Dermatology Day

Today...  is my quarterly visit to my Dermatologist... 
sometimes, I forget that my Oncologist directed me to visit a Dermatologist every 3 months after my Melanoma decided to relocate itself to my groin area from my foot.  Since I have been visiting with this Dermatologist, I have had half a dozen SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMAS surgically removed from my body, the first one appeared right smack dab on the top of my head.

I'll never forget that one because, a few days after surgery, my wife and I were going on a cruise, so instead of letting it heal naturally, the surgeon put a couple of stitches in it.  It felt rather odd going around the ship with a patch on my head, especially at dinner where everyone had nothing better to do that make sure you got their full attention when you entered or had to pass by their table.

Incidentally, Squamous cell carcinomas are a NATURAL BYPRODUCT of receiving chemo and it appears they will appear even after you have received immunotherapy as well...  at least for me they have.

Almost 14 Years

Six months from now, I will be celebrating the 14th year passing since I was diagnosed with cancer...  and, five years into my treatment for non-Hodgkin's 'B' cell Lymphoma and probably because of certain treatments, I was diagnosed with Melanoma that subsequently moved from my foot to my groin to my neck where it was surgically removed and found to be dead because of my radiation and immunotherapy treatments.

After my two cancers were under control, my Oncologist informed me that he wasn't sure if he could stop them from growing because both of them had turned aggressive, but he stayed with the most recent protocols in fighting both cancers and did not back off on either one; consequently and fortunately, the two different types of treatments complemented each other and he was able to get both my cancers under control, at least for the time being.

I told my Oncologist that he should published his treatment of me and get some national credit, which he declined and said he was just fine with his life as it currently was.

Looking back at these 14 years, there were times where I was sicker than a dog and vomiting so consistently that my wife had to take me to the ER...  those were days that I would rather not relive under any circumstances unless I absolutely had to.

• Am I lucky?
• Did I have the right Oncologist?
• Was God looking out for me?

Ya know...  I think it was a little bit of all three...  but, to be quite honest with you (not to imply that I have not been), I have felt and continue to feel that there is something left for me to do...  and, that is why I am being kept alive.  I have no idea what it might be but I have spent my entire life preparing for it nonetheless.

Living with cancer is not as comfortable as one might think it is, especially if one is doing fine and feeling good, but there is a constant threat hanging over one's head as to what might happen...  if this...  or if that...

Plus, one must eat differently than others.  One must not drink alcohol if in very small quantities like a glass of wine once a week or once a month.  One must stay out of direct sunlight with UV clothes of the highest sunscreen.  One must get a good night's rest and one must learn to manage one's stress as it does have an impact.

I find myself eating lots of veges, onions, garlic, peppers, black beans, fruits, and other foods high in anti-oxidants.   I may have a hamburger and/or a hotdog once a year.  But, I may have a pizza every other month.

The killer of all cancers is a LOW IMMUNE SYSTEM and more people die of some other disease that they die of their cancer because of their low immune system.  For example, I would not have survived COVID.

The one thing that I do not get enough of is exercise but my fatigue which is minimal most of the time is still strong enough to provide me with the motivation to exercise...   even just walking around the community for 30 minutes would help.

Cancer Treatment on Dental Care

Most of the literature that revolves around cancer treatments, including radiation, as it pertains to harming one's teeth, states that this might happen if and when the radiation is around the neck or above...  and, while I believe that the literature is correct in its analysis, I believe that it fails to properly address the long term impact of both chemotherapy and immunotherapy on one's teeth.

I say this because, I am in my 14th year of cancer treatments that includes over 150 infusions (both chemotherapy and immunotherapy, 6 radiation treatments, and about 3 years now taking daily immunotherapy pills.  Here recently, I have had 3 situations where parts of my tooth have chipped off while eating, causing 3 crowns, and 1-2 root canals...  and, I say 1-2 because I have yet to find out the exact status of this 3rd chipped tooth.

Interestingly, all of my life, all of my dentists and there have been several have told me that my teeth are very strong and that I should experience minimal cavities, and minimal problems with my teeth...  and, that I should consider myself fortunate.

SO...  why were all these dentists wrong?  Or, were they wrong?  

Sure, I can accept the fact, that as one ages, one's teeth has to age as well but not after being so solid and strong...  I would think...  therefore, the only other factor, and yes I do take proper care of my teeth, is all of my cancer treatments has had a cumulative  effect on my teeth.

Side Effects

2:16 am} and, I cannot sleep...

Retired, so I worry about very little other than what am I going to do tomorrow...

My eyes and body feel tired but when I lay down in the bed, I feel wide awake and just lay there wondering when the drowsiness will put me to sleep...

So, here I am drinking coffee with a little Cappuccino Mix in it to make it swallow a little easier...   and actually, I think I have become addicted to this sugar-free or fat-free mix because straight coffee no longer tastes good to me which is typically all I used to drink after being in the Navy...

I was in communications and worked in the Radio Shack on the USS Recovery ARS-43 which was a salvage and rescue ship.  It had less than 100 men aboard her and every two years she would spend 6 months in the Mediterranean Sea patrolling outfitted with the latest surveillance gear before leaving port at Little Creek, VA which was part of the Norfolk Naval Base.

About 1:00 am this morning I awoke from sleep because I had to take a piss and after laying back down in my soft, comfortable warm bed, laid there for a hour unable to return to sleep.

Because of my non-Hodgkin's "B" cell Lymphoma, I take 2 - 140 mg tablets of IMBRUVICA  daily which is considered an Immunotherapy Drug, not a Chemotherapy Drug.

Common side effects of Imbruvica include:
low platelet count,
diarrhea,
neutropenia,
anemia,
fatigue,
musculoskeletal pain,
muscle spasms,
joint pain,
swelling of the extremities,
fever,
upper respiratory tract infection,
cough,
shortness of breath,
nausea,
bruising,
indigestion,
constipation,
rash,
abdominal pain,
vomiting,
decreased appetite,
swelling of the mouth and lips,
urinary tract infection,
pneumonia,
skin infections,
sinus infection,
weakness,
nosebleed,
decreased appetite,
dehydration,
dizziness, and
headache.

Of course, my inability to sleep could be coming from my enlarged prostate and a PSA count that was twice what it was last year and over the recommended amount and the reason why I am going to a Urologist to see if I have prostate cancer next week.

In addition to my IMBRUVICA, I am receiving a monthly infusion of OPDIVO to control my Metastatic Melanoma which in a matter of 41/2 years went from my foot to my groin to my neck; although, when it was removed from my neck, the Melanoma was DEAD thanks to the radiation treatments I had along with the OPDIVO infusions; apparently, when OPDIVO is combined with radiation, the radiation super-charges the OPDIVO to fight the Melanoma...   lucky me...

Common side effects of Opdivo include:

• fatigue
• rash
• itching
• cough
• upper respiratory tract infection
• swelling of the extremities
• shortness of breath
• muscle pain
• decreased appetite
• nausea
• vomiting
• constipation
• diarrhea
• weakness
• swelling
• fever
• abdominal pain
• chest pain
• joint pain
• weight loss
• irregular heartbeat
• eye inflammation
• infusion-related reactions
• increased amylase
• increased lipase
• dizziness
• numbness and tingling
• skin peeling
• skin redness and
• psoriasis.

YEAH...  I was pretty frigging amazed when I saw these two lists too...  I have been taking immunotherapy drugs for two years but I have also been taking chemotherapy drugs for 10 years, all of which basically has the same side effects...   

WHILE sleeplessness in not on the list...  WTF...  I experience it once or twice a week like clockwork...