Update

I saw my oncologist today and he was telling me that my PET showed a small area in the right neck and left groin area. He said that he did not think it was Hodgkins but he was more concerned that it was a false/positive read. He suggested that we repeat the PET which will be scheduled soon and see if it shows anything this time around. If it shows in the same area he said it could be Hodgkins but another biopsy would be needed. He tells me to keep my spirits up but it's hard. I will post again post-PET.
Alan

Hello

It's been a while and I just wanted to let everyone know that I'm doing well. My soon to be 21 year old has caused some undue stress on my life when she has decided that smoking pot and who knows what else is more important than taking care of her daughter! I had to step in, along with my ex-wife and got an emergency custody order, which was granted. McKenna is 16 months old, lives with me and goes to her Grammies just about everyday to see her. We love her very much and she has been a blessing to us all. It is just sad for me that my daughter doesn't realize what we have done "with love" for not just the baby but for her! Time will tell. We went a whole month Dec 8, 2007 till Jan 5, 2008 of not knowing where she was at. No contact, not even wanting to see her baby which as a father, really made me sad but I knew we had to do the tough love thing but one will always worry about their own child's safety and well-being. She has only surfaced once at my house and that was to pick her clothes up and once at her mother's. She saw that baby for about 5 mins and that was enough. My ex told her she loved her and she replied "If you really loved me you would give me my baby back!" Sad, but you can see what level of immaturity we are dealing with.

As for me I'm doing ok. I think the SCT took a bit more out of me than I thought it would. I still have some residual things going on like fatigue, do desire for red meats and a stigma from my accounts that look at me differently as a person that has cancer. This I think has hurt business a bit. Working on some new accounts though to stir up referrals/income.

I have an oncologist appointment on 1/24/08 and I suspect he will order a PET/CAT on me. Will be approaching my one year post SCT in March. Thinking back still to this date of all that I went through, makes me nassuated every time!

I will let you know how my appointment goes. Blessings to all!

CT Results

The nurse calls me with the results of my CAT scan I had done last week and everything sounds pretty good. I will see my oncologist I think on the 24th so he will discuss them further with me at that time. So, I guess great news so far!

Alan

Cleveland follow-up visit

Well, I drove up to Cleveland with my daughter Katie and everything went as expected.
He was happy with my first SCT visit. He suggested that all my future testing be done down here and let Dr. Chowhan manage me from now on. The did a pulmonary function testing and it showed a little decrease in output. I think this is from the lack of exercise/walking. Looking for a walking partner! Chest x-ray and blood work was fine. He said that I need to have a CAT scan and he thinks it should be normal. Normal going into the SCT and it should stay that way! I pray that it does!
He said if I were to relapse, I was pretty screwed. At that time I could try Radiation. So we are keeping our fingers crossed that it never comes back!!!

We spent the night with Keith and Cathy. We had a great time. Drove back the next day and it didn't bother me like I thought it would. I had Katie with me to drive just in case I got sick or something.

I saw Dr. Chowhan last Wed. and he is going to schedule my CAT scan soon. Said I would need to see him every month and pulmonary/chest x-ray every two months.

Feeling pretty good and I will update as soon as I get more news or results of any test. Alan

Doing ok!

It has been a long time since I posted last. SORRY! I'm doing ok. Still having some residual problems but nothing worth talking about. Eyebrows are starting to come back in but no hair on top. I'm heading back to Cleveland for a follow-up appointment this Friday and Katie is going with me. Business has been slow and I'm trying to stir things up to get my doctors to scan more with me. I have been maintaining my weight and still wanting to lose another 20 pounds or so. I have not had the energy to exercise but I feel like after I get my PET/CT scan under my belt that I will start working hard. I will let you know what the doctor has to say.

I will see my local oncologist next Wed and I gather he will schedule the necessary test. Later! Alan

Doing well.

My blood work is still in the normal range. I have been back working a few hours a day and doing pretty good. I still can't find anything good to eat except cottage cheese and fresh fruit. Maintaining my weight. I will need to head back to Cleveland for a follow-up appointment with Dr. Dean and after that I hope that I can just maintain locally and not have to return to Cleveland. I'm schedule to head up on May 1. It has been a month since I've been home and it is still slow going but I do see improvement everyday.

Blood Work looking good

I had some blood work yesterday and so far it all looks great. Blood cultures take a few days to see if anything is growing but since I've not had a temp. they think all will be normal. Still really tired and my nights and days continue to be messed up. I've been getting about 3-5 hours of sleep and I've tried staying up and gowing to bed when I'm really tired but no go. I will lay, toss and turn till about 6:00 am and sleep till about 10 or 10:30. Makes for a weird day. It's Good Friday and I would like to go to church but I think I will wait for Sunday and give it a try. Wear my mask and not shake any hands to be safe.

I hope all is well with everyone and you all have a great Easter!