Great Finish To 2012

My all clear results from today's cystoscope finishes the year the same way as it started...cancer free!

Going to a cystoscope is always a very stressful experience between the pain of the actual procedure and the worrying over the results.  This time was no different except for the fact that I was feeling as good physically as I have felt since being diagnosed with cancer.  I have been running every day for about 4 weeks and feeling extremely healthy, which is exactly how I felt going pre-cancer.  So to get the all clear was a great feeling.

I appreciate all the prayers and people asking me how I'm feeling.  It is comforting to know that so many people care about my well being.  I will be posting again in January when I start my treatments in 6 weeks.

Big Day On Wednesday

This Wednesday, the 12th, I have my next cystoscope.  It's hard to believe that it has been 3 months since my last one.  It is always with trepidation that I go and have the procedure done.  The anxiety is now is more on results and less on the procedure.  This will be my 6th one in 1 1/2 years and the frequency will soon go to semi-annual for the next two years instead of quarterly.  As always, with a clear test, I will be scheduling the next set of BCG treatments in January.

I didn't know if I would like the BCG cycles going to 6 months between treatments versus 3 months.  But, I can now say that having more time to recover is nice.  I have been running now for about 4 weeks and get up in the morning ready to go, instead of wishing that I could have more time in bed.  While I would not say that I'm a morning person, I do really like getting up and getting a workout in before getting into the office.

Next post will be late afternoon on Wednesday, 12/12/12.

September Update

I realized that I didn't post my results from my September Cystoscope.  It was ALL CLEAR!  It was probably the quickest and least painful of all my Cystoscope tests.  A huge answer to prayer and relief.  The scope tests are always very stressful, but the end is always a huge relief when we hear the all clear from Dr. T.

My next Cystoscope is on 12/12/12 at 1:30pm.  With another all clear of cancer, the next treatments will start up again in January and February of 2013.  My plan is to have them done in time to go to the annual Florida Auctions in the middle of February.

I'm now about 7 weeks out from my last treatment.  The fatigue is still a constant, but this morning was the first morning that I've felt rested when I woke up.  I was feeling tired again by early afternoon, but at least I had about half of a day feeling real good.  Hopefully, with the new schedule of 6 months off between treatments will give me more days of feeling good than feeling worn out.

#15 Done and 6 Month To Recover

Treatment #15 is over and now I have until February 2013 before I start up #16-18.  The treatment day was different from the start.  I arrived 15 minutes early to find an all new office staff at my doctor's office.  He and his partners had joined a new practice with 30 other Urologists and I now had to fill out all their forms like I was a new patient.  Then they took 2 hours to get me into the Installation Room.  Nothing like adding 2 more hours to a process that take normally 8 hours.  The good new was that installation went smooth and the 8 hours went great.  Very little pain and blood this time.

The next big date is September 12th, when I have my next Cystoscope to see that the cancer has not returned.  It is always a very stressful day and I think anyone that has ever had cancer has worries that it will come back.  I'm trusting in the Lord that He will be with me and continue to pray for the cancer to never return.

What A Difference A Week Makes

I closed out my blog last week with the prayer requests of an easy installation and less pain and my request and prayers were answered.  It was a complete turnaround from last week.  The catheter went in quickly and smoothly.  The eight hours were as close to painless as can possibly be.  Praise God for the answered prayers.

My doctor also said that we are going to change up the treatment cycles after next weeks treatment.  Instead of 3 treatments every 3 months, I will have 3 treatments every 6 months.  This will give my urinary track more time to heal from all the trauma and lead to less chance of infections.  It also means that I will have three years of treatments instead of two years.  But, the results are still just as good and it means that I will have more time of not feeling so fatigued between treatments.

It's amazing how much easier this week was compared to last week.  I was very apprehensive going into the doctor's office this morning, but when the installation went so smooth, it really helps with your frame of mind for the rest of the treatment.  One more week and then done for the year...what a good feeling.

Unlucky #13 Treatment

Today did not get off to a good start and stayed rough for most of the day.  I woke up with a sore throat this morning and a sense of dread that next next series of treatments start up again.  The day had a different feel to it with the treatment starting at 9 in the morning, instead of 1-2 in the afternoon.  But, I'm thankful for the new time and being done at 5:30 instead of 10 o'clock at night.

