Treatment Day 15 of 28

 Usual day, get up do chores have breakfast, then off to my appointment. No surprises, everything went smoothly. They reminded me that I meet with the doctor tomorrow.

Stopped by my sister's house to check the mail and start her car. She was out of propane, since there is no phone reception at her house. I called her when I got home.

She then called the propane company for an emergency fill. Then she called me to tell me they would be calling, which they did while I was on the phone with her. They were at her gate, I am 23 minutes away, I did it in 18. Got that all squared away.

Drove home a bit more sanely.

Checked the batteries on one of my solar systems, topped up the water.

Tomorrow is the dreaded hormone shot.

Treatment Day 14 of 28

 49ers lost.😢

Monday, the start of a new week of treatments and driving into town for the next five days.

I arrived on time, they were on time and I was in and out very quickly. I was telling them about my friend who is an EMT helicopter pilot and he had flown over my house on Sunday. I didn't know he was going to, though I knew he was flying somewhere. So I posted a few pictures of his helicopter. Today he and his wife told me they would fly over today and would give me advance notice so I could get some pictures.

On my way home I was going up Goldmine Road, I came to the old windmill and saw a hawk sitting on one of the vanes. I pulled over to get a few pictures.

I received a call from the hormone doctor's office confirming my appointment for Wednesday. It turns out they moved their office, I would have gone to the wrong place. Not that I want to go to the right place. It is time for my second injection, I am not looking forward to it.

The last place I worked, I walked out of, not on the best of terms. I was tired of the BS. That was over 7 years ago, I have not heard from the owner since. He just liked my hawk pictures on Facebook, weird. 

Saturday

 Started the day by emptying the refrigerator and defrosting it. While doing that, I mixed up a batch of breakfast sausage and made some hash browns. That was breakfast, along with an English muffin and juice.

The birds were looking hungry so I went to feed them. The raven's received two rats and six mice.

After cleaning and putting away the dishes, I then cleaned the stove top and the oven door.

Having finished defrosting the refrigerator, I threw all the dish towels into the washing machine.

Walking into the bedroom I found I had neglected to make the bed.

It was 2 o’clock and past time for lunch, I grilled a hamburger and threw some chips on a plate.

That was my day.

Treatment Day 13 of 28

 Friday, last day I have to drive in this week.

A little warmer today, 1 or 2 degrees, I'll take it. Filled the bird feeders, then headed to my appointment.

Arrived 15 minutes before my appointed time, I have to have a full bladder, which I had. Maybe, too full, as I waited beyond my appointed time. At a quarter after they called me, I was very uncomfortable then, though I held on.

I was told they were taking pictures of the radiation room, the people had a scheduled time and were late. That threw everyone off, it happens. Then "E" said they should have had me take the pictures, I love my techs. I was in and quickly, as usual. We talked about our respective plans for the weekend, we both are defrosting our refrigerators. I will be watching football on Sunday, GO 49ERS.

I then went to the store for suet for the birds and headed for home. On the way my sister called to officially cancel her need for me to housesit in Homer Alaska, this April. 

I was watching for the UPS truck, as I knew I had a delivery coming. I turned onto the dirt road leading to my property and spotted the UPS truck up ahead. I followed him flashing my lights, he pulled over. As he came over he said he had just texted me, saved him a trip over 2 miles of rough dirt road.

My friends know me well, last weekend, Sakara, brought me a box of Harry and David's milk chocolate truffles. Today's package was a box of Lindt milk chocolate truffles from my friend, Pam, in California. 

I messaged, Pam to thank her. I told her they will cure me of cancer, though, I will probably acquire diabetes.

I get the weekend off from treatment, yeah. I will be watching the Warriors play tonight and eating chocolate.

Treatment Day 12 of 28

Another day of driving into town for a 15 minute radiation treatment. the drive and having to interact with people is draining me.

I had my treatment, no problems. 

I then decide to decompress a bit and drove into the Cerrillos Hills State Park. I drove up as far I as I could go. The day was beautiful, but very cold. I hung out for awhile seeking some birds and animals to photograph, gave up and went home.

I don't know what I ate, whatever it was I had horrible stomach cramps, took quite awhile to get rid of them. Which is why this post is late.

Tomorrow is Friday, so I will have two days of not having to drive into town.

Treatment Day 11 of 28

 It was cold again this morning, a very light snow, during the night, dusted the ground.

I am working at the gallery today, so I had to pack a lunch, retrieve my water bottles from the refrigerator and gather everything I would need for the day.

