Pretty consistant...

I've had three rounds of chemo and each time I've thrown up exactly one time. I can deal with that. At least they have all been at home in the comfort of my kitchen sink. blah!

25% of the chemo down...

...75% to go. I was disconnected from my pump yesterday and I should be on my 1.5 week road to recovery until the next treatment. Only a few side-effects: soreness in mouth, sensitivity to cold, and a new one...nose bleed. I have no idea if that was related, but I wasn't at any football games sittig high in the rafters, so we'll see if it comes back at all.

Strongest Man competition...

Well, I won't be winning that any time soon. But, for the first time in about 10 months I was able to bench press my body weight. I know, I know...that's pretty sad. But, it was much more sad earlier this year. I'm getting there, slowly!

More cowbell !!!

"I got a fever that can only be cured with more cowbell." Someone find me a cowbell, por favor!

On sunday night, I came down with a fever. (99.9) It broke, but the next morning I had a sore throat and stuffed up nose. I need to get rid of this by Friday so I won't delay chemo. Today I feel somewhat better. The throat is almost fine...but still nose issues. Luckily, it's not in my chest at all. No coughing. Cross your fingers for me...

Hungry?

My friend, Molly, found a way to celebrate my cancer remission and add a few calories to my diet. You can't help but laugh at these. Check it out...tiny little colons! Obviously, these are based on someone else's colon because I am missing parts of my traverse and descending. But, they're still delicious!

Text Message...

The other day I got a text message. I'll just type it word for word. Note: the gold armband is in reference to the gold armbands that were passed out in my honor at the softball tournament.

Hey Shawn. How r u? I played QB on the Pitt flag football team sunday. we had the plays tucked into the gold armband. it worked and we won. ur with us man.


:'-)

Running, running, running...

Last night I went to my running training for "Cancer to 5K." The last day I ran was this past Thursday and that day everything went smoothly with my scheduled workout. Last night was not so easy. I had to take Friday through Monday off because of chemo. So, when I went to run yesterday, I was dead. I could not do the workout. I was supposed to run a minute, walk a minute and continue that for 24 minutes. After a few cycles, I had to resort to running one minute and walking 2 or 3 minutes.

I know, I know...I just had chemo. But, I hate not being able to do what I want to do. It sucks. I hate being out of shape.

On the bright side, the chemo is not really taking away my ability to gain strength. I can lift weights at the gym and I'm getting stronger there. The chemo is only taking away my endurance.

Other cancer blogs...

Over the last couple of days I've been reading the blog of a girl in DC who was diagnosed with breast cancer almost at the same time I was diagnosed with colon cancer. Her stories are just as touching as mine and I'm torn. I feel sad that she has to go through this, too, but I take a little comfort in the fact that I'm not alone. I won't post her blog here for privacy sake, but if she says it's okay, I will.

We are going to try to meet up sometime for a drink and talk about things. Maybe alcohol isn't the best for me...hmmmm...lemonade!

Remember the happy hour?

I went to a happy hour the other week for cancer survivors. Well, one of the girls there produced a couple of videos to promote the bill in congress (supported by Kennedy) to get more clinical trials for cancer.

Check them out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q-L_u6dsVBQ

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8307O2GYf8

Two chemos down the hatch...

The regiment is 12 cycles of chemo. This afternoon I was disconnected from my portable IV and that completed my 2nd cycle. Only 10 more to go. (21 weeks if my blood counts cooperate each time.)

I have a little nausea today, but I totally forgot to take my meds for it this morning! I guess that is probably a good sign. Over the winter when I was on chemo, I was thinking about my medication constantly because I was always feeling sick. Today, I was more concerned with watching football highlights! :-)

Some hiccups, some nausea, some soreness in my throat, and some muscle spasms, but that's all so far this time.

Cross your fingers...

I'm scheduled for chemo for tomorrow. Let's hope my blood counts are good. I just want to get this crap over with! (Oh, I shouldn't end a sentence with a preposition.) I just want to get this crap over with, people! :-)

Run, Forrest, run...

Yesterday was my first training for a 5K race. I attended a start-up meeting on Saturday morning. Saturday was supposed to be our first day of training, but the monsoon weather made it better for deep sea fishing or staying indoors.

The workout was "easy"...30 seconds of running, 1 minute of walking and repeating that for 10 minutes. But, I needed an easy start because I have not jogged for the better part of a year. (Having major organs removed tends to do that to a person.)

Let's see if I can stay healthy enough to race in 12 weeks. (Shut up, Erin...my body is not constantly falling apart. Well, okay, maybe you have a point.)

No chemo today...

I went for my second cycle of chemo today and my white blood cell count is extremely low, so I wasn't able to do it. I'm post-poned at least a week. The low count means I could catch any type of infection because I don't have the means to fight it off.

They said in the meantime, to constantly wash my hands, stay away from crowds and obviously sick people, and to "make sure I wipe my bottom good." She actually said that. With her accent it sounded funny. Well, I guess it would sound funny in any voice!

Happy Hour tonight...

I went to a happy hour tonight that was part of "I'm too young for this." It's a group of under-40 cancer survivors. There were only seven of us there, but there was one thing that made me take notice. I'm not the only upbeat person with cancer (or in remission)! These people were all full of energy...each and every one. One is doing a tri-athalon next week. Another is working on a film project for Ted Kennedy's bill to get more clinical studies for cancer. I was impressed by the group.


TV VIEWING NOTE: "Stand Up 2 Cancer" is Friday night (today for you, maybe) at 8pm on NBC, CBS and ABC. It's only an hour, so don't miss it!

Phone call...

I picked up the phone tonight...

"I have the best news, ever!"

My reply: "Better than my cancer remission?"

I could hear her smile fade away.

"Ummm, no..."

:-)

The grid-iron

Over the weekend I traveled to Pittsburgh to see the opening football game for Pitt. That was the longest drive that I've driven "since." Back in the winter, I wasn't so sure if I was going to be able to go to the games like I have for the past seven seasons. So, it was a triumph to be there.

The game didn't turn out like I had hoped. But, like I told a friend of mine..."my year started off pretty bleak, too, right?" :-)



Me outside of Heinz Field in Pittsburgh