I have 4 more treatments. Being able to count down on one hand, without using my thumb, really feels good. Speaking of feeling good, I'm not a physician, but it seems to me that I am blessed to be doing marvelously well. My stomach does not some gymnasitcs and hurts from time, when I hear natures call I have to answer promptly, and I'd say my energy level is about 75%. Overall, it's pretty good. My Dr. tells me that I should get over these side effects within a few weeks of finishing my radiation.

I'll be on the medication treatment--oral meds daily and a shot every 4 months--for about another 22 months. 

Clocks, cell phones, and calendars keep accurate track of time. Our mind and heart, however, function on a different chronology. At the beginning of this series of radiation treatments, 6 weeks seemed like a long, long time. Now, as I look back over the 5 weeks that are under my belt, so to speak, it seems they have passed pretty quickly. 

A very wise, older lady, who is with the Lord now, used to say about things I hadn't started yet, "You can't start any sooner than right now." You are probably facing something that you need deal with. You may be paralysed by dread. Take the first step. 

My journey isn't over yet. I have no guarantees about how this will turn out. From a medical viewpoint, it will probably go well. At 76 I'm closer to the end than the beginning, but I want the rest of my time on earth to count for eternity.


To all of you who have and are praying for me, THANK YOU!

L8R


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Best We Can Do.

Image
 After my ninth radiation treatment (last Friday) I noticed that the aiming point on the front of my body was getting sore--not bad, but sore enough to notice. I told Kathy about it and, mom that she is, she wanted to have a look. She noticed the rash that had spread over a portion of my lower abdomen. I looked in the mirror, and sure enough . . ..  I did some looking on the internet and found that the majority of people who receive radiation treatment develop radiation rash. It does what most rashes do, it itches and makes the area where it sets up shop sensitive to pressure. One way I'm managing it is wearing suspenders--my belt buckle sits right on top of the aiming point. "Wear loose clothing," the website says, but, "I have to keep my pants up," says I." It's an example of a syndrome that I don't think I had noticed until my itching middle and my falling-down pants pointed to it in a way I couldn't miss. I'm calling it, "Managing ...
Read more

2/3s Done

Image
 I've now completed 19 radiation treatments. I have 9 to go, 5 next week and 4 the week after. After I finished my exercise routine this morning, I was spent. I've remained without energy for the rest of the day. When the radiology tech called me from the waiting room to m my appoinment with the radiation machine, she asked me--they always do :)--"How are you doing?" I told her, "Your ray gun is getting to me." Her reply indicated, it's about the time this usually happens.  I'm glad I get the weekend off. Turn's out my nick-name for the machine, "The Kingon Disruptor," isn't far from an acurate description. On my trips back and forth to the radiation oncology clinic, I've been listening to a reading of Pilgrim's Progress. Bunyan's classic is an allegory about "Christian's" pilgramage to Mt. Zion--heaven. It's full of lessons, warnings, and Theology. A running theme is the comparison of comfort now, that...
Read more
 Let me tell you what this is and, mostly, what this isn't. This is simply my observations, reactions, and thoughts--medical, lifestyle, and Theological--about my diagnosis with and treatment of my prostate cancer.
Read more