One Down - Two to Go

First of all, I apologize for neglecting to update this sooner. I only have 2 excuses. First, I have been waiting for the outcome of my one-year-from-end-of-treatment exams. Second, I have been busy enjoying my approach to 100% of my new normal.

Now the news - I recently was examined by Drs. Yom and Fong, had an MRI to check for visible tumors in the original sites and possible metathesis to the brain, had a chest x-ray to check for metathesis to the lungs and bloodwork to check for radiation damage to my thyroid. They all came back clean, so after 1 year there is no sign of cancer!

I now have 2 more years before the probability of recurrence of the original cancer becomes improbable. The first year is really focused on making sure that the tumors we knew about have been eradicated at the macro level - that is, there are no visible (to the eye, MRI and x-ray) or palpable lumps.

The next two years will be looking for new growths that could come from individual cancer cells that survived either by being tough enough to live through the chemo-radiation or were lucky enough to have moved out of the planned radiation pathways before we started treatment and so only had to deal with the chemo which isn't nearly as effective on its own.

There have been a few continuing challenges since my last update. After my initial jawbone emersion sloughed off like an old scab, I had two more emerge a week later. They hung around for a few weeks and then a new differently shaped one appeared. The first 3 were flat and somewhat circular and were even with my gum tissue. The fourth one was like a small spear. It would rub against my tongue whenever my tongue moved. I now realize how much a tongue normally moves during talking, eating and drinking. There were probably some folks who didn't see limitations to my talking as a problem. ;-) But the spear lasted for weeks and I couldn't eat longer that 10-15 minutes without needing to stop because it just hurt too much. This put a real crimp in my plans to gain weight and in fact I lost a few pounds. The good news is that my oral surgeon finally judged it dead and ready to be peeled off and I haven't had another one emerge for the last 2 months.

Since the last report I've gained 10 pounds (mostly from pigging out on confit in France). I am now at the same weight I was as a college freshman! I know most of my readers wish that were true for them but I don't recommend my diet plan regardless of its effectiveness. ;-)

My other big change in my life is that after more than 20 years as a Team Leader for Oronite I decided to step down and return to being just a research guy again. I've always liked the R&D part of the job most and over the last few years the bureaucratic parts of the job started to exceed the fun research parts. My cancer gave me an opportunity to reevaluate my priorities and my company gave me the opportunity to act on them. So far I've enjoy the job more although I'm busier than ever from picking up new projects and not shedding much from the old job yet. I expect that will continue for a while especially since I keep finding new interesting things to add to my portfolio.

The job change is just part of my new normal. I accept that I'll never get back to my old normal but regretting that is counterproductive to enjoying the 2nd chance my doctors, wife and supporters have given me.

I can't drink as much wine as I once could but I am starting to be able to enjoy a glass of wine with dinner.

I don't have nearly as much saliva but I have far more than I did 8 months ago. If I forget to take water with me to a meeting or when I run an errand it's no longer a disaster; it's not even a problem.

I can't eat some of my favorite foods because they are far too spicy for me now but there are plenty of foods left that I enjoy - hint: there isn't much spicy food served in France!

I have to brush and floss my teeth far more frequently now but my teeth cleaning appointments with the dentist are much shorter than previously.

I still haven't rebuilt enough muscle and endurance to ref young adult soccer matches but I am reffing younger kids games on a regular basis and I appreciate it and love it more than ever after thinking that maybe it was taken from me forever.

I have to wear a mouth guard while I sleep and I have to put gel in my mouth before I go to bed to avoid needing to wake up frequently to drink but I still get to wake up looking at my beautiful wife!

Bottom line - although I eagerly anticipate further improvements in my side effects, I am satisfied with my life and grateful for what I have.

One Down - Two to Go!!!