Scope it Out 5K -- part deux

Last year at this time, I was on full-blown chemo, low in weight/strength, and pretty much bald. So, running in the Scope it Out 5K was not really an option -- due to the factors other than baldness. I walked the entire thing in about an hour...strolling along the water, listening to the birds chirping. Who am I kidding? The birds were all dead because it was so cold that morning!

This year, I was now on "chemo-lite" pills, almost back to normal weight, as strong as ever in my life...and full of hair (like Austen Powers). Running was now an option, but just how far I didn't know. I started off pretty well. Everyone was in my way, so instead of weaving and making it 3.2 miles vice 3.1, I jumped to the sidewalk and ran there. If any security people would have told me to get back on the road, I was totally prepared to pull the cancer/chemo card (still in my wallet in the car, but they didn't know that.) Eventually, the log-jam cleared and I went back to the streets. At about mile one, Jess caught up to me (I was slowing) and we did about a 1/3rd of a mile together, but I had to stop and walk a little.

After that, I walked for a block and ran for a couple of blocks for the rest of the race. Around mile 2, a fan was cheering who was wearing a pitt jacket. I yelled, "go pitt" and he smiled (even though Pitt had lost the night before on a last second shot. Ugh.) I kept going. While I approached five blocks to go, I was thinking, "do I run one more, walk one, and then run three? Or run two, walk one, run 2?" Just then I heard my name called. I looked back and Erin was catching me. I didn't even know she was in the race. She caught up and I told her to keep talking, but I wasn't going to talk. She kept me running the next four blocks without walking. With one to go, I said "come on." She knew what I meant and we sprinted the last block (or what felt like a sprint to me). I finished at 33:02. After I stopped, my legs were so limp that I had to hold on to people. Plus, blisters on both feet after mile 2. Ugh.

During this race I still didn't hear any birds. Must have been my gasping for air that was blocking out the chirps.

"Nope, nada, zilch..."

I had a routine office visit with my oncologist last week. "Nope, nada, and zilch" were my responses to his questions of "any pain?" "any side-effects from the chemo pills?" "any problems at all?"

You simply can't imagine how nice it is to be able to give those answers. :'-)

Workin' 9 to 5...

Well, more like 10:15am to 6:15pm (I like to sleep in.) But EIGHT hours is my longest day in 14 months!

I followed it with a mile on the treadmill and some weight-lifting. Man, am I pooped!

Updates all around...put it on my tab!

Well, last week was the first week of my "chemo-lite" pills. I took them for seven days and had seven days off. Tomorrow I start back on them for a week again. I didn't feel any side effects. No fevers, no mouth sores, no nausea, no runs, nothing!

I had my blood tests today and that didn't show any side-effects from the pills, either. In fact, my platelet count increased from 122,000 to 134,000. 150K is where I want to be. It just takes a while to come back after all the full chemo treatments I had.

Also, I tipped the scales at over 145 lbs today at the hospital! That's a gain of almost 4 lbs in two weeks!

At the gym, I am consistantly running an 8:40 mile. Not where I want to be, but getting more energy. I'm working out on the bench press with 185 lbs. Not back to where I was, but inching closer. Besides I don't weigh enough to lift too much right now!

So everything is looking good!

I'm sure I'll post a blog after my trip to NYC next week for the Big East Tournament!

Party review...

Well, my "End of Chemo" party was tonight. My mom and I got there about 6:15pm and sat down. At 6:30pm, it was a like a bus pulled up with the guests. People swarmed in. Thinking back to who was there, I think the final count was about 80 people. I had several different groups represented... Pitt alums, Arlington softball teammates, neighbors, family, ex-dates (no...not the biggest group, people!), coworkers, cancer support group members, improv troupe members, etc.

Because so many people attended, I spent the entire first couple of hours greeting everyone. I missed out on much of the food and I didn't see one basket in the Pitt game. I constantly felt like I was ignoring everyone as I tried to dart around and get to see everyone at least a little. If I missed you...SORRY! It was amazing to see that many people out to support me.

And I did not cry once! (It was my party, so I could have cried had I wanted to.) I cried earlier in the day, so I was good.

Earlier in the day, #2 North Carolina lost their basketball game. So, I knew Pitt had a shot at number one tonight. We just needed #1 Oklahoma to lose. Midway through that game, Oklahoma lost their best player. It was a sign. As the final seconds ticked away in Okla's loss, the song randomly playing in the bar was Gloria Gaynor's "I will Survive." How appropriate was that?

Back in January, Pittsburgh became #1 for the first time ever on the day the doctor told me that I could end chemo. They became #1 again the day I celebrated the end of chemo. They did it for me...I know they did! :-)

It's all good...

My first CT scan since not being on chemo was conducted on Tuesday. Today I found out the results. No signs of cancer. :-) Now I can be at my party this weekend and not worry about anything. It's such a good feeling!

I also received a prescription for my pill form of chemo that I will do for two years. The pill form is called "chemo-lite." There should not be many side effects. I took the script to the drug store today and the pharmacist spent 15 minutes on the computer. She finally came back to me and said, "I thought it wasn't going through insurance, but it is. Your co-pay is still $1100. Wow. A co-pay of $1100 for a two month supply of pills! Luckily, my insurance cuts me off at $4500 for the year and the rest is free!

On a different note... This made me tear up:

http://sports.espn.go.com/highschool/rise/basketball/boys/news/story?id=3914375

The CAT scan ritual...

Today I had another CAT scan. I'll find out the results tomorrow when I meet with my oncologist. I can't remember if I posted my CAT scan ritual in a previous post. Oh well, I'll risk posted it again. When I arrive at the hospital to drink barium, I stuff my nose with tissue so I can't taste as much. Then I chug as much of the barium that I can. I immediately gargle with Gatorade and pop a piece of chewing gum in my mouth. I usually have to repeat this 4-6 times to down the entire batch of barium. Today was no different.

Then I am required to wait about 30 minutes as it works its way through my bowels. Once in the CAT scan machine today, they scanned me. The second scan came after some contrast dye was injected in my vein. That gave me the warm feeling (like peeing your pants). The tech then said something new. "You're digestive system worked too quickly. I need you to drink some more barium. But since the previous scans were just conducted with you in this position, you can't move." I had to drink barium while laying flat on my back. Try drinking ANYTHING while on your back and your head level! Now try it with chalky crap! My god, did I gag.

I haven't had that much fun since Disney World!