Installment #2

From that Thursday to the present, I have spent a lot of time at doctor's offices and being tested. Cyndy has already detailed the specialists (a chemo oncologist, a radiation oncologist, a surgeon, and a urologist). They have all been great, by the way. Dr. Beusse is an excellent referrer. So after a couple of CT scans, surgery to implant my mediport (into which the chemotherapy will be injected), and getting set up for the radiation, therapy begins this Monday. For five weeks, I will have a new chemo injection on Monday (which will flow for 96 hours through me and then be replaced each Friday) and then have radiation treatment (about 15 minutes worth) each day, Monday through Friday. The chemo makes the cancer cells more vulnerable to be killed by the radiation. Then five weeks off (equivalent to the length of the therapy) and then the surgery to remove the (hopefully now much smaller) tumor. So that's how we got here and what lies ahead in the near future.

A couple of funny stories or "coincidences". Wednesday, Apr. 15 was the day my mediport installation was scheduled. After a couple of weeks of testing and doctor's consultations, this was really the first significant step (albeit just a set-up) in my treatment process. As a result I had told a few people that beginning that day, my "normal" life as I knew it was about to be over and a new "normal" life was about to be created. But I was determined to keep looking ahead to the ultimate final positive outcome and consider everything that happens in between as a means to an end. With that set-up, I am now travelling to work on Wednesday and turn on an FM station. What song is playing but "It's the End of the World as We Know It (and I feel fine)" by REM. It certainly was and I did. Then I turned to another station and they were playing "Don't Stop Thinking About Tomorrow" by Fleetwood Mac. What were the odds?

The other one involves the fact that a few months ago I had read Michael J. Fox's book, "Lucky Man" where he talks about his life and his battle with Parkinson's Diseases (PD). Regarding PD, while he first tried to hide the fact that he had it and cursed his fate because he had it, ultimately he is thankful he contracted it because of the changes in his life and perspective that it caused and the situations and opportunities that were afforded him due to contracting it that never would have happened otherwise. I had thought about that ever since I got my news, that maybe some doors will open that otherwise never would have for me because of this cancer.

Anyway, this past Tuesday while at the radiation therapists' office, they had a copy of People magazine from December and who was on the cover talking about his 10 year anniversary with PD but Michael J. Fox himself. OK, a funny little coincidence. The next day while I was awaiting surgery in the pre-op area of the hospital, I had the Cub game on TV and it got to the 7th inning stretch where the Cubs always have a "guest conductor" to lead the crowd in singing "Take Me Out to the Ball Game." So who was the guest conductor on this day while I am in bed in the hospital awaiting surgery? Michael J. Fox. Now the coincidences are starting to get a little spooky. Or maybe God is just trying to tell me he's watching out for me and everything will turn out OK "tomorrow" as it did for Michael J. Fox's "new world."

Last point today, I promise. No one will ever accuse me of being a "man of the 21st century." But between this blog, being able to "Twitter", and now having three permanent tattoos, maybe I'm more up-to-date than most would think. Wait, I can hear Marcia now: "What's that? Three permanent tattoos? On you, Dad?" Yes, it's true. Well, they are permanent and the nurses did call them "tattoos." Actually they are three dots on my backside to be used for alignment during the radiation process: one on my left side, one on the right, and one smack dab in the middle. Don't worry - no pictures of that will be posted here. So I've got tattoos now, but I am drawing the line on body piercings. I'm not that 21st century. That's all for now.