I then left for my appointment. Today is, Wednesday, which is meet with the doctor day. I was called and they took my BP, much lower, though still high. Then check my weight, maybe a bit lower than last week.

I then met with the doctor. I showed him the BP reading, I had been taking, we decided to wait and see what happens after the treatment is finished. Hopefully, it will drop back to normal.

I was taken back to my usual room with my original techs. They were quick and efficient as always.

I left and headed to Madrid and the gallery. I opened at about 11:15am, took a tour, to see what had changed during my two week absence. We lost a potter, I found out later we are getting back one of former artists. The owner is also going to move a few of the artist's location in the gallery. It won't affect the placement of my work.

Very slow day, nobody was out on this chilly day, it may have hit 32°. We had some light snow in the afternoon. I did sell a picture by one of the artists, as well as, one of my books.

I closed up at five and send the sales figures to the owner. Her response was "at least it wasn't zero, we get a lot of those in January".

Now, I am home, had my dinner and am watching the Warriors play. Curry just hit 21,000 career points.

Treatment Day 10 of 28

 Light dusting of snow last night, nothing to deter me from getting to my 10am appointment on time. Made it with time to spare. Had to dodge tumbleweed and the wind was blowing pretty good along the route.

They put me back in the first treatment room, with different technicians. They had me lined up perfectly, first attempt. Was in and out very quickly. The receptionist had refilled her candy bowl.

I, again, went to Albertsons', I needed to buy more lettuce and grabbed a few other items. Then I headed home dodging tumbleweed all the way.

Emptied out the car, fed the birds and emptied the traps. Ravens got a meal of a packrat and two mice.

I then fed myself the Green Chile, chicken pot pie, it was good but not as hot as I anticipated.

Time to do all the bills that are due in the next 30 days. So far the medical bills have been minimal.

Tomorrow I meet with the doctor, I have some BP readings for him, not great. I still believe most of it is the stress of the situation and it will fall after the treatments are over.

I will be at the gallery for the first time since the first week of the month. Hopefully, they have sold a few of my works.

Just received a snow is imminent warning, we are supposed to get a little tonight. Tomorrow the high is forecast to be 32°, there are two small space heater in this old adobe gallery, it will be cold.

Treatment Day 9 of 28

 Had a nice weekend. 49ers WON!!!!

My friend came over on Saturday, with her daughter, who was not feeling well. She had been at a friend's house for a sleepover. While, Mom, and I chatted she sat texting, seems she has a new "Love" interest, teenagers, young and in love.

My friend and I went to our yoga and sound class. It was interesting and very relaxing. Excised a few memories.

We then went out for dinner and to see a musician, who recently friended me on Facebook.

We got some take out for her daughter and headed home. We chatted and crashed.

Sunday, made breakfast and hung out until about 1, then they left. I watched football the rest of the day, YEAH, 49ers.

10 am appointment today. HS it is freezing out this morning, the wind is like ice. Drive into town, the wind is blowing the car and tumbleweed all over the road. Made it there and they were running about 10 minutes behind. Went to Sam's Club to get a few items and headed home, more wind and tumbleweed.

Froze while unloading the car, snow coming tonight. tomorrow's drive should be even more fun.

So here I sit texting my sister on my phone, a friend on my iPad, typing this on my laptop, developing pictures on my iMac, while watching TV. Time for bed.

Treatment Day 8 of 28

 10am appointment. I check-in, she can't find me. Everyday it is either they spell my name wrong while searching, or they can't find me. It has become a running joke between us. I usually make-up for it by taken a piece of chocolate in the cup she has out. There his been no chocolate for the past two days, I let her know I was not pleased, we laughed.

I was 20 minutes early and took a seat. They called me right at 10 and I gave her the code word, so I could enter. They lined me up and said" already" and started to leave the room. I asked where my donut was, she came to give it to me and asked "glazed or chocolate", anyone who knows me, knows I will take chocolate.

Of course, it was not that type of donut. It is a rubber coated, foam, oval that you hold with your hands over your chest. This keeps you from moving your hands and arms during the treatment.

After, "E" and I, talked about the yoga programs that we are both trying out this weekend. We plan to compare notes on Monday.

I left and headed home, having no errands to run. They were also talking about snow and I wanted to be home before then.

Before leaving this morning, I had pumped up my tires as they were a bit low. I believe it is do to the drop in air temperature.

That did not leave me time for checking on the rodent traps or to fill the bird feeders. With the snow coming I decided to do it. The birds were happy, including the Ravens that received six mice. Living up on a mountain, critters are both fun and a nuisance. 

