Striving For Wisdom

 

Slowly but Surely

 

Cancer in the Body

 

Cancer is the uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells in the body. Cancer develops when the body’s normal control mechanism stops working. Old cells do not die and instead grow out of control, forming new, abnormal cells. These extra cells may form a mass of tissue, called a tumor. Some cancers, such as leukemia, do not form tumors.

Cancer may occur anywhere in the body. In women, breast cancer is one of the most common. In men, it’s prostate cancer. Lung cancer and colorectal cancer affect both men and women in high numbers.

There are five main categories of cancer:

One>>  Carcinomas begin in the skin or tissues that line the internal organs.

Two>>  Sarcomas develop in the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle or other connective tissues.

three>>  Leukemia begins in the blood and bone marrow.

Four>>  Lymphomas start in the immune system.
Five>>  Central nervous system cancers develop in the brain and spinal cord.

Cancer can start almost anywhere in the human body, which is made up of trillions of cells. Normally, human cells grow and divide to form new cells as the body needs them. When cells grow old or become damaged, they die, and new cells take their place.  SOURCE:  NIH:  National Cancer Institute

It is possible for cancer to be in the body for years...  in some sort of dormant state...  before deciding to start growing...  and, when that happens...  becoming alive...  scientists are not sure why that happens or what triggers that process...  I remember my Oncologist, 13 years ago telling me that my non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma could have been in my body laying dormant for a long as 10 years of more.  And, without a reason to check for cancer...  nothing is done until it starts to grow and become active.

It would be nice if at some point-in-time, we could go to our family doctor and have a blood test performed and/or other simple tests like that performed to see if cancer in dormant inside us.  It would also be nice, it that cancer could be destroyed or removed before it becomes active.  I am sure there is research being conducted to better treat cancer patience but is there research being conducted to PREVENT CANCER FROM OCCURING IN THE FIRST PLACE?

Opdivo Day Once Again

Early morning>>  up at 6:00 am, shower and out the door by 6:30 am and by &:30 am, I am sitting in the waiting area Chemo Infusions, for an available nurse to access my port, draw blood, and take me to one of the 8 Treatment Suites to await my Opdivo Infusion.  This infusion will be my 41st or 42rd...  I don't remember...  but I do know that I have had a least 40 of these infusions.

Recently, I had lost my appetite, was losing weight, and felt a little nauseas after eating and my Oncologist suggested that I ask my doctor for an Upper GI at the same time that I was going to have my colonoscopy...  and that is what I did and that is what happened...  and the results were negative...  indicating that my symptoms were coming from some other source.

After talking with a Pharmacist during my IVIG infusion, he informed me that ALL OF MY SYMPTOMS were side effects of OPDIVO except for losing my sense of taste...  although, he would not rule that out just because it is not recognized as being typical.

I will not be able to talk with my Oncologist for another month...  but, all of these symptoms subsided after I recovered from my colonoscopy which could be coincidence or it could have been that the IVIG Infusion the week before might have something to do with this as well...

WHO KNOWS?

Not Sure What Caused It

During the month of July 2020, I spent 6 days in the hospital...  maybe a day in the ER and a day in INTENSIVE CARE and the rest on the heart floor of the hospital....   BECAUSE I had a STAPH INFECTION in my entire BLOOD STREAM...  When I entered the ER, my blood pressure was 79/39, I was SEPSIS, and experience AFIB, heart and kidney failure, and the doctors first thought that I was showing symptoms of COVID.

I had 3 IV's going and one of the doctors put in a central line, just in case they needed another access point...  even though I had a PORT, they did not use it...  which amazes me somewhat, but what the hell do I know.

Once my body was infused with liquids, it started to positively respond which was an indication that I did not have COVID...  and after making sure my response was steady, they sent me into INTENSIVE CAEE...  which was probably one of the worst experiences of my life.

After being released to the heart floor for observation, I was told that I had a STAPH INFECTION in my blood stream and after performing numerous tests while I was in the ER and the ICU, they ruled out everything that could have caused the infection.  In talks with me, it was decided that the most likely scenario was that I got the infection from a bug or spider bite....  but again, they could not be POSITIVE.

The only thing that I really remember from the ER was the fact that I was lying on my back and there were about 6 people hovering over me.  I was not scared nor was I afraid.  I did not feel bad or that I was experiencing any of the negative issues that they explained to me later.  Maybe I was in shock...

