My LAST Session!

Finally! My 37th tomo radiation treatments are history! The time did not fly by at all. The worst part of it was not the actual radiation, but the monotony of the average three hours of my day (with transportation) that was dedicated to the treatments. The side effects were not too bad. The radiologist told me today that they should be gone in about a week & the fatigue in about 2 weeks. I have really felt worn out the past couple of weeks. At least it did not begin when I started.

I think it helped to silently pray for the other patients in the waiting room each day while I waited for my turn. It is good to get your focus off yourself & your own problems. I saw a lot of patients in a lot worse shape than me and who were going through both chemo and radiation.

One thing I found that in the beginning, for the most part, as friends & family find out about your cancer & treatment you hear from them a lot. As time goes on & you are still in treatment, you hear less and less. You have to realize life goes on & does not revolve around you & your illness even as you face it daily. You just have to pray every day for an extra dose of God's grace.

I got a $50,000. bill from November's treatments today of which I am only responsible for $270. of it! Thank God I have health insurance!

I will need follow up in three months, which I think will be to see if my PSA is still at or near zero. How I pray it is the end of it! I can not allow my mind to run ahead of me, but must make the most of each day God has given me. I pray that as I enter 2010 in a few days, I will enter it cancer-free!

I plan to spend New Year's Eve with the bus driver and his family who took me to & from treatment almost every day who is now a new friend. I'll have to take a nap, of course!

Christmas Aloha Attire

I was wearing my Christmas aloha shirt when I walked in the Queen's Cancer Centre for my 33rd radiation session. Yesterday, I was able to be seen at 4:00 instead of the usual 4:20, so I went in early again. One of the three receptionists commented on my aloha attire & asked where I was going later. I remarked, “Isn't it enough to wear this for you all”? They all sighed & one of them said, “Can I have a lock of your hair to clone you?" They are always very kind and friendly. Then I had my photo taken with one of them. If they give me a copy, as promised, I will post it.

Today was not my lucky day in getting in early. Twice, someone came out & told me they were running late as the Tomo machine was not working properly. I finally got in at 5:00.

I was very tired today. I had spoken earlier in the day with an acquaintance who had a high PSA level and was going to have to have a prostate biopsy. He told me today that no cancer was found in any of them, so thank God for that! I would not want anyone to have to go through this journey I have been on!

BBQ Invitation

I survived treatment number #20 today. At least I am finally past the half way mark! Earlier in the day, I got a letter from Kaiser saying that Queens Medical Centre had billed them for ONE CT scan they did on me right before the radiation commenced. They were billed $2,554.00 and my portion is just $10. 00. Thank God I have health insurance!

Yesterday, I brought my smiling & upbeat bus driver a loaf of homemade cinnamon bread that was still warm from the oven. Today, he said how much he & his family enjoyed it.

Today, he asked me where I am going every day, as he is usually the one to pick me up on the way home about 2.5 hours later. I told him I was going in for radiation for prostate cancer. He seemed shocked. He told me his father had died of advanced prostate cancer, but they probably did not find it sooner as he also had had Alzheimer's. I told him that it was important that he be tested for it as those with prostate cancer in their family are 50% more likely to get it themselves.

He was the one who picked me up again today on the way home. During my treatment, he had called his wife to tell her that he needed to be tested, but she said that he'd been tested less than a year ago. I told him that that was good & that he can sleep better tonight.

We still hadn't even exchanged names when he invited me to a BBQ at his house in the valley next to the one where I live so I can meet his wife. I told him my name & he told me his name was Warren. I found out we are the same age. He's been driving the bus over 20 years! I was surprised this man I do not know other than riding on his bus would invite me over. I told him I would bring a homemade lilikoi (passion fruit) meringue pie.