May first

Many of you are probably wondering if I'm still here among the living!  Yes I am.

Right now I'm sitting here at the chemo center in a lazy boy getting my last batch of chemo for the

Week.  I feel pretty good right now.  

Monday I got an updated CT Scan.  The results were pretty positive.  The growth of the cancer tumors in the liver has stopped and the tumor in the pancreas is 2 centimeters smaller.  So it seems that the cancer is under control with the treatments.  The plan for the future is I will have 1 more chemo treatment in 3 weeks, and that will probably be the last one.  The sandistatin shots for the endocrine cancer I will continue to get every 3 weeks for some time in the future.  The scan did not show much deterioration of cancer cells in the tumors like the one before did.  That's unfortunate but overall I feel  good that the proliferation o fast growth of the cancer has stopped and is under control.

Everything else in life has been uneventful. Work, some play, and lots of time with family.

This past Sunday Thomas and Whitney had their first baby, baby boy, Cash is his name.   That makes 10 grand kids for Susan and I.  He and mom are healthy and doing good at home.

Sorry for such a long time since the last post.  When there isn't anything of real importance or significance to share with everybody I don't feel like sharing everyday normal stuff.  Just know that I am doing well and living life like everybody else, if I don't post anything for awhile.  I appreciate everyone's concern and support, it really makes me feel good that so many people care.

After chemo treatment today I am going to watch my daughter Heidi in her golf tournament at the white barn golf course.  She is on Northridges high school team and it's a riot to go and watch her play.  She is getting pretty darn good!

Friday, March 14th Update

I completed the third round of Chemo yesterday.  It went well, but today I am feeling a little under the weather, very tired and a sore stomach.  I think maybe the shot I got yesterday to boost my white blood cell counts up is getting to me a little.  Anyway, the Chemotherapy doesn't seem to affect me to bad. 

 It's kind of fun to visit and build relationships with other patients athe Chemo center.  Tuesday I met John.  He is about 65 years old, has Lymphoma,and is just about done with his treatments. He is close to being cancer free.  He told me last week he took his grand kids ice fishing at Causey reservoir.  Come to find out he loves to fish!, so we had lots to talk about and plenty of pictures to show each other for a couple hours.  He lives in Ogden but grew up on the Oregon coast near the Mckenzie river. He still has family up in Oregon and spends 2-3 months a year up there fishing the rivers for steelhead and salmon.  He has 2 boats he keeps up there, and a boat he keeps here in Ogden. He wants to figure out how to fish Flaming gorge, and has been frustrated with the times he has gone there and not been able to catch fish.  So we made a deal to help each other.  We exchanged information and hopefully can hook up with each other this year.

It's now Friday morning.  Yesterday I visited a nutritionist/herbalogist with a friend of mine.  For many weeks now I have thought that there is a lot I can do to improve my diet and eat better, to increase the potential of the results to beat this cancer.  We worked up a program and am committed to change many of my eating habits. Sorry Jeff, no more Golden Arches.  (My son Jeff manages a Mcdonalds)

Today has been pretty rough so far.  I didn't sleep good last night, and am very tired today.  So I decided not to go to work and stay home and take it easy.  I need to go to the clinic and get another shot to boost my white blood cell production, and will do that soon.

Again, thanks for all your thoughts, prayers, and concerns for me.  I feel strength from all of you. Later

C-T Scan

It's afternoon Monday, about half-way through today's Chemo session.  This morning Dr. Johnson

(Oncologist) reviewed the CT scan with Susan and I. The results are somewhat encouraging.  The growth of the tumors have slowed down, and there is dead cancerous tissue in the tumors. So the Chemo-therapy is working on attacking the cancer tumors.  The Chemo-therapy treatments will continue for About 4-6 months more.  

A major concern is the blood lab results showed a very low level of white blood cell counts, so Dr. Johnson advised me to be careful not to be around sick people, especially little children and large groups of people.  He suggested I do whatever I can do to keep my energy level up, and to get more rest.  After this round of chemo, I am scheduled to get 5 shots, ( 1 each day for 5 days) to stimulate my bone marrow to produce more white blood cells.

