Visitor, shows and treatments

hellllooooooo everybody! It's been a little while since I updated this so here goes!
First of all, a big howdy and thanks and good to finally meet ya face to face, Kelly . She scored some free tix to the Stupid Cancer Comedy Show, a fundraiser for I'm Too Young For This a social network online for young adult cancer survivors. It was a fun show and a couple of them made me just really bust out laughin alot. Felt good!!! Then I scored some free tix to the bway play The Ritz (thanks Scotte!). It was fun. Not the greatest play ever written but fun. Who wouldn't like a bunch of hottie probably all gay men runnin around in tiny towels on stage or just a pair of buttless leather chaps lol. Sorry Kelly it was so hot and humid for those couple of days you stayed. finally sprinkled today and today was nicer and cooler but the sun light was pretty toasty if you were standin in it.

Had treatment today. went fairly quickly about 3-3 1/2 hours. got in at 11 left a little before 2:30. It's gettin crazy at the office. They are renovating for the next few months. Yep it's pretty needed too but know everything is moving downstairs and a new desk in the chemo lab takes up some room so you can't recline recline very well without missing the knees of the person in front of you lol. Gonna be a crazy few months but when it's done there will be like triple the amount of waiting room space and new air ducts so should all be good although by the time they're done I should be done with treatments and only visiting every three months or so.
I tried to fill my zofran script and ran into more problemsn. The insurance people never told us I had to get an actual new script written for the increased amt of pills given in a month, so we assumed i could just refill the one i had, but no. I hd three pills left, was calling the insurance poeple and after a half hour with them they couldn't do anything to get me through the weekend, but they did tell me to call the pharmacy and tell them to go into their computers and change the amount of days the script was for to 4 days so i could get another 4 pills. I called them they said they had to call the insurance people again adn for me to call back in a hour. so I called back and turned out he just tried and got in the system and changed it without calling and the insurance peeps overrided the days so he could. Yay! So i picked those up and am much happier! I'll see the nurse on monday and tell her she needs to write a new one. so then hopefully all should be good!
The idea now is that the doc might add a couple on to the end. I guess I'll find out next week when i go in for the neupogen shots. no more neulasta that crap hurts!!!! I told both the nurses that they should try it sometime so they know what the patients get to go through lol. Jerri and I exchange more laughs and digs at eachother. Fun times.
I finished the Dark Prince a book that the Jackie the receptionist at the office let me read. Fun book. The writter though needs some new descriptive words other than white hot pain or velvet all the time. lol.
So for now I guess thats about all. Busy week, was wiped out today! I'm not an early to bed kind of person and I did take a nap earlier so I'll probably be up til around 1. I can't help it, but then i'll probably sleep till early afternoon :) I like to sleep man! Even before this cancer stuff, I still liked to sleep!!
Oh good news on the granny front her docs said the colon cancer was found early and they'll do 12 radiation treatments and a chemo pill then check things and if all is good do to the surgery and then maybe won't need a bag and can hook up all the internal tubing and fix her up and get her goin so yay!

hope all have a great weekend!

Doc n Kathy Griffin

So I went to the oncologist today to checkin. He siad sounds like it's the whitecell booster and chemo that given me the aches and pains. OH and the really "good" news (and i'm being sarcastic) is that he may want to add on another 2 treatements beacuse I had two breaks (one for the gallbladder removal and one cause of strepthroat) Thats annoying. If the scans are soo clean and I'm getting quite a few after a clean scan, why add two more. Ugh. I have plans for turkey day and I dont' want more treatments screwing up gettin the hell out o the state! But it is what it is and I don't want this crap to come back because that would be bad and a lot more crap to deal with. So do what i got to do. So I got back on friday and get more toxic cancer killing drugs adn hope that they don't kill off too many of my good cells while they're at it! I like to keep the good cells!

The White cell booster Neulasta did it's job and my whiteblood count is great! So thats nice that it did it's job and I probably wont' have to have another shot till probably right before the treatment on the 12 of Oct.