It is Friday, no more treatments, even better no driving into town, until Monday.

Go 49ERS!!!!!

Treatment Day 7 0f 28

 10am this morning.

Awoke to a beautiful clear day, 16 degrees feels like 8. Okay, so it is a bit chilly.

Prepared to leave for my appointment, worked the timing out so that I arrived about 15 minutes early. Arrived with a full bladder and had to wait as they were behind. Didn't have to wait too long, went in right at ten. Everything went very smoothly today.

Received a text from my friend, she had the wrong night for the group she wants to see, so tonight has been cancelled. We have rescheduled for Saturday, we will meet for a group yoga and sound session, maybe dinner, followed by our sleepover. 

I knew I had deliveries coming from UPS, so I contacted my driver before leaving town, while I still had internet service. He had both yesterday's and today's deliveries. 

Received my BP cuff and took my BP at home, still high, though nowhere near the readings at the Center. I will track it and bring to the Doctor on Wednesday. I had told him I ordered it and he said that it was a good addition to my medical chest.

Tomorrow is Friday, I really dislike driving into town everyday.

10am tomorrow.

Treatment Day 6 of 28

 Today's appointment is at 10am.

Freezing cold and it snowed last night, will have to recalculate my departure time.

The first part of the journey was a bit slick on the dirt road, which had iced over. Goldmine road had some snow, fortunately, it was not on the steep part, nor was there any ice. Highway 14 into town had been salted and was clear. I was debating on taking I25 or Cerrillos Road to get to the Cancer Center. Decided it might be less crazy on the freeway. I was traveling along just fine, when traffic came to a halt. Seems someone had slipped off the road into the center of the freeway and they had blocked the left lane to remove it. Took a little extra time but I had left early so I was fine.

Arrived at the Center, forty-five minutes early, they took me right in as I was the only radiation patient at the time. They are so good at this place. It being Wednesday, I meet with a nurse to check my weight, Pulse and BP. My BP was still a bit high, though lower than it was last week. I met with my oncologist, we are going to adjust my meds, hopefully, this will help me to sleep, which in turn could reduce my BP. My weight did drop a couple of pounds, more to lose.

Ran one of the errands from yesterday and then returned home before the snow starts to fall, again.

Contacted my UPS driver to see if he was working today, he wasn't. I had a delivery coming and knew he couldn't make it up my road due to the condition it. I thought I could meet him on my way home.

I await my delivery at home when I saw a post that UPS truck had gotten stuck at the very beginning of the dirt road, my driver will be back tomorrow. 

A friend had texted, earlier, asking if I am available to meet for dinner, listen to a group and have a sleepover. I let her know I would have to leave early for my appointment on Friday, she can lock up.

10am tomorrow.

Treatment Day 5 of 28

Today's appointment is a 1:15, Reminder to me.

So I checked out too early they scored again before halftime.

I finally timed leaving for my appointment so I arrived onetime, rather than 45 minutes or more early.

Drank my water on the way in and they took me in almost as soon as I arrived. Line up, radiate, I am out of there.

Walked outside to a whiteout snowstorm, decided my errands could wait for another day and I headed home. The snow finally let up about half way home. I could see again.

Then I headed up Goldmine Road and it started to snow, again. That is better than rain as the 2 miles of dirt road turn in to a muddy swamp when it rains. Made it home with no problem.

Made some tacos for lunch, lots of leftovers.

Worked on some photos and then vegged out the rest of the day.

Tomorrow, I start my 10am appointments, yeah, don't have to figure out a time to leave everyday.

Treatment Day 4 of 28

It snowed last night, I will have to adjust my timing.

Triple check the time of my appointment, 2:15pm.

I am waiting to hear if a light I ordered is ready for pick-up. That will determine the time I will leave.

Light isn't ready, so I am leaving a bit after 11am. I will get some gas and possibly, lunch.

No time for lunch, I head to the Cancer Center. Drink my 16 ozs of water and head in.

No sooner do I sit down they call me in. I tell her I just drank my water, they set me up and get everything lined up and zap, I am done.

I exit the building to snow flurries.

I cross the parking lot to the grocery store and grab a few items and head home.

I am hoping to beat the rain coming, my road becomes a muddy river when it rains.

I get to the dirt road as some snow flurries begin to fall. I get home and it is more rain than snow coming down.

I have been attempting to put in five miles a day, with the weather yesterday and today I am doing a circuit around my house, very boring. I still have .7 miles to go today, I plan to do that during the Halftime on tonights football game. I want to see who the 49ers will be playing next week.

