Session 3 a Lot Like Session 2 (whew)

Hi All - I've been a bit remiss on posting this week, my apologies but I have been trying to keep myself busy and it's worked out pretty well. Session 3, Round 1 has been a lot like Session 2, Round 1. Overall I've felt pretty good just a bit nauseas and I'm getting used to dealing w/that; my concentration is still not 100% but pretty decent overall. Today is Friday, which is generally my worst day. I plan to leave work a little early and take it easy at home tonight. Lorraine is bringing over some beef stew later and will hang out for a while - I really appreciate that.

For the weekend, I'm planning to go to the Noguchi Museum in Queen's on Saturday and hopefully some kind of brunch in Soho on Sunday. Maybe go see a movie if I can find anything interesting. Last Friday, I saw 'The Science of Sleep' - not a perfect movie but really imaginative and definitely worth viewing.

Got some cards recently and would like to thank everyone for sending them - they always puts a smile on my face. My sister, M, sent me another care package. More movies and food and this time I also got 'magnetics' - a magnet based building toy that she had great success with in her kindergarten class so she figured it would be good for me :) And she was right.

I also bought a satellite radio yesterday. Been using an ipod for the last few years but the problem w/it has been that I never get exposed to new music and end up listening to the same music over and over. But even in NYC, I've not been very happy with broadcast radio. T got satellite about a year ago and he's been raving about it ever since (Jerry has it too and also likes it - but he's a Howard Stern fan so it's harder to take him seriously). So I got the unit last night after work and set it up, which is what kept me busy last night, and will be playing with it over the weekend. Anyone who has Sirius Satellite service let me know what channels you tend to like.

regards,

--Dr. D.

Happy Halloween

Yesterday was a bit of a long day - chemo was all 3 meds so that takes a while and then I had my first radiation session. That involved meeting w/my doctor, Dr. M, first and then having the treatment. Dr. M says that the side-effects of radiation don't show up until after the second week so there wasn't much to talk about yet. Radiation is 5 days/week - the sessions only take about 10 minutes but you have to figure about an hour from entrance to exit. I had originally decided to have my radiation sessions in the evenings after work but, upon reflection, I've decided that morning before work will be better so that I can be free after work to walk or go shopping or whatever. They're very accomodating there and on Thursday my time will change from 6pm to 8am.

As long as the day was, I was finished by 5:30 at which point Min and I watched Cold Comfort Farm, as recommended by Peter. It was a lot of fun - tho I wish they'd used Stephen Fry a bit more :)

When I was talking w/Dr. I yesterday, I told him that I was having trouble sleeping the first few nights after chemo and wondered if it was a side-effect of one of the meds. He told me it was likely a side-effect of the steroid anti-nausea drug I take, which matches pretty well up w/the timing. Unless it was really bad, he didn't want me to take anything for it and I told him that was fine. Last night I slept pretty well, hopefully I will again tonight.

Woke up this morning feeling a bit nauseas but the meds did their work pretty well - I was a bit nauseas on and off throughout the day but nothing too bad. This week I don't seem to feel as fatigued and my concentration is better than in previous sessions. Hope it keeps up this way - I'm fighting for it.

Dropped by to see master barber jeff this morning before work. My hair is growing back unevenly, so while it wasn't *too* long it was starting to look bad. Nice and clean again now. My beard has been affected by the chemo as well - not really falling out but growing much slower. It's actally kinda nice because I don't have to shave so often and I haven't had to trim my goatee (tho I'm told it's actaully a van-dyke) - this is one side-effect I wish I could keep (the other being able to lose weight effortlessly - but I think that one is gone now :).

--Dr. D

50% Reduction in Tumor Size

Met with my oncologist, Dr. I, this morning. The results of the tests I did last week show a 50% reduction in the size of my tumor since the beginning of treatment. In particular, the blockage around my esophagus has opened up considerably which shows that my subjective experience of being able to eat more easily was right on the money. I asked Dr. I if this was particularly good result and he stated that patients at this point in the treatment with a 35% (or more) reduction in tumor size have the best long term results. So I said "then this is fantastic" to which he said "yes".

Have to run, more later

--Dr. D