Blue Collar Cancer

Recently, I visited family in San Francisco, my hometown. My roots are urban, but 40 years ago, my wings carried me to more rural environs. I was born at Children’s Hospital on California Street in 1946. My parents worked hard providing their five kids with the basics: bikes, baseball mitts, and a safe home. I [...]

Everyday

Everyday, I think about having cancer and everyday I forget that I have cancer. Reminders of my illness abound. It does not take much to make me hesitate and ponder the calculus of my future. For example, because we live in a remote area, I often shop on the web. Just last week, I procrastinated [...]

Unremarkable

Recently, I met with my oncologist, Dr. M. His practice is located in Portland, OR. Each Thursday, however, he travels 60 miles up the Columbia River Gorge to Hood River. Here, he spends the day attending to cancer patients in our small community. He commented that my disease continues to be in “complete remission.” His [...]

Our Healthcare, Our Conscience

On one of the myeloma blogs I read, there was an entry titled, “The High Cost of Staying Alive.” The subject was a particular drug commonly prescribed for patients with multiple myeloma, thalidomide. In the article, the writer questioned its exorbitant monthly cost. He alleged that the drug’s manufacturer discriminated against myeloma patients due to [...]

Long Term Follow Up Care

We just returned from the SCCA’s Long Term Follow-Up Class for transplant patients. The class is a requirement before a patient can be discharged, and we have only more day of appointments to keep here, concluding with tomorrow afternoon’s Exit Conference. We plan to drive back to Hood River on Friday, one day early! John [...]

Hope In A Time Of Melphalan

Reluctant grazing best describes my diet. Water tastes terrible. I wear a hydration backpack carrying 1500 ml of saline solution. A battery operated pump feeds me 250 ml for each of six hours. This replenishes my body fluids. You would think I could drink eight ounces of water every hour, but well, forget it. To [...]

Carnation Instant Breakfast?

John continues to be a star patient at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. Yesterday’s blood draw showed zero neutrophils and a barely perceptible white blood count. For you medical neophytes, this means he has zero resistance to infection. Fortunately his red blood cells and hematocrit are still hanging in there – below normal but able [...]

Chemo Brain

John has come down with “chemo brain” and finds his flow of insightful thoughts and words temporarily halted. Those of you who are cancer survivors or family members may be well aware of “chemo brain”, a very real side effect of chemotherapy that can cause memory loss and difficulty concentrating.

His blood counts are all predictably [...]

Back In Seattle

I feel terrific. My energy level climbed steadily each day I was home. I put in lots of miles walking and puttered in the garden. I spent time with both of my sons. I visited with friends. I ate well. I read and rested. I slept soundly. Monday, we left Hood River in a storm. [...]

Back At The PGH

I just want to let everyone know that John is home from the hospital and feeling better. We are doing an IV antibiotic at home to try and get rid of the pesky pneumonia. John is composing an update that will give his version of the events of the past week in detail. Thank you [...]