More Good Than Bad

I received Monday's CT scan results this afternoon and overall I think there is much more good than bad.

Compared to January's scan, here's the quick rundown as I interpret the radiologist's report. I'll discuss it all with the doc tomorrow.

The scan is of the chest, abdomen and pelvis.

Last scan my chest showed numerous "lesions" throughout both lungs. When I asked the oncologist then how many there were, he said in disbelief, "You want me to count?" That meant there were a lot.

Now the scan is showing that the lungs have both all cleared, with the exception of just two spots. Both of these spots are small but have increased in size slightly.

The growth in the thyroid gland has not disappeared but it has shrunk in size.

The growth in the kidney has completely disappeared.

The two growths in the liver have both shrunk in size.

Overall, that's some pretty good news!

But this is kidney cancer. There's always some ups and downs, a little roller coaster ride.

The report did claim that the "soft tissue mass" in the bone of my right hip has enlarged slightly.

Also two lymph nodes in my chest have become "involved," but they're not ginormous in size or anything.

I'll get my questions together and meet with the oncologist tomorrow and take it from there. It seems to me that the Sutent is working so far, and we'll just continue on more of the same chemo.

That's the latest from here...

One at a Time

Recovering from an injury or an illness does never move in a straight line. There are ups and there are downs. Generally speaking you look for two steps forward and one step backwards. As long as you're making progress you're on target.

My Dad is settled into Spang Crest in Lebanon right now. He was a bit grouchy and solemn on Sunday, according to my Mom. But he turned it all around yesterday. He even went for a walk down the hallway, which is a big step in the right direction.

The nurse said that my Dad didn't want anything to do with a breakfast she delivered. But when she returned, it was all gone.

He told my Mom that he wants to go home. That's another good sign.

He asked her if she would take care of him.

"Of course I will," she answered.

My Mom said that he was smiling and laughing a lot yesterday. Monday was a step forward.

Meanwhile I was taking a step backward yesterday. Between the CT prep drink, the CT dye that is injected, the chemo, and the steroid, a war erupted through my entire digestive system. These drugs all together obviously didn't get along.

This morning things do seem to be settling down. It seems as if a cease fire is in place and I'm mainly just feeling stiff and sore from yesterday's battleground.

As in any delicate cease fire I'm trying to keep a close eye on things today to make sure the cease fire holds.

My Mom has told me that my Dad and I are not allowed to have bad days at the same time. We have to take turns. She can only handle one at a time, she said with a laugh.

That seems like a logical request. I'll do my very best to oblige.

Napathon Monday

I woke up this morning at 5 a.m. to find my stomach rumbling.

I had to get through my shower by 6 a.m. so I could start drinking the thick, chalkie, rather disgusting, prep liquid necessary before my 8 a.m. CT scan. I'm not allowed to eat anything and I can only drink clear liquids. The two bottles of CT prep "Vanilla Smoothie" have to be drunk half a bottle per 30-minutes over two hours, right up until scan time.

The "Vanilla Smoothie" did not help the stomach any.

I have not gotten sick to my stomach for more than two decades. I thought that this morning the streak would come to an end. But I made it through.

Today I'm just feeling rough and very tired.

Thankfully the CT scan went off on time, and without a hitch. We were back home quickly. I went back to bed.

I was hoping a nap would give me a second chance at a fresh start to the day. But I woke up feeling pretty much the same. I'm tired. My stomach is still in full revolt (common after two bottle of CT prep). And the day outside is very gray, and rainy, and dreary.

Barb claimed the day as an official "Napathon Monday."

That sounds like a plan to me.

Sporting Weekend

It seems as though it is a "Sporting Weekend." Events such as soccer, college basketball and my personal favorite "Baseball," the sign of baseball tells me that the warmer weather is almost here to stay.

I never have as much to say in a blog as Jim does, but our prayers go out to his father, Jamie's brother Rob and all others that are in need of prayer right now.

Jim and I have been active within the house lately between the painting, cleaning the wood floors, cleaning the carpet etc., it keeps one busy in a good way.

We certainly hope that everyone has a great weekend, it's hard to believe that Easter is next weekend.

Down the Road

My Dad was successfully transfered to Spang Crest Manor in Lebanon yesterday. Spang Crest positions itself as a nursing facility that specializes in physical rehabilitation and "memory assisted living."

That's just what my father needs.

Plus it's closer for my Mom to travel to every day, in Lebanon rather than Hershey.

My Mother feels that after 30- to 60-days of good rehab, Paul may be able to get back home again. Here's hoping.

When the pastor asked him about his home the other day at Hershey Medical Center, he did remember buying the land, planning and building the house, very specific things.

I still think we should cover his room with "memory joggers" - pictures, items he's familiar with, everything and anything that means something to him, and his life thus far.

Plus those rooms do need some decorating to make it more comfortable.

Now I Understand

It's taken me 20-years but I think I finally figured out a mystery from my past.

Twenty-years ago I was a staff writer for the Lebanon Daily News. I learned that one of three county commissioners was being paid by a developer to vote in favor of their development plans. He was on the take.

The development plans hinged on the county building an airport at the development site, just west of Annville. The plans were overwhelmingly opposed by residents throughout the county, mainly because it involved high density housing and destruction of acres and acres of farmland.

