Doctor made a mistake

Hi all. Got a call from the Doctor today and guess what? He made a mistake. His call with the good news on Tuesday was apparently premature. He read the wrong scan and told me that the tumor was gone. He realized the mistake today when he read the correct report and called me.

I was very disappointed to hear this as you can imagine. He heard an earful from me. With that said, this Doctor has been very good and I like him. He made an honest mistake and only wanted to provide me with good news.

As far as the scan report goes, it shows that the tumor has shrunk by 75% and it is less active by 50%. This is very good progress. It is right on course. While I originally elected to skip my last chemo session, I will now go through it on Monday. This will be my last session.

Of course this sets my entire recovery process back a month but what can I do but to keep fighting strong? The answer is clear.

Life is full of curve balls isnt it?

I thank my wife Anna for being so strong. She took this news well and is keeping a positive attitude. What a lady! Thanks to my family for their love and support. All my friends who have called and emailed....THANK YOU. I am blessed to have all of you in my life. Take care all.

Ed

3 Nov - Good news!

Hello everyone. Sorry for not posting more but this last few weeks were pretty rough due to the last treatment. Anyhow, I did my PET Scan (like an MRI) yesterday to check on the status of the cancer. My Doctor called 30 minutes ago and told me that the scans looked great and they got everything!!! Now I can just concentrate on a full recovery and get back into the swing of things.

Thank you for all of your love and support. Yeeeeehaaaaaaa!

Ed

3 Oct

Hello friends and family. Just want to let everyone know that I am doing fine. The energy level has been good during this last week allowing me to do some workouts and go for walks. I have also been doing some motorcycle rides. Another week of recovery before my next chemo session. This will be the second to the last and that is a good thing.

I am still not able to eat solids mainly due to the lack of smell and taste. This will probably stay consistent until all of the treatments are done.

The doctors are happy with my progress so I am happy. Really looking forward to getting back into the swing of things.

Thats it for now. I wish you all and your families well. Take care!

Ron C, thanks for stopping by to send me a note. I filled out that packet a couple of weeks ago and mailed it back. Good luck!

Ed

20 Sep 09

Hello everyone. Sorry for not posting for some time. I am doing ok. Went through the first of three remaining Super Chemo sessions last week which was a bit rough. Its the same chemo treatment as before but afterwards, I have to stay connected to a portable chemo pump for four days. This thing slowly drips chemo into my bloodstream over those days. It is a pain in the butt to carry around and just not fun to have with you at all times. Did I mention not being able to take a shower?

The good news is that one session is now behind me with two to go.

My energy is a bit low right now but it should improve in a few days. Still not able to eat solid food yet but looking forward to it.

Thats it for now. Take care all!

Go Steelers!

A man name Charlie, last session and safe journey

My brothers took me to get a haircut this morning since it was getting long and the radiation did a number to the back of my head. We went to a place in Downtown Danville. Old school barber shop where everyone knows one another and a Vietnamese barber name Charlie. Nice guy who took good care of me. I bumped into Eddie Poulson who saw me going in to the shop. He stopped by and cracked a joke about my bowl style haircut. Ed never changes.

LAST RADIATION SESSION TODAY! Yes, yes and yes. The staff at the hospital have been tremendous and they sent me off with a certificate and some chocolate. Doctor Masullo was very happy for me and gave me a hug. I tell you what, John Muir hospital has some great people working there. Now its time to let my face get a chance to heal. Yes!

With my last radiation session behind me, my older brother Cliff will be leaving back to Hong Kong tonight. It has been great having both of my bros supporting me through all of this. These guys drove me everywhere, waited patiently and attended to my needs. Thanks guys! I am forever grateful. Cliff, have a safe ride home and see you soon big brother.

So now what you ask. I get a break from treatments for a month. This will be time for me to get my strength back. I have 3 chemo sessions (once a month) to undergo. This is mainly to lessen the chance of the cancer from returning and spreading. There will be a MRI in the next couple of months to make sure we got everything.

Until then, I will rest and recover. I thank you all for your continued support and love. I know that your prayers have helped me through all of this. Thank you!

Ed

A nice quiet Sunday

Hello everyone. Just dropping a note to let you know that I am doing well today. The energy has been good and all of the side effects from the treatment are minimal. Enjoying a nice quiet Sunday with my ladies. I am going to get into my garage and do some light rowing to get the blood moving. Did some pushups yesterday.

Got news that one of our veteran police officers committed suicide over the weekend. What a tragedy. This guy was solid and a real character. Not sure what drove him to such desperate measures but I know that he is in heaven now and at peace. I will miss him.

Life is so precious isnt it? Go enjoy every minute and dont sweat the small stuff.

