ALL ABOUT ME

Fair warning! This is about me. It may have no universal appeal and or applicability to anybody but me and the limited number of people who harbor some normal or abnormal interest in me. So pause a minute and consider whether you want to waste any more of your time. And then step smartly, onward or backward. Your choice.

Most folks have now heard on the street that I’ve been seeing a number of doctors both here and in Savannah lately This is true! And they’ve been some of the finest medical experiences I’ve ever had. Make no mistake about that. Every doctor and medical professional I’ve seen both here and in Savannah have been highly professional and competent and caring people. This is why I want to interject this here:

My friend from down in Kingsland and I often make jokes in public about our miseries and our visits to the doctors and tell funnies about how popular our Medicare cards have made us. We're just trying to be cute and funny. Gives us some distinction we so sorely lack. But let me make it clear that nothing about these lighthearted moments have ever been said with genuine malice. We do have major problems in the health care field in the United States, but it’s still probably better than anywhere else in the world and my personal sentiments about all those who work in the field can be summed up this way: GOD BLESS THEM EVERYONE! I’ve never encountered but one or two who genuinely didn’t didn’t give a shit about me, and I quickly fired them and moved on to somebody else. Those with whom I’ve been dealing for the past many years are the best. So I wanted to get that out of the way. Excuse the digression.

Now for my abbreviated story.

On March 16, 2009, I went up to see my cardiologist in Savannah to have a nuclear scan and general follow-up. This physician has been following me for many years. I’ve had coronary artery disease (CAD) for years. I had open-heart surgery in 1981. Later I had an abdominal aortic artery (AAA) aneurysm repair and had some ablation surgery to control some atrial fibrillation I was having. Long story short, I got a glowing report from this visit in March and was feeling real good about myself. Came home and was fired up to get into something to keep me more occupied.

So I returned to the YMCA’s health club where I’ve had a grossly under utilized membership for years and started getting back into an exercise routine. Worked myself up pretty good in a short period of time, about 10 days. Then I thought I was ready to go, push it a little harder. Again, feeling good about things, and contemplating living to 100. But I had developed some shortness of breath and was hurting some in the lower back, left hip and left upper thigh. Wrote it off to these insane thoughts about renewing my workouts. You know how bad you are to lie to yourself sometimes!

Then on Sunday, March 26, 2009 I woke up early. It was Sunday. Noticed some severe edema (swelling, fluid retention) in feet and lower legs and was very short of breath. Thought it must be Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), but where would that have come from? Cardiac output had been surprisingly good on the 16th. Then I developed a severe cough and thought I had caught something in that filthy, stinking motel where we had stayed on the trip to Savannah. In point of fact, I'm persuaded I did. It was truly a rotten motel I'm telling you! Subsequent blood tests have confirmed some pulmonary funk described as ‘LEGIONELLA‘? Jesus! Legionaries’ disease? From a motel in Savannah? Could be. But nobody knows for sure.

All I know is the place stunk to high heaven and was unbelievably dirty and gummy and it was ice cold and you couldn't turn off the air conditioner. And on top of that I had abnormal traces of pigeon and bird poop and mixed feathers and cladosporium herb arum and trichoderma viride and other funks in that lab report. And I got the report in case somebody wants to see it!

Anyway, I kept going to the YMCA. I worked pretty hard through April. Lost a bunch of the fluid: from 240 pounds down to 218 pounds. Was committed to healing thyself sort of thing. But things kept getting worse, especially the pain in the left hip and leg. Cough got better, etc., etc. but when the time for my regular appointment came up on May 5, I confessed all my sins to my primary care physician, Dr. Pauline Bellecci, one of the finest of the finest, folks. Believe me. She has confirmed my long held belief that if you’re looking for an ‘offer you can’t refuse’ put a little Sicilian doctor on it! She swung into action after ripping me apart for not calling and coming in earlier. Told her I thought I could heal myself. Said she, “right!” And then placed the severed horse’s head on the gurney with me!

