During the summer, I’ve made slow, but steady progress in my return to good health. I’m feeling stronger and I now only require 8.5 – 9 hours of sleep each evening. I continue to treasure every moment of every day, and the normal stresses of work and life don’t wear on me as they once did.
Last week I had a follow up PET scan to the one I had in May. This scan would both determine if cancer was present and if I could begin vital stem therapy. There was one area on the floor of my mouth that showed a low level of metabolic activity. However, the doctors and radiologist were not concerned, as it appeared to be a result of ongoing healing, not cancer. Yippee! There will be a follow up PET scan later this year, but it has not been scheduled.
On August 25th, I will begin vital stim therapy. This process involves the placement of electrodes on my neck. I will then be asked to drink fluids and swallow various types of food. The electrodes will send a stimulus through my swallowing muscles both strengthening and retraining them. I will receive this therapy four times a week for several weeks. While my ability to swallow has improved over the summer, it is still weak. Hopefully this therapy will drive the desired results.
Over the past several weeks, I’ve really pushed ahead with eating more food by mouth. Through the spring when I was exclusively using my feeding tube, I took in about 6 cans a day, or 42 cans of liquid food each week. This past week, I only had 6 cans through my tube and the rest was replaced by “regular” eating. Soft, moist foods work best like pasta, mashed potatoes and well-cooked vegetables. Water is my best friend, as the food does not clear my mouth fully when I swallow. Even though it takes 30-45 minutes to eat a meal that normally would take 10-15 minutes, it is such a joy to taste food again. And, yes, my taste has returned, which was no guarantee.
In addition to strengthening and retraining my swallowing muscles with vital stim, my esophagus still needs to be opened further. I have another EGD to dilate my esophagus August 19th. I’m approaching the point where the esophageal opening is considered functional, but it is still at about half the size of what is considered normal. I anticipate more EGD procedures through the fall.
If all goes well with vital stim therapy, I hope to have my PEG tube removed in late September or early October. The PEG tube is a rubbery plastic tube that is a little over a foot long with the diameter about the size of a pencil. It is positioned about three inches above my belly button. While it has clearly been a lifesaver, I’m looking forward to having it removed. I’ve had it since mid-November of 2007. If I can maintain, or gain weight for four weeks while eating by mouth, the doctors will approve its removal.
Thanks again for your support and your prayers. I’m getting closer to finishing my rehabilitation.
Sunday, August 17, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Relay for Life Event in KC
It’s been a while since I’ve updated everyone on my progress. I continue to have less fatigue, and I’m now able to work a 40-hour workweek. The combination of sleeping more than in the past and putting a priority on my trumpet, which is helping rehabilitation of my tongue and facial area, has resulted in not enough time for me to workout regularly. I hope to change that soon.
In late May, I transitioned from speech therapy to lymphoedema therapy. I still do not speak clearly, but until my tongue gains more mobility there is not a lot I can do to improve my diction. The lymphoedema therapy aids the function of my lymph nodes, which were damaged from the radiation treatment. A very gentle massage along the paths where the lymph nodes drain helps avoid pooling of fluids in my neck. I’m also working with this therapist to open my mouth further. When I began my mouth would open 2.5 cm. I’m now at 3 cm. My next goal is to open wide enough to fit two knuckles into my mouth. If you try this, you will probably be able to insert three knuckles between your teeth. Finally, this therapy is improving my neck’s range of motion. My mobility has improved 20 degrees or more in four of six directions.
For those of you in Kansas City, I would like to invite you to a Relay for Life event, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The band Theresa and I play in, Soul Focus, will perform a 40-minute set beginning a little after 6:00 PM. The event is scheduled at Oak Grove Park, which is a few blocks east of North Oak Trafficway and 76th street in Gladstone, Missouri. It would be great to see and share our music with you. Nothing is required of you. Just show up and enjoy the music.
