Monday, August 22, 2011

Two Steps Forward and One Step Back

It seems like this is a recurring theme. I had two oncologist exams recently. In June I met with Dr. Fong at Kaiser and had my usual physical exam and had my throat scoped. In August I met with Dr. Yom at UCSF and had another physical and bloodwork done. The verdict for both exams were the same: no sign of the cancer returning. The probabilities of it returning now are pretty low but statistics don't really apply to a sample size of one so although the numbers are comforting, the doctors will never pronounce me cured. That's OK. I'll take what I've got.
The one step back was my dental checkup. I get my teeth cleaned and examined every 4 months. I brush at least 3 times a day, at least once with a prescription level fluoride and I floss at least once a day. My dental cleaning is almost no scraping since I have very little plaque. My appointment in August found a dangerous crack forming on a premolar in the most irradiated section of my lower jaw and 4 caries underneath 4 fillings. So over the next month I'll get a new crown and 4 new fillings.
I did ask Dr. Yom if the danger of oesteoradionecrosis from tooth extractions will ever go away and she said no. The lack of sufficient saliva in my mouth means that acid foods do significant damage to my teeth and the bacteria that cause tooth decay thrive. So now I'm on a new more intensive dental protection regime. I have special basic toothpaste and a mouth rinse which contains sodium hydroxide and the active ingredient in bleach; I kid you not. My dentist wants the pH in my mouth to move from slightly acidic to fairly basic. So I now brush after I eat or drink anything but water and rinse twice a day with my basic bleach concoction. Unfortunately, despite some mint flavoring it tastes and smells like bleach.
Oh well it beats the alternative!
On the home front Dash and I are batching it this week as the ladies are back east visiting Bonnie's mom and dropping Carolyn off at college. It certainly is quiet.

Monday, May 16, 2011

Thumbs Up at Two Years

Last week I had my two years since end of treatment exam. This one is a big one, since a clean exam at two years pumps up the probability of longer term survival significantly. Dr. Fong did a very thorough job of checking me out along with the usual probe through the nose and everything looks great!
I told Bonnie earlier that if I passed this one I was going to buy a new sports car. This is no mid-life crisis. It's a life celebration. Plus the family sedan I drive is now 19 years old. It's still running fine and I plan to keep it but I'm going to go for something a bit more fun!
I took Bonnie out to look at the models I was considering and to discuss colors. When I told her that had narrowed it down to 2 models and each had its attractions. She said, "Well in that case, you should buy both of them." What a gal. We had a laugh later when our good friend and neighbor, Vince, said the exact same thing two days later!
I'm not done with exams. I have 2 more in August; one at Kaiser and one at UCSF. Actually I look forward to them and I would be very disappointed if Dr. Fong didn't stick that probe down my nose. It's something that not everyone would understand I guess.
Bye bye for now. Stay well. Have fun. Play nice.