Ordered my KathGriffin tix a little while ago. She's at the Garden in January. Super excited. I really enjoy Life on the D List and have seen her live before. She is just hilarious!!



thats all for now, but stay tuned for another gripping edition of life on the hodge list

the cumulative effect

these past few treatments have been gettin harder and side effects lasting longer. My back hurts (so far chemo was last fri and its thursday now) still hurts, muscles ache in the back, arms, neck, chest. ugh I wish it would stop. Ocassionally even my lower teeth start feelin tense and achy too. Muscles start feelin like they want to tense up. Not fun. Then I got the neulasta shot this time and tonight i now feel the bone pain kicking in in the pelvic/hip bones. Not fun at all. I took a couple prednisone, hopefully it will start workin soon. Monday was the only full day I actually was at work. Tuesday was off, wednesday I left early, today was off.I dunno about tomorrow, but if the bone pain is still here, I won't be going in.

I had a PFT (pulmonary function test) today. A bunch of breating into a spirometer. Breath into a tube like normal, deep breath in, let it all the way out, do that a few times. The deep breath in hold it and push it out fast. Then step into a glass box and all sealed up, mouth on tube, pant like a dong. Then the airflow is cut off in the tube for a second and you keep panting and then it open back up. That happens a like 4 or 5 times. That was about all. Took about 15-20 minutes. The lady technician remembered me from way back end of march or beg of april when i did the test before. Since I got a bit more winded then normal the doc decided to send me in for the test. I dunno the results probably just get them later at the docs office.
So that all i got to report right now.

Two more to go!

Hellooooo everyone! Got my chemo today....without the Bleo. Havin a few episodes of getting winded quickly so thought we'd lay off that and get the lungs checked next thursday. Chemo went a little faster today. Was done about 2:40, normally i'm done about 3:30. I looked up at the bag that only like an hour ago was completely full and it was almost finished and then i looked at the drip and it was pretty open and drippin fast. I normally don't like it fast as i tend to feel a little more icky later. This time on Monday instead of the neupogen i'll get a shot of neulasta. It saves me from repeatedly going in for a few days in a row but Friday (at least thats how it happened the last time )the bone pain will hit. Odd though as recently I was feelin bone pain with the neupogen, not as instense and managable, just annoying and all the time. This should just be the one day yay! But the really good news is, only 2 more treatments to go yay!!!!!

Oh the antinausea front, thanks friends and peeps that have read my blog and have offered to send me the meds. Not needed but greatly appreciated. I actually talked to my insurance and my nurse talked to them and we got it all worked out so I can get the Zofran tablets (the ones you swallow not the icky berry disolvable under the tongue ones). So yay i should be all set with the drugs now....hopefully they will work!

Went to lunch with Jackie and Josh, Asi, and another of their friends/magicians, who's name i can say but have no clue how to spell...maybe Ehud but said ayud i guess. Went to Caliente on 33/3ave. Such sucky sucky sucky sucky service. Was horrible service. Then they gave my dish to Asi (i had the cheese enchiladas and he had chicken) but before I cut into mine, and half of his was already devoured, then i realized it. Surprised he didn't realize he had cheese and not chicken, but whatever. I was dissapointed, i wanted my cheese and not the chicken. totally different flavor combos. I did have a virgin pina colada. It was fine. Yummy cherries. Then went to Josh's and saw his awesome work on Asi's dvd and petted the puppy. then walked with them down to Union Square and then i came home.

I came home to find that my interent is not working. The modem may be bad. But since i have a wireless card on my laptop I've found some service.

Random/////// I really want to go to Alaska and spend a long time there. Once in the summer and once in the winter. Hopefully a cruise there is in the not too distant future!! one can hope!

have a great weekend everybody

the weekend

It is Sunday, so it was laundry day. Man did i have lots of laundry to do. By the time I was done and luggin it all up to the apt, i was sooo winded and had a lung burn thing happenin. Guess I'll bring it up with the nurse tomorrow. Maybe they'll cut back on the bleo. we shall see.
I tried to make some plans to go to a great chocolate shop and an italian restaurant but ended up cancelling them becuase of feelin really wierd icky. Was really bummed.
Not diggin this cumulative effect of chemo.

why don't people understand that during chemo one must stay away from sick people. If you have a fever, don't hang around and say oh hey my fever is this.. what the fuck?! Hello? If i get a fever and it gets tooo high I have to go to the hospital, not like someone else who's healthy who gets a fever and just sleeps and rests till it goes away. it's not the first time sayin if you are sick you need to stay away and back off, cause it's bad, jesus get it through your head already! Sorry you are sick and not feeling well but please don't feel the need to share!

ok well enough of that venting. At least i have clean clothes now and kinda of wiped my stuff down with the clorox wipes!
Not sure what I'll be eating for dinner. Don't really feel like eating much. Uck.
probably grab some soup or plain fried rice.
Peace out, hopefully everyone have a great week

chemo on!