The weekend of June 21st Soul Focus played in Nashville as part of a combined Gibson Summer Jam and Battle of the Corporate Bands event. As past winners, we can’t compete again, but it was a blast playing at a big event again. The band opened with the Chicago song Beginnings. After I played the trumpet solo, Theresa, who was on stage singing, began crying. The depth of appreciation for the little joys in life has not waned for either of us. Both of us cherish moments in life and relationships with friends and family like we never have before. While I still am not able to perform technical elements on my horn like double tonguing, my embouchure strength has returned enough to play most music.
Since my last post in May, I had one EGD procedure. The good news is my esophagus only narrowed by 1 cm over six weeks. The GI doctor was able to increase the diameter to 16 mm in my last procedure on July 1st. While 18-20 cm is considered functional, most people have an opening of 25-30 cm.
In August, I will have another PET scan. If all goes well, I’ll be cleared for Vital Stem. This procedure will stimulate my swallowing muscles and retrain them. I’m able to eat by mouth one or two times a day. I’ve advanced to chunky soups and stews. I need a lot of liquid to help move the food down my throat.
While progress is slow, its sure and steady. I continue to be reminded of just how much one can live life without all of the abilities we take for granted. I always admired disabled individuals when they participated fully in life. And, while I’m far from disabled, I have a new appreciation for how one can feel just as much a part of society even thought all the pieces and parts may not work like they should.
In late May, I transitioned from speech therapy to lymphoedema therapy. I still do not speak clearly, but until my tongue gains more mobility there is not a lot I can do to improve my diction. The lymphoedema therapy aids the function of my lymph nodes, which were damaged from the radiation treatment. A very gentle massage along the paths where the lymph nodes drain helps avoid pooling of fluids in my neck. I’m also working with this therapist to open my mouth further. When I began my mouth would open 2.5 cm. I’m now at 3 cm. My next goal is to open wide enough to fit two knuckles into my mouth. If you try this, you will probably be able to insert three knuckles between your teeth. Finally, this therapy is improving my neck’s range of motion. My mobility has improved 20 degrees or more in four of six directions.
For those of you in Kansas City, I would like to invite you to a Relay for Life event, which is sponsored by the American Cancer Society. The band Theresa and I play in, Soul Focus, will perform a 40-minute set beginning a little after 6:00 PM. The event is scheduled at Oak Grove Park, which is a few blocks east of North Oak Trafficway and 76th street in Gladstone, Missouri. It would be great to see and share our music with you. Nothing is required of you. Just show up and enjoy the music.
The weekend of June 21st Soul Focus played in Nashville as part of a combined Gibson Summer Jam and Battle of the Corporate Bands event. As past winners, we can’t compete again, but it was a blast playing at a big event again. The band opened with the Chicago song Beginnings. After I played the trumpet solo, Theresa, who was on stage singing, began crying. The depth of appreciation for the little joys in life has not waned for either of us. Both of us cherish moments in life and relationships with friends and family like we never have before. While I still am not able to perform technical elements on my horn like double tonguing, my embouchure strength has returned enough to play most music.
Since my last post in May, I had one EGD procedure. The good news is my esophagus only narrowed by 1 cm over six weeks. The GI doctor was able to increase the diameter to 16 mm in my last procedure on July 1st. While 18-20 cm is considered functional, most people have an opening of 25-30 cm.
In August, I will have another PET scan. If all goes well, I’ll be cleared for Vital Stem. This procedure will stimulate my swallowing muscles and retrain them. I’m able to eat by mouth one or two times a day. I’ve advanced to chunky soups and stews. I need a lot of liquid to help move the food down my throat.
While progress is slow, its sure and steady. I continue to be reminded of just how much one can live life without all of the abilities we take for granted. I always admired disabled individuals when they participated fully in life. And, while I’m far from disabled, I have a new appreciation for how one can feel just as much a part of society even thought all the pieces and parts may not work like they should.
