Thursday, September 14, 2006
Pet Scan & Cat Scan
It strikes me that there must be a dog scan out there somewhere, probably involving a long, wet, cold, dog-nose like probe - surprised I haven't been asked to have one yet (and don't even get me started on ferret scans).
I have my dual scans tonight at 5. I am supposed to be there at 4:45 so I'll leave work around 4:15. I am not allowed to eat or drink for 6 hours before the scans so I haven't had anything since 11. While I did my best to stock up beforehand, I'm getting hungry now. And thirsty. Of course they have this really vile stuff I have to drink gallons of just before the exam so that will take care of my thirst and likely my hunger too.
I believe that the results should be immediately available, at least that was my experience with my previous cat scan. I don't believe that the scans will be too physically traumatic so I hope to post the results sometime this evening - likely after I get something to eat - so stay tuned.
I have my dual scans tonight at 5. I am supposed to be there at 4:45 so I'll leave work around 4:15. I am not allowed to eat or drink for 6 hours before the scans so I haven't had anything since 11. While I did my best to stock up beforehand, I'm getting hungry now. And thirsty. Of course they have this really vile stuff I have to drink gallons of just before the exam so that will take care of my thirst and likely my hunger too.
I believe that the results should be immediately available, at least that was my experience with my previous cat scan. I don't believe that the scans will be too physically traumatic so I hope to post the results sometime this evening - likely after I get something to eat - so stay tuned.
Wednesday, September 13, 2006
The Strollers
The Strollers, the theatre group I'm a member of, had their first general meeting of the new season last night. At the end of the meeting I announced that I had been diagnosed with cancer, would be going through treatment this fall, and having surgery in early January. I'd debated, up to the moment I did it, whether this was a good idea or not but the response was tremendous. For over an hour after the meeting was over, the members, some good friends, some who've I only known in passing, talked to me and gave me their support. A number of the members are cancer survivors and had a bunch of insights to give me that I really appreciated.
My hair, which I've grown out, got mixed reviews. People either really loved it ("I never knew your hair was so curly, it's awsome") or really hated it ("it's good to see you, even with that hair"). My weight loss got overall approval - I mentioned that one of the things that sucks about the cancer is that I worked hard to change my diet and lose weight slowly and now everyone's just going to think it's the treaments. dammit. :)
Thinking about cutting my hair short so that if I do start losing it during chemo (15% chance) it won't be such a noticable change. On the other hand, part of me says to roll the dice and see what happens.
My hair, which I've grown out, got mixed reviews. People either really loved it ("I never knew your hair was so curly, it's awsome") or really hated it ("it's good to see you, even with that hair"). My weight loss got overall approval - I mentioned that one of the things that sucks about the cancer is that I worked hard to change my diet and lose weight slowly and now everyone's just going to think it's the treaments. dammit. :)
Thinking about cutting my hair short so that if I do start losing it during chemo (15% chance) it won't be such a noticable change. On the other hand, part of me says to roll the dice and see what happens.
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The one that I've been using is 'sage' which is a plugin for firefox. It's pretty cool.
Upcoming Appointments
September 14th, 5pm
I am scheduled to have a cat scan and pet scan done. These scans are to supplement the endoscopic ultrasound I described previously in ascertaining how far the cancer has spread.
September 18th
Chemotherapy begins
I am scheduled to have a cat scan and pet scan done. These scans are to supplement the endoscopic ultrasound I described previously in ascertaining how far the cancer has spread.
September 18th
Chemotherapy begins
Endoscopic Ultrasound Results
Last Friday, the 8th of September, I had an endoscopic ultrasound. This procedure was to determine how far my cancer has spread; it is highly accurate, on the order of 90%+, in detecting cancer growth in tissue but only somewhat accurate, on the order of 70%, in detecting cancer growth in lymph nodes.
My results were good - the tumor is still highly localized. While it has spread through most of the layers of the esophagus, it has not moved past it and does not appear to be in any of the lymph nodes. As I understand it, this is stage 2 cancer (or T3N0M0 for those who understand - I'll explain it's meaning in another post).
My results were good - the tumor is still highly localized. While it has spread through most of the layers of the esophagus, it has not moved past it and does not appear to be in any of the lymph nodes. As I understand it, this is stage 2 cancer (or T3N0M0 for those who understand - I'll explain it's meaning in another post).
Tuesday, September 12, 2006
Google Group hmurakami49 Created
I have just created the google group hmurakami49. If you subscribe to this group, you will get email each time I post a message to this blog. To join the group, go to:
http://groups.google.com/group/hmurakami49
and follow the instructions on that page. You will need to have or create a google account or gmail account in order to join this group, instructions on how to do so are included on the above link.
http://groups.google.com/group/hmurakami49
and follow the instructions on that page. You will need to have or create a google account or gmail account in order to join this group, instructions on how to do so are included on the above link.
Monday, September 11, 2006
A Simple Introduction
Alright, most people won't understand the name of this blog or the first post but that's okay, I'm trying to make it a bit obscure.
I went back and forth on how describe my ongoing experiences w/cancer online vs my concerns about privacy issues. In the end, I decided to create this blog and have gone to some trouble to create it anonymously; I ask you to not use my name directly here in your comments or to send me email directly referencing this site.
I plan to post pictures and to give ongoing information as it comes. I also plan to write an entry (almost) daily once I start treatment - I don't know how detailed it will be but I'll appreciate responses.
regards & thanks for reading,
Haruki
PS - hmurakami stands for Haruki Murakami, my favorite author. His main characters tend to be someone who has lost his way in life and must pursue a long, arduous, surreal quest to find his way back to his life. I feel a lot like that at the moment. His characters are aided by a wide assortment of friends and family - generally really strange folks - that help him get reconnected to the real world. This also remind me of myself and you :)
I went back and forth on how describe my ongoing experiences w/cancer online vs my concerns about privacy issues. In the end, I decided to create this blog and have gone to some trouble to create it anonymously; I ask you to not use my name directly here in your comments or to send me email directly referencing this site.
I plan to post pictures and to give ongoing information as it comes. I also plan to write an entry (almost) daily once I start treatment - I don't know how detailed it will be but I'll appreciate responses.
regards & thanks for reading,
Haruki
PS - hmurakami stands for Haruki Murakami, my favorite author. His main characters tend to be someone who has lost his way in life and must pursue a long, arduous, surreal quest to find his way back to his life. I feel a lot like that at the moment. His characters are aided by a wide assortment of friends and family - generally really strange folks - that help him get reconnected to the real world. This also remind me of myself and you :)
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