Upper Haight flat-mates 1967 SF Summer of Love
As Week Four came to a close, my weight last Friday morning was 138.6 lbs. During Week Five, my major source of food/protein/intake has been the stomach peg. Swallowing has become quite difficult, and the process so slow that I could never get enough calories through the ol’ esophagus. So, thank you stomach peg, for being there. I couldn’t survive without you. Most days through Week Five, Carol pumped six to eight cans of “Osmolite” High-Protein Nutrition, with 285 calories per eight ounce can, getting me between 1700 and 2300 calories a day through the peg.
The easiest thing for me to eat ‘normally’ is eggs…a nice scramble with hard cheese and a dollop of cream. It goes down smoothly, and in fact smoother than a ‘smoothie’. How about that! The scramble adds good protein to the mix, as the eggs are organic, fresh from California farms that never use antibiotics, synthetic hormones, toxic pesticides, or GMOs. And they provide 225 mg’s of Omega-3 (and they come in recycled cartons). I am eating very little beyond the eggs.
Some Frat-boys in 1962
We met with the radiation oncologist on Monday. She suggested using the numbing mouth wash to ease the pain, and also prescribed a liquid that will coat the esophagus. She said the pain will get worse over the next two weeks, and that I shouldn’t be a ‘stoic’ or a martyr. If the pain gets beyond the range of the ‘med marj’ she said I should start using the morphine, at lower doses, to see how that works. Normal dosage is five ml’s (equal to one teaspoon).
Frat-boys now, at Whitehawk reunion
On Tuesday I developed a slight fever, 101. According to the chemo protocol instructions, if the fever is 100.5 I can just take a couple tylenol, but over 100.5 I should call the doctor, and if it’s after hours, go to the ER. Well, I noticed the fever at 7:15 pm, after clinic hours, and after Urgent Care hours. When I went to the ER a couple weeks ago, I was there until midnight. Didn’t want to do that again, so I just took two tylenol and went to bed, had a good night’s sleep, and the fever was gone by morning. HA!
Some of my 8th Grade Notre Dame classmates, many years later
On Wednesday we saw the chemo oncologist. She was happy with my blood work, everything looking good. I talked to her about my arsenal of meds and the pain I was having. She said to take the morphine, it’s only short term, maybe four weeks. I also told her about my 101 fever. I mentioned that I had done some stretches the day before and got sore. She laughed and said stretching usually doesn’t cause a fever. I told her I also had a massage…she said that doesn’t usually cause a fever either. She was also happy with all my vital signs, blood pressure, lungs, and heart. After five hours of chemo, we went into Sacramento for my daily dose of radiation. And that was the night I took the first of the morphine doses (2 ml’s each).
During the week I had an occasion spot of tea with a THC/CBD honey stick for some relief. It served as a nice relaxant but didn’t do a lot for the pain. Also tried an eye-dropper of 20 to 1 CBD/THC under the tongue. I think it helped….don’t know for sure.
Zip-lining at Puerto Vallarta
On Thursday, we had a follow up appointment with the ‘wound’ nurse to check out my peg buttons, which had gotten a bit red. She said they looked better. Then Carol pointed out a red rash that had developed on my back, perhaps coincidentally after my first morphine usage. Nurse looked at it, didn’t think it looked too bad, but did prescribe an ointment to put on it. We were quite satisfied with the help from the wound nurse.
Friday brought the last day of radiation for the week. Thank goodness. But I must digress for a moment. One of the radiation therapists I’ve seen Monday through Friday for the past five weeks, a very pleasant young lady named Jackie, is going to Kauai on Saturday with her husband and two small children. Being somewhat of an experienced Kauai traveler, I shared my Kauai book with her that identified the good beaches, where to eat, where to hike, where the Costco is, all that kind of stuff. She was most appreciative, and it was a fun topic of conversation over the past few weeks. She will miss my last week of radiation (next week), but I will stop by when I have a follow up with the radiation oncologist, and get a de-briefing from Jackie on her Kauai time. She was in the military and did a three month deployment in Kuwait. I asked her if she carried a gun there. She said yes, two. Nice lady, but watch out!
Hiking in Italy
Introducing the morphine into my daily intake will probably cause a change in my BM’s. I’ll have to balance the effect of the morphine with the impact of the Colace stool softener. I’ll keep you informed.
A couple of questions I have for my oncologist team next week include: as the tumor shrinks, where does it go? Does it just disappear, or does it slough off and move down into the stomach and thence out? The other question is process-oriented: when I was first diagnosed, and the doctors all had their turns consulting with me, did they then sit down together and decide on a particular approach? Did the chemo and radiation oncologists work together on their mixture of chemicals and radiation power, or are those issues figured out within their respective fields? I’ll let you know.
Boyhood swimming hole at Challenge property
In the meantime, this Friday’s weight was 138.4 lbs. And we are on to the last treatment week.
Hi Chris,
Today’s blog left me feeling “set jawed” for the first time; as it appears the negative effects of your treatments are really starting to punish you. It is good there is only one more week before you get a chance to recover from the onslaught of chemicals and radiation you have been enduring. In that regard, I continue to be amazed by your acceptance of everything that has come your way in the past two months. You seem like a sweet and loving guy, but in truth you are tougher than an old boot. I suspect you are learning a lot.
