End of Treatment Week 3

I started week 3 in high spirits and feeling good. I ended the week in pretty much the same place. The most noticeable change is that I can swallow better. That means the tumor is smaller and it will be easier to eat and maintain my weight.

You can see me hanging out with my two best girls at chemotherapy on Tuesday. That’s Ivi on my right and Janet on my left. This is the final week that I get an Iron infusion which takes about two hours. I got in this chair around 8:45 am and out at 2:30 pm. Next week, I should be in and out in four hours.

Every week I get blood work done the day before chemotherapy. I’m particularly interested in seeing what’s going on with my hemoglobin. For a man my age, the value should fall within the range of 120 - 140. Mine was 84 this week so it is pretty much the same at it has been for weeks. No one seems to be concerned or is there any expectation it will change.

There were two other important statistics from my blood work that are low:

• Total Protein
• White Blood Cell Count

Protein helps make enzymes, hormones, and other body chemicals to regulate water balance and help make muscles contract. To correct, I need to increase my consumption of protein-rich foods. We make morning smoothies with plant-based protein powder. It can be added to other meals during the day.

The reduced white blood cell count is expected as a side effect of chemotherapy. What this means is I will not be able to effectively fight infection. My immune system is compromised which is particularly problematic during Flu season. I am now wearing a mask in public and we use antiseptic wipes on surfaces throughout the house. For example, when I work in the kitchen, I will wipe the handles on the taps, stove and fridge just to be safe. Also, I’m washing my hands all the time to reduce the chance of ingesting something with a coincidental touch to my face and mouth.

Today we dropped into Costco to pick up a few things on the way home after radiation. At the entrance, they were passing out antiseptic wipes to clean the handles on the carts. It caught me off guard to see this but the global concern over coronavirus is appropriate and if I get sick right now, it would have a huge negative impact on my capacity to tolerate my cancer treatment. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Another change this week is I started to wear my wedding band on a chain. Last weekend, I woke up from a nap, headed downstairs and discovered my band was missing. Naturally I headed upstairs expecting to find it in bed but frankly I couldn’t remember when I last noticed it on my finger. Failing to find it in bed, I started to reconstruct my movements during the day. They included a lunch at the Public Pint Ale House, a show at Neptune and a visit to MEC on the way home. I placed calls to all those places but could only leave messages.

I’m not prone to anxiety but I’ve had that band on my finger for almost 42 years. I was getting physically sick thinking I may have lost it. I scoured the car, driveway garage and headed upstairs to make another search in our bedroom. Eureka! I found it on the floor on Janet’s side of the bed. It slipped off while I was sleeping.

I expect my weight will increase once I get past cancer so it doesn’t make sense to have the band resized. For now, it makes more sense to hang it on a chain. By the way, I am preparing to be baptized at Easter. I decided it was time to wear a cross so now my band is around my neck and under the protection of a cross. Life is good.

I mentioned earlier that my tumor is smaller so I can swallow better. The radiation will continue to kill cancer cells so the tumor will shrink more. However, the radiation is damaging normal body cells in the location of the tumor and I’m starting to show redness on my chest which is pretty much a sunburn. I have been warned that the internal damage to normal cells will cause inflammation and swelling which will make it difficult to swallow for a different reason. Also, I can expect to have a sore throat all the time. As well, with the tumor so close to my lungs, there is likely to be damage resulting in a nagging cough. Ye ha!

Two weeks to go and treatments will be done. There is a chance an additional week of treatment will be added if I’m in good shape during week 5 but that is a decision for down the road.

After the end of treatment, I will have a four to six week period to clear the chemo drugs from my tissues and allow my immune system to recover. Then I head into surgery to have my esophagus removed and stomach stretched up and reattached to what remains at around the level of my nipples. Once that heals, I’ll need to learn how to swallow again.

Are we having fun yet?

As always, thanks for being at my side during this journey. It means a lot to me.

Peace, Love and Laughter
Phil