After I was released from the hospital, I had to receive antibiotic infusions 3 times a day for 28 days which was inconvenient as hell but necessary.  I am better now...  but it is an experience I will not soon forget....

ODD that modern medicine could not tell me what caused my Staph Infection...

I am better now

Veins in Feet

For many previous years and because of my weight gain, I have not been able to see the veins on the tops of my feet like I used to see; in fact, my veins were so prominent that when I tied my shoe laces too tight, it would pinch one of the veins on the top of my foot (usually my left foot) to the point that it would start to hurt and I would have to loosen my shoe laces.

As I have mentioned before, in March of 2020, I started counting my daily intake of calories and then reducing that intake of calories in the hopes of losing weight.  I am not so sure if it was the reduction of calories that caused my loss of weight or the fact that I just ate less based upon the counting.  Either way, I lost weight...  and, 10 months later, that weight loss amounts to right around 30 pounds, although at the present time, my weight is fluctuating a couple of pounds on both sides of its new equilibrium which I estimate at 222 pounds.

My weight in preparation for a recent colonoscopy went down to 213 primarily because I was eliminating waste as well as liquids from my body...   and when my weight increased back to 224, I believe that it was largely due to an increase of fluids more so that putting food back into my body.

In any event, at 222 pounds, I can easily see the veins on the tops of both feet and while there are not as many veins on the top of my feet as is seen in the attached photo, I still see several...   which I have not seen in several years.

PAN Foundation

A couple of years ago, my Oncologist decided to stop my chemo infusions to treat my non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma deciding that I should take PILLS instead...  These pills fall into the category of IMMUNOTHERAPY instead of chemotherapy.  And, because they are pills, my supplemental Medicare insurance puts them into a different category where there is a COPAY...  there is NO COPAY for infusions.

The PILLS I have been taking go by the name of IMBRUVICA although there is another name for them which I cannot remember...  and my COPAY each month is $3,000 which goes down a little bit, the more months that I have been taking them.

FORTUNATELY, I was able to get a grant from the PAN Foundation and my entire COPAY is covered each month by this grant.  However, the grant has to be renewed each year and there is not guarantee that I will receive this grant each year.

My renewal month is February...

I will need to call them in the next couple of days.

Wish me luck mentally if you have read this.

On Eating

 

Oatmeal

 

Government Controlled Healthcare

Robert Moffit, a Senior Fellow with The Heritage
Foundation writes:


Washington’s health policy decisions directly affect the life and well-being of every American.

Americans care deeply about health care. While they admire and respect their doctors, Americans are frustrated with bureaucratic paperwork, the lack of transparency in the pricing of medical services, surprise billing and rising health care costs. As a general rule, most Americans are still satisfied with their private or employment-sponsored health insurance, which is financing their access to medical care. Nonetheless, too many still do not have either good coverage or access to the best care.

A major part of the problem is the impact of increasing government domination of the health care sector of the economy. Today, approximately 143.3 million persons are enrolled in, or heavily subsidized by, the big federal health programs: Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and the Obamacare health insurance exchange plans. In other words, out of a total estimated population of 331 million Americans, 43.3 percent of the legal residents of the nation are enrolled in these large federal health programs or entitlements. While private businesses and households are still responsible for most American health care spending (55 percent), the total government share of 45 percent is expected to grow while the private-sector share is on track to shrink.

Mere numbers, however, do not tell the entire story. As University of Pennsylvania economist Mark Pauly has demonstrated, government policies, ranging from regulatory interventions to tax policies, directly affect how Americans spend their money on health care; and this “government-affected” spending, as opposed to “market-like” spending, reached “close to 80 percent” in 2016 alone. This growth in the government share of health spending has been accompanied by a rapid growth in government control, which has spawned often ill-conceived, economically inefficient, and outdated government interventions in American health care financing and delivery. The result: health care that is too costly, and health insurance programs, in both the public and the private sector, that patients often find too bureaucratic, complex, and confusing.

Today nearly every American citizen, regardless of income or medical condition, has access to either public or private health insurance coverage, financed by large taxpayer subsidies or generous federal tax breaks. Many Americans, however, do not have a choice of health plans that provide personalized, patient-centered care, meaning the kind of health coverage and care that they personally choose and control and that is directly accountable to them. Key decisions on the kinds of health plans, benefits, and payment arrangements that are available are legally reserved to government officials, corporate human resources officials, or health insurance executives.

