Monday, I met with my ENT, who examined my vocal cords, which he deemed normal, and concluded this was a neurological problem. I need to be totally candid with you. Since starting chemo and immunotherapy, my face has developed a mask-like look, so I have to force even a slight smile. In addition, when eating, […]
Monday, I received my third chemo and immunotherapy infusion and two weeks of chemo pills. The nausea and loss of appetite was intense than ever, to be expected at this phase. Flavored oatmeal and cheese grits are what I can tolerate. I expect this to subside some, the third week after chemo, when I can […]
On Thursday, my oncologist shared with me the results of a recent CT scan, which revealed a shrinkage of a lot of the tumors, which was a good sign after only two chemo treatments. In fact, the shrinkage caused the stent which was placed in my esophagus to permit swallowing to drop to my stomach. […]
This past Sunday, I had an MRI brain scan to see if the disease had spread to the brain. I got through the non-contrast scan, but when the strong contrast was injected, I started having trouble breathing, and I hit the kill switch! Once I was out of the tube, I was fine. The non-contrast […]
Happy New Year! On Monday, I had my second infusion, arriving at 10:00 AM and leaving at 4:30 PM. My sodium levels were low, and my pulse rate was high at 120, due to dehydration. Hanging a sodium bag took extra time. I observed how nurses at the infusion center start each patient on their […]
We decided to go to our kids’ homes this year for Christmas, all but one local, and visit with the grandkids. It worked out fine, as opposed to all coming to our Heard Avenue home. It was the first week off chemo pills, and my appetite improved a bit, although by week’s end I lost […]
I had my appointment with the oncologist, Dr. Tidwell, last Thursday, and his feedback was minimal weight loss, and tolerance of chemo was good. Changes in my voice concerned him, and he speculated the tumors enlarge due to immunotherapy, and could be obstructing my voice. The second treatment could shrink tumors, and my voice might […]
It’s Wednesday, and I took my first infusions last Friday, with three chemo pills twice a day since. First impressions – a general malaise comes over you, where you feel worse than the cancer has made you feel, with lack of appetite and diminished energy, the order of the day. You must force yourself to […]
After a delay so I could enjoy the Thanksgiving weekend, I was supposed to start chemo on Monday, December 1st. The chemo educational class was scheduled for the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, where I learned, among other things, I would take one chemo agent by mouth and the rest infused, including an immunotherapy agent, Keytruda.
My voice has been impacted in a significant way, beginning when I had trouble swallowing in July. The sound was a bit hoarse at first, but over time my voice became monotone and lacking the usual inflection and emphasis I typically give to words or phrases. The breath behind my speech was somehow reduced, so […]