December Update

Had a routine check up yesterday with my radiologist, Dr. Becker. He ordered blood work and a chest x-ray to check lymph nodes which are not otherwise accessible. All looks good but lab results won't be known for about a week.

Visiting the radiology and hemotology departments again reminded me that I should never take any new day for granted. I'm back to about 100% of where I was before I started this journey although, because I'm older, I seem to get fatigued a bit more easily. Nothing to be concerned about when I recall not being able to jog even 100 yards without having to slow to a walk.

The Christmas season is upon us and I'm on a personal mission to wish as many people a very merry Christmas. Bah Humbug to political correctness! So to one and all, Merry Christmas and here's wishing you an absolutely awesome 2008!

Thanksgiving--the day after

This is not original but after an exciting and wonderful Thanksgiving day, I'd like to list a few things for which I am thankful. We had a full day, taking Cary, our son and his wife, Susan to the airport after visiting his grandmothers, then to my Mom's house for lunch, home for a nap and quick jog, then to Geri's Mom's for dinner. Did I mention we had enough to eat?! Anyway, I am truly thankful for:

-God's great love
-The gift of His Son
-Family (need to remember to tell them how much I appreciate and love them)
-Friends, both near and far (need to remember the same thing)
-Each glorious new day and the health and energy to enjoy it
-Our beloved country and the freedoms we enjoy
-All the men and women in the armed forces who sacrifice daily to ensure we continue to do so

That's my list. Hope you've got one, too. After all, we just had a holiday that was established for that very purpose!

October 5, 2007

AWESOME NEWS! Got results of PET/CT scans this past Tuesday in a phone call from Dr. Becker, my radiologist: "All scans and bloodwork are normal! No sign of any tumors. No need to come in for an appointment. See you in a couple of months!"

Thanks to all of you who whispered a prayer for me. Now join me in giving praise and glory to God!

Hope you have an outstanding weekend; I know I am!

Sep 24, 2007

ALOHA! I am feeling stronger every day and am back into my routine.

My next major scans (PET and CAT) are scheduled for Tuesday, October 2nd. I would be dishonest if I claimed there was no anxiety about the results. I do not fear the disease--as a local healthcare provider advertises: I have cancer; cancer does NOT have me! But I dread the side effects of the treatments which might be necessary should more disease be discovered.

Am leaving that to God Almighty who knows best what is best for me but the human part of me is still feeling a bit anxious.

Guess faith is only built in times of testing . . . which this certainly has been. I can only give glory to God and trust that whatever happens is in His will for all of us.

End of the Journey

Here's what we looked like at a wedding reception at the end of July. No symptoms associated with chemo and radiation remain. My strength and stamina are at about 95%. Hair is growing slowly, as you can see, sort of.

Am almost back to my normal routine. Played golf last week and for the first time since this journey began, I did not feel exhausted towards the end of the round. Now I'll have to start working on lowering my scores! Jogged my normal loop last Saturday, and, another first, did not have to stop to walk along the way. My biggest dilemma is whether to stay with my current, no-care hair style!

Thanks to all of you who have traveled with me on this journey. It has been an ordeal I would wish on no one, but one which I would not trade for anything. It has strengthened by faith, renewed old friendships, given me a kinship with other survivors and has shown me God's love through your outpouring of love, support and prayers.

My next check up is in October, 2007. Am scheduled for complete bloodwork and full body CAT/PET scans. Will keep this blog open but won't post unless something occurs before then.

Thanks to all again. I cherish your friendship and love! May God bless you!

July 31, 2007

BLUF: Had my last medical and lab appointments yesterday, four weeks to the day after my last radiation treatment. Diagnosis: REMISSION was reconfirmed!! I'm giving thanks to the Lord for He is good and His mercies endure forever!

The rollercoaster parts of this journey appear to be over for now and a semblence of normalcy is returning. Effects of the radiation have all but disappeared--mild tongue sensitivity, taste abnormality, hair loss on upper lip and in nostrils remain, but they are all VERY minor annoyances. My stamina is back to about 90% of normal--no more must-have naps, a vast improvement over the 10% I experienced during chemo.

I continue to be in awe of and humbled by, the friendships, expressions of support and prayers of so many people during my journey. I am trying to share that forward with so many others who are either early in their own cancer journeys or who have resumed their journeys because of the return of this disease.

Please join me in sacrifices of thanksgiving and praise for He is, indeed, good!

July 16, 2007

BLUF: Radiation symptoms are fading: nasal secretions starting up, my gums look almost normal but my tongue still feels burned and my taste is not yet normal, especially for salt. My upper lip (great--don't have to shave!) and nostrils (not so great) are still totally exfoliated. All small stuff.

Downer today. Was reminded how fleeting our life on this earth really is. Clarence Kealoha, our friend who was diagnosed with stage four pancreatic cancer about the same time I was diagnosed, passed away this morning. Please keep his wife, Pohai, and two teenaged children in your prayers. we're comforted by the belief that Clarence is no longer suffering and is in the loving arms of our Father.

Clarence, millions of others and I are the reason a bunch of us got together over this past weekend for the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life. We had nine official team members, including Jonathan, my five year-old grandson, and Jansen, a 10 year-old nephew (we didn't let them walk by themselves). This overnighter was not a running relay but simply a track around which we walked, to beat cancer, in memory of those who lost their battle with cancer, and in celebration of people like me, who are survivors of this insidious disease.

Thanks to all who donated and helped our team almost double our original goal. It was a bonding, inspiring event which we all agreed we want to do again next year.

One of the things we heard at the Relay was there is no finish line with cancer until a cure is found. How so very true! I'll be lighting a candle in memory of Clarence at next year's Relay, assuming the Good Lord allows me to live that long.

"Lord, remind me of how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered and that my life is fleeting away. My life is no longer than the width of my hand. An entire lifetime is just a moment to you; human existence is but a breath." Psalm 39:4-5