Less than 2 minutes to Halftime, 12-0 Dallas leads Tampa.

Tomorrow 1:15pm 

49ers

 I spent the day working on working out. Put in my 5 plus miles and 30 minutes of exercise. Working on increasing my stamina and losing some weight.

Started the day with some blueberry waffles and some blueberry sausage, homemade by a friend of mine. I am waiting for her to call, her next batch will be some breakfast sausage. she raises and slaughters her own pigs and make different flavor combinations of sausage.

I settled down to watch the 49ers obliterate the Seahawks, good game.

After the game, I drove down to Madrid, where a friend was having the Grand Opening of her new Art Gallery. Which happens to be next door to the gallery where I show my work. Nice opening ran into a few friends. Listened to some live music and they had a nice spread of food and drinks, include some good fudge.(Great for losing weight)

Watching the Chargers playing the Jaguars, then off to bed.

Treatment Day 3 of 28

 Last night before bed I checked the time for the appointment today, 2:15 pm.

The morning check the time again and calculated the time I need to leave. Allow 45 minutes for the drive, arrive 30-40 minutes before the scheduled time. Leave at 1 pm.

Made my breakfast, did the morning chores. Walked the perimeter of my property, plus a bit more to get my first two miles in for the day. Started to marinate some chicken wings for lunch.

Check some things around the house and start the BBQ for the wings at 11:30. Phone rings unfamiliar number, 505 area code. I answer, it is the Cancer Center asking if I can move my appointment up to 1:30.

Quickly, recalculate the time I would need to leave, 12:15. The time to cook, eat, get ready and leave in 45 minutes. I tell her no problem. Quickly cook, eat, clean, get my stuff and leave. 12:10 pm

I arrive just 10 minutes before one and down my 16 ozs of water, then head to the waiting room. I sit down, the tech comes out at 1:08 and asks if I am ready. I said give me ten more minutes. She started to walk away, turned back and said: come in now, we can line you up on the table and wait a few until your bladder is full.

They get me on the table and line me up. then the CT Scan to fine tune the line up and focus where they are going to send the radiation. Then they start, so I assume the bladder is full, which she confirms after.

That's it for the week, I get the weekend off and then M-F for the next few weeks. Monday at 2:15 PM, for the moment.

Treatment Day 2 of 28

 Last night I decided to enter all my appointments into my calendar, with alerts to remind when to go.

I did this because the first week of appointments the times fluctuate, then they are all at 10am. I requested mornings so I could still work at the gallery. After entering them all my last thought was that the next appointment was at 1:15pm.

Forty minutes to drive there, then empty my bladder on arrival, fill it back up with 16 ozs of water, wait 30 minutes for it to refill my bladder and I am ready for my treatment.

I entered the waiting area and the tech came out and stated that I was early. I explained my drive and routine and she said your appointment is for 2:15. What, wait a minute, pull out calendar, oops. She asked when I had drunk my water, I told her about 5 minutes before. She said she would squeeze me in after the 30 minutes for the bladder to fill. I apologized, she said no problem it happens all the time.

When she came to get me she commented on my camera and asked what I photograph, I happen to be on my phone, on my web site searching for a picture to enter in a contest, so I showed her. I also told her about my mazes and where I show my work in Madrid. She said she lives in Albuquerque but drives up Hwy 14, through Madrid to avoid I25. She asked me which gallery and said she would stop by one day.

So, second treatment went very well.

Tomorrow I will go back for the next treatment. Check for time on calendar on my iPad, there is nothing there not one appointment, WTF. Grab iPhone, check calendar, all appointments are there, for some reason they are not showing up on my iPad. 2:15 today.

January 2023 Update

I haven't been traveling since returning to New Mexico in August.

Before I left for Alaska last July, I had a medical situation arise, a bit of blood while urinating. I thought it was a simple UTI. After a couple a weeks, gallons of unsweetened cranberry juice and no blood. There was blood again. I decided before leaving for Alaska it might be time to get tested. If it is a UTI, I could get some medicine to treat it.

Drinking unsweetened Cranberry Juice is a good test for Covid, if you can't taste it, you have it. That stuff will awaken dead taste cells. (just my opinion) So far, knock on wood, I have not had covid.

I made an appointment at the local clinic and the result were negative for a UTI. Unfortunately, the test showed a high probability of Prostate Cancer. They scheduled a second test, which confirmed the first test. I received the results of the second test after arriving in California on the way to Alaska.

Before leaving for California, after the first test, I told my two sisters involved, with the trip, about the condition. Swearing them to secrecy until I received a confirmed diagnosis. I told them that I wouldn't be informing them at this time, except because of the potential for something happening on the trip, I felt they should know.

