Tooth infection and chemo are no good!

Well on Saturday the 20th of feb I woke up with toothache by the time saturday afternoon nap was over the pain was unbearable. My wife called the emergency dental but they were closing at five and weren't willing to stay late (fucking nice eh!). So off to urgent care I went I waited only an hour or so and they had me in to see a doctor which was good because I heard some people say they had been there over 3 hrs but I did tell the triage nurse I was on chemo so that helped. The doc said he couldn't tell if there was infection but that most likely it was infected. He gave me some Penicillin and tylenol 3's. I filled the prescriptions and started popping pills saturday night. The pain actually worsened by sunday and man I mean constant pain. Monday I had went to my dentist he had a look and said it was an infection and that I had 2 options root canal or remove the tooth. I needed to get the okay from the cancer center doctors to do anything. In the meantime my infection was swelling rather quickly by monday night my face had balooned out. I called the oncall hemotologist but as long as there was no fever they told me to wait it out. Tuesday morning my face was huge but they didn't want me to come in unless I had a fever. Finally after about my fourth call that day with a few from my wife they agreed to have me come in and check my blood. I had my blood taken and then the nurse came out to see me and I could tell she was surprised at my face. 5 mins later the hemotologist was out she took one look at my face and was like you need to be admitted. I was like thats why I've been calling for the last 2 days. She examined me and by then had gotten my bloodwork back which was good already. So now she wasn't so worried out my infection but said it needed to be cleaned up before my next chemo. She sent me to the dental clinic right in the hospital where they examined me. Dr Karla squeezed some of the infection out OUCH! but that did give me immediate relief. I had 2 options a root canal or tooth removal. She told me they recommend the tooth being pulled because a root canal there is a chance that some infection could be left over. Left over infection would be no good and if I started my chemo with some infection left over in my mouth it could explode into my body when my blood counts are down. So I decided no chances and after all it's just a tooth. So on friday they yanked her out.

Otherwise I've been very tired through this last chemo. I've done alot of sleeping which is ok because my body has enjoyed all the sleep. Let's keep are fingers crossed that this will be my final chemo. I'm getting tired of this chemo crap but I'll do what it takes.

I'd like to send my prayers to are friend that lost his mother to cancer last week. I send out my deepest smypathies to you and your family.

Chemo # 5

Well an exciting week for my blog and I as we were added to the i2y.com stupid cancer blogroll. This gives all the users of this website access to my blog. It's almost like it's published pretty cool eh! i2y.com is a pretty cool website it's worth a look... Jolaine I do feel more at peace and ease these days although this week was up and down again. Jen my attitude stays strong because of my wife and kids. Stephanie you were so funny at Erin's last night but I hope your morning wasn't to hard today. Jewel you and Jen playing taboo together is not fair I mean you know the color of each others underwear. Jen your saltwater gargle worked with my sore tooth thanks so much!!! Surprise!!! Erin a devoted commenter to my blog and friend of my wife and I had her dirty 30th bday last night... When she came through the door she was mauled by my wife and Stephanie. Erin nearly peed her pants. Oh well maybe your 40th the bladder won't be so strong and you'll pee then lol. We had a great time you were so funny at the party and you seemed pumped up and I made it to 1:00 am not bad for a guy who had chemo the day before!

Chemo # 5 went off with a bang on friday. I felt pretty energetic after my chemo and was able to go out and do some chores right after with Jen. We picked the girls up at my brothers and I came home for a nap. After my nap and for the first time since doing chemo I didn't feel well. I thought I was going to puke... I got a little nasty and I was able to fight it off with the help of my antinausea meds. I didn't sleep at all friday night but that was ok I was able to watch the not so good opening ceremonies for the olympics. I popped my prednisone on Saturday morning and slept most of saturday during the day. Aunt Lisa came down with Kelsey and Jacklynn to watch the girls so Jen and I could goto Erin's surprise 30th party sat night.

Dr Loman who I seen at the clinic on thursday kinda rubbed me the wrong way. He's a retired Oncologist how helps out at the clinics on thursday because unfortunately the clinics are so busy they need all the help they can get. He kept referring to my cancer a uncureable which I KNOW IT IS! When I asked about a PET Scan he told me unless I was going to pay for it he wouldn't order it. He told me because I have a incureable cancer that this scan wasn't necessary. I do agree to some extent with this because it doesn't tell me nothing as to if I'll ever relapse but it does give me a peace of mind. But he's an old school doc no use arguing with him I'll wait for Dr Chin-yee and try again he's more reasonable. If not I'll pay for the friggin thing myself. My CAT scan is set for feb 17th and the docs are 85% sure I'll only need on more chemo so that's good I think my body needs a rest from the chemo.

