Let the sun shine in...or..maybe not!

We are having very nice warm weather here in Florida. After 4 days now, I’m still struggling with the effects of the chemotherapy. I recovered quickly after my 1^st cycle but this time it’s taking longer and the side effects are limiting my activity and my ability to easily get around outside in the sun.

I’m having a bad reaction to the brightness of the sun, it’s impossible for me to go outside without a good pair of sunglasses at all times. Without them I’m close to being immediately blinded as I walk out the door; it’s as if I'm stairing directly into the sun, I get dizzy and my vision darkens and everything turns gray, I feel a vertigo type of dizziness.  Not to worry, I purchased a pair of “Moby the sunglasses” you know the ones that go over your eye glasses covering the side of your head, half of your ears and masking your eyebrows! They could double as a tinted windshield on a Volkswagen!  Since everyone here is over 75 and has their pair of “Moby’s”, I’m fitting in fine with all the locals!

Inside (out of the blinding sun) I’m still struggling with lower GI issues. Can’t seem to get the right combination of med’s to keep the log jam moving when it should and jamming when it shouldn’t!  NOTE: I’m speaking metaphorically here as my knowledge of the correct medical terms is limited, perhaps I can get some help from my friends at the PACU or the PATC !!!

Cheers….Chemo Ken

Happy Easter!

Best wishes to all on this Easter Sunday. Theresa and I are enjoying my week off from Chemotherapy down in sunny Florida. It’s been pretty quiet and relaxing here, and the weather looks much better than what the news is telling us about Boston’s weather!

My test results came back from my Chemo and the numbers look very good; my Oncologist has said I’m responding very well to the chemo treatments and many of my numbers have moved into a much more positive range. This is great news and leaves me feeling very optimistic for the future and end results of these treatments.

That’s all for now…..Chemo Ken

Headed in the right direction or stay to the right!

Good afternoon to all. Today is Wednesday the 20^th; I’m feeling much better after a rough start to this week.  All signs say that I’m headed in the right direction!  I’m going for my Chemotherapy tomorrow, this will complete my 2^nd Cycle of Chemo and I’ll be off next week to get a week of rest and recover from the treatments.

 Thank you to everyone for the calls and offers to help, they are much appreciated and came in handy on Sunday when I needed assistance.

That’s all for now… Chemo Ken…and the Red Dogs…

It all comes out in the "END"

Hello to another Monday!  I’m back at Dana-Farber for more chemotherapy today, now in my 2^nd cycle.  Not the best weekend, but at least I was able to get ½ a nice weekend in.  Saturday I was feeling fine, out watching a soccer game in the morning, great day…but then Sunday …. That’s another story.  I woke up early Sunday morning around 4:30am feeling pretty poorly; Upset stomach, indigestion, and severe constipation. Within a few hours I continued to decline until I was flat out on my back, or rather….firmly planted on the toilet seat for the better part of the day.

After a good night’s sleep I’m back on my feet today, my Chemo’s done for today and we just returned home, faster than the Boston Marathon!

Cheers…Chemo Ken

Donuts not Go nuts!

It’s good to have this week behind me, literally that is! This week hasn’t been as smooth as it was during my 1^st cycle of chemotherapy. Having a week off to let my body rest up was a nice break. Now that my second chemo cycle has started this week, all the medications are starting to catch up with me a bit.  My anemia has gotten a little worse, now I find myself short winded when walking up a long flight of stairs, followed by a dizzy light headed feeling; I’ve come close to fainting at times.  I’m also starting to have some tough nights due to an upset stomach followed by a round robin between diarrhea and constipation.

I think it’s important to maintain a solid positive attitude throughout this entire procedure. I’ve chosen to focus on the good that the medicines are doing and look forward to the end results of the treatments. I’m very optimistic about my outcome at the end of all of this, someone once said, “It’s better to focus on the donut rather than the hole”.

Cheers...Chemo Ken

Bye…bye….to Caffeine!

Well the time has come, after 30+ years of the caffeine rush it's over. Seems that 20mg of Dexamethasone and 4 cups of Caffeine = Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde Syndrome!

The day starts with kissing puppies & baby’s, then ends with choking the slow person in line in front of you at the grocery store!

My Doctor gave me a list of symptoms that indicates when you’re drinking too much caffeine. Thought I’d share them with you just in case you notice your experiencing any of them?

