My Cancer Journey

Today I'm here at The Walker Clinic getting treatment number 4. They were able to show me the CT pictures. The tumour has shrunk a lot. I really am fortunate that the treatments have been adjusted and improved over the years. The knowledge that is on display in the medical system is pretty impressive. Here in the chemo station everyone has a different treatment that targets their particular type of cancer. So, now that my tumour has shrunk so much, I'm not experiencing any of the issues that alerted me to the cancer. I used to have a lot of stomach pain. It got worse as the tumour grew. I don't think I've taken any pain medication for this in over a month because there isn't any pain. Sure, I feel really sick after chemo, but that's way better than the constant pain. Last time I had chemo I couldn't keep anything down on Wednesday so this time someone will come to my house to give me an I.V. with liquids and with an anti-nausea medication. That will ke...

Tomorrow, Monday May 17, I will be going into the hospital for a CT scan.  I'm excited to find out how things are going inside of me. Since it's picture day I should wear something special. Drop your suggestions in the comments and I'll use the best idea (according to me). The last picture day at school didn't go as planned so I want to be prepared. Update: I decided to get all dressed up for a change from wearing PJ's all day, every day. I'll learn about the results of the CT scan on Tuesday when I go for chemo.

I haven't been updating this blog recently. That's because things have been going well. I've been feeling really good. If you know me you know that I'm not a relaxer. I have 10 ideas for every one I can implement. So, I've been gardening, cooking, and going on biking and running adventures. In fact, I've run 3 times on the treadmill and 3 times on the road since my last chemo treatment. I'm thinking of signing up for the Hamilton Road To Hope race in the fall. That'll give me a goal to help continue. Dr. Maida said that they will take a scan to see how the cancer is responding to treatment now that we're at the halfway point. (Today is my 3rd chemo treatment.). They'll be looking for 50% or more reduction in the size of the tumours.  That should happen in a couple of weeks before treatment 4. I am still so thankful to all the people who have been praying for me.  It is encouraging to know your love.

Recently my mom said to me, "you don't know how to relax."  That's kind of true.  I struggle with that a little.  This week, feeling quite sick and tired, I've been able to lay in one spot for a while doing nothing.  You know what I think about, laying on the couch? I think about how fortunate I am to have so many people support me with prayers, and cards, and presents made of food, and kind words. Behind me here are my get well cards.  Thank you so much.

T oday I went to my second chemo treatment.   It was pretty uneventful.   Chemo is pretty boring when you are doing it. There are several bags of liquid that they put into patients through an I.V. For my treatments, this takes hours. I read, wrote, and listened to music to pass the time. The only surprise was that my red blood cells were on the low side. That means someone will come to my house later this week and give me some kind of injection. They’ll have to put a needle into my stomach. Yuck.   I’m a little nervous about that. All in all things are going very well. I am thankful to God for all He’s doing, and to you. You love and support me. I am blessed.

I was in the shower washing my hair and I got hair in my mouth. But it wasn't just one.  I poked my head out of the shower and looked at myself in the mirror and there was a tuft of hair plastered to my forehead.  The next morning Charlotte gave me this haircut.  I don't want to shed hair all over the place.

Often when I interact with other people, I find myself thinking, ‘Y ou’re weird Danny boy ’. I’ve felt that way often about my cancer. When I tell people they are sad and upset.   But I don’t feel that way, and I never really did. This may help to explain why. Sometime in February I was having constant pain that was keeping me from sleeping well. That made every day life a challenge. On a Saturday I cancelled playing with Eleanor in a praise night event. On the Sunday I was scheduled to speak and I chose a message I had previously given at another church. The message was on the topic of complaining. This is a recap of what I said: Key Texts: Numbers 11:1-3 1 Corinthians 10:6,10 “Now these things became our examples, to the intent that we should not … complain, as some of them also complained, and were destroyed by the destroyer.”  The lesson from Numbers 11 is that God hates complaining.   It is a sin. We see in the Exodus story that ...