Cyberknife and More...

TV commercials suck. The last thing that I want to watch is the latest Viagra or Tampax ad, especially when the kids are watching TV with me. Ever try to answer a six year old when they ask "Daddy, what's a tampon?"!

Since I hate commercials I tend to watch many of the shows from the DVR recording; that way I can tap the button I programmed for a 30 second skip and just bounce past the offensive interludes. Why bring this up? Well, last week I saw--for the first time that I can remember--one of the KP Thrive commercials and it really hit home. The scene is set by a young lady going about town, talking about how she has cancer. The tag line for the ad is "I have cancer, it does not have me." Great attitude, and one that I will have to remember.

Friday was Cyberknife treatment one; they did the spine only. Yesterday was treatment two (spine and brain), and today is treatment three (spine and brain again). Robin tells me that the CK team says I am their most relaxed patient yet...huh, all I do is try to sleep through it! What else is there to do when you have to hold perfectly still for one hour and are strapped into a cradle or mask to ensure compliance? Watch a fancy welding robot move about and spit Xrays at you? Boring. (Yesterday the CK tech discovered my secret--she came in at the end of the brain frying and had to wake me up.)

Side effects from the CK treatments are pretty manageable. Mostly just fatigue/lassitude and a touch of nausea. These generally hit around one hour after the treatment. Yesterday I was feeling pretty good and a bit adventurous, so we stopped and got dome food on the way home. Note to self: Fried McDonalds food and CK treatments do not mix well. I ended up missing dinner (a gorgeous steak) and spent the evening praying for my stomach to chill out. Joy.

Initially the CK scheduler had the majority of my treatments scheduled for the mid afternoon--which caused much whining from me due to travel and rush hour--but they have so far managed to reschedule every one to earlier in the day. Today's appointment is now in its third iteration, as we have to be there by 1130am. Just goes to show, whining can help! Plays havoc with Robin's scheduling back-up for her clinic though. I must say, her boss and the staffers have been absolutely stellar through this whole thing. Thanks ladies!

Not much from the Sutent this time around. The reflux can still be pretty bad--that and the steroids they are giving me as part of the CK treatment are why I am up so early--but not much else thus far.

Had a friend drop by for the afternoon on Sunday, so we spent the time kibitzing about our old employer and generally catching up. Great fun and a good morale booster. Hey, in case any of you forgot, it's the little things that help. I am also told that the prayer circle has grown again; thanks Mary and Laura!

Well, time to go. About time to wake up the house and do the Daddy thing.

Take care.