Long story short, the ensuing chest x-ray looked funky. But look, my chest x-rays have looked funky for 7 to 8 years (maybe a decade) and I’ve been through this before. Back in 2002 we chased a funky looking chest x-ray all the way trough a bronchoscope and biopsies. Found nothing. My cardiologist’s brother, a lung specialist in Savannah, followed me for this for about two years and a couple of additional CT scans. Nothing ever changed, so he released me to be followed PRN (as needed). Looked as though it was an old pulmonary infiltrate infection scar or something. It wasn’t changing and “cancer doesn’t just sit around unchanging for several years.”

Well, I needed him again after this recent funky chest x-ray. In fact, we all knew from that earlier time that anytime I had a chest x-ray in the future alarm bells were going to go off! And they did! Nobody was surprised, at least not those who knew my history, but it had to be checked out don’t you know?

Anyway, Dr. Daly has all but gone to specializing in other pulmonary disorders in his practice and left this kind of stuff up to his partners. In fact, he’s traveling from Savannah all over South Georgia now, including Douglas and Waycross doing the sleep apnea thing and bringing a rare service to the folks in these parts. Not many of these specialists around in our area outside of Jacksonville and Savannah, so he’s a godsend for folks with sleep disorders and the like. Anyway, since I was an old patient of his and his brother’s heart patient, but mostly because he holds Dr. Bellecci in such high regard, he agreed to see me and he did, in Douglas on May 12, 2009.

Let’s push this through now. I had another bronchoscope and biopsies. Dr. Daly’s colleague, Dr. Mullins, did it this time, on May 18, 2009 and their pathologist did the slides. Everything looked good except one nasty slide. The pathology on it read: “… malignant tumor cells present consistent with non-small cell carcinoma.” One slide out of seven. One! Damn! All of this brought on more scans: TB check, x-rays, CT scans, bone scans, sputum cultures, MRI, blood work, and more blood work. Later scans revealed a shadow on the L4 vertebrae and the general opinion was and is that this is the source of the hip and leg pain -- something pushing on the nerve endings. This got much better after awhile, incidentally, and has been reduced to a chronic, dull low back pain at the moment, but the chase was on! A PET scan was more than justified now. I had that Tuesday, May 26, 2009. Results came back the next day, today, May 27, 2009. I had meetings with Dr. Daly and Dr. Singh, local oncologist today. (Singh, incidentally, I had seen once already and he is the one who set up the PET scan; and by the way, Dr. Singh made one of the finest first impressions on me of any first time meeting I’ve ever had with a physician in all my life. He told me if a PET scan lights up, it’s bad. If it’s dark, it’s good. I prayed for a “lights out.” It didn’t turn out that way.)

Long story shortened here, but it needs to stop. It’s pretty certain that I have lung cancer. It is probably Stage 4, meaning that it has metastasized, probably to the L4 vertebrae and maybe elsewhere. We’re not absolutely positive yet. There’s a lot of so-called ‘staging’ to do yet. We’re going to get a biopsy of the L4. If it were to not be malignant that would be good news and we would probably just remove the small tumor in the upper lobe of the right lung, count our blessings and call myself lucky. If it is malignant, I’m probably looking at chemotherapy with unknown results. There’s still a lot of mystery hovering around the Big C, folks. And lots and lots of money. God, I wish somebody would find a cure. I’ve lost so many family members and friends to this god-awful disease. And so have you, I’m sure.

Which brings me to my closing, which perhaps represents the universal note, if any, with some applicability to everybody: you are born and then you die -- it is inevitable! We’ll talk more later, I hope! Hey, if Farrah Fawcett can televise her story, can I not write mine? Look for relevant addendums in the right column.

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BLOG PAGE 3: ADDENDUMS 2011

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January 7, 2011: Been about a month since last update. Went for another PET SCAN on 12-23-2010. They refused to do it because my sugar was elevated. PET people said they don't do the scans on folks with sugar above 200. I don't know why exactly; I know diabetic cancer patients who get PETS, but who am I to question the "experts"? Dr. Bellecci has me on 2.5MG of Glyburide twice a day and has ordered me to begin monitoring fasting glucose each morning. The last two days of trying to get testing strips, lancets, etc. have been scripted in hell.

