Down and back in a flash

It was another crazy trip to Las Vegas. Thanks to Joel and Zina (Peggy's Mom and Dad) for going with us it was a lot of fun. Went to the Antique mall of America, Its like a big swap meet indoors, with some really neat stuff. We also went to Bass Pro Shop, that was fun too. We met with Dr. Samlowski and Jennifer at the Nevada Cancer Institute. After some discussion, and some silliness, we have decided to keep going down to Vegas for evaluations. Dr. Samlowski is a valuable asset in our fight against cancer, and we highly value his input. So Kallee and Ashley, in the words of Arnold "I'll be back."

We have some good news and some just normal news, no bad news which is good. The good news is, no new tumors and no tumor growth. Where I just finished radiation treatment on Monday, it is too early to see if it is working or not. Like I mentioned before, that will be in April sometime. The normal news, I am having some lung issues, coughing, short of breath, and some pain with deep breaths, but that was to be expected. It should pass with time. It is from the inflammation of the lung tissue that was radiated. I take some ibuprofen, and it helps quite a bit.

Oh, I almost forgot. We stopped in Scipio on the way down and they had this cute little zebra walking it around the parking lot. By the way, they have a petting zoo at the Flying J in Scipio, and the most amazing hand dryers, they are jet powered. So a picture was needed of the zebra. And now you can enjoy it too.

I think that's about it. So Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.

Love, Andy.

Last Treatment Hoo Ray!!!!!

Today was my last radiation treatment, I was even given a certificate of achievement. I think I will have it framed. I had all the SBRT crew sign it. It was a great day. I even fell asleep during the radiation. There was some concern from the Dr. She was telling jokes like she normally does and I didn't even laugh once. Usually I laugh and the techs get mad at her because I am not supposed to move. At the end, she said she thought I was mad at her, because I was ignoring here, nope I was just asleep. One nurse was watching me while I was asleep, and said at times it looked like I stopped breathing, (I am a shallow breather). Anyway, it was a good feeling to be done. Now I just have to look forward to my next trip to Vegas to finish my study there, no treatment this time so woo hoo. I will have some results in april-ish to find out if this worked. So everybody pray hard, and send what good Karma you can spare my way. By the way we have found one of the drugs they were giving me to battle side effects from the radiation, was giving me complications. Now that we have fixed that, I feel a whole lot better.
Merry Christmas and Have a great day.
Love Andy

Side Effects

This treatment has been a little different as far as side effects go. I haven't had ballooning weight, close calls with death or even massive stomach pains. This one has been more subtle and at times a lot more frustrating. After my last treatment (Tuesday) we (the doctors and I) decided that the steroid they were giving me to ward off swelling and inflammation was causing my side effects. Keep in mind this was after I had already taken it. So Tuesday the side effects started, no sleep for me. I tried but you can only lay in bed for so long, finally at 7am I was able to drift off. Red Flushing of my neck and face ensued shortly after waking up and then the heartburn. So I get to take Benedryll, and be groggy all day, but the redness goes away and if I eat little bits often, I can keep the heartburn at bay. So Today I get ready to start this over again, hopefully with less or no side effects, we are going steroid free today and see how I turn out. In a few hours I will be back on the table being radiated, and still to my disappointment, no glowing in the dark. But that would make it hard for Peggy to sleep so I guess that is a good thing. Thank you all for your prayers and thoughts, We love and appreciate you all. Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

Oh, as a side note, we put a slide show up of our family pictures, I hope everyone can see them. If there is a problem with anybody viewing them let me know.