The installation was difficult with two different catheter's and attempts needed to put in the BCG.  After the installation I was extremely light headed and was not released from the room for an additional 15 minutes.  When I got to the waiting room, Nancy had a worried look on her face and sensed something didn't go well and was correct with her intuition.

The six hours of flushing my urinary system were tough and I would rate it is the second worst of all my treatments based on the pain level.  I had pain pills in my system all afternoon and it still was a rough day.  One interesting note to the day was that I had no blood today, which is very unusual.

I did find out today that after this series of one treatment a week for three weeks, that I will have four more series over the next 12-15 months.  So, I'm almost half way through the treatments.  My doctor continues to give me the full dose each time and does not lower the strength.

I'm amazed at how different my treatment side effects are from one treatment to the next.  Treatments 7-9 were very tough and then 10-12 were the easiest of the first dozen.  Now #13 switches back to the really tough day, so let's hope #14 switches back to easy again.

I truly appreciate everyone's prayers and for people caring enough to ask me how I'm feeling.  Pray for a smooth installation and low pain next week and that my fatigue will dissipate quickly after this series is done.  While the day was tough, I'm not discouraged.  I'm confident that the Lord will get me through the 2 1/2 years of treatments and that I will get back to a normal life again.

May Check Up Cancer Free

I'm reporting in a week late, but the great news is that last week's Cystoscope showed that I continue to be cancer free. The procedure went the smoothest and fastest of my four Cystoscopes. Nancy was in the room as a spectator to check the video screen and listen to Dr. T's commentary of "that's clear" through every section viewed of my bladder. The stress before the procedure and possible findings are always high, but the relief of the "all clear, look's good" commentary makes the stress fall off of you instantly. Same as I did last time, I went home and took a nap for 3 1/2 hours. My next treatments are on July 18, July 25 and August 1st. I'm really excited that the next three treatments will commence at 9 o'clock each morning and allow me to be done by 5 pm each day. While I will have to miss a full day of work each time, it will allow me to have the early evening to relax and hopefully get some sleep. I started treatment #10-12, by taking a pain pill before the installation and these treatments were the least painful of all. Because of that minimal pain, I'm looking forward to the next three treatments with the hope that it continues. My fatigue level has been dropping each week and I'm happy to state that I have been running for the last two weeks. My mile split times are not real fast, but I know that the important thing to remember is that I'm getting some good cardio work done. The fatigue comes and goes during a day, but the majority of the day now I'm feeling healthy, which is a nice. Thank you to every one for your continued prayers and comments.

#12 Was A Lot Like #11

It's late and I'm exhausted.  So, to sum up the day, just look at the first two paragraphs of my last post and you will have insight on what my day was like.  It is amazing at how similar the last two treatments were.  I continue to have bleeding and clotting, but no pain.  My bladder and body are very tired and I'm very thankful that this series of treatments are done and were pain free.  Now, I need to try to get back in good physical shape over the next three months before my next three treatments.  I believe that I'm five quarterly series or 15 treatments from the end.  It continues to be a long and weary time, but I'm very excited with the results so far.

Friday will be the first anniversary of my surgery to remove the tumor and being diagnosed with cancer.  It is amazing how quickly a year goes by.  While I'm not glad about having this experience, I can say that I've been glad in it and for what it has taught me.  I will never be the same physically, mentally and spiritually from this experience.  I know that without my faith in God and the support of my family and friends, I would not have been able to get through it like I have so far.

Thank you everyone for your prayers and support.

#11 Was A Breeze

Today's treatment goes down as the least painful of all my treatments.  I did take a pain pill before installation (which unfortunately didn't stop all the pain of the installation) to take the edge off.  It was my only pill today as the rest of the eight hours were entirely pain free.  The only thing that was different was the amount of blood and bloody bits that I had today.  It started up three hours in and lasted for another 4 1/2 hours.