My love and admiration for you grows each week.
Your friend,
Don
Hello Mr G’s –
Very nice to read your latest update and to learn that all seems to be going according to plan. Sorry you have to deal with that pain in your throat. My experience from a few surgeries (e.g., hip replacement) leads me to agree with your docs who are telling you to use the pain meds as needed and don’t be a “martyr”. I used primarily hydracordone at varying strength levels. It really controlled the pain, caused no significant side effects other than improved sleep, and I had no difficulty weening myself from it when no longer needed. Very useful stuff! Hope you arrive at a regimen of meds that works well for you!
We are leaving tomorrow for our family vacation at Kauai. Maybe we will run into Jackie there! We’re thinking about you and will be in touch when we return. Our very best to you and Carol.
Jerry and I are reading your great blog we are Sorry you have to go through this ordeal but what strength you have!!! Keep up the spirit
Jerry wants to know what the hell happened to the Giants
We pray for you always 🙏
Okay your Two Tech genius friends just figured out how to get your blog🙄
Hang in there and “take the drugs” that’s what they’re for, cancer patients.
Love to you and Carol,
MA
Just read all your blogs.You are stupendous writer.Glad it’s you going thru this and not me.I would cry myself to sleep every night after a bottle of vodka.Looking forward to Wales. Have a good “poop”!
CG. I always enjoy you weekly blog. Since you are at least semi-pro at note taking and journaling I’m sure you find it a breeze. Give you a little bit of data and you are at your best. Speaking of drugs, you should set aside some of the best when we might need them on our next trail hike on the Pacific Crest Trail. My best to you and Carol.
A. J.
Hi Chris! I’m so loving your blog. I truly admire your strength and wit during this ordeal. Great questions for your doctors as I wondered the same. Hang in there and take the meds. Love to you and Carol.
Debbie
Thank you, Debbie. We have reached the last week….yahoo!!
Chris
Debbie, WHAT are we going to do about those Giants? They need a major overhaul, that seems for sure!
Nonetheless,
Giant hugs,
Chris
Chris –
When you say that the chemo oncologist is “happy with your blood work”, what does that mean? What is she looking for? Does she modify the chemo dosage after evaluating your blood?
Love,
ML
ML,
The chemo oncologist has me go in for blood work every Tuesday (the day before my chemo session) to see if there is any tinkering she needs to do with the chemo ‘formula.’ So far, there’s been no surprises in the blood work…everything is looking as it should, so that’s good.
love,
chris
Chris –
When you say that the chemo oncologist is “happy with your blood work”, what does that mean? What is she looking for? Does she modify the chemo dosage after evaluating your blood?
Love,
ML
Hey Chris, wanted to check in, say Hi and let you know we’re keeping track of you. What a trooper. That’s the only way to deal with this cancer crap; head on, head strong and a positive attitude. And you certainly have all the above. Here’s to clear sailing soon! Treatments, then surgery, then recovery and you’re back in the saddle! Just visualize that big Thanksgiving feast! I know those damn giants (notice the small ‘g’) aren’t helping with the pain much. Kauai is in our near future too so we’ll need to take a look at that ‘book’
Take Care and know you are in our thoughts daily. Hi to Carol and the Crew,
Jerry
Hey Jerry,
I am doing a lot of visualizing right now, and it’s mainly for a cheesy piece of pizza!!!
chris
Hang in There Christopher
Just a few more days and hopefully things start looking up. Love your blog and your sharing a life time of experiences via photos. Looking forward to many more good times with you and Carol. So glad you are getting good reports on your overall health. With so many positive vibes coming your way it won’t be long and you’ll get your life back again.
Your loving friends,
Erbo n Min
Thanks for the update you are a trooper.
Hi Chris,
Another friend of mine has recently been diagnosed with advanced colon cancer, and will embark on the path of Chemo & radiation as soon as his wound from the colostomy heals. If it is OK with you, I would like to refer him & his wife to your blog, as I believe it would be of benefit for them to get a preview of what to expect from the perspective of someone currently in treatment.
Let me know if you approve. Your friend,
Don
Hey Don,
Absolutely…please share my blog site with your colon cancer friend. I had a two-part objective in doing this blog: one, to let friends and family know what I was experiencing; and, two, to share it with anybody who might have to face the same type of treatment down the road…sort of a heads up on what they might expect.
Your bud,
Chris
Hi Chris, so enjoying your weekly blog that keeps us all up to date with your progress. I’m thrilled to hear your still able to consume eggs and your scramble sounds delish (esp with the cream). You truly amaze me in how positive you are through all of this. Not everyone in your situation would or could be. I really believe our minds play a huge role in fighting disease and healing; I see this daily with patients in our practice. You truly are an inspiration to all of us!! Keep up the good fight young man, we still need to get you and Carol back in the saddle (literally) and off into the back country with our HP group! Healing prayers and thoughts coming your way. Love to you and Carol!