I have been off all treatment for several weeks. As the chemo dissipated, the side effects diminished but did not entirely disappear. My hands and feet are pins and needles all the time and I don’t expect that to change.
It was during this time that I learned my pancreas is in a state of atrophy. The enzymes normally released by the pancreas break down fats and starches to be absorbed in both the small and large intestines. That accounts for my continued weight loss which bottomed out at 54 kilograms (119 pounds). To counter this problem I now take the pancreatic enzyme called Creon about twenty minutes before I eat.
I did bloodwork on Thursday. Hemoglobin (Hgb) aside, these are great numbers. Neutrinos (Neut), White Blood Cells (WBC), and Platelets (PLT) are all in the normal range. Any day that I can refer to my health as normal is a good day.
Today (Friday), the face-to-face visit with Dr. Morzycki reviewed the treatment I start on Monday. It is with a drug called Vinorelbine (Navelbine). There is no clinical evidence to suggest it will make a difference but Dr. Morzycki thinks I fit the profile of past patients who have seen benefit in terms of extended life. The side effects are minimal with most patients. About five percent of his patients have seen benefit so the odds are not in my favour.
The plan is to complete four cycles and have a CAT Scan. A cycle has a treatment in week 1, another in week 2, and then a week off. Cycle 2 is the same, a treatment is weeks 1 and 2, and a week off. This places the CAT Scan in early November to determine if is having a positive effect. If that proves to be the case, then I will resume for four additional cycles, and so on as long as there is apparent benefit.
My hernia has been bothering me more than usual so I’m wearing support belt most of the time. It holds the hernia inside so food passes better.
In case you wonder why I don’t have it taken care of, that is not an option as long as I’m on blood thinners and I’m on the one call Fragmin indefinitely. That is particularly true once I’m on treatment so this is just a small “curse” I need to suffer. Ah well!
In the big scheme of things, I still feel really well. I have moments when I need to rest but I think that’s true for everyone who is 67.
This is my long-time friend Andy Syson. I met him in my travels to elearning conferences. Andy did the same kind of work at the University of Coventry in the UK as I did at Dalhousie.
I’ve visited him twice over the years; the first time to do training on the use of Wimba and the second Janet joined me to attend his wedding to Sidney. Andy was a widow for a number of years after the passing of his wife to cancer.
Andy has become an avid cyclist and participates in fund raisers. He is a good friend and we try to catch up regularly with a video call.
Yesterday my day wrapped with an entertain Zoom meeting. As I suspect you know, I am just back from a Road Trip to Quebec and Ontario.
Originally I planned to spend time with a friend in Michigan and then travel to Boston to have a Pub night with a number of friends from my working days. With the extended closer of the US border, that part of the trip was off the rails so we had a virtual pub night instead.
It was nice to touch base with all the folks and we plan to have another one in December as a Christmas gathering.
As always, thank you for continuing to be a support pillar. It means so much.
And although not everyone’s thing, it is important that God continues to be a constant companion at my side as I face this challenge with cancer.
Peace, Love, and Laughter
Phil XOXO