Ok, last week of radiation! This is great because my face will finally get a chance to recover. I hope to get my taste back soon. The blisters in the mouth, burning of my neck skin and tingling feeling on the left side of my face will soon improve.

Thanks for all of your prayers, support and love. Have a good one everybody.

Ed

Digging deep

This is all getting a bit old. Trying to keep a positive attitude but it is getting to me. The side affects from the treatments, the visits to the doctors, laying around all day and taking in the same old vanilla drinks are all getting the best of me. I am digging deep....very deep to get past these last stages.

Sorry to vent everyone but had to do it. Sitting at chemo treatment now and will regroup.

Ed

9 Aug - Update

Hello family and friends. I hope that you are all well. Just an update to let you know that I am doing fine. The treatment is coming along. I cant say that it gets any easier but no one said that this was going to be easy right.

My weight has remained somewhat stable (164 or so). Six cans of high protein / nutrients everyday. I REALLY miss eating. I think I have mentioned this before! Sorry! The sores in my mouth is under control thanks to some ointment prescribed by one of my doctors. Besides that, just dealing with the fatigue from the Chemo. I feel pretty good today.

The blood count so far have been good allowing me to continue the chemo treatment. Both of my doctors are happy with the way my body is handling all of this. I have to attribute this to all of the working out and good diet during the last couple of years. Cant wait to get back into my workout routines and getting outdoors!

Thank you Trish, Lola and Al for coming by to see me this weekend.

Ok, take care everyone!

Ed

Half way there!

Today marks the mid point of the chemo / radiation treatment. Yes! And its Friday so two days of rest without having to run to treatments. I am hanging in there. Yesterday was pretty good and today is ok thus far. Due to the ability to smell now, my appetite has improved lots. Unfortunately, my throat is very sore from the radiation so its water and yogurt. Oh well.

As I told Cliff Wong, the internet, my guitar and Netflex have become very close friends of mine. I have also been doing some light reading.

My older brother Cliff has come in from Hong Kong to give me a hand. Good to see my big brother!

Thank you all for the continuing support and thoughts. You are all tremendous people and I am fortunate.

Have a very nice weekend with yours. Take care now.

Ed

28 Jul Tuesday

Good morning family and friends. I hope that you all are doing great and that you had a good weekend. I am doing fine. A couple of days ago, my ability to smell things came back and it has improved daily. This is nice. To smell home cooking, fragrance, the outdoors....wow! Martin and I took a walk yesterday and I even detected some dog poop. LOL

With that, my throat is hurting pretty good from the radiation. It is hard to swallow even water. I had a hard time sleeping last night due to this. The doctors did give me some mouth wash to help with this.

So, like anything else in life, we have to take the good as well as the bad. I know that this is the part of the recovery process so trying to just focus on that.

I just want to thank my family for taking such great care of me. Mom comes over daily to make soup and to attend to my needs. Martin...my awesome twin has been driving me to all of my appointments. He has been so accommodating. Many of you dont know this but he took a leave of absence from his work to take care of me. Thanks bro. My wife Anna and my baby Chelsea, you give me strength to bear through the daily treatments. Thank you for all that you have done for me. I am looking forward to our future together as a family and I love you both so much. Nat and the kids, thank you for the rides and always checking up on me. Thank you for taking care of Chels so Anna can catch up with things. Nihra, you too. Thanks for taking Chels out on the weekends! Tom and Atchi, thank you for coming over to see me and taking care of the princess. She loves you guys so much. I have such a great family.

Ok gang, thats it for now. Take care and have a great day.

Friday 24 Jul

Hello everyone. I hope you are all well and settling down for the weekend. I am doing ok. Wednesday was chemo so these last two days included a lot of sleeping. Tomorrow should be better. The treatment has become a routine and I know what to expect and how my body will react. This makes things a bit easier I guess. The good news is that today marks the 2.5 week point and thats progress.

The radiation is affecting my throat / mouth more now making it tougher to talk and swallow. So, if I dont call you back or am quite around you, please dont be offended. The doctors did give me some med to help with this but like most of you, I hate taking all that medicine.

I am solely relying on my feeding tube now for food intake and thats fine. At least my body is getting the liquids and vitamins it needs.

My older brother Cliff is coming home in four days from Hong Kong to hep take care of me. Thats cool.

Ok you are up to date now. Go enjoy your weekends and have a beer, BBQ, Korean food, pizza and some chinese food for me!!! I had another dream last night where I was enjoying some Greek food! LOL

Take care and thank you all for caring about me.