Went to the onc's office today. And today white blood cell count was nice and high! But also now that I had to give myself a shot in the belly of the Neupogen, they rather I do it to myself. I rather keep going to the office and little professionals do it! Although a buddy offered to do it, he has experience with given shots, so I might just take him up on it! too scary when i did it myself, I was all shaky and turned the needle since i couldn't really grab it to push the plunger down the way i had it in lol. Shakin like a leaf!
But the two shots worked plus i think the extra days gave my bod the time to get back on track and kickup the white bloodcells on it's own too. So my counts as they look tome on paper and as i have no real idea of the measurement is 13.1 i believe, high end of normal is 10.somethin.So i got alot floatin around and thats fine.
I got the chemo, no big events thank ya! But i do feel queasyish. don't like that at all. I just took Kytril hopefully that will kick in, and I'll take an ativan before bed (apparenlty it also helps with nausea) and in the a.m. will take my other Kytril and hopefully it will all have passed.
Drinkin some Coke the real stuff hopin maybe that will settle things too. if not i might try some GingerAle or GatorAde. it's not horrible, I just hate the feeling. I'm completley able to go out and do things, probably go to work tomorrow.
Guess thats all for today.
Oh did you know that one of the Williams sisters (tennis) dated Bret Rattner? I learned that today while getting chemo lol! Ah the trivia I pickup in the fun places I go!
so thats what I know for today
Ohhh also, if anyone knows the symbology of the japanese maple leaf in terms of a tattoo, please let me know thanks!

No Longer Pissed and The Supid Cancer Show

OK I got over my being pissed. What good is it to hold on to anger, so I try and let it go!

Took a trip to Target today. Yay!!! It was quite the journey on the way home. I bought a floor lamp w/ 5 different colored shades, in blues and a green. I love it. It replaced my old black halogen ugly thing. I was sooooo tired of that. But this new one was a little heavy! I carried it to the subway which was packed with people waiting. Hot and sweaty down there. then about 5 minutes a train showed up yay!! This little old Asian man completely blocked the center of the door to get on, I was off to the side, moving over to let the person trying to get off the train, get off. This little old mad pushed his way onto the train completely blocking the guy who wanted off, so I just moved wayyyyy over so he could squeeze by. The little old man wanted a seat but there were plenty, no need to run onto the train and block everyone else lol. I'm not being discriminatory but little old Asian people always seem to do that. They don't care who you are but you better get out of their way cause they are on a mission to a seat!!!! Just a fact that I've come to learn watching train rider traffic. Anyways, I ended up catching a cab once i got back out of the subway and into my hood. yay cabs, love cabs! My lamp is all put together and all pretty yay!

Oh and on Monday Sept 3 on The Stupid Cancer show will be Kris Karr. If you watch TLC you may have caught her documentary called Crazy,Sexy Cancer. I thought it was great! Here's the link to The Stupid Cancer Show

"Cancer Society Focuses It's Ads on the Uninsured" from the NY Times

August 31, 2007
Cancer Society Focuses Its Ads on the Uninsured
By KEVIN SACK
ATLANTA, Aug. 30 — In a stark departure from past practice, the American Cancer Society plans to devote its entire $15 million advertising budget this year not to smoking cessation or colorectal screening but to the consequences of inadequate health coverage.

The campaign was born of the group's frustration that cancer rates are not dropping as rapidly as hoped, and of recent research linking a lack of insurance to delays in detecting malignancies.

Though the advertisements are nonpartisan and pointedly avoid specific prescriptions, they are intended to intensify the political focus on an issue that is already receiving considerable attention from presidential candidates in both parties.

The society's advertisements are unique, say experts in both philanthropy and advertising, in that disease-fighting charities traditionally limit their public appeals to narrower aspects of prevention or education.

But the leaders of several such organizations, including the American Heart Association, the American Diabetes Association and the Alzheimers Association, said they applauded the campaign's message that progress against chronic disease would be halting until the country fixed its health care system.

As in the past, the heart association is using its advertising dollars these days to promote more rigorous exercise and healthier diets. The most recent cancer society campaign encouraged screening for colon cancer, including a memorable commercial in which a diner plucked — and then ate — a lima bean polyp from the intestinal tract he had carved in his mashed potatoes.

