Saba Beats Cancer

We gave away the last of the cancer supplies to another person doing battle so that there is nothing in the house to remind me of our journey through cancer. My hair is actually filling in and has a little color  - it has a lot of white there - but also some color. The sinus issue that made me think of brain cancer is gone. Food tastes so good again I have gained back 12 of the pounds I lost - and I could easily gain it all back if I don't slow down. So basically I am a normal guy again. So it is time to put the blog to bed as well. I will still post after scans (October 21st is already on the schedule). But if I put cancer behind me - there is no reason to blog. One last thing to post is that people ask if the ordeal changed me and I have to say of course it changed me. You don't come that close to losing your life and act the same. I am more patient. I looked at the blue sky both mornings this weekend with awe and appreciation. I bought Lee flowers at the farmers market -

Picc line coming out today. The final scans are all clear and I am cancer free.  So amazing - so much support, love, prayers and amazing medical got us here.  I started this blog in February that Saba Beats Cancer which seemed a little arrogant at the time based on the bad cancer we had but we did!! HELL YES!! This last few weeks has been stressful to say the least - they call it scanxiety - waiting on the scans where every ache and pain feels like cancer returning. I have dealt with this damn picc line since mid February having to flush it every day, change the dressing each week and put a shower sleeve on it to shower every time.  So sick of this damn thing that you cannot imagine the feeling to get rid of it. The last piece of being a cancer patient being removed. Now that is amazing!! Let's get back to living. Going out to our favorite Italian restaurant tonight and an Astro's game this weekend. LIFE!!

I got this great note during the last full moon from Pete that his daughter had gone to a yoga instructor course and there were some of the participants there who told her that during a full moon you can banish negative things from your life by writing them in red ink on paper and burning them in a bonfire. So they did that with Dave's cancer last full moon.    He reminded me that tonight is also a full moon and never one to miss an opportunity to have things weigh in my favor - I will be banishing my cancer in the grill fire tonight. It is the night before my scans and why not a little pagan ritual to go along with the prayers.  So annoying that the scans are tomorrow afternoon but the doctor's appointment with the results is not until Thursday. So a little tense waiting until the appointment. Yay. But feeling great - no swollen lymph nodes and no headaches/double vision - so things are looking great for tomorrow. And with the cancer banished in flames - how can I lose. 

What a great feeling to have hair growing in the right places now!  Eyebrows, eyelashes and hair on my head all coming in nicely. Hard to believe that it has only been a month since chemo ended - because things are so normal. On Friday I actually got my first full paycheck since February - now that's a good feeling! Based on all I read and heard from others, I am way ahead of the game on recovery working 8 hour days and doing very well.  Every so often I get a feeling like chemo side effects but then it goes away.  So other than that I am doing great. Side note on the blood work - the webisphere was correct - cranberry juice does help the kidneys but my platelet count went down. The only thing on my blood work that went down - I was still in the good range so no big deal, but important thing to note. And it's probably good that the beach house is rented through August - we won't be able to use it until Labor Day weekend - so guy recovering from cancer just died from

All is well in my blood again.  And the numbers keep getting better. While my hemoglobin and red count are still a little low, they crept ever so closer to the good range. And those damn creatinines kept going down at the right pace - and should be in the good range by next week. So all in all more good news. Next week is the big week with my MRI and PET scan on the 17th followed by the doc on the 18th. I ran into a guy who was a step ahead of me on the double hit lymphoma party. He had is first scan after chemo 3 and still had just a bit of cancer left in his lymphs at that scan. He just found out that it kept growing after that scan and even though he is down with chemo, he has to go for another fight. They are debating T cell or Stem Cell. Prayers for him. And of course that scares the hell out of me as well. But my scans were clean so we should be good to go. But will be saying a few extra prayers myself.

And actual boogers - I know that is not thrilling to most but when the alternative is your nose running for the last 4 months, it is awesome. I have actual nose hairs and the tiniest eyelashes have just sprouted along with a lot of fuzz on my head. I actually shaved this morning because I needed to. How awesome is that. And I did feel even better this morning walking the pups. Our nurse said even when I thought I felt good early on, that I would feel even better.  I will admit that I had some sinus issues last week that created a sinus headache which made me feel like brain cancer was back. That's what you get with cancer - feeling like it might spring back into life immediately.  But that went away yesterday and still no sign of it today (when it was in my brain it never went away). 10 days until the scans and port removal.  Cannot wait for that - continuing to put on the shower sleeve and not being able to fully enjoy the pool has been annoying - but only 10 days til that is

So MD Anderson did forget about me. I was supposed to get blood work done weekly. I reminded them Monday and they immediately set an appointment for today. And my blood work is good. White cells and neutrophils are in the good range. My red blood cells and hemoglobin are still low but coming up significantly.  Platelets are good. My kidneys are still not healed completely. Creatinine has come down from 1.8 to 1.46 but should be under 1.  So still a ways to go.  Even with enjoying cranberry juice - we are still healing. It is funny to feel so good yet know your body is still recovering from the brutal onslaught of chemo. Not a patient guy.  I asked how long I would have to take antibiotics and the LPN said probably three months.  I thought it would be when the white cells were back - but apparently not.  He said to check with the doc when we have our appointment on the 18th. So - still recovering.  Sigh. But doing pretty damn good.

Worked an 8 hour day yesterday and on track today. Not feeling any ill effects of the working world - just the opposite. Just so charged up to be here and feeling better every day. So that works!  And it is a 4 day week with a nice respite on Thursday which should help. Lots to do in a job I love - pretty damn good. The fuzz on the head is starting to come in and the port is still in my arm and annoying. The last two crappy chemo things as a daily reminder. I have 17 days until my final scans and they yank the port. But sooooooo many positives. Actually planned my first travel to go to the Naval Academy as one of my classmates and friends is taking over as Superintendent. I probably would not have gone before - but it is going to be a great way to see a lot of guys and say hi and give them a hug for their support - so why the hell not. No big plans for the 4th - get some stuff done around the house, swim in the pool with one arm up in the air with a bag on it and have a few bever