When I was diagnosed with cancer this spring, I learned quickly that this is a disease that effects everyone in your family. Whether they are in your home or hundreds of miles away it is a worry for everyone on what is going to happen down the road with this terrible disease.
Nancy and Andy can monitor my progress every day (and Jessica during visits from Memphis), but my mom, who has lost two sisters to cancer was always asking me, "how are you really doing?" So, I went home to see my mother for the 2nd time so that she can see that I'm doing great and that my appearance hasn't changed. I was also able to see both my brothers and sister, along with my father in law and Nancy's sister, Mary and her husband, Jim. I also met my great niece, Annika for the first time as well.
One of the highlights of the trip was taking my mom to see our former neighbors, the Simser's. WinnAnn was diagnosed with bladder cancer this summer and recently had surgery to remove the old bladder and build her a new one. It was a lengthy surgery, but she looked really great for only having had the surgery four weeks ago. We've talked on the phone a couple of times since I found out we both had bladder cancer and have a new found bond that we will share for the rest of our lives. One of the most insightful things that I heard was when Jim said in our conversation, "when WE were diagnosed." I heard the same statement one time from Phil Mickelson, when he was talking about his wife's cancer. It really reinforced with me that when one spouse has cancer, it is really both that go through it together. One may have the physical pain of treatments and/or surgery, but it effects the husband or wife's life just as much.
My thoughts on friends will probably take up a longer post down the road. But, I know that Nancy and I could not get through this without the support of all our friends. We've been blown away by the support and prayers from all my friends. Whether from work, church or from the golf course, you all have been great. Friends ask me all the time what they can do for me and my answer has always been to just pray. Pray that the cancer never returns and that I can endure the treatments over the next two years.
Thank you for being concerned enough for ready my blog and lend your support. My next treatment starts on Wednesday at 1pm. The first of a series of three treatments over the next four weeks.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
BCG Treatments
My BCG treatments started on June 22, 2011. Six treatments over seven weeks. I spent a lot of time researching the treatments and found a great blog called, "Got Bladder Cancer?" that really helped prepare me for what I was about to experience.
The treatments consist of inserting fluid into my bladder that has the TB virus in it. After 2 hours, I void my bladder and then start drinking like a fish for the next 6 hours. During the six hours, I have to add 2 cups of bleach into the toilet each time I void my bladder, so that the virus is killed before going into the sewer system. I also disinfect the toilet seat and sides as well each time, so it is never a quick trip to the lou. During the 6 hours I have been drinking an average of 48 ounces of fluids, so the trips to the bathroom are frequent. The 8 hours are pretty intense and I pretty much do nothing but drink and pee, so by the end of the day, I'm wiped out. The reason for drinking so much is that it takes away any burning when I void my bladder.
My six treatments went very well for the most part. I was expecting the treatments to get worst with each one based on my research. My doctor said that some times they get worst and some times they get better. For the first five treatments they got a little better each time. The last treatment went the other way and was the toughest of the six. While I drank the same amount of water and lemonade as the previous treatments, I had to void my bladder about 5 more times than normal during the 6 hours. My bladder was definitely not liking the BCG and was trying to empty itself as often as possible.
My only side effect from my first series of treatment was fatigue. I was always tired for about two months. Instead of getting up in the morning at 5:30 to go run 3 miles, I would hit the snooze and stay in bed for another hour. I didn't miss any work (other than treatment afternoon) but I was always tired. I'm a person that does not like to nap for more than 15 minutes or I would feel lethargic the rest of the day. During my treatment weeks, I could take a Sat. or Sun. afternoon nap for a couple of hours and feel better.
I named this blog, Running Against Bladder Cancer, because as I get ready to face three more rounds of BCG treatments, I plan on trying to continue my running this time and fight through the fatigue. I always felt that I was too tired to run during my June and July treatments, so it will be interesting to see if I can pull it off.
The BCG treatments cycles will be going on for two years and happen every three months. Each cycle will be for 3 treatments, one a week. Between the cycles, I face the Cystoscope. It always my doctor the ability to look inside the bladder and detect the smallest of cancer much earlier than using a CT Scan. It is not a pleasant procedure, but I found one pain pill and one valium makes it tolerable.
So, I'm 8 days away from my next treatment. I need everyone's prayers that the treatment doesn't get any worst and that the fatigue is manageable again. I'm actually looking forward to getting back in the grind of the three treatments and having the same results of no return of the cancer.
The treatments consist of inserting fluid into my bladder that has the TB virus in it. After 2 hours, I void my bladder and then start drinking like a fish for the next 6 hours. During the six hours, I have to add 2 cups of bleach into the toilet each time I void my bladder, so that the virus is killed before going into the sewer system. I also disinfect the toilet seat and sides as well each time, so it is never a quick trip to the lou. During the 6 hours I have been drinking an average of 48 ounces of fluids, so the trips to the bathroom are frequent. The 8 hours are pretty intense and I pretty much do nothing but drink and pee, so by the end of the day, I'm wiped out. The reason for drinking so much is that it takes away any burning when I void my bladder.
My six treatments went very well for the most part. I was expecting the treatments to get worst with each one based on my research. My doctor said that some times they get worst and some times they get better. For the first five treatments they got a little better each time. The last treatment went the other way and was the toughest of the six. While I drank the same amount of water and lemonade as the previous treatments, I had to void my bladder about 5 more times than normal during the 6 hours. My bladder was definitely not liking the BCG and was trying to empty itself as often as possible.