My pharmacy has screwed me over by insisting that I have to have a whole new meter, etc. "because my insurance won't pay..." Spent about an hour on the telephone with insurance folks who insist the pharmacy is full of shit, that all I need is prior autorization from my doctor to cover any testing supplies I might need, from any maker, etc. Don't know who the hell is telling the truth and, for that matter, I don't know how this country functions any more. My guess is my pharmacy profits more from forcing me to switch systems and that he's just pimping a new meter. Comes close to fraud in my book, but the insurance folks don't seem to give a shit. In any event, I have a new pharmacy now and will spend the next few months getting prescriptions switched over. Greed rules! It is nowhere more evident than in the medical field!

In any event, all energies are now focused on getting the glucose levels below 200 and getting another PET Scan done. Keep your fingers crossed, and thanks a lot.

January 21, 2011: Scooted on down to Jacksonville this morning to have my PET SCAN. Sugar readings had been running between 126 and 150 for couple of weeks and was 131 this morning before I left. Took absolutely nothing by mouth from supper through my appointment. Technician seemed to think the images were good. Should have results back by Monday when I see the S & S (Doctors Singh and Srinivasan) boys again. Am holding my breath. I'll let you know. Thanks.

January 24, 2011: Went in for appointment this morning and reviewed latest PET SCAN. Doesn't look good. Compared to the last PET I had in September, this one shows "innumerable hypermetabolic nodules in both lungs.... "The findings are consistent with metastatic disease to both lungs...." To read the whole report, click HERE. (To compare with the September PET, click HERE.)

Looks as though the cancer is activating again. Needless to say that pisses me off. If there is any consolation, I'm told that "it's not that bad" and that it is quite impossible to say what the nodules that light up will do nor how fast they will do it. At the moment I have no lymph node involvement, none in the liver or adrenal glands, no evidence of metastatic disease to the skeleton. I am symptom free. In fact, I seem to be getting along fine and gaining strength every day. Bottom line is Dr. Singh gave me two (2) options: (1) wait and watch it with another PET in 6 to 8 weeks or (2) begin immediate intervention, i. e. begin chemotherapy again. Either option is "reasonable", Singh said. I choose to wait and watch. If I develop problems I will get back with him; if I do not then I'll get another PET in March and measure progression or any arresting properties my natural immune system brings about. Needless to say, I'm pulling for my own Army (immune system) and prayers.

February 25, 2011: Went in today to have my port flushed. Saw Dr. Singh. He seems to think I'm doing well. He pushed my next PET SCAN forward a month, to late March-early April. Wife was furious since Singh said last time I saw him that they would get another SCAN in early March. She wanted to know why I didn't question him about this. Fact of the matter is, there is no question to ask. He either thinks I'm doing well or that I'm a lost cause or thinks my crappy insurance won't pay for a PET SCAN so close to the last one. In any case, I'm most likely altogether in God's hands now and I am comfortable with that. Not much sympathy in the world for old folks with serious health problems, unless you have a lot of gold. No sense in crying over that. And I won't. Besides, my immune system can kick both Alabama and Auburn's arse on the same afternoon.... I will prevail and once again leave my enemies disappointed.

Will see Singh again on March 24. I intend to have a bounce in my step and smile on my face then, too! Meanwhile, I'm living the day....

March 24, 2011: Kept my appointment today with S & S. Blood work is good and Doogie said my lungs sound pretty good -- not much rattling at all. PET SCAN will be scheduled in a couple of weeks. Will take a round of Z-Pack antibodies before the scan to attack any lung infections that may be there. The idea is to get a better image and minimize any false readings. Doogie explained that the "PET is NOT a cancer test" per se and can show metabolic uptakes from infections and other gunk that may not be cancer which may have been the case with some of the readings on the last PET. Thinks the round of antibiotics will give us a more reliable test.

I'm still experiencing discomfort in my lower back but on the right side this time and some mysterious soreness in both glutes (big muscle of the buttocks) that really have no suitable explanation. Continue to be easily fatigued and all I want to do is sleep, but the good thing is I seem to be holding steady. I still have a good deal of faith in the healing powers of my own immune system. I am down to 206 pounds this morning, but that is probably due to my efforts to eat smaller meals and limiting the carbohydrates to keep the sugar levels down. The diabetes no doubt accounts for a good deal of the fatigue and lack of energy. I am not exercising like I should, but it's just so dang hard to do. Keep the prayers going if you're a mind to; they some pretty powerful stuff, I know!