Sunday, May 18, 2008
PET Scan Results
On Thursday, May 15, we learned the long awaited results of my first PET scan since November. The results were just shy of perfect. A radiation oncologist who has not been involved in my treatment read the scan to avoid any potential bias. This oncologist thought the main tumor in the base of my tongue had been surgically removed. It was that gone! The lymph node has calcified and no cancer is present there either. This lump continues to shrink as my body slowly removes the dead remnants.
The PET scan revealed slight and scattered hot spots on the floor of my mouth which keep the results from being perfect. My oncologist said it is rare for cancer to spread there. It is probable these tiny hot spots are a result of me swallowing during the PET scan. Any muscle that is active during the scan will consume the glucose put into my veins. I recall swallowing hard multiple times during the scan. As a precaution, I will have another PET scan in August. In the meantime, I’m considering myself cancer free!
As my appointment came to an end, two nurses who have been helping me since the beginning of this journey asked if Theresa and I would participate in Relay for Life, a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society. Specifically, they asked if Soul Focus, the band formed by American Century Investments employees, would perform. I will include information on this blog, if the band is able to play at the July 18th event scheduled for Oak Grove Park in Gladstone, Missouri. The nurses hope my participation will be an encouragement to others fighting cancer. Another band member was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago. If all goes well there will be two cancer survivors performing as examples of God’s grace and the importance of fulfilling ones doctor’s protocol.
I had hoped to gain approval from my oncologist to begin Vital Stim, which is a procedure to trigger contraction of my tongue and swallowing muscles. While my esophagus is now wide enough for soft foods, my swallowing muscles are not effective at moving the food from the base of my tongue to the esophageal opening. My speech therapist has provided me a full compliment of exercises to strengthen these muscles, but the progress is very slow. Vital Stim is used to accelerate the rehabilitation process. However, there have been reports of Vital Stim triggering growth of cancer in the head and neck, if its used too soon after radiation. My oncologist, who is appropriately conservative, will approve use of this treatment when I have a PET scan that leaves no doubt the cancer is gone. The tiny hot spots on the floor of my mouth were enough to sway his decision against approving this treatment.
On Friday, I had my fourth in a series of EGD procedures. You may recall my esophagus was opened to 14mm two weeks ago. This time the doctor was able to advance it to 15mm. I will have my fifth procedure in about a month. In the meantime, I’ll keep working my swallowing muscles and pray my salivary glands and tongue mobility continue to improve. Thank you again for your letters, emails, support and prayers. You are making a difference in my life.
The PET scan revealed slight and scattered hot spots on the floor of my mouth which keep the results from being perfect. My oncologist said it is rare for cancer to spread there. It is probable these tiny hot spots are a result of me swallowing during the PET scan. Any muscle that is active during the scan will consume the glucose put into my veins. I recall swallowing hard multiple times during the scan. As a precaution, I will have another PET scan in August. In the meantime, I’m considering myself cancer free!
As my appointment came to an end, two nurses who have been helping me since the beginning of this journey asked if Theresa and I would participate in Relay for Life, a fund raiser for the American Cancer Society. Specifically, they asked if Soul Focus, the band formed by American Century Investments employees, would perform. I will include information on this blog, if the band is able to play at the July 18th event scheduled for Oak Grove Park in Gladstone, Missouri. The nurses hope my participation will be an encouragement to others fighting cancer. Another band member was diagnosed with cancer about two years ago. If all goes well there will be two cancer survivors performing as examples of God’s grace and the importance of fulfilling ones doctor’s protocol.
I had hoped to gain approval from my oncologist to begin Vital Stim, which is a procedure to trigger contraction of my tongue and swallowing muscles. While my esophagus is now wide enough for soft foods, my swallowing muscles are not effective at moving the food from the base of my tongue to the esophageal opening. My speech therapist has provided me a full compliment of exercises to strengthen these muscles, but the progress is very slow. Vital Stim is used to accelerate the rehabilitation process. However, there have been reports of Vital Stim triggering growth of cancer in the head and neck, if its used too soon after radiation. My oncologist, who is appropriately conservative, will approve use of this treatment when I have a PET scan that leaves no doubt the cancer is gone. The tiny hot spots on the floor of my mouth were enough to sway his decision against approving this treatment.
