Ready To Go

Well, I saw six doctors while at Stanford. I felt like a lab rat. After that, I posted my previous blog and then had some lunch. I got back to the clinic and met with the Chief of Oncology for head and neck cancer. He told me that my treatment plan was going to be perfect for my type of cancer and that the committee basically thought I was on the right path to success. He thought it was great that my treatments included the Cetuximab. I finally told him about me being selected to arm two of the clinical trial and was going to get the drug. I did not mention this to them before hand, just to get an idea about how they felt about receiving or not receiving it. He told me that I was young and well enough to get it and should be getting it. I knew then, that I was fortunate to be in the arm that was going to be getting it. It made me wonder what would I have done if I was not in the group getting the drug. Anyway, I left there reassured that I was, after everything,doing the right thing. I also felt comfortable with my decision to get things going as soon as possible now, so we could begin beating this back into oblivion. I left Palo Alto and took the scenic route back in to San Fran. My flight wasn't until 10:00 p.m. so, I had some time to kill. I headed over to Highway 1 through La Honda and up through Half Moon Bay. I did not stop until I crossed the Golden Gate Bridge. It was a cloud free day and I got some great shots of the city that I will upload here later. Got in to Atlanta, and headed straight to Piedmont. My port was scheduled to be put in this morning, and I had to check in by seven a.m. They almost needed no drugs to knock me out I was so tired. Got that taken care of and Andrea drove me back home. Took a couple of percocet's and then slept about 10 hours straight. Woke up this morning and it feels like somebody punched me in the chest. The realization of the future treatments and the painful side effects became all to real to me then. This was for real and and I now had a scar on my chest to prove it. It took a while, but later in the day, I knew I was mentally prepared for this challenge. My body was ready to take the drugs in because of the port. I am in effect, ready to go.

Greetings from California

Got in to California yesterday, and had a text message from Andrea. Called her and she confirmed with me that my concerns were over. She stated that I was slated to be in arm two of the phase three clinical trial that I agreed to be a part of. What this means, is that I would be receiving the drug cetuximab as part of my chemo and radiation treatments. This was good news to us in the fact that I had major concerns that I would not be receiving the drug, if I would have been randomized to arm one of the trial. In other words, there was only a fifty percent chance that I was going to get the drug. My roll of the dice turned out positive for me. After countless hours of research, I wanted that drug and had actually delayed my treatment start date, in my search to find out if not getting it, was a reasonable course of action. It is also part of what brought me here to Stanford. I wanted to make sure I was getting the best treatment, because my thoughts were that the first time treating this, was the best time to beat it. I did not want to come back after a recurrence a few years down the road and have to go through all of this shit again. Anyway, my first treatment starts next Tuesday the 3rd, with chemo and radiation starting the following week. My thirst for knowledge of this disease is slowly being quenched. I saw a respected doctor in Birmingham on Monday for a second opinion, and he confirmed to me that the treatment plan that I was on, would provide me the greatest chance of beating this tumor and being cancer free for good. I have just been poked and prodded by numerous doctors here in Palo Alto at Stanford U. They are now meeting and discussing my plight. I do not expect to here anything different from them, and I just might finally be at ease about my doctor's decisions and treatment plans, that they have in store for me at Piedmont. I will let you know how that goes when I get back.

The education continues.

Tomorrow I leave for the Stanford Cancer Center. Although I have received a second opinion already, and feel good about the treatment I will receive at Piedmont Hospital, the information I get at this meeting, will go a long way to help ease my mind about the steps I am taking to beat this. Check it out here. www.http://cancer.stanfordhospital.com/forPatients/services/multidisciplinaryTumorBoard/default?showVideo=fullsize

The Jouney Begins

Hello to all. This is kind of new for me, so bear with me as I try to figure this all out. As you all may know by now, I was diagnosed with tonsil cancer back on January 9th. Andrea and I are finished with trying to figure out the how and why's of this happening to me, and are moving ahead on beating this "virus" back into oblivion. This blog will be an attempt to keep all of you informed on my progress and recovery as we move down that path. You can save this link, for easy updates in the future if you want to check on my progress. I will try to write something everyday. The plan is to start my treatments next week. I am in for a helluva battle with some very shitty side effects. In the end, the prognosis is great for this type of cancer being destroyed and my hope is to be back to my regular self by the late spring or early summer. Thanks to all who have shown support with words and prayers.