Ed

21 Jul

Hello family and friends! I hope everyone is doing well. I am doing fine. This week was a bit rough in terms of overall comfort. The chemo hit me harder in round 2 but it has become better after a few days. I have lost a few more pounds. Tough to hang on to the weight when eating is so hard.

My bro Martin took me out for walks yesterday and today which was nice. Always good to get out there to get the blood moving and to be able to enjoy the nice weather. Equally important is getting out of the house.

Mom has been making soup daily. It is great to have Mom around taking care of me.

Anna and Chels are always here to make sure that I am comfortable. Little Chels went on a field trip with her school today to FairyLand. How fun! Cant wait to get better so Chels and I can hang out and do the stuff we use to.

Tomorrow will be Round 3 of Chemo. I cant say I look forward to it but it will be another session under my belt and thats cool.

Thank you all for the continued emails / phone calls. I love it.

Take care!

Ed

19 Jul 09

Hello everyone. I hope that you are having a great weekend. Just want to update everyone on how things are going. The chemo this week hit me much faster so Thursday and Friday were pretty rough. Today has been good. The appetite is gone and my taste for food is still non-existent. This sucks because I love food. Didnt realize how much until now. I have relied on the feeding tube to keep my body filled with nutrients. Thank goodness I have this.

The treatment has really helped with my breathing. Before my left nostril was almost completely blocked which made simple breathing difficult. Now it feels wide open which is a good thing.

It was a hot week as everyone knows but things should cool down this week. I wish everyone a fantastic week and take care!

Ed

Wednesday 15 Jul 09

I am getting my second chemo treatment right now. The staff here at John Muir are simply fantastic. They take good care of their patients. This treatment takes up to 3 hours due to the need to feed me with lots of water. The type of chemo can dehydrate one quickly.

Wednesday are my heavy days because of the chemo and radiation.

I have been thinking ALOT about food during the last few days. Its because my taste of food have left due to the cancer. The radiation doesnt help either. I cannot wait to have a nice fat piece of juicy prime rib with a big potato (with the works) on the side. Perhaps some dim sum with Rick in C-town. A plate of beef chow fun sounds really good as well.
The only thing I can taste now is sweets. So having a bowl of cereal in the morning has become a treat. I will take it!

All in all, I am doing well. My wonderful family is taking such good care of me. My princess Chelsea knows that Daddy is sick so she often comes by and simply gives me a kiss. She may be four years old but she knows exactly whats going on. She knows to not jump on Daddy right now. Chelsea always insist on being the one to bring her Daddy a glass of water or something to eat. She is wonderful!

I am looking forward to the weekend to rest with the family and not have to run to the doctors or go to treatment. Being at hospitals, getting my arm poked with needles gets old really quick. I have been living a healthy life so to avoid this but here I am. Thats life! Lets handle it and move on.

A good weekend

Hello everyone. From the great care and love from my family, neighbors and friends, I was able to have a pretty good weekend. My family converted my downstair office into my bedroom so I would not have to keep treking up and down those stairs. I got a lot of rest this weekend but did squeeze some air squats in. It is so tough to not be able to work out like I use to but I know that I have to pace myself.

All in all, I am doing pretty good. Thank you all for your prayers, positive thoughts and good energy....it helps.

Will be going in for my 3rd radiation session today at 2:30. Lets do it!

Ed

11 Jul

Received my second radiation treatment yesterday which was better. The chemo just completely zaps you of all your energy so I ended up laying down and sleeping all day / night. The appetite is not good and so I will have to start using my feeding tube to make sure that the body has its nutrients.

My family is taking great care of me. I am so lucky to have them with me through this. Thank you to all my friends and relatives for their emails, I appreciate it.

Just took a shower so feeling refreshed (the simple things I tell you).

Take care,

Ed

Radiation

Its nothing fun thats for sure. They create a personal mask for you which is molded and goes down to your shoulder. This is use to secure your head to the table for the treatment. My treatment lasted 30 minutes today. While the staff was very nice and professional, being strapped onto that table for that long gets old really quick. Will take it easy for the night and get some sleep.

Thursday 9 Jul

Didnt sleep too well last night but feeling pretty good today. Will go for a walk and get some fresh air / sun.

Blog to keep everyone in the loop

Hello family and friends. Martin suggested that I do this to make it easier to keep everyone in the loop on my return to good health. Thank you all for all of the phone calls, visits and love. It has been very helpful. At the treatment continues, it will be more difficult for me to talk so I will rely on this to let you all know how I am doing. Thanks everyone!

First Day of Treatment

The day finally came. Went and received my first Chemo and Radiation Treatment today. Everyone was nice and helpful. As usual, my twin brother Martin was there every step of the way. Feeling good now.