On the supply side of the equation, federal and state government policies have contributed to the increasing consolidation of health care markets among health insurers and hospital systems, reducing the number of independent medical practices, restricting patient choices and thus driving up consumer costs. In sharp contrast to other sectors of America’s more open market economy, there is far too little price transparency in health care; consumers and patients often do not know the price of medical goods and services until the mysterious bill arrives.  TO READ ENTIRE ARTICLE, CLICK HERE...

IVIG Brings Me Back To Life

Yesterday, I had my IVIG infusion.  It lasts about 2 hours including pre-meds and my Oncologist has arranged every other month for these infusions instead of monthly because there is still a shortage and my needs are not critical.

AND YET...

one day after the infusion, I feel wonderful...

My sinuses have cleared up to the point where there is no congestion.

My loss of appetite has returned.

My sense of clarity and purpose has returned.

My feelings of lethargy and fatigue has disappeared.

IN SHORT...

I feel really, really good.

UNFORTUNATELY...

it will not last more than a couple of weeks before the IVIG infusion benefits wear off and I will return to the way I was feeling until the middle of MARCH when I have my next infusion...   BUT, that is actually good because at the end of March, the college class I will be teaching at night begins.

SO...

all in all, it is still a good day.

Medicare for ALL

Medicare for All is a proposed new healthcare system for the United States where instead of people getting health insurance from an insurance company, often provided through their workplace, everyone in America would be on a program provided through the federal government. It has become a favorite of progressives, and was heavily championed by Senator Bernie Sanders (D-Vermont) during his runs for the Democratic presidential nomination in 2016 and 2020.

Pros
Universal healthcare lowers health care costs for the economy overall, since the government controls the price of medication and medical services through regulation and negotiation.

It would also eliminate the administrative cost of working with multiple private health insurers. Doctors would only have to deal with one government agency, rather than multiple private insurance companies along with Medicare and Medicaid.

Companies would not have to hire staff to deal with many different health insurance companies’ rules. Instead, billing procedures and coverage rules would be standardized.

Hospitals and doctors would be forced to provide the same standard of service at a low cost, instead of targeting wealthy clients and offering expensive services so they can get a higher profit.

Universal healthcare leads to a healthier population. Studies show that preventive care lowers expensive emergency room usage. Before Obamacare, 46% of emergency room patients were there because they had nowhere else to go. 

The emergency room became their primary care physician. This type of health care inequality is a major factor in the rising cost of medical care.


Cons
Some analysts are concerned that the government may not be able to use its bargaining power to drive down costs as steeply and as quickly as Sanders predicts. Thorpe argues that Sanders is overly optimistic on this aspect of the bill.

Other analysts are concerned that insulating people from costs of care will drive up usage of medical care. Drew Altman, who heads the Kaiser Family Foundation, pointed out that “no other developed nation has zero out of pocket costs.”

People may not be as careful with their health if they do not have a financial incentive to do so.

Governments have to limit health care spending to keep costs down. Doctors might have less incentive to provide quality care if they aren’t well paid. 

They may spend less time per patient in order to keep costs down. They also have less funding for new life-saving technologies.

Since the government focuses on providing basic and emergency health care, most universal healthcare systems report long wait times for elective procedures. 

The government may also limit services with a low probability of success, and may not cover drugs for rare conditions.

IVIG Day

Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) is a blood product prepared from the serum of between 1000 and 15 000 donors per batch. It is the treatment of choice for patients with antibody deficiencies. For this indication, IVIG is used at a ‘replacement dose’ of 200–400 mg/kg body weight, given approximately 3-weekly. In contrast, ‘high dose’ IVIG (hdIVIG), given most frequently at 2 g/kg/month, is used as an ‘immunomodulatory’ agent in an increasing number of immune and inflammatory disorders. Initial use of hdIVIG was for immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) in children.

The clinical specialities using the largest amounts of IVIG are neurology, haematology, immunology, nephrology, rheumatology and dermatology. IVIG has had a major impact on the treatment of neurological disorders including dermatomyositis, Guillain–Barre syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), multifocal motor neuropathy (MMN), myasthenia gravis and stiff person syndrome. 