My only side effect from my first series of treatment was fatigue. I was always tired for about two months. Instead of getting up in the morning at 5:30 to go run 3 miles, I would hit the snooze and stay in bed for another hour. I didn't miss any work (other than treatment afternoon) but I was always tired. I'm a person that does not like to nap for more than 15 minutes or I would feel lethargic the rest of the day. During my treatment weeks, I could take a Sat. or Sun. afternoon nap for a couple of hours and feel better.
I named this blog, Running Against Bladder Cancer, because as I get ready to face three more rounds of BCG treatments, I plan on trying to continue my running this time and fight through the fatigue. I always felt that I was too tired to run during my June and July treatments, so it will be interesting to see if I can pull it off.
The BCG treatments cycles will be going on for two years and happen every three months. Each cycle will be for 3 treatments, one a week. Between the cycles, I face the Cystoscope. It always my doctor the ability to look inside the bladder and detect the smallest of cancer much earlier than using a CT Scan. It is not a pleasant procedure, but I found one pain pill and one valium makes it tolerable.
So, I'm 8 days away from my next treatment. I need everyone's prayers that the treatment doesn't get any worst and that the fatigue is manageable again. I'm actually looking forward to getting back in the grind of the three treatments and having the same results of no return of the cancer.
Start From The Beginning
My journey of Running Against Bladder Cancer started the summer of 2010, when I returned from from my Sunday afternoon 5 mile run and I had blood in my urine. It was a normal hot summer day in the Nashville area and I reasoned the blood was because of the heat and humidity. A couple more days of running and still blood after each run sent me to my doctor. I was treated for a urinary tract infection and given some medication. My research on WebMD showed about 16 reasons for the blood and 14 were bad.
After a few months went by and the blood returned and my doctor ruled it was from dehydration from running. I started running indoors and with a water bottle. I ran in the Nashville Germantown Octoberfest 5K in Oct. 2010 and finished in 21:40, averaging 6:59 a mile, which was my goal to beat 7 minutes. A vacation, then sprained ankle and I was done running until the new year. No more blood showed up for the rest of the year.
2011 started with a couple of weeks of running and then the blood showed up again (only right after a workout). My doctor asked me to bring in a sample of the bloody urine, but then the blood stopped. Must be better. Then in February after a day of no running, the blood was back, but I justified that it was after a day of golf and being on my feet all day. Later in the week on Saturday, no running, no golf, but multiple blood in my urine. I called my doctor and got referred to Dr. Tissot, my Urologist.
My visit to Dr. Tissot included a CT Scan that showed a spot in my bladder and an appointment for a Cystoscope. That procedure revealed a very suspicious looking tumor and a surgery the second week of April.
Surgery day came and everything went smoothly thanks to the good personnel at Williamson Medical Center Hospital and two days later a diagnosis of T1 Bladder Cancer. You never want to hear those words that you have cancer and it is a game changer in how are going to live your life.
One month later on May 9th, I was back in surgery with Dr. Tissot removing parts of my bladder muscle to make sure that my cancer had not progressed into the muscle. If it was in the muscle then conventional treatment is to remove the bladder. A few days later and Dr. Tissot sat down with Nancy and me for the results. "You had cancer and now we are going to work to keep it coming back" were the words that I will always remember. Now I wasn't battling for my life, but trying to "keep my original parts" as my doctor explained.
My treatments are called, Bacille Calmette-Guérin or BCG. You can look it up in the Internet, but it is a chemo type treatment that has the solution put into the bladder to boost the immune responses and reinforce the lining of the bladder.
After a few months went by and the blood returned and my doctor ruled it was from dehydration from running. I started running indoors and with a water bottle. I ran in the Nashville Germantown Octoberfest 5K in Oct. 2010 and finished in 21:40, averaging 6:59 a mile, which was my goal to beat 7 minutes. A vacation, then sprained ankle and I was done running until the new year. No more blood showed up for the rest of the year.
2011 started with a couple of weeks of running and then the blood showed up again (only right after a workout). My doctor asked me to bring in a sample of the bloody urine, but then the blood stopped. Must be better. Then in February after a day of no running, the blood was back, but I justified that it was after a day of golf and being on my feet all day. Later in the week on Saturday, no running, no golf, but multiple blood in my urine. I called my doctor and got referred to Dr. Tissot, my Urologist.
My visit to Dr. Tissot included a CT Scan that showed a spot in my bladder and an appointment for a Cystoscope. That procedure revealed a very suspicious looking tumor and a surgery the second week of April.
Surgery day came and everything went smoothly thanks to the good personnel at Williamson Medical Center Hospital and two days later a diagnosis of T1 Bladder Cancer. You never want to hear those words that you have cancer and it is a game changer in how are going to live your life.
One month later on May 9th, I was back in surgery with Dr. Tissot removing parts of my bladder muscle to make sure that my cancer had not progressed into the muscle. If it was in the muscle then conventional treatment is to remove the bladder. A few days later and Dr. Tissot sat down with Nancy and me for the results. "You had cancer and now we are going to work to keep it coming back" were the words that I will always remember. Now I wasn't battling for my life, but trying to "keep my original parts" as my doctor explained.
My treatments are called, Bacille Calmette-Guérin or BCG. You can look it up in the Internet, but it is a chemo type treatment that has the solution put into the bladder to boost the immune responses and reinforce the lining of the bladder.
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