A photo tour of my treatment

Here are some photos of me getting ready for and during treatment. It's me shirtless and in shorts but covered. So for you weak stomached you have been warned. I put them in as links so small children and animals wouldn't be scarred for life. The links will take you away from the blog, but if you hold down CTRL when you click it will open a new window and it won't take you away. (you may want a quick escape back.)
The first pic is of me after they have put me in the body cast and have vacuum packed my legs and hands in place. Going into the CT scanner. http://picasaweb.google.com/adlayne1/Downloads#5563741216632122450 They do this every time I have treatment to make sure that I am in the same position every time. Some markers are in the back of the cast so they can compare my body alignment each time. So it will be perfect, like me ;)
Next, are of my vacuum packed person, http://picasaweb.google.com/adlayne1/Downloads#5563741222755416850 and the writing on my chest so they can line up the lasers to shoot the radiation in me, but that is another picture. They were nice and covered me up while taking these pictures, didn't want to show too much skin, even though I am really sexy (in my best Austin Powers Irish guy (and yes I know his name) voice)... ok I'll stop there.
The next two are the Cyber knife, laser surgery, radiation machine thingy.
http://picasaweb.google.com/adlayne1/Downloads#5563741257791961330
http://picasaweb.google.com/adlayne1/Downloads#5563741280079684322 It is called a brainscan, by varian. It is a really cool machine, I bet its expensive though, it looks expensive. I get a really good look at it while having treatment, it's only about six inches from my face at times. I know the machine says Novalis on it too, but inside, where I can see it says Varian.
And we can't forget the radiation crew, they take good care of me while I am stuck in one place. http://picasaweb.google.com/adlayne1/Downloads#5563741280079684322 The last pic is the vacuum machine, http://picasaweb.google.com/adlayne1/Downloads#5563741248228845058 it has an alarm that if it stays on too long without giving me a break (at least that's what I think its for) it will go off. The first time I was getting treated it went off at the start of the second scan. I had to wait through the whole scan for it to be safe for the team to come back in and reset it. It was really annoying. But I guess alarms are supposed to be annoying.

Owen Marecic the perfect football player

I know this is a weird post, especially for me, those of you who know me, know my wife watches more sports than I do. I usually only watch when I know someone playing, or am really bored. But enough of that. While waiting for my radiation treatment I picked up a magazine and read about this young man who plays for Stanford. What caught my attention is that the article was more about how he lived his life on the field much the same as he did off the field. Always gave 100%, worked hard at supporting those around him by doing his part. Words can't describe what I have learned from reading this short article but it ended with this quote from Owen, "TODAY GIVE ALL THAT YOU HAVE, FOR WHAT YOU KEEP INSIDE YOU LOSE FOREVER." You can Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1174606/1/index.htm
If you have a little time its worth the read.
An update on me, I am doing well, working hard and trying to stay positive. Good friends, loving Family, and supporting Co-workers, make life worth fighting for.
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

3 hrs later, one treatment down

Ok,
I went and had my first round of radiation yesterday. While getting the radiation wasn't felt at all, the prep to get radiation really sucks. Not painful, just uncomfortable. As I have said in the past, I get shrink wrapped into a body form we made a couple of weeks ago, then I get vacuum packed from the belly button down, including my arms (well my wrists and hands.) Then comes the really fun part. Because I am so "strong" (that's how the physicist put it) I don't fit on the table very well (broad shoulders and such). So they have to move the table around to make a complete circle with the machine. Each time they send radiation everyone but me leaves the room. Then they come back in move me around and finish the circle. So time wise its like getting six doses, which put me in that body cast vacuum packed like a little smokie for three, count'em 1,2,3 hours. By the time we finished, I couldn't lift my arms because of my shoulders hurting, and my knees were killing me. But after they released me and let me move my arms for a minute, I was all better, the knees took a little walking around to quit hurting.
Every one was nice, and said "most people would have complained about laying there so long." I was complaining, believe me I was grumbling like crazy, just in my head.

Ok, warning alert for Alan, Skip this paragraph, you don't want to know.
That said I have to tell you a funny thing that happened when I was getting prep'ed. I think I told you that you have to be in your bare nuthins when they put you in the form. So I bought some compression shorts, they are like bicycling shorts. I was joking about how they have the unfortunate job of looking at people in revealing attire. The one nurse said "it's not always bad. You pull of the biker shorts look nicely." The other nurse, told me to take the complement and run, because she doesn't give them out very often.
I think I will try to get pictures of the whole thing next time, maybe not the bike shorts but the body form and such.

