Tom Smith
©2007 Thomas G. Smith
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Blogs from previous
months here. 2007 Cancer Blogs See post for Aug. 9, 2007
See post for July 13,
2007
Posted June 6, 2007
Cancer is a drag, no way
around it. With mixed feelings today I have to report that Teresa and I—after
a lot of soul-searching—have decided to postpone our Franco-Italian
adventure. Discretion, perhaps, is the better part of valor; the main thing I
want to do, however, is make sure that when we go, we are able to enjoy Italy
and whatever country we might see without the fierce fatigue I have
experienced during this round of chemotherapy. Since the last treatment on
May 30, it has been a struggle to get up in the morning and go about a daily
routine. It is nothing specific regarding pain, just an almost-overwhelming
sense of tiredness. That’s no way to enjoy Tuscany or any kind of vacation. Meanwhile, I believe that the
once-every-three-weeks chemotherapy is having its good effects. The intensity
of the shoulder and chest pain has decreased noticeably, although I am still
taking painkillers. This is a big relief, one that comes close to making up
for missing all that fun in Italy and France. As always, we appreciate your
keeping us in your prayers. Today’s news isn’t all that great, but I should
never lose sight of the fact that fighting off the cancer is my number one
priority. That’s what we’re doing now. Posted
July 13, 2007 (a lucky day?) I am a little behind on my
blogging, and there is a postponement to report. I did not have an infusion
on July 11. KP called that morning and noted that it would have been only two
weeks since my last chemo treatment on June 28, and it was simply too soon. Lord knows, the side effects
this time are aggravating enough so that I did not want to rush things before
they tailed off some after the June 28 treatment. The main problem is a
severe fatigue. It’s tough to walk across a parking lot and, sometimes, even
to take a shower. A secondary problem is that I
lose my sense of taste for a few days after infusion. For a guy who likes to
eat as much as I do, that is a real aggravation! Everything during this short
period of time tastes a lot like I imagine cardboard must taste, and meals
aren’t something to look forward to. The third thing is that Taxol,
the main ingredient in the cancer-fighting mix, has another side effect that
affects my ability to communicate. My fingers are numb! And my toes. The
fingers—especially those on my right hand—are not paralyzed, but the numbness
makes using a keyboard frustrating. I figure my typing speed has been cut
about in half. This may not be such a bad thing since it slows my hand speed
down to something closer to my brain speed. Perhaps I will make more sense
like this. My next infusion is now
scheduled for Wednesday, July 18. Meanwhile, I have an email in to Dr.
Goldberg’s office asking if there is any “magic pill” or reasonable drug that
can help me with the fatigue. I’ll live with the numbness. A jarring note in the
telephone call postponing the treatment was the warning that my white blood
cell count is extremely low and that I should avoid crowds and maybe not go
to church. Infection is a real danger. I have also asked if there is anything
that can be done to alleviate that situation. If anyone needs to be going to
church right now, it’s I! I have more good days than bad
ones with the pain now. I keep to a four-hour day-night regimen with the
hydrochodone and use etodolac several times a day. I have discovered that a
heating pad is very useful in alleviating the pain at night. Most of the
time, I am able to get in my full four hours of sleep between medications. Dealing with an illness like
cancer, it is difficult sometimes making one’s body behave as one would like.
I am getting a glimpse of what aging is like, kind of in a fast-forward mode.
Thank you for standing by us during this time, and remember that your prayers
and thoughts are more important than ever. Thank you. It has been a while between blogs.
Battle fatigue is part of that, but the main thing is that the chemotherapy
combined with the tumor itself pressing on nerves has numbed most of my right
hand. It is amazing what the loss of
that hand is to a touch typist. I am now a hunt and peck typist--plus office
2003 does understand some of my dictation. Nonetheless, I can report that I am feeling good overall
and that my pain is under better control than it has been for some time. I am continuing with the every three weeks
schedule for chemotherapy, but with a different drugs. The fact is that the old drug, Taxol, was no longer doing the job. So there’s a new drug that hopefully will
do a better job. I cannot recall the
name of it off hand, but I can report that I seem to feel an improvement already
after yesterday’s chemotherapy session. There’s nothing other to say than it is hot as blazes in
I am fortunate to have such patient and competent people
working with me at blessed I wish I had some heavier thoughts for you today
regarding this war we are having with cancer.
I still feel optimistic, mainly because I am feeling better, and
because I know that I have Teresa’s strength along with your prayers and
thoughts. I hope that you will
continue to hold me close to your hearts while we continue this session of
chemotherapy through November. Perhaps
then we can get restarted on that aborted trip to God bless you while we pray that he does the same for
all of us who are suffering our various illnesses. To be continued… (If you wish to correspond via email, please
use this address: * Long as I can see the light… The words below come from “Long
as I can see the light,” written by John Fogerty and first appearing on the
Creedence Clearwater Revival album, “Cosmo’s Factory,” in 1970. If it is possible for anyone’s cover of this song to beat CCR, it
would be the version by the late Ted Hawkins, recorded on his 1994 album,
“The Next Hundred Years.” Put a candle in the window, 'cause I feel I've got to move. I'll be coming home soon, 'cause I'm bound to drift a while. 'cause this feelin' won't leave me alone. 'cause I feel I've got to move. I'll be coming home soon, John Fogerty |