April 6, 2011: Pet Scan is scheduled for Monday, April 11, 2011 in Jacksonville. Began the antibodies this morning (Z-Pak) and will complete that on Sunday prior to Pet on Monday. Nothing seems different. Still having considerable pain in lower back on right side and the mystery pain in glutes and upper thighs persists. Cough is persistent on activity. Still fatigued and sleepy all the time.

April 13, 2011: Reviewed the April 11 PET SCAN (click to see report) report with oncologist today at 2:00 p. m. Cancer persists in the lungs and has progressed some since the January study. Dr. Srinivasan recommends the resumption of chemo, same protocol: carboplatin and alimta. He makes a compelling argument for trying to get control of the lung tumors, saying if we let it go it may get out of hand. Dr. Sri (Doogie) argues that there is a good chance that chemo can arrest or controll the tumors if we start now. No evidence of cancer anywhere else, including the skeleton. This is very good news, but leaves the pain in the back, hips and upper thighs somewhat of a mystery. Dr. will schedule me an MRI in a effort to see what may causing this. To be pretty sure it is NOT cancer is good news indeed though. My guess is I have a disc slipped out of alignment or something. The MRI should be scheduled in the next few days. Return to resume the chemo on April 26, 8:45 a. m. Bottom line, things do not look as bad as they could have, and I will prevail -- AGAIN!

April 25, 2011: I finally got an MRI done on 4-21-2011, eight (8) days after Doogie said he would set it up. I'm given to understand that this stupid health insurance with United Health the Great State of Georgia forced retirees into had to be consulted to see if they would let us have an MRI. First stages of Obama's Death Panels, I'm sure. On top of that, it's been five (5) days now, including the weekend, of course, since I had the MRI and I've heard diddley-shit from anybody about the results until this morning. Doogie's office called and wanted to see me this afternoon at 3:00 p. m. I have an appointment with Dr. Bellecci this afternoon and so I can't make it over to Doogie's. Besides, I have an appointment already scheduled with Doogie tomorrow to start my chemo back up. He'll no doubt give me the MRI results then. I guess everybody is doing the best they can, but I can say that my unequivocal opinion is that nobody seems to give a shit about old folks with serious health problems. Maybe Obama is right, they just ought to shoot us and be done with it! Okay, I know I'm whining, but believe me, the prospect of going back on chemo doesn't make me real happy! So cut me some slack if you can. And keep those prayers going!

Late P. M. When I got to Dr. Bellecci's office this afternoon I learned that she had chased down a report of my MRI findings from the hospital and she and Doogie conferred and I went over to Doogie's office after all and went over the MRI which apparently the damn circuit riding-indepedent contractor radiologists that the hospital here has hired to read imaging results, apparently over the Internet from their easy chairs in their living rooms, had not bothered to send the report to my referring physicians. The report is highly suspect (that is completely inconsistent with the PET SCAN done earlier this month) to boot so I'm going to try and go back down to the Baptist Cancer Center to see the folks who did my last radiation. Maybe they'll have enough competence to separate the wheat from the chaff. Anyway, the chemo scheduled to begin tomorrow has been canceled until we can get a handle on just what is causing the back pain, etc. They'll probably wind up doing another MRI. I don't know. Would suit me fine since I've lost all faith in the nincompoops in the local Radiology Departmet here.

April 26, 2011: Spoke at length with Dr. Schoeppel at Baptist Cancer Institute in Jacksonville today. Appointment with her on Monday, May 2, 2011. Overnighted the MRI and back x-rays to them this afternoon. Hopefully they'll be able to reconcile the differences in the MRI and PET SCAN. I may be dating Novalis again, that big ole radiosurgery machine I hung out with for awhile early last year.