On Friday, I had my fourth in a series of EGD procedures. You may recall my esophagus was opened to 14mm two weeks ago. This time the doctor was able to advance it to 15mm. I will have my fifth procedure in about a month. In the meantime, I’ll keep working my swallowing muscles and pray my salivary glands and tongue mobility continue to improve. Thank you again for your letters, emails, support and prayers. You are making a difference in my life.
Saturday, May 10, 2008
The New Normal
Over the past few weeks, I’ve reflected on how my daily routine and tasks have changed. I’m adapting to my “new normal.” On one hand, I’ve returned to many of the activities that filled my life before cancer – church, work, music and most importantly I’m able to provide my family emotional support and guidance again. On the other hand, there are many physical and emotional changes. Some of which may never be the same, but it doesn’t seem matter. The important parts of life are in place. Before I fall asleep each night, I thank God for one more day of life on this earth.
The physical changes range from the humorous to frustrating. My feeding tube has created a few laughs for me recently. While “eating” lunch in my office at work, the tube slipped out of my hand as I attempted to close it. After a few seconds of liquid spewing from the wiggling tube, I was able to get control and stop it. I just sat there and laughed at the thought of what just happened. This is one part of the “new normal” that shouldn’t last too much longer. On the frustrating side is my speech. While its getting better, I find my tongue gets tired when I engage in a conversation with someone at work. My mind is zipping along, while my tuckered out tongue is begging me to stop talking. Maybe forcing myself to be more concise in my communication will not be a bad thing. ;-)
There are many more examples of how my daily routines have changed, but I won’t detail them all here. The bottom line is my shift in mental attitude. I’ve moved from “I can’t wait to return to normal” to “accepting that normal will be different going forward.” I will continue to strive for improvement, but I realize that one can get along pretty well in life without all of the body functions most of us think of as normal.
On May 2nd, I had my third EDG procedure. It went better than expected. My esophagus did not narrow as it did after the first procedure. The doctor was able to open my throat to 14mm. The goal is 18-20mm. After my fourth procedure, which is scheduled for May 16th, the GI doctor told me it will be up to me to let him know if or when another procedure is required.
While my esophagus is now wide enough for me to eat soft foods, I’ve found my swallowing muscles are not efficient at moving the food between the base of my tongue to the esophagus. The one meal I eat each day by mouth has become an exercise to strengthen my swallowing muscles. Since my salivary glands are still not up to par, I also use water to help wash down the soft food. I view this as another positive step towards the “new normal.”
On May 8th, I had a PET scan, which is a reliable test to spot cancer in the body. I expect to learn the results when I meet with my oncologist May 15th. The first step in this test is to have glucose injected into your veins. Then after a 30 minute wait to allow circulation of glucose throughout the body, you lie down on a narrow table. This table moves you through a large cylinder that scans the body and provides an x-ray like picture of the body. Because cancer cells are metabolically very active, they consume the glucose and show up as hot spots on the PET scan. Here’s to a hot spot free PET scan result next week!
My apologies for the long delay between blog posts. I’ve heard from several of you wondering if everything is okay. To be honest, my work schedule has resulted in me being fatigued in the evenings and I’ve gotten lazy with my updates. I intend to provide another update next weekend after I learn the results of my PET scan. Until then, take care.
The physical changes range from the humorous to frustrating. My feeding tube has created a few laughs for me recently. While “eating” lunch in my office at work, the tube slipped out of my hand as I attempted to close it. After a few seconds of liquid spewing from the wiggling tube, I was able to get control and stop it. I just sat there and laughed at the thought of what just happened. This is one part of the “new normal” that shouldn’t last too much longer. On the frustrating side is my speech. While its getting better, I find my tongue gets tired when I engage in a conversation with someone at work. My mind is zipping along, while my tuckered out tongue is begging me to stop talking. Maybe forcing myself to be more concise in my communication will not be a bad thing. ;-)
There are many more examples of how my daily routines have changed, but I won’t detail them all here. The bottom line is my shift in mental attitude. I’ve moved from “I can’t wait to return to normal” to “accepting that normal will be different going forward.” I will continue to strive for improvement, but I realize that one can get along pretty well in life without all of the body functions most of us think of as normal.
