Round Two...or is this Fourteen??

If there is any good news to all of this, I score better on Finance quizzes on chemotherapy weeks than when I'm off. And since this is the fifth/last quiz before the Final in two weeks, I'll have this session and next to hit the tests hard. Silver linings abound!

Last week was a bit more challenging than a normal chemotherapy week. I broke out in a rash as a result of the either: a) the study drug Vertibix, b) exposure to the lovely Palm Desert sun or c) the long day and stressful drive back from Disneyland. In keeping with a quiz week, the answer is likely: d) all of the above. But it caused Dr. Chang so much concern that he got out his Blackberry to send a digital shot to the study sponsor, asking if she had seen such results from any of the other 247 study participants. He apologized for the level of the dosage, and would be checking further with the study's researchers.

As I write this, a week after the "bloom," I feel really well. The break-out ended over the weekend, now I'm just peeling from the sun exposure. Another silver lining...shot 42 on the front with my friend Jon Egge and Jillian, and could easily have gone in the tank for the rest of the day. Slipped in a couple of birdies on the backside, missed two birdie putts, and ended with 36 for 78. "Fubarians, we had 'em right where we wanted 'em after the first nine..." And in case you're curious, it is indeed possible to miss a fairway that is more than 150 yards wide.

In the last chemotherapy session, I grew more quickly fatigued than the first few in Journey One. I rested, used the phone and email for any work that needed doing, and ate as best I could. This morning, with 24 hours on the pump so far, I feel well...but am taking it really easy, too. House chores and some phone calls will be the limit today, I think. Down five pounds from two weeks ago, not a bad sign...

Perhaps I should re-title this, or open another blog called "Mark's Movie Reviews from the Opium Den..." Last time, "The Shooter." This time, "The Farmer Astronaut." Billy Bob Thornton and Virginia Madsen star in "Space Cowboys meet Field of Dreams" which doesn't usually excite me much...stories that have been done before. Since the actual story that has been done before is Don Quixote and Tilting at Windmills, I suppose I shouldn't single out this one. They even begin the movie with a wide shot of the Astronaut Farmer riding his horse against the sunset, in case we forgot our HS English class....

It was lovely. Photography was great, the story of a family building dreams together was heartwarming, and the little digs at our current world situation were worth a giggle.

Stay tuned for another riveting movie review in two weeks. In the meanwhile, Life is Good! I hope your Thanksgiving was a delight, however you chose to spend it...and that you're looking forward to December with as the eager anticipation of a young child. Think of some new windmills for 2008!

People are so nice to ask about me, my health, the kids. Thanks so much for including us all in the special prayers we're reminded of each week. If it takes a Village to Raise a Child, it takes an extended family to manage this Journey...and I couldn't do it without every single person who takes the time and care to zip email notes, slip silly cards in the mail, or put up with my semi-cranky moods. If I thought I appreciated you all last time, that goes nowhere close to how valuable everyone is this time around!

Let’s Get this Party Started….!

Preparations ended on schedule. Signed all the forms, offered up more body views and fluids than last time around, and Monday began the new infusion of chemotherapy poisons that better do a winning job. If you haven’t sat in a chemotherapy ward for six or seven hours, you haven’t seen disappointment, unconditional love, or courage. Every person has their own story, and everyone manages around the boredom in their own ways.

Once upon a time, the clinic was located where it could get wireless access. These days, that’s not the case. So I familiarized myself with the financial calculator…but mostly I watched “The Shooter” with Mark Walberg. He did a terrific job standing up for the American Citizen, but it certainly is a scary indictment of the “behind the scenes” world of conspiracy theories, and evildoers on “our side.”

Originally slated for a five hour trip to the Infusion Den, it took seven. My port wouldn’t open so we had to flush it with some sort of draining fluid, given that it built an internal blood clot which needed to be loosened and removed. That took awhile. Then, it turns out that the protocol for Vertibix requires an hour between receiving that and subsequent infusions. “Don’t go back in the pool until you’ve rested an hour” or some such. What seemed like a nice way to spend a miserably rainy day turned into a marathon afternoon.

Everyone liked the shirt Judy created, and I feel fine today, when I get the pump off. I can tell that there are strange drugs in my system once again, but got some exercise yesterday and am taking lots of fluids. I really need to crank on the Finance class this week, getting ready for our travels to Palm Desert and some time with Vickie’s return for the Holiday.

The many phone calls, messages and cards over the past ten days have been a blessing. Mom and Dad were in town to check on things and meet my docs. It was great to have them here to help with the transportation, conversations and just good time together.

Meanwhile, Life is Good. Even Phil Mickelson ended a news conference Sunday night with, “I was having fun out there. I decided to Just Keep Playing and see what might happen at the end…” So that’s me, just playing…and looking out for what may happen next.

I think I'll use my Mulligan

If you take a minute to look back at the lastest post from the summer, this note will come as a bit of a surprise to you. Lizzy's wedding was wonderful...when I get a minute over the next few weeks I'll learn to post pictures and show you what I mean. However, the 'oh, things are just great' got a bit of a setback this past month, and we're back in the blogging business for real.

My annual CT scan indicated cancerous growths in my liver. The only way they get there is from the original colon cancer, so somehow the nasty little cells hid from the first round of chemotherapy and nestled in my liver. From the positive side of the coin, we performed at 'PET' scan head to toe, and learned that there is no other cancerous involvement throughout my body. Not the bottom of the lungs, the kidneys, any lymph nodes or brainstem. THAT would be even more serious. This is serious enough, thanks.

Tomorrow I have another port implanted. Monday (11/12), I begin what is called the "Folfiri" regimen, another series of twelve sessions over alternating weeks. The best news is that the oxaliplatin that challenged my fintertips, toes and taste buds will not be in the cocktail. I'll be able to drink very cold water, and stand the physical challenge of cold weather. My body is likely to demand more rest, and I'll work harder with consistent exercise. I see this as my second chance at a diet routine to lose 25 pounds or so...I'll keep you posted.

I'm anxious, but confident. The Fubarians have been wonderful, Judy is a superhero, the people at work are very accommodating. This "round" is more difficult emotionally, becuase I know that it impacts the kids in new and frightening ways, and every person with whom I speak is surprised. Things had, indeed, been going so well.

I'll keep this post short, and let the news sink in. Next week, from the chemotherapy infusion den, I'll probably have more to say. For now, I'm hustling to get work all settled, make plans for our trip to Palm Desert with Jon & Nancy, and figure out how in the world I'll command a passing grade in the final Masters' class...Finance.

Please don't worry about me...I'll stay busy, stay in touch, and just keep playing. YOU, on the other hand, will get a colonoscopy done, you'll hug those nearest you, and smile when you think about how much fun we'll all have when we see each other next.