May 2, 2011: Made my appointment with Dr. Schoeppel, Baptist Cancer Institute. News is not good. Seems the sloppy radiology work rests entirely with the PET SCAN folks in Jacksonville. My apologies to Satilla (with the exception of the fact they took their sweet time in getting reports back to us and ignoring my request for Dr. Griffin to read it). Schoeppel and team agree with the findings of my MRI report from Satilla and showed me the evidence from both the 4-11-11 PET and the MRI. They recommend another round of radio-surgery with the Novalis machine. I agreed and hope to get started with that next week. They'll do five (5) shots at the right side of L4. Remember, the last tumor was on the left. Chemo will be again postponed until I get through with radiation. Seems I'm starting all over, but it's that way when you don't kill the enemy. They'll come back to haunt you.

May 4, 2011: Just completed "hump day" on the five straight days of radiation in Jacksonville. Pain in back greatly reduced and that makes me extremely happy I'm telling you. That's probably more due to the steroids (Decadrone) they are giving me daily than anything but the radio surgery may be contributing. Who cares! The only problem is the steroids are elevating my sugar. Not one damn thing it's another! I'm scheduled to begin chemo again on Monday. Yuk! But a baby's got to what a baby's got to do don't you know? I'm still hell bent on fighting this sucker off again. Keep those prayers going for me if you're mind to. If not, don't screw it for the rest of us!

May 13, 2011: Concluded the radio-surgery on the Novalis Tx Machine today. Went well, best I can tell. No real side effects with the exception of a little beatdown/fatigue but the Decadrone (Steroid) has kept me pumped up pretty well. Back pain is greatly diminished, but still present on standing, walking, twisting. To resume chemo on Monday, 5-16-2011. Still coughing. Weigh 200 pounds. Blood sugar still elevated but below 200 fasting. Not mentally alert; in fact, am kinda foggy-headed. My friend, W. Lynn Taylor, died this past Wednesday. We were diagnosed with cancer about the same time. He weighs heavily on my mind. I will miss him.

May 16, 2011: Resumed chemo this morning. Only took me three (3) hours this time. Something's got to be wrong with a dude who deliberately goes to so much time, trouble, aggravation and expense to beat himself down with poison; just trying to live, I guess! Dr. Sri started me out with a B-12 shot, put me back on folic acid, prescribed a cough medicine which cost me $60 bucks (insurance, naturally, doesn't pay) and he wants me to take the Decadrone 4MG every other day. This on top of all the other crap I take. I'm a walking drug store: Plavix, Digoxin, Glyburide, Folic Acid, Zebeta, Neurontin, Cough Syrup, Decadrone, Aspirin 81 Will see cardiologist Wednesday. He'll probably disagree with the other docs taking me off Lipitor and put my ass back on that, too! Treatment Cycle: chemo every three weeks. Another PET in 9 weeks. Good news? Yeah, some. Dr. Sri feels confident I'll get a good response from the chemo and get the lung cancer back under control; this apparently based on the good respone I had before. Hope springs enternal. Keep the prayers going for me if you will. Thanks.

May 23, 2011: Post Chemo week god-awful and that's putting it kindly. Chemo following week of radiation may have exaggerated the misery. Really beat down; mouth raw, lot discomfort in back still and can't eat well. Down to 195 pounds. Haven't weighed this little since I played football at Tennessee. Went in for blood work this morning. Numbers all acceptable. Pulse rate up to 121 -- a/fib still. Was down to 64 later today though. Got to get off the Decadrone, but blood sugar still hasn't shot over 200 fasting. Damned if you do and damaned if don't. Without the steroid the back is much worse. Two more weeks and back for another Chemo.

June 9, 2011: Had 2nd Chemo of this Cycle on Monday. Hit me hard today, but it's tolerable. Sore mouth, constipation, nausea, incredible fatigue, pain in back and legs still and tiredness. Am not very good company, but am still trucking. In Monday for blood checks.

June 27, 2011: Had the third chemo of this cycle this morning. Blood work was acceptable. Got a dose of Zometa today also (rebuilds bone, etc.). Am doing all right with the usual problems of chemo. According to Doogie, he will schedule a Pet Scan in "about two weeks" or whenever this sorry-ass state health insurance will let me have another Pet. Keeping the faith!

