My Battle with Merkel Cell Cancer

ook last-minute, as I have canceled a planned two-week cruise to Hawaii, and will
probably lose about $6000 which we have paid for this cruise. Additionally, I think I would
like to go to Las Vegas for a few days.
I have had the goal for some time of becoming a gold life master of the American contract
Bridge league. The requirement is to have 2500 master points. I need only about 90
more, and if I am feeling well enough, I will travel to some nearby tournaments to reach
this goal.
I will also need to put my affairs in order. I always thought I had plenty of time to deal with
issues such as drawing a will and making plans for my internment. I'll have to take care of
these within the next month.
All this being said, in the words of the song from the Monty Python musical, Spamalot, I
am not dead yet. I am by no means giving up the ghost to this disease. If this plan doesn't
work, I will need a plan B. That may include more radiation treatment, chemotherapy, or
enrollment in clinical trials.
My brother-in-law, Murray, has sent me links to clinical trials at the NIH. Thanks Murray.
In addition, I plan to try some alternative treatments to enhance my immune system as
this seems to be the most promising avenue to defeat the disease.
Looking back on my life, I was always the sort of person who deferred immediate
gratification looking toward the future. I still remember feelings of jealousy is my friends
were going skiing while I was busy studying for exams or working nights and weekends
during my internship and residency. The question is was that worthwhile. I think it was. I
feel that I have accomplished a lot during my life. I still hope to accomplish a lot more.
I have to express my gratitude for the love, support, and good spirits of my wife, Judy.
She recently went through a long ordeal with her mother, taking her for radiation
treatments and a providing for her needs during her battle with colon cancer, from
diagnosis to final hospice care and her death. Now, she may have to go through the
same ordeals with me.
I also acknowledge the outpouring of love and support from friends and colleagues during
this difficult time. So many people are praying for me. To all of them, I offer my thanks.
Posted by docshu at 11:40AM (-08:00)
Hope for the Best, Plan for the Worst
Wednesday, December 08, 2010
Today is a day of mixed feelings. This morning I went for my radiation treatment. A single
radiation dose of six gray (GY). This is about 1/10 of the standard dose given to try to kill
every cancer cell in the area. I had a dose of a total of 60 gray to my face and neck. This
dose was given to my mediastinal tumor. The objective here is to induce an immune
response to the tumor and hopefully to kill all the tumor cells in my body. I
Dr. John gave me a reference article printed in the international Journal of Radiation
Oncology by Ganem et al, reporting on the mechanisms of low-dose radiation treatment
for lymphoma. This article gives additional support to what we are attempting, and
boosted my spirits.
This afternoon, we have an appointment with an estate planning attorney to update our
wills, with a view to removing any complications which might result in passing our assets
to our heirs. Needless to say, this is a downer.
On the bright side, a careful review of the insurance policy regarding cancellation of our
cruise to Hawaii strongly suggests that we will either be repaid by the insurance
company, or receive a credit for future cruises from Princess Cruise lines. I don't think
that I want to plan a two-week cruise, but while I am still feeling good, I would like to plan
a one-week cruise to the Mexican Riviera.
My Battle with Merkel Cell Cancer
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