You know you're drinking too much coffee when...
...Juan Valdez has named his donkey after you.
...you can ski uphill.
...you get a speeding ticket even when you're parked.
...you answer the door before people knock.
...you just completed another sweater, and you don't know how to knit.
...you have to watch videos in fast-forward.
...the only time you're standing still is during an earthquake.
...you can take a picture of yourself from ten feet away without using the timer.
...you lick your coffee pot clean.
...you're the employee of the month at the local coffee-house, and you don't even work there.
...you've worn out your third pair of tennis shoes this week.
...your eyes stay open when you sneeze.
...you chew on other people's fingernails.
...the nurse needs a scientific calculator to take your pulse.
...you can jump-start your car without cables.
...you have Styrofoam sofa covers.
...you don't need a hammer to pound in nails.
...you've worn out the handle on your favorite mug.
...you go to any kind of meeting, just for the free coffee.
...you walk twenty miles on your treadmill before you realize it's not plugged in.
...Starbucks owns the mortgage on your house.
...you've melted away your fillings.
...your face is on a Colombian postage stamp.
...instant coffee takes too long.
...you'd be willing to spend time in a Turkish prison.
...you go to sleep just so you can wake up and smell the coffee.
...you speak perfect Arabic without ever taking a lesson.
...your thermos is on wheels.
...your lips are permanently stuck in the sipping position.
...you short out motion detectors.
...you don't even wait for the water to boil anymore.
...you can play ping-pong without a partner.
...your nervous twitch registers on the Richter scale.
...your blood type is C₈H₁₀N₄O₂.
...you have monogrammed coffee filters.
...you drive around with a sign in your car that reads, "Coffee drinker on board."
...you made provisions in your will for your coffee supply.
...you took a second full time job just for the coffee breaks.
...your coffee mug has lip indentations on it.
...you've gotten this far in the list after just 30 seconds.
...you use coffee flavored mouthwash.
...your deep blue eyes are now shallow brown.
...you have your mail forwarded to a donut shop.
...you don't tan, you roast.
...you constantly speak like an auctioneer.
...your baby takes her milk steamed.
...your motto is "a cup a day keeps the doctor away."
...you don't get mad, you get steamed.
...you have "His" and "Hers" coffee makers.
...the Betty Ford Clinic opened a coffee ward just for you.
...you had to remove your car stereo to make room for your cup holder.
...if you had a nickel for every cup of coffee you drank, you'd buy more coffee.
...you carry a spare mug in your briefcase and trunk.
...when you hear there is trouble brewing, you say, "I'll have a cup
...your personal ad reads, "Coffee Lover. Must have own mug. Send photo of mug."
...you help your dog chase its tail.
...you registered for your wedding at the Starbucks.
...you carry a portable, battery-operated, coffee maker in your fanny pack.
...you soak your dentures in coffee overnight.
...you think the "free refill" is the greatest thing since sliced bread.
...your kids sing, "I'm a little coffee-pot, short and stout."
...your coffee mug is insured by Lloyds of London.
...you introduce your spouse as your "Coffeemate."
...you converted your car's radiator so you can brew up a pot while you drive.
...you think CPR stands for "Coffee Provides Resuscitation."
...you have a bumper sticker that says, "I break for coffee."
...at get-togethers you don't mingle — you blend.

...your first-aid kit contains two pints of coffee with an I.V. hookup.

“Ding” Time for Round 2

It’s Monday morning and I’m ready to “Jump” in for round two.  I’m here at the Dana-Farber cancer center for my second cycle of Chemotherapy. Hey, what could go wrong…. Just a few snafus in my scheduling so far!  My Chemo infusions have to be 72-hours apart so any schedule changes today will throw off all the appointment times for my next session on Thursday.

 I’m done with my early morning blood draw which kicks off the rest of my daily appointments here. After a week of rest from treatments, I’ve returned to feeling normal again. It’s with a little reluctance I move ahead here today. I’m working hard to maintain a positive attitude; after all, at the end of the day the chemo is curing my disease and will only make me feel better in the long run once all my cycles of chemo have been completed.

Multiple Myeloma Treatment Center - Patient Care - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Multiple Myeloma Treatment Center - Patient Care - Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

Thumbs up to a great week!

Having this week off from my treatment was a great break. Today is Thursday and each day I feel like I’m returning back to my old self. I can feel the effects of the chemotherapy wearing off a little bit more each day, it’s a nice feeling. Still struggling with the anemia but it’s a small price to pay to get to the end results.

Looking back it’s been a great winter. Tons of snow, great times with all my friends and let’s not forget… I got married this winter!  Icing on the cake! Now as the cold winter draws to a close I’m looking forward to the warmer weather and those days at the beach!



Counting Sheep

It’s Tuesday night and close to counting sheep time! In addition to Anemia, I’m now experiencing Insomnia. While it gives me more time to get things done, it usually triggers the need for an afternoon nap. My back pain has subsided today; it’s a lot easier to get around now.

................ Good Night all .............



Good Morning Monday!

Good Monday morning to all my friends.  I have this week off from treatments, now that my 1^st cycle of Chemo is completed.  Nice to have one cycle behind me, my hospital infusions are now settling into a weekly routine.  Also nice to sit around a little later on a Monday morning in my jammies with a hot cup of JO!

Theresa and I are heading home today after we close up the condo in Vermont.  It’s probably hard for everyone to imagine, but we’re in the middle of a blizzard right now. It’s snowing pretty hard here in Vermont, seems old man winter is still holding on here with his cold winter grip!

We had a wonderful relaxing weekend and a full house of friends.  Everyone was able to get out and Ski, hike and snowshoe.

Our friends Jim and Maura stayed with us all weekend; then on Saturday afternoon, Barbara and Curt came for the night and Ron & Christine joined us all for a nice fireside dinner on Saturday evening.  And….as…always…Murphy and Quinby sat vigilantly by under the dining room table patrolling for dropped crumbs and stray napkins!

I’ve had a great winter of skiing this year but I had to stop early on Saturday as I’m finding my body is revolting against my minds vision of my capabilities vs. the reality of chemotherapy, in other words…my mind is ready to ski…ski…ski but my body is saying no…no…no!  I’m finding myself more fatigued as my muscles tire much quicker now. As my NP at the Dana says “Hey let’s face were not as young as we used to be”! But that’s this season; I’m looking forward to next season now. This weekend I bought new skis, they’re Salomon skis called the “LORD”. So from now on I’ll be skiing with the “LORD”!  What could there be to worry about!

Hey…Dad my toys all taste funny?

Well today I lost my sense of taste…funny thing, I think we all take certain things for granted. It isn’t until something gets taken away that you realize just how much you depend on something like taste.

Everything tastes like cardboard now, yup that would be many of my favorites…pizza, steak, pancakes…etc, all cardboard…yuck….