July 9, 2011: Poison free since the 27th of June and am slowly making a comeback. Am waiting for a Pet Scan to be scheduled. Standing and walking is still quite difficult as the legs are about shot with neuropathy and whatever. Eating a little better. Weight at 193. Still subject to coughing spells which leave me exhausted and everybody around me irritated. I'm not good company so I try not to get out and around people too much.

August 3, 2011: Finally got the Pet Scan today at Satilla Regional. Met the truck side the road about 10:45 a. m. (had an 11 o'clock appointment). Can't say the operation was worthy of emulation in terms of timeliness and efficiency but hopefully competence will show up in there somewhere. Don't know what it is about the local medical community (not inclusive, of course) but they seem to have had a number of training sessions on how to NEVER be on time and other ways to piss off the patient. First, they asked me for a $95.00 co-payment; they never mentioned this on two telephone calls on Tuesday while getting me registered. Plus, I've never paid a co-payment for a half dozen PETs done in Jacksonville previously. Anyway, they didn't run me off but took me in some 1.5 hours after my appointment time and apparently will bill me for anything I owe them.

I may have discovered the reason for the delay after I got to the trailer. Some dude (could have been the truck driver, I don't know) in a cowboy shirt and baseball cap was hanging all over the technicians (they were attractive to be sure) and just hung around leering at me when I got on the scan table. I suppose that's what the dude did with every patient, but I didn't ask and nobody volunteered any info on who the hell the guy was. Like I said, my best guess would be that he was the truck driver. Hardly gave the impression of a first rate operation... Took me the best part of 3 hours to get an hour procedure done!

Anyway, I'm given to understand the Scan will be read directly and that my doctor should have the results by Friday. Reckon I should get the truck driver to come in for my doctor's appointment?

August 5, 2011: Doctor's office called. Set me an appointment for Tuesday at 9:45. I suppose we'll review the scan results and plan from there. Keeping my fingers crossed.

Agust 9, 2011: Met with Oncologist this morning to review Pet Scan (Click HERE to read for yourself). Last cycle of chemo doesn't seem to have helped much. Cancer looks about the same, still pretty much confined to both lungs and still some "hypermetabolic areas at the right perdicle of L4 and the posterior arch of L3." Still no evidence of cancer in major organs. Doctor recommends changing chemo protocol and feels, given my history, chances of keeping the disease stablilized and/or not spreading is fairly good. It is doubtful I will ever get rid of the cancer though and goal is now palliative (meaning make you feel as good as possible under the circumstances.) As the doc said, I've already beaten the available statistics for Stage IV Lung Cancer. I've decided to try the new drugs and will begin next Tusday, August 16. Will have weekly treatments and then one week off and then repeat. I should know how I'm going to tolerate the treatment by September. Thanks for your prayers and concern.

August 16, 2011: I got started with the new poison this morning. Had a 9 a. m. appointment. Left a few minutes after 2 p. m. Five (5) hours in the horror pit. There's something wrong with that, but what else do I have to do? Weight is holding at 195. Blood work is fairly normal. Hoping the new poison doesn't treat me too badly. Football season is almost here. Hope I can get on my feet well enough to at least see the local high school games. Again, thank you for your prayers and concerns.

September 10, 2011: Had weekly chemo on 8-23 and 8-30. I asked to have two (2) weeks off instead of the one planned. Dr. Sri had no problem with that. I'm seriously thinking about taking another week off. Am not doing real well with this chemo; feel like death warmed over. Don't know what to do, but I'm beginning to feel as though I would feel much better without the treatment. But then it might kill me. Life is full of shitty decisions, isn't it? I've been coughing so much that it just exhausts me. It's taking two hours or more to get out of bed, wash-up and get my clothes on in the morning. I've lost a lot of lung function in the past two to three weeks. Wondering about my oxygen levels. Will discuss with Doctor next time I'm in on the 13th. Weight has dropped to 189.

A new drug for a "small number" of Non Small Cell Lung Cancer patients has been released that I'm talking to the Doctor about. The drug is crizotinib (Xalkori). It seems "the twice-daily capsules are meant for patients with non-small cell lung cancer who have a unique gene known as an abnormal anaplastic lymphoma kinase(ALK). An ALK gene causes cancer growth and development." My understanding is only about 5% of patients are ALK positive and the drug is extremely expensive. (What else is new?) My doctor says he will test my tumor(s) for ALK. Keep your fingers crossed. Thanks.