In haematology it is used to treat immune cytopenias, parvovirus B19 associated red cell aplasia, hypogammaglobulinaemia secondary to myeloma and chronic lymphatic leukaemia and post-bone marrow transplantation. In immunology IVIG is used in the treatment of primary antibody deficiency (PAD), in nephrology, rheumatology and ophthalmology it has been used to treat vasculitis, systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), mucous membrane pemphigoid and uveitis and in dermatology it is used most commonly to treat Kawasaki syndrome, dermatomyositis, toxic epidermal necrolysis and the blistering diseases.

I started monthly infusions of IVIG about 3-4 years ago because chemo had destroyed my immune system and this would give my body a fighting chance with fighting off diseases.  After about two years, there was a nation wide shortage of IVIG and since my need was not CFRITICAL...  I was prevented from receiving these infusions.  A year or so later and after several months of constant sinus infections, my Oncologist was able to convince the POWERS THAT BE...  that I needed to resume my IVIG infusions.

They agreed, but only allowed me to received these infusions every other month which my Oncologist agreed to and I wonder if every other month is really helping...  but, who I am to fight the system and turn down help...

Today, is one of those days for my infusion.  I have to be at the hospital by 7:00 am and the process takes about 2.5 hours...  some of my pre-meds to keep me from getting sick cause me to sleep for about an hour or so...  therefore, my conscious time does not seem so long...  a silver lining in every cloud can be found...

Currently...

In March of 2020, I decided for whatever reason, to start counting my daily intake of calories.  Doing something like this is not new to me because back in the 1990's, I decided to start counting my daily intake of FAT GRAMS and after collecting that data for over a year, I decided to plot that data on what was called an X bar R Chart to see if I could determine any trends and after calculating was was called statistical control limits, analyzed the data to see if my eating habits were IN CONTROL or OUT OF CONTROL.  I still have that data somewhere.

When I started calculating my calories, my weight was right around 250 pounds although it could increase to 252 and maybe 254 but never went below 248.  After 2 months of collecting calories and trying to convince myself mentally to reduce my caloric intake, my weight dropped down to 240 pounds.  

When I started I was eating over 2,500 calories a day.  Then I tried to reduce it to 2,000 calories a day and then a further reduction to 1,500 calories a day...

A staph infection put me in the hospital for 6 days and the only positive outcome besides being released from the hospital was the fact that my weight was now down to 230 pounds.

My calorie intake started to vary more than I had anticipated where one week, my intake would be between 1,200 and 1,500 and the next week, my intake would be between 1,500 and 1,800 but seldom ever got close to 2,000 and only over 2,000 if my wife and I went out to dinner or celebrated a birthday.

My weight was now below 230 a couple of pounds and for some reason, I lost my appetite just before having to prepare for a colonoscopy...   and, when all was said and done, the day of my colonoscopy, my weight was 213 pounds...  the lowest ever.

Within a couple of days after the procedure, my weight increased to 219, mainly because of fluids I suspect and a couple of days after that and because I got my appetite back, it increased to 221 pounds, but seems to be holding steady as my body reaches a new equilibrium..

My plan is to watch my calorie intake

Maintain 1,500+/- calories each day

Stabilize my weight around 220 pounds

After I am convinced that I have been able to achieve these goals, I will start a plan of action to take my weight down to 205 pounds...  which was actually my goal in March of 2020 when I started.

Healthcare in the USA

According to Gallop.com:

The U.S. healthcare system is in a state of emergency.

Gallup 2020 data show that only 19% of Americans are "very satisfied" with the quality of medical care in the U.S., a figure that has remained largely constant over the past two decades.

And compared with other developed nations, the U.S. ranks highest on chronic disease burden, lowest on access to care and lowest on health system quality -- despite annual national health spending of $3.6 trillion ($11,172 per person).

These problems make post-COVID recovery strategies even more critical. To recover financially, healthcare leaders must unite, collaborate with leaders from other industries and reevaluate traditional practices.

There is no doubt that healthcare leaders have responded to the COVID-19 pandemic heroically, with many using this painful opportunity to embrace new learning and prepare for the next inevitable crisis.

For example, COVID-19 has accelerated much-needed change, such as the digital and technological transformation that many healthcare organizations were trying to actualize before the crisis.

But healthcare leaders still find themselves in a precarious position due to considerable revenue loss. The American Hospital Association predicts that the financial strain on hospitals and health systems due to lower patient volumes "will continue through at least the end of 2020" -- a likely total loss of $323 billion in 2020.