Another thing that was normal today was my lack of appetite for regular food.  I made a sandwich for lunch and that was the last good piece of food that I ate except for my treatment day indulgence of chocolate chip cookies.  For some reason, I get a real sweet tooth during my treatment day and don't allow myself to feel guilty about over doing it on the cookies.

One more treatment day next Wednesday and then I'm off for another 3 months.  I'm very thankful for all the emails and well wishes from everyone.  Most importantly, the prayers from everyone are being answered and while the day is exhausting, it was mainly pain free.  Besides the treatment days, please continue to pray for my body to heal and that the ever present fatigue will go away.  I'm tired of being tired and would like to have some time of feeling normal again before my next 3 treatment cycle starts again in 3 months.

Treatment #10 Is In the Books

Treatment #10 was very similar to treatment #9.  I did take a preemptive pain pill today to help with the installation and it seemed to have worked.  Because it was such a nice day today in Franklin, I went for a two mile walk with Nancy after the installation to help slosh the solution around the bladder.   Then it was back to the rocking chair to finish the two hours of holding it.  The next 6 hours was water, water and more water.  The only side effects today were some blood (which is very normal) and an extremely sore and worn out bladder.  I had virtually no appetite today and suspect that I lost a couple of pounds today.

It was great to get through today and the treatments are starting to get routine.  It is certainly a full day with twelve trips to the bathroom in a six hour timeframe and one gallon of chlorine literally down the drain to kill the TB virus in the toilet bowl.  Now I'm trying to decompress after the intense day and I'm hoping for a good night of sleep.

Thanks to everyone that was praying for me today and we get to do this all over again next Wednesday.

Cystoscope Shows All Clear

Today was a BIG day!  I had my cystoscope today and it showed that no cancer has returned.  With this all clear, I can now get ready for 3 more BCG treatments starting March 21st.

The stress leading up to this procedure has been very high.  Any trace of cancer will mean that my treatment will change dramatically with a high probability of losing the bladder.  So, to get a clear test was what we were all praying for.  I laid down and slept four hours this afternoon after getting home.  I'm hoping the stress was a main contributor for my fatigue that doesn't seem to go away.

My friend, Dan Stewart, who also had his consultation for his cancer today, said that someone at work recommended reading Romans chapter 8 and it certainly help to settle me down (along with the valium).  Dan's tests came back all clear as well and commented that the Lord has given his life back.   I'm so happy for Dan and his family.  Now we wait and pray for the same results for the third Cat Financial employee, Jack Sollner.

Thanks to everyone for your prayers and support.  Nancy and I could not make it through this without them.

A Tough January, But February's Coming

As I've stated in previous blog posts, the trip to Moldova was exhausting.  January was really a month to try to get my energy back and it has taken all month.  I'm feeling about 85% and happy with that.  Today,  the good news was that I got up and ran.  The bad news was it was only a mile.  It's amazing how fast you can lose muscle tone, but at least I got back on the road.

I also was able to play golf this weekend for the first time this month and it felt great getting back on the course.  Because of the weather being cold, the ground wet and the air windy, we played from the senior tees this weekend.  It was fun to play from those tees for the first time and to have a different line to hit down.  I was happy with my 82, when you figure in the 5 penalty strokes.  Three birdies helped.

February will be fun with a cruise to the Caribbean in the middle of the month.  I plan on getting a lot of rest on the ship and enjoy the weather and scenery in Mexico, Belize, Honduras and the Caymans.

Next big date medically is February 27th, when I have my next Cystoscope.  We are looking and praying for an all clear of no cancer and then I can resume my BCG treatments in March.

Moldova Trip Coming To A Close

Today is January 3rd and it is my final full day in Moldova. I'm still at the team house and everyone else is at the orphanage in Orhei. I hit the proverbial wall yesterday physically and had to elect today to stay back in Chisinau. With my recovery timeline from my recent BCG treatments and the travel to Moldova, my body finally said, "enough". It was very humbling to watch everyone leave and a reminder to me that the process of treating my cancer is going to be a full 2 year process. This will certainly be my last trip to Moldova until at least 2013 when I finish my treatments.