September 13, 2011: Canceled the chemo appointment for today. Will consult with Dr. Sri next Tuesday, September 20, 2011. He'll probably be displeased with my decision(s) about the chemo. But I am growing more doubtful that I can tolerate more poisoning. It is what it is!

September 20, 2011: Wife, oldest son and I met with Dr. Srinivasan this morning. Long story short: Dr. Sri has ordered the ALK test to see if I might be a candidate for the new drug crizotinib (Xalkori). Not much hope here since only about 5% of patients are positive. There is some improvement in overall feeling of malaise, fatigure and tiredness since stopping the chemo. I am three (3) weeks out from last poisoning. Am extremely short of breath, however, and Dr. Sri suggested I try a little oxygen. Okay. He'll have provider come by my house. Doubt seriously that I need oxygen 24/7 but will try a little and see if it improves things any at all.

NOTE: ALK test could not be done. Doc said the pathologist claimed my biopsy sample has "calcified" and the only way to do the test would be to get a new biopsy. Dr. Sri does not recommend doing that in light of the percentages: only about 5% of patients test positive. Dropping the idea for the time being.

(Later in the day) The oxygen vendor showed up with papers and oxygen equipment. They would provide oxygem and bill my Medicare Advantage Plan ONLY if I signed up for oxygen 24 hours per day and apparently a longterm committment. Another example of the widespread corruption/stealing from Medicare that is going on in America. I rejected the deal and would not sign. Will discuss with Dr. Sri next Tuesday.

I also agreed to try a pill per day drug the name of which I missed. (Tarceva, 150 MG is the name.) Dr. says the worse side effect of this drug may be a rash. Will give it a try.

All in all here's the skinny: I'm off chemo therapy and while I may try some other stuff if it does me badly I'll just stop it. Again, in short, my fate is in the hands of God and my natural immune system. I've already beaten the odds by a considrable margin. Who says I won't continue to beat the odds?

September 27, 2011: Great day today. Four of my friends I played ball with at Tennessee flew in for lunch today. We enjoyed an hour or so of each other's company and they lifted my spirits considerably. The guys took off from the local airport about 2:00 p. m. and I made my appointment with Dr. Srinivasan at 3:00 p. m. and FedEx delivered the new medicine late this evening (Tarceva 150mg). I'm going to try the Tarceva for awhile. I'll take the first pill in the morning. Doc said I sure looked better and that my outlook and attitude was good. I told him that's what a visit from some good friends would do for you.

Anyway, I'll keep you posted on how I do on the new pill. My guess is it's going to kick ass!

October 6, 2011: Been taking the Tarceva about 9 to 10 days now. So far no rash as we were expecting, but I have developed some diarrhea. You were dying to know that, weren't you? Anyway, the diarrhea is being controlled fairly well with Imodium. I think maybe the Tarceva contributes a bit to the fatigue and sleepiness, too. Moreover, it seems to mess up taste buds a little but nothing like the chemo I was on. All in all, I'm a miserable excuse for a healthy human being but I'm still standing and can still get around a little. Went over to Longhorn's in Brunswick last night with my good friend RR (Lester Walker) and ate dinner. I wasn't good company and didn't eat very well, but I sure enjoyed visiting with Les and his wife.

Will see Dr. Srinivasan again on Wednesday, October 12, 2011.

October 13, 2011: Happy birthday to me. I made 72. Only 8 years to 80! Saw the oncologist yesterday. Blood work is good. Seem to be doing okay. Saw Dr. Bellecci today. Blood sugar was 123. She stopped the Glyburide and told me to check my sugar fasting in the morning every few days and if I spiked up to 160 to 170 to resume the Glyburide for a few days. Still subject to coughing spells, especially upon exertion. Am still very short of breath and activity limited. Watching a lot of football and I am ahead of the Man!

Dr. said he would order a Pet Scan early November.

October 23, 2011: Pet Scan scheduled for Wednesday, October 26, 2011. I've been feeling a little better the last few days. Hopefully the PET will return some positive news.