Gallup has conducted research in the field of healthcare for decades, including just before and during the pandemic. A recent review of this research uncovered five forces that are paramount for any healthcare organization's survival -- through the current crisis and beyond.

FIVE FORCES THAT WILL INFLUENCE HEALTHCARE
1. Value based healthcare will change
2. Disruptions in healthcare will be ongoing
3. Healthcare will become more virtual
4. Healthcare organizations will merge
5. The healthcare ecosystem will expand beyond traditional vendors

Health Condition: Excellent

At the present time and with most of my tests behind me (waiting on biopsy results for Upper GI), I would have to say that the state of my health is EXCELLENT...  and, while I am experiencing some fatigue, night sweats, and intermittent nausea, it does not really undermine to any great extent the condition of my health.

Current Reports Indicate

1. Melanoma is under control
2. Lymphoma is under control 
3. No Lymphedema swelling in left leg 
4. Tumor on lung is shrinking
5. No diagnosed arthritis
6. No diagnosed muscle fatigue
7. No blood circulation issues
8. Upper GI reveals nothing
9. Colonoscopy  --  on polyp removed
10. Heart functioning properly
11. Ejection Fraction in normal range
12. No problems breathing - including climbing a flight of stairs
13. Low blood pressure
14. Low bad cholesterol
15. Experiencing positive weight loss
16. Eyes/Teeth experiencing normal wear and tear
17. Quick to recover from operations
18. Positive tolerance to radiation/chemo/immunotherapies
1. Opdivo --  40 Infusions
2. Imbruvica  --  no major side effects
19. Thyroid under control
20. Minimal skin pre-cancers surfacing

At 73 years of age, I would say that my health is in excellent condition considering that I have 2 cancers inside my body...

Meditation

 

ZEN: An Inner Power

 

My New Weight

The morning of my COLONOSCOPY, I weighed a flat 213 pounds and one day after, I weighed 215 pound, mainly returning the fluids back to my body because I did not eat much yesterday on a completely empty stomach that was full of gas.  So, in 10 months, I have lost 35+ pounds since there were numerous times that my weight exceeded 250 pounds...  and, I sat on my chair, on my fat ass, calling others obese...  I was obese as well and those comments were no doubt aimed at myself.

I can again see the veins on the tops of my feet which has not been the case for many years...  not months.  The lymphedema in my left leg will also respond positively because of this loss of weight, especially if I ever fly in an airplane again.  In addition, my heart will function better now that it has to deal with less weight and I should sleep better and have more energy as well...

YES... weight is that important.

My goal still is to get down to 205 pound which means I need to loose another 10 pounds and while that should be relatively easy, my main concern is not allowing my weight to increase that much or rapidly because I think that it is ok to eat a little more because of the lost weight.   Interestingly, the loss of weight did not result from EXERCISE but from EATING LESS.

Weight loss can be good for cancer treatment as well...  although, one has to be careful because weight loss can also indicate that cancer is growing as well; but, for me it is good because my last PET scan showed no metabolic activity.

Getting Over It All

Yesterday was my colonoscopy/upper GI and while the doctor took some biopsies in the upper part of my body and removed a polyp from my colon, my overall results were excellent to outstanding...  so, I suppose that is cause for celebration.

The operation itself lasted only 50 minutes as opposed to the 120 minutes I was anticipating and the recovery time was only about 15 minutes and I had my clothes on waiting for the doctor to report.  There was nothing in my stomach or esophagus like a cancer or a tumor or anything that could have caused my loss of appetite and nausea after eating.  But, he will obviously know more about the biopsy results come back which will, like always, take a week or more.

It was odd, but instead of being pushed in a wheelchair to my wife's car to be taken home, I was was escorted by a nurse who asked several times was I doing ok.  My wife had to sign a document saying she had picked me up which she nor I ever had to do at the other places.  Of course, this was TENNOVA and I imagine for profits must need to make sure they are keeping their costs down.

Once home, I took a nap for 4 hours as I was weak and had not gotten much sleep the night before.  In the early afternoon, I had a meal of rice and vege sausage and a couple cinnamon swirl coffee buns and some lemon and peach jello...  all of which was a strange combination but the food was convenient and easily available....   but, only after I had taken a shower and gotten all that hospital smell off of me.