The trip has had more highlights than I can post, but here are some:

Having Nancy along and experiencing a mission trip together to Moldova. Watching her with the girl in Falesti and seeing her literally give the sweatshirt off her back, so she could have a new piece of clothing like everyone else was classic Nancy. These kids grabbed a part of her heart. I know this trip was out of her comfort zone and I love that she was willing to come and do this trip by my side. I can't imagine going through this life without her. I truly out kicked my coverage with her!

The quality of some of the orphanages that we saw for the first time and the leadership of the directors. I always worry about the motives of an orphanage director and we met some high quality ones on this trip that are looking out for the kids. The numbers of orphans are going down in this country and facilities will need to be shut down. I pray that they shutdown the right ones.

The JMI team really operated as one on this trip. There was great harmony among everyone and everyone contributed. The team was led by Jennifer Kelly was has a heart for the kids of Moldova that is seldom scene. Her organizational skills are great. Probably her most impressive skill is her ability to remember every child and who sponsors them. It was a huge highlight watching her greet the children that she sponsors and mothers.

The kids are the reason we make this trip and they continue to pull on the strings of my heart. The anticipation of seeing a sponsored child is no different from waiting for your own child to get home after a long absence. Watching the kids faces when Father Christmas walked through the door was priceless. Even the older boys would have big smiles on the faces when they walked up to get their presents.

Lastly, the two images that will stand out for me the most were of two little girls that were experiencing the exact opposite emotion. One little girl was walking to a taxi with her mother for some time at home. The huge smile on her face and the twinkle in her eyes were ones that I will never forget. The other small girl had just been dropped off to the orphanage for the first time. When we were done handing out presents to everyone, we realized that she wasn't on our list and everyone quickly got her a bag of food and a present. Hopefully, we made the worst day in her young a little better.

Tomorrow will be the bittersweet day of being excited to get home and disappointed because of leaving those we have come to love in Moldova.

Running on Empty in Moldova

It's been a long 5 days in Moldova...

First, let me say that physically, it has been one of my toughest trips ever of my 6 trips to Moldova.  I thought that based on my trips to Europe in August and October that I would be able to handle the travel, but what I failed to realize was that the prior trips were direct to London and Dublin, so the travel time was not too bad.  Getting to Chisinau, Moldova means a 22 hour trip with a 7 hour layover in Frankfurt that has brutal on most of us.  I've been dealing with a bad cold most of the trip and the 30 degree weather is not helping.  But, I'm very glad to be here and do not regret the decision to come back.

Now, the orphans.  We have been to at least one orphanage a day since getting to Moldova.  Thursday we were in Drachia, Friday in Falesti, Saturday in Balti and Sunday in Chisinau.  All of visits have included a time to get to know each other, games, crafts, singing, worship time and then Father Christmas comes out with all the presents.  Oh, we also shot off fireworks, thanks to Cat Financial's givings and they were spectacular at Falesti.

Nancy had a nice moment in Falesti with an older girl that because of her size did not receive any clothing from the team that would fit.  So, Nancy gave her the Nashville sweatshirt that she was wearing and the girl did not leave her side the rest of our visit.  It was very touching on how much one act of kindness can have on a child.

I've really enjoyed spending time with my Moldovan boy, Igor yesterday.  His english is much better and it is a lot easier to communicate.  It was fun to watch him interact with the kids at Internat II, where he was an orphan for 8 years.  We had both Igor and Eduard along with us and they both sang and played the guitar during our singing time.

The new orphanages that we visited in Drachia and Balti had children that were very open to sharing their stories with us.  We also visited a transitional living home for at risk children in Balti that was amazing.  It was very clean and had big rooms, with one that included a number of computers.  It was nice to see the upgraded facilities compared to the orphanages, but with the limit of 18 months for each child you could see that they were all worried about what was going to happen to them after they were moved out of the house.

The winter trip is very much different from the summer trip because of the short amount of time that we spend at each orphanage versus spending a week at one camp.  But, the trade off is that you get to bring gifts to kids that get maybe one gift from the state.  They light up when Steve Davis walks in dressed like Father Christmas (Santa Claus).

Due to the limited bandwith of the Internet hear in Chisinau, I don't know if I will be able to post any photos this week.  I will definitely post photos when I get back home.