On May 2nd, I had my third EDG procedure. It went better than expected. My esophagus did not narrow as it did after the first procedure. The doctor was able to open my throat to 14mm. The goal is 18-20mm. After my fourth procedure, which is scheduled for May 16th, the GI doctor told me it will be up to me to let him know if or when another procedure is required.
While my esophagus is now wide enough for me to eat soft foods, I’ve found my swallowing muscles are not efficient at moving the food between the base of my tongue to the esophagus. The one meal I eat each day by mouth has become an exercise to strengthen my swallowing muscles. Since my salivary glands are still not up to par, I also use water to help wash down the soft food. I view this as another positive step towards the “new normal.”
On May 8th, I had a PET scan, which is a reliable test to spot cancer in the body. I expect to learn the results when I meet with my oncologist May 15th. The first step in this test is to have glucose injected into your veins. Then after a 30 minute wait to allow circulation of glucose throughout the body, you lie down on a narrow table. This table moves you through a large cylinder that scans the body and provides an x-ray like picture of the body. Because cancer cells are metabolically very active, they consume the glucose and show up as hot spots on the PET scan. Here’s to a hot spot free PET scan result next week!
My apologies for the long delay between blog posts. I’ve heard from several of you wondering if everything is okay. To be honest, my work schedule has resulted in me being fatigued in the evenings and I’ve gotten lazy with my updates. I intend to provide another update next weekend after I learn the results of my PET scan. Until then, take care.
Sunday, April 20, 2008
EDG Procedure Number Two
Its been a while since I’ve posted an entry. Since I had my first EDG procedure (this is the abbreviated name for the throat stretching), my life became much busier than before. I began driving into work, logging about 20 hours a week. Additionally, I started speech therapy twice a week. All of these new activities resulted in more fatigue that I like to admit. As many of you know, I’ve been very active my entire life running nearly every day. So, its hard for me to come to grips with the fact that I tire by doing activities I don’t consider exercise.
Speech therapy has been challenging. Returning my tongue to normal movement is going to take effort and time. Back in January, I was not able to protrude my tongue beyond my lips. Now, I can extend it almost an inch. However, the tip of the tongue still does not move well to the right. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been able to advance the tip from moving as far as the midpoint to now about ¼ inch past the midline. It is a bizarre feeling to tell a muscle in your body to do something and not have it respond. My speech therapist encourages me to be patient. I continue to do these exercises daily so I will be able to use my tongue to speak clearly, move food in my mouth and play my trumpet with accuracy.
On Friday, I had my second EDG procedure. My esophagus, which was opened from 1 mm to 10 mm in the initial procedure, had closed to about 3.5 mm. While this was expected, I was surprised as I did not notice much difference in my ability to swallow during the past two weeks. Because the opening was initially so small, it may have narrowed significantly within a day of the first procedure. The GI doctor was able to open my esophagus to 11 mm this time. The goal is 18-20 mm.
I’m beginning to accept the fact I may have my feeding tube for quite some time. Over the past few weeks, I’ve replaced one of my tube feedings each day with a meal by mouth. Smoothies, creamy soups and jell-o have been my foods of choice. They say pastas will be in my diet by summertime. I will return in about three weeks for another EDG procedure.
I also had a visit to my ENT physician since my last post. It was a very positive visit, and he was pleased with my progress. Based on his examination of the lump in my lymph node, he decided taking a second sample to check for cancer will not be necessary. The lump is continuing to shrink. The next test to validate the cancer is gone will be a full body PET scan the first week of May. I meet with my oncologist May 15 to learn the results.
