Last day of radiation!

4 more rads for us
Niki,

Nick & I can't wait to join you as Sophomores! He's got 33 hours of chemo left and just 4 more radiations, including today! Whoopie!

He also has been blessed with minimal nausea, an ability to eat *most of the time*, limited hair shedding - no real loss, no pain other than when the J-tube was placed, and a WONDERUL attitude.

I wish our husbands' experience during treatment to all going through treatment. Just watching the nausea he did have (4 or 5 days worth) and his frustration over being hungry, but not wanting foods he loved, was pain enough for us. I couldn't imagine more, but I know it exists.

Like you - strength & courage to those on the EC journey with us. Prayers to you all.

Looking forward to being a Sophomore and heading toward surgical graduation! Thanks to all that can offer tips.

Terry

jthomas233 said:

Wonderful!
Niki-

Congratulations on completion of the chemo/rad! I was absolutely thrilled to get that out of the way. I'm two weeks out of chemo and 9 days our of radiation. Like your Jeff, I had minimal side effects. (Fatigue toward the end, slight nausea and bowel issues). I am eating normally with very little, if any, resistance in the esophahus or the tumor site. Last night, I had four lamb chops with rice and spinach with cake.

I had been regarding the chemo/rad as a step in the process and I was very focused on doing the right things to complete the process. Since then, I have more time on my hands. I have been riding a stationary bike and doing some light work with weights as well.

The fearfulness has dissipated into an acceptance of my situation and I have resolved to combine my pre surgical training with quality family time. My 15 year old son, Owen, and I make a point of staying up late together to watch Turner Classic Movies. I know he hates them, but he loves me, so he does it. When he thinks I'm asleep, he kisses me, turns off the TV, and goes upstairs for the night. (I don't start crying until I hear his bedroom door close.)

WE ALL HAVE VERY IMPORTANT REASONS TO GRADUATE! Let's keep up the good work! Still sending prayers out for everyone on this site!

As for your two mile walks...I imagine the conversation on those walks is every bit as important and beneficial for BOTH of you as the walks themselves.

As a contributing member of the Sophmore class, and because I was a Fraternity member in College, I recommend that our Class Credo be-

sine timore progredi..
propositum in potestate!

Progress without fear..
Power in our purpose!

Jeff

I 2nd the Class Credo
Brilliant, Jeff. Love the credo

Thanks for being a returning Classman and telling us how you're doing. It's so good to hear encouraging words from one in the same place as us.

Terry & Nick

Laura23 said:

Congrats Niki and Jeff!
It's an awesome milestone to reach. Glad to hear that he is doing so well.

Luis finished radiation 3 weeks ago tomorrow. The first week after radiation was the worst in terms of pain and difficulty eating. He also didn't start to lose any hair until after treatment was over. Fatigue was the worst problem. But every day now, he is getting better and better. He is back to work full time and eating without any pain meds. He still has problems with fatigue and we are working on walking every day. He is slowly building up his strength. We are also getting ready for the restaging process.

Good luck and I pray for continued improvement and strength and peace for you both.

Laura
Wife to Luis
Diagnosed 4/11/2011 T3N1M0

Congratulations!
Laura and Luis-

It's great to hear Luis is getting stronger! The first week after treatment was the worst for me as well... It sounds like I am about 10 days behind you with the CAT/PET scan process. I'm hoping for good news for all of us.

Jeff

unknown said:

This comment has been removed by the Moderator

Cake and Spinach
William and Loretta—

First off, thanks for all you do for everyone on this site! Your posts are uplifting and informative, and I don’t know what we’d do without the two of you!

Having said that, I need to make some clarifications to my last post.

1. I do not now, nor have I ever, eaten “cake with spinach”. I have had the two during the course of the same meal, but I have never eaten the two of them together. I don’t recommend it to anyone!

2. I stayed away from the huge meals during the course of my chemo and radiation. I did not introduce the lamb chops until just last week.

