Ready for the Knife --    

In around twelve hours from now I'll be in the operating room for my cancer surgery (which is expected to take 4 to 5 hours).

I'm exhausted and ready for it to happen . . . and, yes, I know that the recovery will be long and painful . . . probably two weeks in hospital and another six weeks or more to become fairly functional and a couple of months more to be (more or less) back to normal.

On a "gaming" front, yesterday I finally received the Hotz River System pieces that I ordered a while back . . . and they look like they'll work very well when I am back to gaming again.

So, so long for a few weeks.  May your dice be friendly and your gaming companions even friendlier.

-- Jeff

After Radiation --

Well I am back home after five days of radiation therapy down in Victoria.

I must say that everyone I came into contact with there was upbeat and helpful. Transportation down and back was provided free of charge by the British Columbia Cancer Agency and Freemasons . . . which was very very welcome indeed.

I stayed at the Vancouver Island Cancer Lodge . . . which was fantastic. Again all of the staff and volunteers had a very positive helpful attitude; and the facility is very accommodating indeed.

As for the radiation treatments themselves, I didn't feel a thing while they were happening. I just lay there and heard the buzzing noise. But afterwards they sure caused me a lot of fatigue (I'd go back to my room and sleep for a few hours); and some skin irritation as well.

Anyway I'm back home and my surgery is currently scheduled for Thursday but might get rescheduled since I've returned with a chest cold . . . and my wife doesn't think they'll want to sedate me for an expected five-hour surgery with congested lungs . . . but, this being the weekend, the doctors aren't available . . . and I'm hoping that I'll be over this before Thursday anyway.

I'll try to keep you posted.

-- Jeff

Back to Hospital Again --

*sigh* . . . Last night a few friends were over to play a game . . . but it didn't happen . . . I started hemorrhaging again and so ended up in the Emergency Room once again . . . and was once again admitted to the hospital for monitoring.

I've now been released (the hemorrhaging has ended but I feel very tired and weak) . . . so I should be able to go down island for my week of radiation treatments on Monday . . . then back up for surgery on April 26.

But I'm not stressed out or anything . . . well, not much . . . eh, well maybe a bit . . . okay, quite a lot.

-- Jeff

Surgery Now Scheduled --

Well we heard from the surgeon's office today. My cancer surgery is scheduled for April 26 . . . Shakespeare's baptismal day.

We still have not heard from the BC Cancer people about my radiation therapy; but the doctor's office said that they'd been told that it would end on April 20 . . . which probably means that I'll be in Victoria from the 16th through the 20th (and out of touch in terms of the Net).

Lots of medical stuff between now and then . . . consults with different doctors, etc. . . . anyway that's all that I know at this point.

-- Jeff

Good "Bad News" --

Well we saw the doctor today for the results of my CT scan. And the news was good!

"Bad" in that, yes I do have rectal cancer, but "good" in that the cancer does not appear to have spread. Next steps are radiation therapy then surgery.

I wish to thank everyone who has expressed their concern for my health and for all of the prayers and good wishes that have come my way. Please keep them coming because I am not a great subject for surgery (mid-sixties, diabetic and seriously overweight), so your prayers (of whatever faith) continue to be most welcome.

Finally I would like to mention that, while the stress of this has been (and will continue to be) pretty intense, reading and thinking about our shared hobby has succeeded in keeping me somewhat distracted . . . which has been a great help.

Thank you all again.

-- Jeff

CT Scan Today --

In about an hour I will head to Hospital for a CT scan to see if or how far my cancer has spread. Of course I won't know the results today . . . but at least it is a step forward.

-- Jeff

"A Month from Hell" --

Well that is how my wife described it . . . and we are very glad that February is over.

On the evening of the first I started bleeding heavily from my rear end. A trip to Emergency and I was admitted to Hospital, where I continued to lose blood. I know that they gave me at least nine big bags of fluid over the two days I was in.

On the second, my wife's father (age 95) passed away. It wasn't unexpected, but it was still a shock for her on top of my being in Hospital.

Mid-month I underwent a colonoscopy to find out why I was bleeding . . . and a few days ago we got the result. I have colon cancer . . . well, more correctly rectal cancer.

So the next step is an MRI to see how extensive it is and if it has spread. Then radiation. Then surgery . . . and I'm a poor surgical risk even though I've lost 35 pounds over a three-week period (because I'm still pushing 300 and I'm in my sixties).

It is quite a shock. I'm not in pain. I'm weak because my hemoglobin has dropped so low because of blood loss . . . but other than that I feel fine . . . well, except for the stress and not knowing how things will turn out.

And, thankfully February is over.

Whatever your faith, your prayers are welcome.

-- Jeff