My Check up!

Well today I had my first check up since my last chemo! Other then the 3 and a half hour wait things went well. I asked why they check my blood work even though I'm done my chemo. The reason is there are certain indicators in the blood that can tip him off to whether or not the disease is progressing again. My indicators all came back normal.... thank god! Dr Chin-Yee (super cool doctor) was concerned about my weight loss and questioned me about it. He was comfortable with my answer, which was lots of exercise and proper diet. After all weight loss is a sign that the disease is progressing again. When he seen me 3 months ago I was 255lbs and today I weighed in at 215lbs. That's 40 big ones gone for those of you who don't do the math.  Chin-Yee checked all my lymphnodes like he always does, then at my wife's request he checked my moles. My wife a few checkups ago wanted the doc to recheck my groin... She gets a kick out of watching doctors feeling me up! Moles are good by the way! I'll get her back one day when a beautiful young intern comes in and I'll have her recheck my groin over and over again. I have a friend who has Follicular Non hodgkins lymphoma like myself. She has never been treated for the tumor that has been growing in her neck. It had grown a to a fair size and she had enough and wanted it gone. So they did a CAT scan to determine if she needed chemo or if it could be surgically removed. The CAT scan show no grow in the tumor in 5 yrs and I believe one little spot in the abdomen. So she's having that sucker removed. For those of you who read my blog regularly no that this is not an option for me because my cancer is more spread out. Anyways good luck with the surgery and you are an inspiration! Well got to take my girls to dance, Chow!

Stupid Cancer!

We had a stupid cancer camping gathering this weekend and it was funtastic. Big thanks goes out to Luke and Donna for organizing the outing. My girls had never been camping so I had no idea what to expect. After a bit of a rough Friday night (Marissa was sick!). Saturday turned into a dreamy day in which the girls truly enjoyed... They grew to love camping this weekend and I couldn't be happier. I quite enjoyed the whole stupid cancer camping thing. To sit by the camp fire was amazing, as well as a few beers and stimulating conversations. Myself and Donna managed to stay up until 3am Saturday night! We outlasted Melissa by 20 minutes or so. We listened to a few snore bears also. Now I thinks it's bed time I am so pooped and special thanks to my mom for camping with us. We were like a couple of stooges setting up that tent!

Hanging on!

I've spent a lot of time thinking and reflecting since my diagnosis. One thing I've learned is life is short... So I want to leave this piece of advice for my kids! Life is full of ups and downs... Recognize and enjoy the ups. The downs are harder, sometimes all we can do is hold on. But don't hold on for too long! Don't be afraid to let go and step right back out there! When I was diagnosed. I was crushed and all I could do was hold on... I've let go and now I'm pushing forward, it's time to kick ass! I can't be bothered about what might happen to me and let cancer control my life... I still think it's important that I educate myself and go to my check ups that's being responsible for my health. To dwell on what might happen does me no good. Some nights I worry about my kids without a father, but then I let go. I need to enjoy my kids now. One thing I can promise to you girls is we'll continue to have fun... That's why we're camping this weekend!

One thing that is very clear to me about Follicular Non Hodgkin's Lymphoma is it's not curable by modern medicine. Modern medicine has lengthened remissions and stem cell transplants have giving some people so called cures. Dr Chin-yee told me that they declare you cured after 10 years of remission, but it could still come back at anytime. Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm not what I call a cure. If you die of something else before you relapse isn't a cure for me either. Because modern medicine can only give me so much and that much I'm thankful for... But as I've mentioned before I decided to attack my cancer with exercise and diet. I decided whether it works or not I'm still much better off with a healthier lifestyle. Not to mention that as a parent it important to show my children the importance of exercising and eating well. I'm now considering going to a naturopath Dr for help with longer remissions or cures. I have to stay open minded especially when modern medicine still has no cure. I've learned of a young woman in Windsor. She was in remission with breast cancer, but it relapsed as stage 4 breast cancer which means your going to die. She went back on the chemo but it couldn't slow the cancer down. She was in such bad shape she couldn't get out bed. Then came the visits from the naturopath, well the tumors are shrinking she now is healthy enough to go grocery shopping. They had a fundraiser for her a few weeks ago so she can continue to use the naturopath, which is expensive and not covered by OHIP. Seriously why are we not combining modern medicine with naturopathic and homepathic techniques. Drug companies are afraid of a cure shitty but true. So I'll try and figure it out myself. I guess you could say I'm " Hanging on".

