he was _really_ bad off). Personally, I'd want every ounce of fight in me if I were battling cancer. Obviously, the more important issue at hand is adequate nutrition, which is a real challenge in your case this time around. It might be worth trying Boost at room temp (or warmed) - that should get more calories and protein into your system if it doesn't aggravate the nausea.

Anyway a "normal" Hematocrit (HCT) is 40-50 for a male (not undergoing chemo). If you're not at 40, it seems reasonable to me to want to be there so long as EPO won't negatively impact the cancer or your treatment.

FWIW, I don't know if you've been to LIVESTRONG.COM - Health, Fitness, Lifestyle but there is tons of info there - it might be worth a look. Plus - it's got to be better than listening to me babble

PS - I've got the Sisters at Precious Blood Monastery praying for you - they are contemplatives, so most of their day is spent in prayer

[TQ]

Originally Posted by XJ.

Well, I'm not expert (duh!), but EPO can give you a boost in energy, especially when exercising. I'm pretty sure Lance Armstrong was on it when treating his cancer (though he was _really_ bad off). Personally, I'd want every ounce of fight in me if I were battling cancer. Obviously, the more important issue at hand is adequate nutrition, which is a real challenge in your case this time around. It might be worth trying Boost at room temp (or warmed) - that should get more calories and protein into your system if it doesn't aggravate the nausea.

Anyway a "normal" Hematocrit (HCT) is 40-50 for a male (not undergoing chemo). If you're not at 40, it seems reasonable to me to want to be there so long as EPO won't negatively impact the cancer or your treatment.

FWIW, I don't know if you've been to LIVESTRONG.COM - Health, Fitness, Lifestyle but there is tons of info there - it might be worth a look. Plus - it's got to be better than listening to me babble

PS - I've got the Sisters at Precious Blood Monastery praying for you - they are contemplatives, so most of their day is spent in prayer

I'll definitely look into it and I'll checkout the link you provided.
On another note I just got back from my EN&T specialist and apparently I have a paralyzed right vocal chord, which explains why my voice has been kaput now for over two weeks. The good news is that there's no sign of cancer on the voice box itself and the doctor can fix it with surgery and a prosthetic, which will push the right vocal chord a few millimeters over so that it functions.
Likely I'll have the surgery sometime over the next few days and should have my voice back a week after that.

[Moncho]

TQ,

Best wishes to you and God Speed..

Regards,
Ray

[Deer Slayer]

Well, I hope your chemo gets a little more manageable. Maybe you just don't reember how bad it was, or your stomach isn't what it used to be. Chemo doesn't have a reputation of being unpleasant for nothing. What I meant by conventional is actual chemo therapy, instead of some homeopathic ineffective BS that some serpant lubricant wannabe doctor came up with. It may be a new type of chemo, but they KNOW chemo works. The red blood cell count is worth looking into. More oxygen is always a good thing, it can help the body to heal. Also hope your voice comes back, it helps to keep working, as long as you're not working too much and wear yourself out. Keeps the mind occupied.

[XJ.]

Originally Posted by TQ

The good news is that there's no sign of cancer on the voice box itself and the doctor can fix it with surgery and a prosthetic, which will push the right vocal chord a few millimeters over so that it functions.

Wow, it's amazing what surgeons can do today, glad you'll be able to get over that! So, are the girls (the ones with the tails) being good? [Sorry, I've forgotten how many you have]

[TQ]

Oh, yes...the girls are wonderful and very worried about me. Dad is, after all, their boy toy and if he's not in the mood to play then something is very wrong.

I had a very bad night last night...incessant nausea, dry heaves, all due to my lack of hydration and food. It's very different from my first experience with chemo (which, all considering, wasn't that bad).
I think it's due to the way the cancer returned - very painfully - which really cut how and what foods I can eat.

I feel much better this morning, but last night I actually came close to considering death as an option. Bad line of thinking, that.

[Drufuss]

He TQ!

I'm looking forward to get a video with your voice-over.

I'd love to once show this to some good friend or relative and say "Hey listen, that's TQ, i a decent guy i know from abXzone who did beat his cancer twice. Though guy, pleasure to know him."

Any idea how i can find one?

Greetings

Dru

[jmlikos]

I just want to once again wish you the best. You are in my prayers and I really respect the way even though you are feeling bad, you take time to come and keep us up to date at the Zone. Thanks and you are an inspiration to me. God Bless you and your family.

[Deer Slayer]

TQ, DON'T be afraid of the wonders of IV fluids, and possibly glucose to keep your sugar up. I dunno if you'll be able to eat the way you did last time given the location of this. If you have to, use IV fluids, and glucose to keep your strength up. Your fight isn't going to get any easier the older you get, but I HOPE you have the strength to pull through. Hopefully as the chemo works you'll be able to eat again, but you may have to resort to alternatives of fueling your body. Oxygen, glucose, and water are your energy source. All 3 are NECESSARY to keep you going, among other things. the more red blood cels, the more oxygen your blood can carry. The more water, and glucose, the more fuel you have. If it can't be processed naturally, so be it, get it ANY WAY YOU CAN!

Good luck, and be stong.

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Deer Slayer

I dunno if you'll be able to eat the way you did last time given the location of this.

It's in the same place, the only difference was this time it was ulcerated and very painful.
Due to diet I've managed to heal the ulceration. My challenge now - as both you and Mrs. TQ point out - is to remain hydrated, especially going into my next round of chemo.
Seeing as the last time I didn't have the problems I have now it would be a good idea to do some study.
Even though my third day of chemo from my previous run was always hard, it was a cakewalk compared to this time.

But to be truthful, my first run through when I was diagnosed in '06 was also very hard. I had just come off a very bad cough which caused some hemorrhaging at the primary tumor site (this is a stage four cancer, which is generally fatal). I had to have a blood transfusion so that I could qualify for the clinical trial.
Point is, as you pointed out, my memory may be more tuned towards the middle and later stages of the first chemo run - where I was in a groove with it - and it may well be that after this initial rocky start I can get back in that smooth(er) groove.

I had a better night last night, though I kept slipping in and out of a deep sleep. I had the strangest dream that I was stationed in some kind of orbiter above the surface of Mars. On the surface was a mobile lab, much like the
Phoenix, that I was operating remotely. The mobile lab also had a virtual send/receive narrowcast unit that allowed me to "walk" my virtual self on the surface, within a certain distance of the mobile lab.
I remember narrowcasting my avatar/body down to the surface and walked around marveling at "being on Mars", although I also remember being a bit disappointed at the somewhat low resolution of the dust and rock being blown into the sky by nearby volcanic activity.
Then - suddenly - a large blast of debris blew out of the ground not too far away and a river of molten Mars rock began heading my way pretty fast.
The resolution on that was good enough to startle the crap out of me. I grabbed the door on the mobile lab (which, somehow, had become the size of a Winnebago) and was about to head in when I realized the hot rock was being seen in virtual and it wouldn't hurt me. I then became concerned about the lab, which was in the path of the flow.
At that point I woke up.

Weird...

[TQ]

Originally Posted by Drufuss

I'm looking forward to get a video with your voice-over.

Any idea how i can find one?

Heh...sure do. Send over the copy and as soon as my voice is back I'll produce it.

[XJ.]

Originally Posted by TQ

Weird...

So...you sure your not on any *other* drugs besides the Chemo . Maybe you should write a book!

Keep up the fight TQ, sorry to hear it so tough right now.