Overall, Dr. Johnson is positive about things.  He says it's unusual that I don't show more signs of side effects. He usually schedules the follow-up CT scan after the 3rd or 4th cycles of chemo, not the 2nd.

I guess I pressured him to do it sooner then normal.  He feels the next couple rounds of chemo will show a more progressive change on he tumors than the first 2 rounds showed on the scan.

I will follow-up with another entry after this chemo session on Thursday to let you know how things are going. I appreciate everyone's concern and support through this ordeal. 

Happy B-Day Dad

Happy Birthday Dad! 83 today.

Nothing new or extra ordinary to report from last entry last week.  Had a great lunch Thursday with

Good friends, Mike, Bob, Sherm, and Brent.  It's amazing how our personal characteristicts stay the same throughout our lives!

I actually went and played nine holes of golf with Dallas, #4 son yesterday.  Had a good time, didn't

Get very tired, (we rode a cart) and played pretty well, once I figured out 15 yards more club is needed on every shot.

It is now Monday morning.

Today is a big day.  Friday was C-T scan day. This morning at 8:30 I have a consultation with the Oncologist to determine how well the treatments are working so far. Plus I start the next round of

chemo today.  My plan is to update you all during chemo today.  So I will post another entry in about 5 hours. 

The New 'do...

For many people loosing their hair while undergoing cancer treatment is a major deal. 

 For others it was always in the cards and the treatment just sped it along.

He does look like Dave kind of...

Feb. 26 Update from Jose

It's been several weeks since posting anything here. I feel bad cause there are so many that want to know the status of what is happening with me.  I can't think of a good reason but some bad ones are I'm technologically challenged, I a spent way to much time watching the Olymipics the last couple weeks, I. Hate writing stuff about myself, etc.  Through this cancer experience, giving timely updates is just one more thing to add to the list of things I need to repent of. Sorry everyone, I promise to do better

The second round of Chemo was last week, ending on Thursday. It has been a little rougher on me.

I get way tired easily and if I don't get rest I get sick by early evening.  My daily routine has been up by 6 am , feel really good till noon, start to fizzle out by 3 to 4, feel crapy by 6 pm, unless I get about a 2 hour nap in the afternoon, then I feel pretty good till 9 or so.

Susan, Heidi, and I spent the week of Feb. 8-15 in Indian Wells, Cal. My parents, Joe & Carol also went at the same time.  We had great weather and a great time of doing just about absolutely nothing but sitting by the pool for the week. Perfect.

My hair has fallen out: so 10 days ago I got the buzz cut. Susan was scared to death when soon after the no hair dew, she woke up at night and wondered how in the heck she ended up in bed with my brother Dave! She really did.

Next week I will go in for a follow-up Ct Scan to determine how well the treatments have been in reducing the Carcnogins in my body.  Hopefully the results will be positive.  Included in the second round of Chemo I did get an injection of Systantin? To reduce the Neuro-Endocrine cancer cells.

This is a monthly injection and was the primary treatment for my cancer until it was diagnosed how fast the cancer was growing.

I have continued to work for 3-5 hours a day, but don't know how much longer I will be able to do it.

The next round of Chemo will start March 10th, and much will be determined on how well I feel after that.

It's very gratifying to feel the support, concern, and love from so many good folks.

I promise to give more regular updates.

Jose

Many days later

It's now Wednesday afternoon, February. 5.  Sorry I haven't posted anything for awhile.

Last Thursday I went to work. It was good to feel useful. Friday I worked for a couple hours,

Then went to a movie.  Saturday, Jacob twisted my arm to go fishing with him, Todd Racker,

A fishing buddy of ours, and Holden, my grandson.  It was a blast but very tiring.  We caught

31 lake trout, I'm not bragging cause I only caught 2.

Monday, Tuesday, and today I worked for about 4 hours each day before fading fast.

I have really had no side affects or I'll feeling from the first round of Chemo treatment.

The only problem is running out of steam after 3-4 hours without a nap.

Monday I had my blood checked and all is good. My white blood cell count and platelets 

Are within tolerance levels.

I appreciate all the love and support I feel from so many of you out there.  It definitely

helps in fighting this. Thanks.