Back To Work Today!

Today was my first official day back to work, albeit only 2 hrs. I will be broken in slowly for 2 hrs a day for 2 weeks and 4hrs a day for 2 weeks and then into full time hrs again in August. My body feels strong so I have no worries about keeping up. There's part of me that wants to prove to cancer that I can come back stronger then before so Fuck-you cancer. The fact that I won't be able to spend every hour with my daughters is the only downfall about going back to work. On the other hand I wasn't sure 6 months ago If I'd have much longer to live. So all is good on the mental side of things right now. Eating healthy continues as scheduled and kinda has become a hobby of mine, looking for healthy recipes and such. If anyone has some cancer fighting recipes send them along I prefer low fat if possible!

I spent  some time in Windsor and was able to fish with my dad and golf with my sister. Also we had a grade school reunion with my old classmates from St. John Vianney. It was a blast from the past since I haven't seen some of my classmates in 25 yrs. It was great to see all of you!

Health wise nothing to report other then I'm always touching the lymph nodes in my armpits. After all that's where my cancer appeared. Good news is I don't feel anything, bad news is that feeling nothing doesn't tell me shit. Only a CAT scan can tell me if it's growing again. No CAT scan until October, but I do have maintenance chemo July 16th.

Fun Times!!!

Well I continue on with life almost as normal. I had a fantastic time on my golf trip in Michigan. 5 days of nothing but golf and fun. I tried do drink moderately, but I did manage to over do it Thursday night, which resulted in dry heaves for an hour or so Thursday night. On a lighter note I shot my best round a 74 at Eagle Glen Friday morning. I have to say I struggled Saturday and Sunday and I think it was because I was tired. It showed in my scores 88 on Saturday and 89 Sunday. Which sucked because I was in the seventies the first three days. I guess partying till 2am for a recovering chemo patient was a bit much, especially waking up at 7am. Anyhow it was great to see the guys on the golf trip... These 19 guys were a great support when I was diagnosed with cancer. They didn't cut me any slack on the golf course, no special treatment for cancer boy. I wouldn't have it any other way thanks guys!

As far as work is concerned.... I've decided that June 28th is going to be my return date. I have mixed emotions about going back. I've had the girls all to myself for the last month and it's been the best time of my life. Knowing that I can keep up with a 2yr old and 4yr old everyday as well as doing the house cleaning,laundry, and cooking supper is a fantastic test for work. Actually this is much harder then my job but more rewarding. Daddy loves his girls the love of my life.... On the flip side I'm excited to hang with the guys at work, I've always enjoyed my job and just being with the guys. I don't have to tell you about all they've done for me! With the girls daycare opening up a spot June 28th everything has come together nicely, so it's time to head back to work.


 I was invited by my bosses daughter to shave her head. She was donating her hair for wigs and she raised over a thousand dollars in donations. Before I shaved her head I did a speech on my journey with cancer... My wife said it was good, I can't remember it I was to nervous. Thanks Amanda for inviting me, your contributions are so appreciated.

Medically speaking I don't have much right now, My next appointment is a checkup Thursday July 15th. On the 16th I'll do my maintenance chemo! I'll probably have a date for my next CAT scan on that weekend also.

 Physically I feel strong and well. The healthy eating continues as well as the exercise. I have so much energy it is incredible. 218lbs was my last weigh in, pretty good considering I was a sloppy 254 after chemo in April. I can actually jog on the treadmill for 20 minutes at a time. I couldn't do over a minute when I started. I've almost doubled what I was weight lifting when I started so strength is recovering fast!

 I had another stupid cancer gathering at Chaucers Pub in London and it was fun. It's becoming harder to hang out with my cancer buddies now that I have the girls alone during the week. I try to make it a point to hang with them once a week.

 In August I have camping with the family and my trip to Vancouver!