SOME RESULTS - SOME ANXIETIES

 The PETA test came back and showed mixed results.  The tumor in the left lung is stable and clearly defined.  It should respond to Radiation well.  There looks to be no spreading.  The PETA test also showed signs of possibile cancer somewhere in my throat and neck.  This will be determiined by  a deep needle biopsy on July 11 th.  At this same time, my lung will be drained again, as it has filled once more with fluids and collapsed around the tumor.  This will set back the day for radiation treatment to begin.  If applied now, the lung would cook.

The good news is that the MRI brain scan came out neg - no tumors.

I actually was all set to go - my head mold was made and the tattoos were put on my chest to make sure we were all lined up.  As the Doc was running a test run, he noticed the collapsed lung and all bets were off.  All in all, good news since both cancers are seperate and treatable.  And for the FIRST time,  the Doc mentioned the tumors were curable !!!

NEW EYES - NEW PAIN

     Hello again my gentle readers, bleeders and breeders !  There has been a rapid change in my health status.  I have been diagnosed with squamous cell lung cancer.  I still need to get a Pet scan to see if and where the cancer might have spread,  Also, I need to get an MRI  to see if there is any cancer at, in our near my brain.  This is all new and sudden, requiring me to getteth my crapus together.

My first symptom was a mild but persistent cough which we  blamed on my two recent bouts with pneumonia .  Since I am riddled with MRSA, this was speculation, but another infection was in the ballpark of possibilities.  However, a week into the coughing, I started bringing up about a teaspoon of frank blood laced with jellylike clots.

I went to the ER the next day, and the Hospitalist knew immediately  what was happening.  He sent we to Radiation Medicine and the fine folks there drained 1,700 ml from my left lung !  They discovered that the lung was collapsed.  The attempt to scope my throat with a nasal gastro tube failed.  They tried it with Conscious sedation, which was a total failure due to the severity of my deviated septum.  Either I lost more bar room fights that I can remember; or college hockey was as truly  viscious as I remember.

I needed to go into the O.R. and be given general aniste&#$@ (knocked out )  The surgeon managed to spot a fairly large tumor in my bronchus, and managed to get a chunk of it that was malignant  for squamous cell cancer.  The fluids from these probings did not show any cancer cells  A small, good sign.

My problem with my treatments is the fact I have all these co-morbidities.  i.e.  The Diabetes, the COPD, the Mrsa infections.  The Doctors will not operate to remove the lung because I would never survive the Op.  I have two oncologists: one for Radiation treatments and one for Chemo.  It's not yet known if i will survive the  Chemo.  The two Docs will huddle and come up with a plan.  I have good feelings about both Docs, good vibes and professionalism permeated the room.  Both work out of Mass. General.  My PCP said, no need to go to Boston.  Boston comes to Lowell once a week.

So - I can't see the future ( well,  actually, I can ) but i'll  give this thing a fight.  I've up-armored my wheel chair and Got my K-bar shined and sharpened ready to put on my Assault-Cane.

Let's Roll !

In the Spring - Looking Out

Small Steps

7:22 light,  sure

She steps out

  a shadow detaching

          itself from the

woods leaving

the trees behind

she steps ginger footed

down the lawn

between Murphy’s house

and the driveway of Lefrancois.

She enters my eye

while watching Dr. Who

      dreaming of Rose

and magic travel time

this doe slightly built

  young tender footed

from the Arcacia Club herd

            bobs her head

        and tail walks her way

down to the road

and sniffs the tar

  rank with smells of a 

new foreign world

turning in fear and confusion

she runs for mama.

She’ll be back

This one-

I'm Still Out Here

Hello -

Since I last posted, I have been hospitalized 3 times. All for a nasty, life threatening Bone infection.
I'm back on Home IV Therapy. "But i'm sure if anyone is reading this, you don't wanna hear aboutit. I wouldn't.  Back to posting when I feel better.
Bob

I'm Still Out Here

Hello -

Since I last posted, I have been hospitalized 3 times. All for a nasty, life threatening Bone infection.
I'm back on Home IV Therapy. "But i'm sure if anyone is reading this, you don't wanna hear aboutit. I wouldn't.  Back to posting when I feel better.
Bob

Back in Circulation

Had my 8th annual check-up on my leg grafts last week.
The absolute good news, is that my circulation is the same at my ankles, as it is on my arm. They do blood pressure tests at both sites and see how they measure up. What this means practically, is that any surgery I may need as a result of diabetes and/ or infections, can be done mostly safely. As in, healing can happen because I can get oxygen down to my feet and back.

I know, most people take that for granted, but middle aged men really shouldn't. There seems to be psa's on tv now, for PAD. Peripheral Artery Disease. If you get pain and cramps after walking a short distance, but the pain subsides upon resting; you have Intermittent Claudication. Get it checked out!

And stop smoking!!!!!!! There is a genetic component to this disease; smoking cigarettes is like holding a gun to your head.

So, at the moment, all is pretty good in the health department.

Besides the pneumonia I had last month and the two unhealed wounds I have on my feet.

But, i'm certainly mentally happier!

A Quick Winter Poem

" After that, what else?"

A small boat, with a cover for shade.

A small but powerful steady engine.

Have a copy of "A week on the Concord & the Merrimack" by Henry David.

A slow burn up from the Pawtucket Falls.

Slowly glassing the Shore.

Looking through the undercut roots.

Peering back through the centuries.

Looking for the clues, tell tale glints,

Campfire spirits materializing in the haze.

Ears alert for the baying of the camp dogs,

alerting my distant cousins that another one,

more white than red has come calling.

Eager to find the flints, the cuttings the pottery.

Mic Macs - masters of the small boats and the

little places where the Salmon Go.