But John R. Seffrin, the chief executive of the cancer society, which is based here, said his organization had concluded that advances in prevention and research would have little lasting impact if Americans could not afford cancer screening and treatment.

"I believe, if we don't fix the health care system, that lack of access will be a bigger cancer killer than tobacco," Mr. Seffrin said in an interview. "The ultimate control of cancer is as much a public policy issue as it is a medical and scientific issue."

The two 60-second television commercials that form the spine of the campaign make that point.

One features images of uninsured cancer patients, appearing hollow and fearful. "This is what a health care crisis looks like to the American Cancer Society," the narrator begins. "We're making progress, but it's not enough if people don't have access to the care that could save their lives."

The other commercial depicts a young mother whose family has gone into debt because her insurance did not fully cover her cancer treatment. "Is the choice between caring for yourself and caring for your family really a choice?" the narrator asks.

Census figures released this week show that the number and percentage of people in the United States without health insurance rose last year, to 47 million and 15.8 percent. A 2003 study estimated that one of every 10 cancer patients was uninsured.

Other surveys have found that one of every four families afflicted by cancer, which is projected to kill 560,000 Americans this year, is effectively impoverished by the fight, including one of every five with insurance.

The cancer society plans to buy time on network and cable channels from Sept. 17 to Thanksgiving, said Greg Donaldson, the group's vice president for corporate communications. There will also be advertisements in magazines and on Web sites.

With nearly $1 billion in revenues, the cancer society is the wealthiest of its peers and has spent about $15 million annually on advertising since 1999. By comparison, Geico, the automobile insurer with the "Caveman" advertisements, spent about $14 million on network advertising in the first quarter of 2007, according to TNS Media Intelligence, a tracking firm.

Advertising about the health insurance crisis is not uncommon among more broadly based medical organizations and other interest groups.

Last week, the American Medical Association kicked off a three-year campaign called "Voice for the Uninsured" that will begin with $5 million in advertising in early primary states. AARP, in conjunction with the Business Roundtable and the Service Employees International Union, recently began a similar effort called "Divided We Fail."

This year, the cancer society formed a collaborative with the heart, diabetes and Alzheimers associations, as well as AARP, to promote awareness of the health access problem. The group adopted as common principles that all Americans deserve quality, affordable health care with transparent costs.

But the cancer society is the only disease-focused group ever to have dedicated advertising resources to the topic, said officials with other charities and with trade groups."I've never seen anything like it before," said Bill Novelli, chief executive of AARP and, in a previous career, a co-founder of the Porter Novelli public relations firm. "It's taking a different tack for them."

That a charity like the cancer society felt compelled to join the access debate reflects both the urgency and the resonance of the issue. Nonetheless, Mr. Donaldson said it was "risky business" for the tax-exempt group.

It steered away, he said, from promoting solutions that could be viewed as partisan, like mandatory insurance or single-payer government coverage. Rather, he said, the commercials are intended to urge action by the next administration, and to drive viewers to a Web site linked to the group's advocacy and lobbying arm.

"We very much see a moral imperative to raising the discussion," Mr. Donaldson said, "but we understand there's a need to be appropriate."

Cancer society executives said they had heard little dissent from volunteers and donors, and several regional officials said they supported the new approach.

But others called the campaign misguided. Valerie C. Robinson, a longtime board member of the Jacksonville, Fla., chapter, said expanded access to insurance coverage was "not our fight."

"To me, it's throwing away money that we could have put into providing free mammograms or free PSA tests or free colonoscopies," she said.

Mr. Seffrin initiated the advertising campaign after being pushed by the society's board to make faster progress toward its goals of reducing cancer death rates by 50 percent and incidence rates by 25 percent from 1990 to 2015. If trends continue, the actual reductions are projected to fall well short, perhaps by as much as half.

While the decline in death rates is accelerating, studies have shown that if cancer was diagnosed more in its early stages, the rates would fall faster. And new research is confirming that insurance status often determines whether a person's cancer is diagnosed early or late.

One study published this year found that uninsured breast cancer patients were more than twice as likely to have their cancer diagnosed in late stages as those with private insurance. Other studies have found similar results with cancers of the larynx and mouth.

"The truth is we know what's going to happen with cancer if we don't intervene," Mr. Seffrin said. "It will become the leading cause of death in the world, needlessly."

Copyright 2007 The New York Times Company