Ok Alan, you can read now.
Needless to say, they make a crappy situation fun.

Now for today. I never thought just laying down could make a person so sore. I have been stretching and doing some easy yoga this morning so I can get moving. My shoulders have rebelled against me overnight, everything is just tight. So as the day goes on I hope things start moving better. enough of that I need to get to work.
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day.
Love Andy.

I didn't have a catchy title today, sorry. If you will look to the right, you will see a new addition to the blog. A thermometer. Many thanks to Scott for helping me get this put together. I tried for an hour the other night to get something like this, and it took him a whole five minutes. He is a genius.
I have had many people ask if I had a gauge to let everyone know where we were in the fund raising, so there it is.
Ok, now for an update. For the last couple of days I have been really tired, not sure why, it couldn't be stress or anything like that, so it must be global warming. (those of you in Utah should be laughing right about now.) A heartfelt thanks for those who have, and continue to keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and a big thanks to those who have donated as well. I do my best to keep a good attitude and Peggy is always there to smack me when I let it slip. (just kidding) She is my strength and my support. She helps me, and has patience with me when I have my personal pity parties, for those parties she is a party pooper. That's why I love her sooooo much!
Merry Christmas and have a lovely day,
Love Andy

just checking in

Hi everyone, it's Peggy. I just felt I needed to check in. This week we all went back to school (except Andy). I look at this semester and have to admit that I cringe. I have one more math course and all of my computer classes this semester. I could only get into the combined course for the computers which means I give up my Saturdays for a 3 hour class and 1 hour lab. YUCK!!! Oh well. I have to remind myself I need to look at the bright side. I will be done with math, as long as I pass with at least a C. I couldn't have taken my math classes at a worse time. I have taken a math class through this whole ordeal with the cancer. I don't know what is scarier. Cancer..College math... Do you know which is worse? I am grateful that I have the opportunity to receive an education, I just would like to be done with it. So many crossroads are in my view and I really don't have a clear vision of which way to go. Andy is wonderfully supportive. He say to do what ever will make me happy. Unfortunately, that is not a possibility. I will do what needs to be done and accomplished, happiness will wait. I guess that's not entirely true. I feel happiness when I think of my kids and who they are becoming. Bright, beautiful, and strong. I feel happiness in my husbands warm welcoming arms, and in the smiles of good friends that care. Happiness is around us, we just have to stop and remember what it truly is. I have to mention some wonderful people that help me to remember what and where happiness is. Ron and Joan Startin. Ron has met difficult and frustrating trials in his life and yet his smile and spirit is one of the brightest and most loving I have ever met. Joan is always smiling and laughing, it's nice to have her around to show us how. Andy and I love these two individuals and we feel blessed to have met them and call them our friends. They came up during the Christmas break to visit and I enjoyed every word and moment with them. Thank you Ron and Joan, you are amazing. Well, I guess that is what I wanted to say. I hope you are all able to find and see happiness around you, and I hope you know we love you all. All y'all. (That's a throw out to my sweet brother-in-law, Rene's, southern roots).

First post of the New Year

With welcoming arms and an optimistic attitude we welcome in the new year. Lots of things need to happen this year, one is cancer needs to go in remission, so if you see cancer out there please let it know it is no longer welcomed in my body. As a family we are setting some goals, for family, finances, and personal growth, and yes it includes the ever illusive, lose weight, eat healthier, and exercise more. Those probably won't happen (but don't tell my wife). Peggy, along with the kids is starting school on Monday. So it is official, let the stress levels increase. Due to the uncertainty of my future (we hope for the best, plan for the worst) we decided that Peggy needs to finish her education so if the unimaginable happens, the family will survive. It will take a few years for her to get through her program, so we are being optimistic. I am currently feeling well, and we hope it will last. I will start radiation treatment on the 12th of Jan, and have between 3 and 5 treatments. The way they explained it to me is I will get 6 weeks of radiation in 5 treatments. So wish me luck and no or limited side effects. Well, have a happy new year, and look forward to having another Merry Christmas.
Love, Andy.