Tuesday Morning 3/29/11

Happy Tuesday morning!  I finished another Chemo session yesterday, still plagued by lower back spasms.  A little better today, yesterday I was barely able to walk and getting around required the assistance of pharmaceuticals and arm support from Theresa.

I had my 1^st guests at the hospital yesterday. My good friends Paula and Rosemary came by during my Chemo infusion! It was a great surprise and a pleasant break from the events of my typical Mondays. Seems funny to be in such a specific and isolated room for my infusion and yet to have close friends sitting a few feet away in the same waiting room for their follow up appointment!

Thanks Paula & Rosemary for cheering me up!

Weekend in Vermont...

After a long stressful week, Theresa and I traveled up to our condo in Vermont for a weekend wind down. Our guests this weekend were my son Sean, Theresa’s step daughter Loren, her husband Dave and their daughter Ruby. (not to leave our dogs out, they brought along “”Max” their dog!)

On Saturday we were joined for a full day of skiing with our friends from Connecticut, Debbie Weinstein (AKA-my daughter! story for another time) and her significant other Jack (AKA Captain Jack, also known in Connecticut as Doctor Yankem!!

After a full day of skiing on Saturday we were forced to recoup on Sunday morning over a large plate of Pancakes at “Johnny Boys” restaurant!

Leave no stone unturned!



Just to wrap up my week in the spirit of leaving no stone unturned, I had an office visit to my Urologist on Friday. So my week started at the top and ended UP…well…you know where!
(click on little red box above to see)



Purrrfect.... test results!

On Thursday 3/24 I underwent an MRI scan of my lower back and spine. I’ve been having a lot of pain in that area and my doctor wanted to rule out the potential of a spinal tumor, which can be a symptomatic occurrence for Myeloma patients.

I’m happy to say that the results came back negative, indicating that the pain turned out to be lower back spasms.

Chemo-1 to Chemo-2 …OVER…

I have to say that I was very apprehensive going into the 1^st Chemo Infusion not knowing what to expect, but now that I have 2-Chemo sessions under my belt,  it’s a familiar procedure and a lot easier going forward once you know what to expect.

I can’t say enough about the quality of care and professionalism at the Dana-Farber Center. Everyone has been more than helpful and very available for questions and or any issues that arise from treatments. Both of the Doctors that I met with during my initial diagnosis spent several hours explaining Multiple Myeloma in great detail until they were sure they covered all my questions and concerns.

So how did it go? (You ask? Or did you ask?)…The day of my Chemo I was surprised that the actual infusion only takes a minute or two most of the time is spent prepping the infusion and validating my blood work before the injection. I felt fine the day of the Chemo (I was surprised by this), the 2^nd day I had some discomfort but not severe. The 3^rd day was pretty bad, cold sweats and shivering on & off all afternoon with a tingly feeling in my hands and shoulders, followed by hours of fatigue and a long night’s sleep. Zzzzzzz........

Chemo Ken and the Black Dogs



Theresa & Itchy



Cancer hasn’t exactly been a stranger at my doorstep. Before Boston, Dana Farber and the Red dogs, there was NYC, Sloan Kettering and the “Black Dogs”. Before moving back to Massachusetts I lived in NYC/NJ area for over 30 years.  My ex wife Joyce, mother of my son Sean lost a long battle with Ovarian Cancer. Those were the days of the 2 “Black Dogs”. There was Sara a 140-lb Female Newfoundland and “Itchy” a 50 lb Border collie.  




Although that was almost 10 years ago, it was the only first hand exposure my Son and I had to Cancer and Chemotherapy.
Not a very pleasant memory to watch his Mom's struggle. After I was diagnosed with Cancer, Joyce’s experience is what led to my fear of Cancer. The thought of going through Chemotherapy terrified me, I assumed I would suffer the same unpleasant experience and meet with an equally untimely fate. At my diagnosis meeting with my doctor, the mere mention of the word “Cancer” caused my pulse to rise & my heartbeat to increase, my palms started to sweat, my eyes welled up with tears followed by the onset of fear and discomfort as my mind worked overtime dredging up the worse memories and nightmares of Joyce’s experience, I could hardly focus on what the Doctor was saying after the word “Cancer came out”.  My wife Theresa and I couldn’t even look at each other, we rode down in the elevator in silence, when we arrived at our car in the garage we both held each other and wept.

So...who are the "RED Dogs"?




The Red Dogs-Murphy & Quinby

 So you ask, who the heck are "The red dogs", well...they are my 2 Golden Retrievers, Murphy and Quinby. At 11yrs old, Murphy has been with me for a long time, once unable to travel in a vehicle, she now refuses to get out of my truck and is able to stand up for a 5 or 6 hour trip, just so she doesn't miss anything that goes by! Born in PA the day after St Patty's Day, (thus the name) moved to NJ where she was taught to by wolves to bark at anything or anyone who moves! Note: only dog to flunk obedience class 4-times!
Then there's Quinby, born in NH just 4 months ago, our new adorable puppy. So far he's been able to chew up about 45% of our household contents!

Both of my dogs are there to greet me whenever I return from my Chemo Infusion's. Always happy to see me and more than willing to cheer me up (especially when a treat is involved!).