Tonight I had a bowl of Haddock soup (more like a stew), with a salad, followed by some sort of flank steak, potatoes and…hate to say this…spinach. I waited a reasonable amount of time and then had a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream.

I never, ever lived to eat. I always regarded food as something you had to ingest so you could keep on doing the things you liked to do. I am sure there may be some foods I will miss, but they pale in comparison to the time I might be able to spend with my family and friends. (and, God willing, others who might benefit from my experience).

By the way, before my son left for his semester in Australia, I showed him the e-mail you two sent me when I initially joined the site. I said that he could go out and make all the money he wants when he graduates, but that if he didn’t end up with the same sense of compassion for people that you have, I will have failed as a parent.

Thanks again,
Jeff

One more member of Sophomore Class
Another member of the sophomore class is my husband John. He finished is last day of Radiation/Chemo July 11, 2011. He too had 28 radiation treatments, 2 rounds of cistplatin and 5fu continuous infusion Mon-Sat for 5 weeks. Unfortunately he is still having pain (we are told it is from the radiation “burns” to his esophagus). He struggles with eating it is painful to watch him eat. I try to gently encourage him to eat without being too much of a nagging wife. Cold is very painful so smoothies etc are out. I purchased a product called bena-calorie (on line) that has 350 calories in 1.5 oz; he is adding it to his coffee in the morning. It is tasteless but has a milky/oily texture and that is bothering him but he is getting it down. For some reason coffee does not bother him but he drinks it black (ZERO Calories). We have gone out to eat a couple of times and he did order pasta with Alfredo sauce both times (really fattening lol) & dessert. John is just like you Jeff he was never one that was concerned with eating he ate because he had to for fuel not that much just for the pleasure of it. I for one could never understand that concept I am always dieting. He is 6ft. tall and always weighed 160-165lbs. Last time he was at Dr. he weighted 144lbs. He is scheduled to have a CT scan (Chest, Abd, Pelvis) & Pet/CT mid August, before we go back to see Dr. Meredith on August 17. I am hoping that he continues to feel less pain and can eat more in the next few weeks. Before his diagnosis he went to the gym 7 days per week. He had a stroke 5 years ago which caused him to have left side weakness. He started the gym regimen and re-gained nearly 100% of his left arm & leg use. He continued going to the gym every day until towards that end of his treatment. He was just to fatigue to go he has gone back a couple of days here and there but not the regimen he was on. Probably a good thing for now sense he is not eating enough does not need to burn more calories. I am so glad you are all here posting and encouraging each other. It helps to hear all the good news and to know we there are others out here that understand.
I too LOVE the class credo & agree that William and Loretta are special people! Love you all
Erica
Wife of John
Diagnosed 5-17-2011
T-3, N-1, M-0

jthomas233 said:

Cake and Spinach
William and Loretta—

First off, thanks for all you do for everyone on this site! Your posts are uplifting and informative, and I don’t know what we’d do without the two of you!

Having said that, I need to make some clarifications to my last post.

1. I do not now, nor have I ever, eaten “cake with spinach”. I have had the two during the course of the same meal, but I have never eaten the two of them together. I don’t recommend it to anyone!

2. I stayed away from the huge meals during the course of my chemo and radiation. I did not introduce the lamb chops until just last week.

Tonight I had a bowl of Haddock soup (more like a stew), with a salad, followed by some sort of flank steak, potatoes and…hate to say this…spinach. I waited a reasonable amount of time and then had a chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream.

I never, ever lived to eat. I always regarded food as something you had to ingest so you could keep on doing the things you liked to do. I am sure there may be some foods I will miss, but they pale in comparison to the time I might be able to spend with my family and friends. (and, God willing, others who might benefit from my experience).

By the way, before my son left for his semester in Australia, I showed him the e-mail you two sent me when I initially joined the site. I said that he could go out and make all the money he wants when he graduates, but that if he didn’t end up with the same sense of compassion for people that you have, I will have failed as a parent.

Thanks again,
Jeff

That is beautifully said.
That is beautifully said. Good luck and continue the wonderful recovery from radiation/chemo.