December days are ticking away....

Our Christmas was wonderful! I'm so glad to be feeling well because weeks ago I really thought I'd be lucky to be up and out with everyone on Christmas Day. But my recovery is going great, and for the most part I feel pretty good. I still get into what I call a pain-zone when I haven't taken any pain killers, but lately I'm trying to only take one if we go somewhere, have friends over, or I just can't take it anymore.

The month of December has flown by. It seemed like I had forever before I had to start thinking about the next step: getting the port put in and starting chemo again the first part of January. But the days are ticking away and it's time to get mentally prepared for that, not to mention gearing up with my work again towards the end of January. I hope I feel good enough to do both simultaneously.

A happy and healthy New Year to you all! This will be the first year my resolution won't be to lose weight, having lost 23lbs in this ordeal. Please make your Resolution to get a colonoscopy if you're 50+ and haven't done so yet. (I know... TMI, but I just have to ask it! :) Thanks for still checking in with me. We'll write more when I get my port January 5th.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays

On this eve of our celebration of the birth of Christ, Debbie and I want to wish you a happy holiday season and thank you for all of the support we've received over the past six months. Debbie and I have received a life changing gift and that is realizing how blessed we are to have family and friends like you. It is the greatest Christmas present we could receive.

Take Your Vitamin D....

Doug found this article on the web and sent it to me. And I'd like to share it with you. I only put the first couple paragraphs, so to read the whole article go to: http://www.webmd.com/colorectal-cancer/news/20080618/vitamin-d-may-up-colon-cancer-survival

Vitamin D May Up Colon Cancer Survival
Study Shows Patients With Higher Vitamin D Levels Before Diagnosis Live Longer
Researchers with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and the Harvard School of Public Health have found that patients with colon cancer who were among the top 25% in levels of vitamin D before being diagnosed were less likely to die during the study period than those who were among the 25% with the lowest levels of the vitamin.
"Our data suggest that higher prediagnosis ... levels of [vitamin D] after a diagnosis of colorectal cancer may significantly improve overall survival," the researchers write.
Previous research published this year linked higher levels of vitamin D to a reduced risk of colorectal cancer, but the vitamin's effect on cancer survival wasn't known at that time. For the current study, researchers.....

Merry Christmas!

I figured it was time to change my photo to reflect the season. One month out from surgery, I'm still recovering, but feeling very good and am able to do lots of my normal activities and errands, except lifting heavy things. There won't be much updates until after the first of the year, so meantime I wish you a very warm, happy and safe Christmas. May you share it with family and friends, and truly appreciate everything that the Season represents.

More Chemo Ahead....

Somehow I hoped for different news, but we heard what we thought we would.... Dr. Basche explained that there was evidence of cancer cells having been in a couple lymph nodes and to assure that we get anything that may still be elsewhere in the body, I DO need more chemo. January 5th I'll be going in for minor surgery to put a port in my chest, then after that heals a few days I go back for my first treatment on the 13th, which involves a 3+ hour drip through the port, and I also get to leave with a fanny-pack of sorts of medication that continues to drip, then I go back to have it removed after two days. This whole process continues every-other-week for 4 months.

Side effects: I'm told to expect fatigue for about 3 days after each treatment; and neuropathy or tingling in my fingers and feet, along with extreme sensitivity to cold objects and liquids. Nausea can be expected but managed with medication. Hair loss, like the first round, should be minimal and probably just thinning. Even though I was expecting this news, it's still hard to hear, and hard to keep from getting emotional.

A while back I told my readers and advertisers that I plan to be back at work in February to start on a "March" issue, so I certainly hope I have energy enough to do just that. That's the plan anyway. Meantime, I have one month to continue to get stronger, to enjoy relative normalcy, such that it is, and treasure moments with my family and friends during the Christmas season, and ring in a new year.

Oncologist appointment

This afternoon we have an appointment with the Oncologist to see what extent of chemo I'll be needing after the holidays. Stay tuned....