My body still feels a little weird as it fills back up with food and the growling and gurgling of my stomach can be easily heard by those nearby.  It will probably take me until tomorrow before I am somewhat back to normal.

It's A Good Day For A Colonoscopy

This morning I have to report to the local hospital at 6:30 am which is about a 5 minute drive from the house.  Ordinarily, I would not even go to our local hospital to replace a bandage, but my doctor is driving up from Knoxville for the procedure...  He is typically up her one day a week for some reason and I take advantage of his kindness.

My procedure, I have been told is at 7:30 am and I am the second one of the day...  so, I should be done about 8:30/9:30 am (give or take) and out by 10:00/10:30 am if all goes well...  and, there is no reason why all should not go well...   there has never been a problem before...  other than removing polyps.  I am also having an UPPER GI which should add about 30-40 minutes which is the 9:30 am end time...   and, if I feel like it, my wife and I might just drive to our local Perkins for an omelet and pancakes.

This morning, and because of the prep for my colonoscopy, my weight was below 220 pounds which is good...   nice and slow losing program...  and, about 15 more pounds to go in order to get to my 205 goal.  All things, even though they seem negative at the time, end up being positive.

Another COVID Test

Today, I am required because my colonoscopy procedure is set for tomorrow, to have a COVID test at the hospital where the procedure is to be performed.  I have had two previous COVID tests, my first test was when I was hospitalized with a Staph Infection, my second was the day before my prostate biopsy, and this third one will be right before this next procedure.

I have had a Q-tip stuck up my nose to the point that it feels it is at the top of my head (knowing it is not) and I have had to spit in a cup and get my urine tested...  So, it will be interesting to see what happens today.

I was hoping to get this done as early as possible so I can return home and take a little nap before I start drinking that mixture that will begin the evacuation of my colon...   I have put several rolls of TP beside the commode and removed all objects that might prevent easy access in the middle of the night...   lol

Pre Prep Prep

For the last couple of days, I have had to eat what the papers I was given refer to as a light diet...  no heavy foods like pizza and hamburger...  so, I am assuming that rice, fish, and eggs are ok for me to eat...   I also have to stay away from beans and corn and foods with lots of fiber as that clogs the scope.    And, if you have not guessed it by now, I am preparing for a colonoscopy...  I am getting one every two years because of my cancer history and because some pre-cancerous polyps were removed two years ago.  I will be having an Upper GI as well because of a "loss of appetite" issue that has presented a little concern.

While today is not that bad on the body, tomorrow will be the real test as I will be eliminating all waste from my colon while at the same time, I will be putting only liquid back into my system and according to the instructions, will be continuing with the prep at MIDNIGHT which means that in addition to little food, there will be little sleep as well...

I have also contacted the dentist with a tooth ache that has been persistent for the last several days that I cannot or should not do anything about until after the colonoscopy for fear that the procedure may have to be delayed...

It all comes at one time...  or appears to anyway...

Peace Be With You... and You With Peace

 

Our CORONA Pandemic

 

More Than Just A New Norm

My body, over the last 12 years, has been through on-going chemo and immunotherapies, radiation, surgeries, heart attack, heart surgery, Staph infection, hospitalization, afib, heart failure, kidney failure, all sorts of scans and blood tests along with eye issues, sinus issues, dental issues, anxiety or panic attacks, and the general uncertainties that come from having to wait around to have tests performed or wait around for the results of those tests.

Some people tolerate this lifestyle better than others which is normal and expected.    

And, when it first started I was 60 years old and tolerated it fine but I have since realized that the older I become the less toleration I have which is exactly the opposite of what I thought would happen to me.  I am more anxious, more concerned, less patient...  while I also understand that this is how I will be living my life for the rest of my life.

• Sensitivity Increases to Hot and Cold
• Increased intolerance of humidity
• Increased eating disorders
• Increased irritability
• Loss of appetite

My nausea comes and goes as does my fatigue and for a while and every now and then, I experience lethargy to the point where, unlike fatigue, I just do not want to do anything other than being too tired to want to do anything.  When that happens all I want to do is sleep as often as I can to offset my lack of motivation...  which always leads me into a series of different levels of depression...   some of which I know are still with me after several months but under a mental type of control not giving credence to their existence.

