This is the killing machine. Isn't it great, lots more counterspace and storage. It looks better in person.

What's up?

Sorry we haven't written something on the blog as of late, but life seems to continually speed forward even when sometimes we would like it to stop and wait for us to be ready. Andy has been doing okay for what he has been through. He hasn't had the energy or strength that he or I was hoping for, but he is alive and trying to keep going. He has been to work and his goal was to be at work 8 hours for 5 days straight. Well, it's a good goal, however, we are constantly reminded that cancer and the treatments that Andy has completed are really the deciding vote on many issues. A week or two ago Andy wasn't feeling well (mostly coughing and in some pain), so while he was driving to work he called one of our huntsman helpers. Tony told Andy to come all the way down to meet with one of their docs. So, instead of going to work he drove to Huntsman. After x-rays and tests they concluded that Andy needed a special little pearl-like pill that would help alleviate his cough and hopefully stave off a serious side effect of the radiation to his lungs call pleurisy. That is where the lining of the lung pulls away from the lungs. This is a bad thing and could make recover difficult. So Andy and I have continued as always and are just happy that things have not progressed as quickly as statistics say they should. During these last weeks we have tried to work and be normal (ahh... what dreams we have.). Fast forward to this weekend and more importantly today(Wednesday). Andy built a kitchen island over the weekend that seemed to be more physically difficult than we both were thinking. He completed it with all of our help and we thought that we were so clever. Well, this morning Andy woke fairly early (6:20a.m.) and went to work, except as he drove closer to Brigham he felt a stabbing pain that was not improving. So he call me to ask my opinion. I told him to call Hunstman. He turned around and went to Dr. Schow's in Garland instead. He said he didn't think he could make it SLC. Garland was closer and knew Dr. Schow would work him in. After many test (8 vials of blood and EKG and chest x-ray), Dr. Schow told him he probably had acute pleurisy and needed to go home take some pain pills and relax in bed. So, that is where Andy is today drugged and sleeping in bed. I have to tell you something a little funny. Yesterday I texted my mom to come over and see the wonderful island that Andy constructed (he really built it from scratch). In my text to her I mention that it nearly killed Andy to finish this project. I refer to the fact that Andy starts projects but rarely finishes them(I usually have to complete the project, whether I know how or not). Well, I guess we did push the boundaries of his physical limits with recovering from the radiation on this one. You just don't know how much energy and exertion it take to do simple tasks that use to take half the thought until you lose so much. It could have been so much worse than what has transpired and we are thankful that the Lord is looking out for us and our stupidity. I know what you are thinking. "Andy has cancer don't make him do things to hurt or aggravate his condition!" Well, this is what I and Andy think of that. While we still have breath to breathe, so we are going to do just that. Breathe!! I hope that you are all doing well and we want to continue to thank you for all your support. Your prayers are heard and felt. We love you all.

Sorry, I'm a slacker

Ok, apologies have been issued, and explanations will ensue. This last while has gone by fast and has been really crazy. I spent an unplanned day in the hospital doing tests, they came back inconclusive. I was having chest pain and it took effort to breath. So after all the tests, I had an choice to make. Either go on steroids, at about 20 times the current dose I was taking, or take a little round pill with no mentionable side effects. So having the aversion to side effects that I do, I went with the little pills. I have done a lot better, but have been having reoccurring killer headaches. But good news on that, they have become less and less painful as time goes on, so they are either going away or I am getting used to them. Coming up is Valentines day, so give your sweetheart a hug, and a nice gift, flower, chocolate, rubies, maybe a diamond, something nice that you both can appreciate. Me, I am giving Peggy nothing but me. And what a great present that is, too bad you all aren't as lucky as her to be having me for a present. ( I hope you can sense the sarcasm here.) I wouldn't put what I was getting her here, she would read it, silly. Ok, If you can tell I am feeling really good at the moment. I have even started to lose some weight. If you find the weight I loss, you can keep it, that's just how generous I am. May the Lord bless and keep you all safe and warm in this chilly, but not freezing weather (check local listings). Merry Christmas and have a lovely day, spring in on the march. he he he.
Love, Andy.

Oh I almost forgot, we will be selling shirts for a fund raiser, there is a picture of what they look like. The front says "The fight against Melanoma", the back says "In it to Win it." We are still trying to decide on pricing and how to order, more news to follow. Thanks to Caity my wonderful Model.

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.