On the first day in California my urine was pink and, then again, once on the second day.

I contacted a urologist to make an appointment, the earliest they could see me was in September, so I decided to continue on to Alaska.

Now there is some humor in this, after returning home. One night I went to urinate, there was blood, lots of blood and then lots more. Now I am thinking "great they are going to find me on the bathroom floor bleeding out of my dick", then I started to feel faint. It stopped, I went to the couch and rested for awhile, then drank lots of fluids. Turns out the bleeding has very little to due with the condition and has abated.

Seems because my prostrate was enlarged and I have these little cystoids in my bladder, that are like tiny "goat heads", one of them nicked one of my veins.

Meeting with the urologist for the first time, it turned out we knew people in common, so we had a nice chat. He then scheduled me for a Biopsy, CT Scan, Bone Scan, MRI, Blood tests, etc, etc, etc.

After all the tests had come in, diagnose, CANCER. Good news, caught it somewhat early. Even though the initial PSA test came back high, the biopsies were moderate.

The diagnosis came back, about, a week before my 70th birthday, since my son was coming from California and my sisters were all coming out, I felt this would be the best time to inform them, in person. I, also, informed my best friends at that time. I had my best friend in stitches as I joked about it. Laughter is the best medicine. 

I was then given a choice of "surgery and radiation" or just "radiation". We talked about it and I decided to just do radiation. I then met with the doctor who would be my oncologist and then my hormone doctor.

When they did the bone scan there were "hotspots" which showed old broken bones (okay I am old so the bones are old, not what I mean, the breaks are old) and arthritis. One in particular concerned them, it was on the back of my head. At first they thought it might be brain cancer.

As it turned out way back in the early '70s I had been climbing a cliff at a beach in California. I was about sixty feet up when the packed sand I was climbing decided to separate from the cliff. I fell about 45 feet and hit a ledge, I had turned upside down and hit my head and shoulder, flipped over and fell the remaining 15 feet before rolling onto the beach. So I am assuming, I fractured my skull and the doctor missed it at the time, I did have a vey large bump. Of course the doctor at the time said my neck should have snapped and the only thing that saved me was I was, totally, stoned and had completely relaxed before hitting. When I started to fall I grabbed for the rope, missed, then thought if I am going to die I might as well enjoy it. I watched as the cliff receded, like a movie of someone repelling, of course I was free falling, I thought, this is cool. I was stoned, remember.

The end of October, I was given the first hormone shot. Years ago a friend had acquired hepatitis and all his friends were required to get Gama Goblin shots. At the time that was the worst shot I every had. Well this shot out did that by a long shot. I felt like I had been kicked by about four mules, for days. The best part is I get to get a shot every three months for the next two years. My ass hurts thinking about it, of course if they decide to use the other medication they give it to you in the abdomen. I was told that is much worse. 

One of the side effects of this hormone treatment is I get to enjoy "Hot Flashes" for the next two years. At first I didn't have any symptoms, that didn't last long. It is no fun stripping down and seconds later putting everything back on, repeat several times per day and night. Two years of this, wow, sorry for what you ladies go through.

At the outset I was told that without treatment I had 5-10 years to live, followed by a very painful death. I opted for treatment and was told I would have 20-30 years, still wondering if that is a good thing. Of course that is only if I am not hit by a bus or trip falling of the porch.

Today, January 11th, I went in for my first radiation therapy. I arrived at the proper time and was taken in. everything went very well. Except, while laying perfectly still, "Hot Flash", "do I say something? hold still? I need an ice pack NOW", I think to myself. I lay still and endure.

After, they take my blood pressure, way too high for the machine to read. They have me meet with my oncologist, which I will do every Wednesday after treatment. Good News, I have those same little cystoids in my prostrate, only five percent of men have them. The doctor explains that they allows him to focus and direct the radiation to a much finer degree. This means less chance of side effects, which may include, burning the rectum or bladder, which isn't big deal. The big deal is if it affects a nerve that could cause incontinence or impotency. It doesn't rule it out but it greatly reduces the risk.

This is the first of 28 treatments, everyday except the weekends. Every day a 40 minute drive each way for 15 minute treatment.

February 1st, I am scheduled for the second hormone shot.

Now they will monitor my BP to see if it comes down, as we agreed that being anxious about beginning treatment as well as, the "Hot Flash" during the procedure may have affected the readings. I ordered a BP Cuff to check it at home, which they advise doing.

Next treatment, tomorrow.