Mayhem on a Molecular Level

As I mentioned in my last post, I started radiation treatments last week.  Quite frankly, so far I haven't noticed a difference unless being in more pain counts.  Actually, that's not fair.  The radiation oncologist, let's call him Dr. Zapper, aka the Cancer Ninja, said that I may experience a little more pain before things started to get better.  He said that initially we may inflame the tumor (Great, let's make it mad) which in turn would put more pressure on my spine which would in turn cause more pain.  I should be starting to feel some relief by the end of this week.

The whole radiation process is pretty simple and I don't feel a thing.  I'm driven to my appointment, I wait in the waiting room, I'm escorted to the radiation room, I take my shirt off, I lay on a table for 15-20 minutes, there's some buzzing, I get up, get dressed and drive home.

I am expecting some side effects to kick in soon, but so far it just makes me feel pretty tired.  I'll probably get some sunburn, which I find very ironic, and also a pretty sore throat due to the proximity of the tumor to my esophagus. So I suppose it could be a lot worse.

Dr. Zapper, aka the Tumor Assassin, has also informed me that 4 weeks of radiation is a compliment to me.  If I was older, was in worse shape, had other health issues or was in more dire straits, he would have recommended a much more aggressive and shorter approach which would not have been as effective.  With the 22 doses that he has prescribed, we are able to attack the tumor with a sniper rifle instead of a hand grenade.  This approach will allow us to minimize damage to other tissue innocently standing by.

Everything sounds great, but the reality is that the radiation treatment is kind of like taking cold medicine.  We are doing our best to treat the symptoms, but aren't doing anything to attack the cause.  That comes later with the immunotherapy.  In the meantime, I will be a good patient and keep very still on the table while Dr. Zapper, aka The Irradiator,  creates mayhem on a molecular level.  As he said, "I'm fighting evil, so you don't have to."

Beginning

"This is a devastating diagnosis."  That's what the oncologist said two weeks ago.  I was in his office for what I thought was a throw away appointment to get the results of a CT scan.  Instead, he sat me down and told me there are several spots on the scan that concerned him (brain, spine and lungs).  He continued to tell me that I was most likely looking at stage IV metastatic melanoma. 

After the follow up tests confirmed the diagnosis, everything has changed.  All of our energy is now focused on fighting and beating this "freaking disease" (that's what the oncologist called it).  The statistics are really crappy, but as my high school basketball coach always said, "Stats are for losers." and I am not a loser.

We have taken control of everything that we can take control of.  My wife, Jennifer, is spear-heading my new diet which is now all organic, non-dairy, non-sugar, mostly non-fat and without red meat.  (It's bacon I miss most).  We have also done tons of research on treatment options and, with lots of help, tons of research on doctors and treatment facilities.  Also my parents have rented a home nearby to be close so that they can help however we need them to.

Now what?  Additional testing did reveal some relatively good news.  An MRI showed that there was nothing in my brain (insert your own joke here).  However, the tumor on my spine is actually pressing against my spinal cord and that is the most immediate danger.  I've already started radiation treatments to halt its growth and relieve the pain that I'm having.  That will continue for the next four weeks.  After that, we will move into the immunotherapy portion of the fight.  More on this later.

In the meantime, I am so thankful for the amount of support and love that has been thrown my way since this has started.  I am so blessed to have so many wonderful people in so many places thinking of and praying for me.  If love could kill this cancer, I would already be cured.