Thank you again for all of your support. Your prayers, Bible verses, letters, emails and blog posts encourage me when I’m frustrated or tired. You are helping my recovery. Every single communication I receive brings joy to my heart. Thank you for your friendship.
Speech therapy has been challenging. Returning my tongue to normal movement is going to take effort and time. Back in January, I was not able to protrude my tongue beyond my lips. Now, I can extend it almost an inch. However, the tip of the tongue still does not move well to the right. Over the past two weeks, I’ve been able to advance the tip from moving as far as the midpoint to now about ¼ inch past the midline. It is a bizarre feeling to tell a muscle in your body to do something and not have it respond. My speech therapist encourages me to be patient. I continue to do these exercises daily so I will be able to use my tongue to speak clearly, move food in my mouth and play my trumpet with accuracy.
On Friday, I had my second EDG procedure. My esophagus, which was opened from 1 mm to 10 mm in the initial procedure, had closed to about 3.5 mm. While this was expected, I was surprised as I did not notice much difference in my ability to swallow during the past two weeks. Because the opening was initially so small, it may have narrowed significantly within a day of the first procedure. The GI doctor was able to open my esophagus to 11 mm this time. The goal is 18-20 mm.
I’m beginning to accept the fact I may have my feeding tube for quite some time. Over the past few weeks, I’ve replaced one of my tube feedings each day with a meal by mouth. Smoothies, creamy soups and jell-o have been my foods of choice. They say pastas will be in my diet by summertime. I will return in about three weeks for another EDG procedure.
I also had a visit to my ENT physician since my last post. It was a very positive visit, and he was pleased with my progress. Based on his examination of the lump in my lymph node, he decided taking a second sample to check for cancer will not be necessary. The lump is continuing to shrink. The next test to validate the cancer is gone will be a full body PET scan the first week of May. I meet with my oncologist May 15 to learn the results.
Thank you again for all of your support. Your prayers, Bible verses, letters, emails and blog posts encourage me when I’m frustrated or tired. You are helping my recovery. Every single communication I receive brings joy to my heart. Thank you for your friendship.
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Only a millimeter?
In my last post, I talked about the possibility this would be a pivotal week. This week has been filled with good news and several changes that will lead me toward a more normal life.
On Tuesday, I had outpatient surgery to stretch my throat. The procedure was done with a fluoroscope. This allowed the surgeon to watch a live x-ray on a monitor as he operated. As I waited on the operating table I described for the surgeon my experience with swallowing. As I did this he turned to the nurse and requested she retrieve the infant instruments. After surgery, I learned why. The diameter of my esophagus was only one millimeter wide. Yes, about the size of a pen tip. He was able to open it to a diameter of ten millimeters. To eat solid food, additional surgeries will be required to achieve a width of 18 – 20 millimeters. For now, I am able to drink smoothies and eat food up to the consistency of apple sauce. I intend to replace one of my daily tube feedings with a smoothie or soup eaten by mouth.
Learning the remarkably small opening at the top of my esophagus explains what I’ve experienced since I began sipping fluids in late February. If I sipped too much water, I would have to wait until a gurgling sound and minor discomfort stopped. On one occasion, I was sipping some chicken broth made from Campbell’s Chicken and Stars soup. I tried to chew and swallow a single piece of rice. I could not swallow it, which now makes sense given the narrow opening of my esophagus.
I am told I will have multiple procedures to normalize my esophagus. The procedure, which only takes ten to fifteen minutes, uses an instrument to mechanically stretch the scar tissue from the radiation. Between procedures, the esophagus will narrow slightly. The narrowing lessens over time, and in many patients stops. In others, the narrowing continues and the procedure must be performed one or two times a year to maintain the normal esophageal opening. I don't think Theresa will mind If I have this done often. She gets a kick out of my anesthesia induced jovial behavior after I wake up from the procedure. ;-)
On Thursday, I had an appointment with my radiation oncologist. He was very pleased with my progress. The lymph node continues to shrink, and his examination led him to say there is nothing he found to concern him. He schedule me for a PET scan in early May. This test will scan my entire body for cancer, and I hope will be another validation my treatment was successful. Additionally, he recommended me for speech therapy to advance the mobility of my tongue.