I'm starting to think about life after chemo. I guess I need to think about going back to work. This for me should be an easy transition I have a great partner in Dennis which will make it easy for me. I was able to have a nice visit with him last week. I still want to be able goto wellspring to make use of all there fine programs. I've also want to continue talk and see all my cancer buddies who helped me greatly through this journey. I worry a bit about my stamina because I don't have any right now but I'm sure it'll come back although it'll be slowly. Of course my diet and excercise will have to jumo to the forefront. Know more chemo eating but who cares I'm alive and doing well!!!

I've become addicted to reading other peoples blogs with cancer. Some of them are really well done and truly inspiring writings. I find peace in reading all the crap these people go through and all the positive vibes they still give up is amazing. I realized cancer hasn't ruined my life it has been a wake up call for me. I always considered myself a guy who lived life day by day. Then cancer came and now I live day by day. I learned what's important I get it and for that I feel lucky. The problem is when you learn this you want to even live longer because you simplfy life after cancer. When you have cancer you don't have a clue how long you'll be around. That's the irony of the whole thing you want to live but how long will I be around is the question. I believe I still have alot of time to make my mark on this planet. This is important to me because I want to instill my values on my girls. They are my world my light and my energy. For them I'll live my life to it's fullest not feeling sorry for myself but appreciative for the time I have with them. Of course my wife who holds the family together right now while I fight the fight. She kinda gets the tireless job of taking care of us all thank-you honey!

Keep on Trucking!

Well I've continue to learn more and more about cancer as I progress in my cancer journey. The more I educate myself about follicular non hodgkins lymphoma the more I'm confused if that makes any sense... I had a needle biopsy done on my armpit. The doctor that did the biopsy said that he removed lots of the lymphnode and was confident that pathology would have plenty for an accurate diagnosis. I have been told that I should have had a surgery and had part of my lymphnode removed and pathology could have given me a more accurate diagnosis. So I was a litte concerned about that at first. Of course I've learned that London pathology read me as a grade 3a most likely to act indolent. B.C. pathology where I sent my slides from the biopsy for a second opinion read me as a grade 2. So I was confused on 2 different opinions. I've since learned that in 2008 the world health organization changed the grading system from grades 1,2,3 to 1,2,3a,3b. The B.C. pathology using the older grading system still and London pathology using the newer system. So what this all means basically is that if London was still using the old system I would most likely be a 2. But the newer system has some other variables that classfies me as a 3a. Now I've come to learn after listening to the top follicular non hodgkins doctor out of chicago. She's another one of these doctors that only studies follicular non hodgkins lymphoma and she says that really patients should have more then one lymphnode biopsied because quite often the cancer is different grades in different areas throughout the lymphatic system. Meaning I might be a grade 3 on my left side but a 1 or 2 on my right side.... This is a reason why they have such a hard time predicting relapses. Basically what this all means is that I won't know much of anything until I relapse if I ever relapse. I'm hoping that I never relapse... I had so many emails sent to me on my facebook group alot from people who are 10-12 yrs down the road that haven't relapsed. Also emails from people that have relapsed and have went through treatments again and are doing just fine... So I'm not fearing relapsing as much as you would think... I'm hoping if I relapse at all it's at least 10 yrs down the road.

My precious Marissa turned 4 recently... It feels like just the other day I was watching my wife give birth to her. She was this tiny little thing with her eyes wide open. I got to give the first bottle to her that night! She loved opening her gifts and we had a nice quieter then usual birthday party.

I've had the pleasure of meeting many new people along the way. Most of them diagnosed with cancer... I've been able to spend time talking with them about how to survive cancer. The post diagnosis worries and emotions although not always the same are very similar. I haven't been spending as much time at wellsprings lately as I was. The programs are filling up fast and sometimes hard to get in if you don't sign up early. But I do have a good base support of friends dealing with cancers that I feel I can talk or hang with them whenever. I'm hoping that the stupid cancer group will continue to meet because that was a neat experience.

Next Friday is my 5th cycle of chemo already WOW!. The week after I have my CAT scan. I feel these next 2 weeks are huge... the CAT scan will hopefully confirm what I believe that the chemo is working and working well. The CAT scan cannot tell me that all the cancer is gone. Only a PET scan can tell me that so it's time to start pushing the doctor for that. That is done after the chemo! The PET scan in some ways when I think about it is insignificant... Because it doesn't do anything in terms of predicting relapses but I think it'll give me a peace of mind. Which is good thing to have when you have cancer so bring on the PET scan.

I would like to thank you all for the nice comments I recieved on my last post. It was nice to hear from all the "Stupid Cancer" people. Your organization is amazing and fills a void left for young people with cancer. Tara if you need any help with the next one email me and I'll do my best! Thanks to Under The Volcano Restaurant for hosting the event.