I was pretty fresh out of college where I earned a degree in journalism. My head was filled with the promises of the news being the "fourth estate." I was too green to realize that the news was a business, and had little to do with fair and honest reporting of facts.

When I first brought this serious news story of one of our county commissioners being bribed for his vote to the newspaper editors they told me they did not want to run the story. I was shocked. I was floored.

I had all the facts. I had at least two sources for every bit of information. I thought this was one of the most serious offenses by one of the highest level officials in the county. And the paper didn't want to run the story?

I couldn't believe it.

Of course I complained. Of course I asked for a reason why. But it led nowhere, not even to an explanation.

I know they had a veteran reporter check out all of my facts. Everything in my story checked out. This county commissioner was on the take. He was as crooked as crooked gets.

The morning the vote was due to be taken by the county commissioners, as I walked into the newsroom, the city editor yelled out at me, "Albert! How about forwarding that story to me. We're going to run with it."

The story ran in that morning's edition. The crooked county commissioner had to abstain from voting. The vote failed. The developers went away. The people in Lebanon County rejoiced.

The crooked county commissioner, a powerful, wealthy attorney, was furious with me.

I've always believed in truth and honesty. Some people might say that I'm too honest. But I have to look myself in the mirror every morning.

A few weeks or months after this event, the managing editor called me into his office. He also called the assistant city editor into his office as well. The managing editor accused me of making a mistake on my gas expense account. He said that I claimed that Annville was six miles away and he told me it was only five miles away.

I remember back then that gas was reimbursed at 19-cents a mile. I was shocked. I was getting yelled at over 19-cents? Actually, adding up all of my miles to Annville on that weekly expense report I think the total being disputed was somewhere around $2. I offered to give the $2 back.

I remember wondering why the assistant city editor was there. Then she started crying I mean really sobbing.

How strange!

Then suddenly the managing editor told me that he saw me curse him under my breath.

??????????????

Then I was fired.

I had enough of working for this guy. He was really a clown. He used to write blistering editorials like "We here at the Daily News really enjoy sunshine, and thoroughly support it."

I gladly gathered my stuff and left. Then immediately I began writing for the Patriot-News in Harrisburg. As I left the assistant city editor cried uncontrollably.

I've always thought this was so strange, so bizzare. First of all, I have never been one to swear. Can anyone ever remember hearing me swear? I just don't find it necessary and never have.

Second of all, who gets fired over a disagreement of $2 in gas expenses?

Telling Barb this story the other week, now in this environment surrounded by corruption everywhere in this country, it finally hit me.

The county commissioner whose corruption I exposed paid the managing editor of the paper to get rid of me.

I wondered why our experienced county reporter wanted nothing to do with this story.

I don't have any proof. But I've got very, very strong suspicions.

If that kind of corruption goes on in little old Lebanon County, just imagine what goes on at the much bigger levels.

Staying Busy

The last few days a rash started breaking out on my face. I figured it may have come from me cleaning up the backyard or possibly from sorting through some window hardware down in our basement. And I figured it would pass.

But it seemed to be spreading. So yesterday I had enough and placed a call into my oncologist's office. He called me around dinner time yesterday and asked me a couple dozen questions. He concluded that the chemo I'm on was causing the rash since I had stopped taking the steroid.

The doctor recommended that I start taking the steroid again, at a minimum level. He expected that the steroid would start managing the chemo side-effects again like it had previously, also helping the fatigue, the nausea, the sensitivity in the hands and feet, all of the wonderful chemo side-effects.

He did not feel that the Decadron steroid would have a negative effect on the effectiveness of the Sutent chemotherapy.

I'm going to give it a whirl and hope for the best.

Today Barb and I are off to meet with the neurosurgeon. We really don't expect much from this appointment. It's just to ensure that I am actually recovering from radiation treatments to the brain, and I certainly am.

Radiation to the brain is a rough go. It left me tired, foggy, dizzy, and uncoordinated. I'm very clear in the head now. It was a slow evolving process but everything healed well. I still do not have the coordination I once had. I was pretty smooth for a big guy and still rode bike regularly and played tennis with Barb. But I fear permanent damage to the brain may have taken those things from me now.

That's one thing I'll talk to the neurosurgeon about today. And it's something I continue to work to try to improve. Barb often says how she misses playing tennis together. I miss it too. I don't mean to be sexist, but many gals can't keep up with me on the tennis court. But Barb can. The harder I hit them at her, the harder she hits them back.

Next week I'll have a CT scan of the chest, abdomen and pelvis on Monday. Then I'll meet with the oncologist on Thursday after the scan to discuss the results and the effectiveness of the chemo after the first three months of use.

Between doctors' appointments we continue to paint the two living rooms in the house. They are very close to being done.

My Dad is expected to be transferred to Spang Crest Manor in Lebanon today. I take the fact that Hershey Medical Center is ready to release him as good news. But he certainly has some work ahead of him. Hopefully he can get the physical and mental support he needs to work his way back.

My Mom has been a real hero at being with him and working with him to try to recover from all of this. She has been by his side constantly, directing traffic, and overseeing his care. It hasn't been easy. Certainly she feels the pains my Dad feels as well - we all do.

If you get a chance to offer prayers or support to my Mom and Dad during this difficult time I would greatly appreciate if you would. The smallest gestures truly can mean the world.