Finally, we discussed my return to work. I had hoped to gain approval to work 30 hours a week, but received his support for up to 20 hours a week. This is probably best. On the few occasions I have ventured out for more than a couple of hours, I’ve found I tire quickly. So beginning next week, I will travel into work on most days, instead of working from home. This is one more step in my journey to return to a more normal life.
On Tuesday, I had outpatient surgery to stretch my throat. The procedure was done with a fluoroscope. This allowed the surgeon to watch a live x-ray on a monitor as he operated. As I waited on the operating table I described for the surgeon my experience with swallowing. As I did this he turned to the nurse and requested she retrieve the infant instruments. After surgery, I learned why. The diameter of my esophagus was only one millimeter wide. Yes, about the size of a pen tip. He was able to open it to a diameter of ten millimeters. To eat solid food, additional surgeries will be required to achieve a width of 18 – 20 millimeters. For now, I am able to drink smoothies and eat food up to the consistency of apple sauce. I intend to replace one of my daily tube feedings with a smoothie or soup eaten by mouth.
Learning the remarkably small opening at the top of my esophagus explains what I’ve experienced since I began sipping fluids in late February. If I sipped too much water, I would have to wait until a gurgling sound and minor discomfort stopped. On one occasion, I was sipping some chicken broth made from Campbell’s Chicken and Stars soup. I tried to chew and swallow a single piece of rice. I could not swallow it, which now makes sense given the narrow opening of my esophagus.
I am told I will have multiple procedures to normalize my esophagus. The procedure, which only takes ten to fifteen minutes, uses an instrument to mechanically stretch the scar tissue from the radiation. Between procedures, the esophagus will narrow slightly. The narrowing lessens over time, and in many patients stops. In others, the narrowing continues and the procedure must be performed one or two times a year to maintain the normal esophageal opening. I don't think Theresa will mind If I have this done often. She gets a kick out of my anesthesia induced jovial behavior after I wake up from the procedure. ;-)
On Thursday, I had an appointment with my radiation oncologist. He was very pleased with my progress. The lymph node continues to shrink, and his examination led him to say there is nothing he found to concern him. He schedule me for a PET scan in early May. This test will scan my entire body for cancer, and I hope will be another validation my treatment was successful. Additionally, he recommended me for speech therapy to advance the mobility of my tongue.
Finally, we discussed my return to work. I had hoped to gain approval to work 30 hours a week, but received his support for up to 20 hours a week. This is probably best. On the few occasions I have ventured out for more than a couple of hours, I’ve found I tire quickly. So beginning next week, I will travel into work on most days, instead of working from home. This is one more step in my journey to return to a more normal life.
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Pivotal Events Next Week
Next week, the first week of April, will present a two opportunities for me to return to a more normal life. On Tuesday, I will have my first outpatient surgery to stretch my throat. I'm anxious to learn how my swallowing will improve after this procedure. I'm told it may take several procedures to achieve normal swallowing. Even if this initial attempt allows me to eat some foods, it will be a win. Another benefit I'm looking forward to is the ability to sleep in a lying position. I still must sleep in a sitting position due to the pooling of fluids in the back of my throat.
Then on Thursday I meet with my oncologist. I am going to request his permission to return to work up to 30 hours a week beginning April 7th. I look forward to getting into the flow of life again. For me, working with my co-workers at American Century Investments is a big part of that.
I will target next Thursday evening for my next post. At that time, I will be able to provide an update on both my surgery and visit with my oncologist. Until then, take care.
Then on Thursday I meet with my oncologist. I am going to request his permission to return to work up to 30 hours a week beginning April 7th. I look forward to getting into the flow of life again. For me, working with my co-workers at American Century Investments is a big part of that.
I will target next Thursday evening for my next post. At that time, I will be able to provide an update on both my surgery and visit with my oncologist. Until then, take care.
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