Dear Angels,
Thank you for being in my life and staying in touch. Thank you especially for the kind words, beautiful thoughts, prayers, and love and light that you send my way. I can often feel them and I'm genuinely grateful.
The chemo is postponed again for the better part of two weeks while the insurance company works its way through the last parts of the paperwork that my Oncologist needs so that treatment can begin. After a discussion with the billing/insurance department at the hospital, it appears that two-fifths of the process is complete. I know this upsets some of you, and I can only ask that you join me in inviting Patience into your life in times like these. I've thought about using the phrases "dragging their heels" and "taking their sweet time", but now I feel that won't serve me, anyone else, or anything. It's just taking as long as it takes. That's the extent of it.
On a very positive note, I go next Thursday (Feb 6) for my follow-up with the Neurology Department at St. Thomas. They will see whether the lesion was the last of the cancer to venture into my brain. They were sure they got it all, but this will be the definitive check-up. I spoke about all this before, repeating the fractions they used to tell me how positive they felt about the radiosurgery. One upside is that once I get to further treatment, it will be known whether or not the brain is one of the hiding places for any remaining cancer.
I'm personally focusing on getting the lung mass dealt with, even though the oncologist is not concerned about the delays. She's very serious-minded, honest, and more highly recommended by all the specialists I've seen than anyone else in this area. So, I trust her, her judgment, and her decisions. My concern is the discomfort the mass is causing. It's known as "referral pain" since lung tissue itself has no pain receptors. Unfortunately, nerve bundles in the chest get impinged upon. I'm actually repeating that information since some have started following these emails later than others. I add email addresses as folks tell me to add them.
Tylenol actually is the most effective pain-killer for my discomfort, even more than narcotics. The narcotics (that do work a little) can actually compress vessels that are impinged upon, according to my pulmonologist. I found this out first-hand with some strong oxycodone. With anything I take, it's still a six to eight-hour wait between doses. I have the 'okay' to use Tylenol (acetaminophen) every five. But, even though it's my best choice, it's not the best I could ask for. For example, I just took my every five-hour dose (1,000 mg) fifteen minutes ago and will see the pain-reducing for another forty-five minutes. Then I'll enjoy a reduction in pain for about three hours until the last hour of waiting, which will see an increase of the pain until I take my next dose. The pain at its worst is around a "seven" or more and dialed down I can sometimes see it get to less than "four". (using the scale that hospitals use when they ask your level of pain) I figured that since I've been honest so far, I might as well clarify my situation and why my sleep is always interrupted. Many people have been asking for details, so I'm going to start adding more as they come to mind.
I'll honestly share what I learn next Thursday with you, and continue to update as things happen. Again; thank you for being there. Do me a favor, if you will, and join me in making this world a slightly better place: Be kind to others...and yourself.
Love genuinely,
Grateful Ken
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