Out of the Blue

I have wondered once or twice where the "out of the blue" statement came from and someone probably shared its origins with me once upon a time, or I did a Google search and found the answer, or I suppose both could have happened...  but nowadays, I don't really give a shit where these clever phrases come from as long as I use them appropriately...  and, it would appear, at least to some of us who have been battling with cancer for over a decade with infusions of chemo pretty much taking place every month...  that, our bodies sometimes...  instead of feeling good...  feel pretty crappy...  then, we can go for weeks without feeling that bad at all...

These little spells happen...  "out of the blue"...  with no rhyme or reason and no justification...  they just happen.  One can eat normally or too much or hardly at all and they could arrive that morning, afternoon, or early evening.  Sometimes, Prilosec helps but most of the time, it does not.  And, believe it or not, sometimes GAS X helps even though it was never intended for this purpose.

The human body is a great gift and can survive damn near anything as long as it is well cared for...  which in my situation was the case, at least until the age of 60...  And, perhaps that caring is why I have lasted as long as I have...  but, it is still very strange that "out of the blue,"  I just feel like there is nothing that I can do to make myself feel better and that whatever is going on, I just need to ride it out.

Adding Procedures

Last week when I met with my Oncologist and reported some symptoms to him, his response was that I should contact a gastrointestinal doctor to which I replied that I was having a colonoscopy in a couple of weeks...  his response was again to contact him as soon as possible and perhaps they could add a procedure if warranted and I would only have to prep once.

I reached my gastrointestinal doctor and shared the symptoms and an UPPER GI was added to the already scheduled procedure which meant that he had a particularly light day that day and adding would not alter his schedule too bad...

My additional symptoms were:

• loss of appetite
• loss of taste
• loss of 8-10 pounds in a month
• feeling of nausea after I eat
• discomfort in abdomen when getting out of bed as if a muscle has been pulled 

An Upper GI looks for:

• tumors
• ulcers
• hernias
• diverticula
• strictures

When one does a little research without really knowing what to research that can be a problem because all sorts of things could be identified as being a problem...  But, it is more likely that my Melanoma Cancer Treatments have caused or could cause an intestinal toxicity more so that my Lymphoma Cancer Treatments...  Assuming that there are no other kinds of cancers in my intestinal areas....   But again, I am getting ahead of myself.

Full Body Scan

Every 3 months which has been reduced by me from every 6 months, I receive a full body scan from a dermatologist and a full body scan is conducted with the patient being fully nude or partially nude and willing to remove remaining clothes when requested.

Treatment for Lymphoma has caused my Melanoma and treatment for Melanoma causes other skin cancers to appear that are not totally threatening at first but if left alone they can turn very aggressive and deadly.  I have had several of these carcinomas surgically removed, called squamous.  There was a large one removed from the top of my head and have a dozen smaller ones from my arms.

Since I am now prone to CANCERS, I want to get checked as often as possible or as often as the INSURANCE COMPANIES will permit...   which is the biggest irony of all, letting the insurance companies decide healthcare policies and procedures...

Today, is the day that I drive to Knoxville for that scan.  And, while the office is relatively easy to get to, and the wait is no longer than 5-10 minutes, and the scan only lasts about 5 minutes, and the fact that it is absolutely necessary, does not alter the fact that it is still a pain in the ass to have to put one's self through this indignity...  but, after doing this for a good 5 years, I don't really give a shit about that either anymore.

Infusion Addiction

Ever since my recent Opdivo Infusion, my body (relatively speaking) has felt pretty good and this got me to thinking....  could a body build up a need for Opdivo like an addiction.  My Oncologist does not think so, and perhaps it is just all mental, but I swear that my body does feel better after an infusion and the same thing happens when I have an infusion of IVIG.... which is exactly what is supposed to happen with this one, but not necessarily the other one.

Still...  something is going on...   and, there are stories based upon fact that receiving Opdivo over time can cause ADVERSE effects/affects on some bodies and it seems that after #40, I am tolerating ok...  which got me to thinking that maybe Opdivo is having a different kind of effect/affect on my body that heretofore has not really been studied.

My side effect symptoms could be coming from several sources, not just immunotherapy drugs and infusions but gastrointestinal problems, cardiac problems, not being active for a while, and/or minor infections like sinuses or respiratory.

Bob Ross -- Several Years Ago

 

Bob Ross -- Season 1 - Episode 2

 

New Years Day