Well, it seemed like a good idea at the time.....

I'm back. What a disaster! Unfortunately the antibiotics, while doing the job they were supposed to do, didn't do any good at helping during the cruise. I may be the only person ever to go on an 8 day cruise and lose weight, but when I got home I weighed 7 pounds less than when I left. I never went to dinner, and could only manager a little bit of soup (room service) or an occasional Coke. Kind of a waste of a good cruise, but who knew? There were good points: the Hubbard Glacier was quite impressive and the ship got the closest pass at it of the year, and the gambling gods smiled on me even if the food gods didn't, so I was able to hang out at the casino and do it on the ships money, at least.

Of course, when I got back I was in a bit of a state, so I spent yesterday afternoon in the ER at the UW hospital. By the time I left I was assured I was actually OK and not seriously enough out of kilter to require hospitalization and IVs. I do continue to have anorexia and it's a struggle, but it IS improving in very small increments. I was very proud of myself that I ate half a breakfast bar and some jello this morning!! Stocked up on Ensure and soup. Won't be able to eat enough to stop losing weight for probably a week...so not very company right now. Probably the worst of it is what I do eat doesn't taste very good.

The area on my head may have shrunk a bit more, but is awfully ugly, and I cover it up with a knit hat when out most of the time. And as they predicted I started losing hair around the radiation spot, but it's not too bad. Just have to use the cat roller on my pillow every morning. I get another Zometa infusion to strengthen my spine again on Friday. Now my agenda has to turn to all the things that need to be done for IL-2. Dr. Margolin is out of the country until the 1st, and I still hope to start it on the 6th, but that date could change, just like everything else in my life! Oh well...I really shouldn't complain because I'm sure not the first to have to deal with this stuff and I have been pretty lucky so far.

Gearing up for Alaska

Nice to have the radiation over with. Ugh. But it seems to be having a positive effect and the area seems less swollen. They think that will continue, so maybe children won't run away screaming after all. The doctor also thinks it unlikely that the melanoma will bust through, which was the point of the exercise in the first place, so good.

Tomorrow I leave for the Alaska cruise on the Celebrity Mercury. And my docs may have come to my the rescue in the taste buds department!! After reporting how my taste had deteriorated (what the hell, I guess we all get more tasteless as we get older...) the doc said "let's take a look'. And lo and behold I've got a yeast infection in my mouth. I guess it's fairly common for cancer patients. They put me on some high dose antibiotics and overnight I could tell a substantial difference. Can't say things taste GOOD yet, but least not so lousy. If the antibiotics work I may be able to enjoy some of the food on the cruise yet.

Probably won't do too much blogging on board. This is not a travel blog, anyway and I'm really looking forward to mindless relaxation, having my bed made for me and three meals a day I don't have to do anything but sit down for. Loaded up my new gaming laptop with lots of stuff and borrowed some DVDs from Rick and Joyce.

I get back on the 21st and Friday the 25th have another Zometa infusion and meeting with Dr Margolin and will pin down the rest of the tests and IL-2 start dates for certain, still probably Oct 6. It will be here in no time, wow!

Only two Rad sessions left

Holiday weekend over and it was pleasant visiting family and friends here and Oregon. The worst side effect I'm having is my taste buds have all but disappeared and everything tastes sort of off. Who knows what the wine I bought at a couple places in Oregon will actually tasted like?
When I met with the docs yesterday they all looked at me again and there is still some concern that the swelling hasn't come down much, but it will probably get better since there is a lingering effect from the radiation for a couple of weeks. At least no dizziness or balance or ear problems. The most unfortunate part is it's just so dog-gonned ugly, like someone hit me with a baseball bat right behind the left ear. I think I'm going to try to cover it up for my cruise. It's not only vanity, but who wants to look at a big, black melanoma at dinner? I really don't want to eat alone so I'll do as unobtrusive a bandage as possible. I had some fun with the nurses getting them to trace around the area so I can experiment. I'm also going to go over to
REI and see if maybe they have some lightweight neck warmers that can be pulled up like turtlenecks. May look a bit odd, but better than causing people discomfort at dinner.

Otherwise I still feel fine and look forward to the last two sessions today and Thurs. Then the doc will do a final exam on Fri and give me whatever I might need for the cruise. He's worried there is still a chance for some breakthrough and oozing...great. Oh well, each day is an adventure and I'll deal with it if it happens.

Better living through Chemestry!

Wow, what a difference anti-nausea drugs make! It's amazing what a positive attitude you get when you don't feel like you are going to throw up all of a sudden. What with taking them and the steroids I not only feel 90% better but have a bit of an appetite now, so maybe I'll stop losing weight. It's not like I didn't need to lose it, but I don't want to have to buy a whole new wardrobe, either.

My brothers got here today and we had an very nice time. Took them on a cruise around the lake and goofed off and had a nice Italian dinner at Pomedoro on Eastlake. It's worth a try for you locals and within walking distance from my place. Then came back and talked and had a nightcap on Rick and Joyce's upstairs deck as the full moon came up. Tomorrow it's the fresh cinnamon rolls at the bakery up the street, then the casino for some gaming action, then shopping for dinner then my radiation then making enchiladas at Amy's. Should be fun and it's great to feel OK.

Ugh -but interesting

Today will be the 5th blast, and ugh, this stuff is not fun. I now know how lucky I was with my back, because this time I feel pretty crummy. Not 'can't function' crummy, just 'can't stand the though of food' crummy. And you know me, I'm a FOODIE. AAAGH! Got on the scale yesterday and I've lost 15 pounds since I started radiation on my back just short of 6 weeks ago. It's weight I could afford to lose (heck I was tipping 190!!) but this is a weight loss program I don't recommend. At 175 I fit into all my clothes and look fairly good, so I'm doing my best to try to not lose too much more.

Yesterday Andrea came with, and we had a meeting with the docs after the treatment. The Oncology Resident, Dr Barti, did a great job going over the radiation program on the computer and after I told how I felt they prescribed some anti-nausea meds and some steroids. Those should help with the anorexia (yep, they used that word...me and Karen Carpenter, who knew?).

And today I can say I feel a bit better. Not 100%, but not "shoot me" either.

I do have to say my vanity comes up when I think "Heck, I wish this thing weren't so damned ugly", but at least it's not in the middle of my forehead, so thank God, Zeus, Buddha or ______ (fill in with favorite deity) for small favors. I asked the docs about expected appearance changes and they think even if the radiation does the trick and slows this down a bit I'm still going to have the black splotch. So we'll just have to take care of it after the IL-2 does the job, eh?

My brothers arrive tomorrow. This will be the first time the 5 of us (the 6th, Nick, is still in jail in TX....don't ask, that's another blog entirely) have been together except for funerals since 1968. And I know what you're thinking, so put it out of your mind right now!! Jim (older) is now retired from a career in theater, having toured in the past with such luminaries as Tom Petty and Angela Lansbury; David (younger) has lived mostly in Texas and been a truck driver and dispatcher; Tom is a retired residential and commercial landscaper and John is a Lt Colonel in the US Army and I'm not allowed to say what he does, but it involves computers and we can all be grateful guys like him are on the job. All have swell wives and seem to have been better at that gig than I have been.

It'll be fun, especially that I don't feel quite as lousy. Got to jump in the shower and get ready for my afternoon zap.

I decided to post a picture of my current project, the Schooner Yacht America, 1851, in 1/8" scale. This was the ship that won the race and trophy in England that subsequently became the America's Cup. I hope to have all the construction and paint finished in the next couple of weeks and then will start the really fun part, the rigging.

Take care. Keep those fingers crossed.