October 31, 2011: Saw Dr. Singh this morning and reviewed my last PET SCAN. (Click on PET SCAN to read report.) The report. confirms the presence of "bilateral hypermetabolic pulmonary metastases" (which means tumors/cancer) but "there has been an overall decrease in the size of the metastases in comparison with the last study."

All other organs are free of cancer. "The previously described hypermetobolic areas at the right pedidcle of L4 and the posterior os of L3 are not seen in the current study indicating again response to therapy."

Dr. Singh calls this a "very good report" and I agree. It may be that the pill Tarceva will slow down progress of the cancer for several more months. Got three (3) new prescriptions: anti-depressant, anti-nausea and pro-apetite! Weight down to 179 now!

Thanks for the prayers and all the nice notes. I still intend to live until I'm 80!

November 9, 2011: Hanging tough. Seem to be tolerating the Tarceva pill pretty well and I dang sure feel better since stopping the poison(s) back in August, although it should be noted that I ain't no spring chicken. Am still weak, wobbly and pretty miserable, but my head is clearer. Even won a couple of chess games on the computer at Level 6.

Still very short of breath, am given to prolonged coughing spells, cannot eat very well. Weigh 182 though, which is a small gain. Family says my hair is coming back slowly although I can't tell. I look in the mirror and I look pretty much like a cancer patient.

I am reading a lot about non-conventional, "natural" cancer treatments. Don't know what to make of it all. There are sure a lot of charltons both inside and out of the "Cancer Industry." I don't know about you, but I'm convinced that stealing from the sick and infirmed is about the lowest form of thievry there is! But, hey, you can lift a lot of money off one who wants only to live awhile longer, right? That's the American way!

Thanks for checking on me. Keep the prayers going. Talk to you later.

December 4, 2011: Life's a bitch and only gets worse with age. I'm doing all right for a man in my condition. All the problems I've mentioned are still with me, but it does seem the Tarceva is slowing the Big C's effort to kill me. Fight on!

Went to see eye doc yesterday. Cataract on good eye (I only have one) is progressing; doc said he was ready to remove it when I am. I asked him if I would likely do any harm by putting it off; he said no and I said then we'll wait and see what the Reaper does. I can still drive, see the computer screen and read what I have to. May consider having the cataract removed if and when I can no longer do those things. What the hell!

Will see the oncologist on the 15th. That's it for me this time. Waiting on 4 o'clock to see how Georgia does with LSU. That may be ugly....

December 15, 2011: Saw Dr. Srinivasan (oncologist) today for follow-up, port flush and blood work. Blood work all good; hemoglobin "normal" and the doc seemed pleased with that. He was quite concerned about the continuiing weight loss and instructed me at length on some things to try to get more nutrients and calories in. Cancer cachexia is probably the right term for what he is saying, a wasting away of tissue, first noticeable in the temple area of the face, etc. I certainly look like a cancer patient these days. I weigh 175 poulds now. Will begin daily doses or Ensure, Juven, etc. High calorie milkshakes and anything else I can get down. Eating is a real problem. Have got to do better on this front.

Dr. said he would try to get another Pet Scan scheduled before the year is out, but I doubt he'll be able to get this sorry-assed insurance to approve another one so close to the last one I had. I think the doctor wants to see if the Tarceva that I'm taking is doing any good. He seems to think it is. I do, too.

I remain a big believer in Divine intervention so keep the prayers and positive thoughts going for me. I'll do the same.

December 31, 2011: Excuse the delay in getting 2011 closed out, but new miseries have visited my family and I just have not been in the mood. Grandson, Chase Brauda, has been diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia and is presently being treated at Wolfson in Jacksonville. I've been pretty much speechless since then. Some things in life seem so pointless. I feel so helpless.

Major screw up in getting my next PET SCAN authorized. Seems the diagnosis was sent in wrong from the oncologist's office. They're in the process of requesting an authorization again. Paying no more attention to detail than they did on this would suggest that my own treating team has written me off, too. But I ain't so easy to get rid of. I'm still upright. My existence is not much fun but I do exist.

Say a prayer or so for my grandson. Thanks.

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