-
Cycle 2 postponed
Counts were low. Especially neutrophils. Mine are down to 391 and too low is considered 500-1000.
The neutrophils are key to fighting infection and at my level I could get an infection from the normal mouth and intestinal bacteria, I had a fever the day before yesterday as well which was another factor in combination with low neutrophils. Being below 500, I am in the severely low.Came home yesterday and hit the couch (figuratively) for most of the day. Unfortunately, our granddaughter had to go home because Liz is worried about me and I wasn’t even up to staying on the couch when our daughter and another granddaughter came for dinner and to pick up the first one. I say figuratively because if I were to literally hit the couch I would now have terrible bruises from it. When they say bruise easily they really mean it! I have bruises from who knows what. Seems like there ought to be rule that you can’t get a bruise unless you at least feel the bump or what have you that caused the bruise.
Not sure if we can trust the in the ear thermometer I have been using. Our daughter picked up a couple others (old fashioned under the tongue and an electronic under the tongue) at the store and they all have different answers. I am supposed to go to ER now even if only 100.4.
I think I may be clenching my teeth when I am sleeping because it really hurts to bite down at all. Chewing a triscuit hurts my molars.
I can’t have raw fruits and vegetables unless they have thick skins like orange or banana. No salads or eating at buffets. No crowds or places where people may be sick.
More rest and recovery and hopefully the counts will come up so I don’t feel so crappy and I get the next round next week.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.33 Replies-
It was from seeing some goofy looking guys with perms and shirts unbuttoned half way down.
We traveled on business so it was the Marriott discos.That’s funny George!
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I can’t believe I am going to use this text shorthand!
OMG!!!!
Mike! Did you guys make this pact because the BRADY Bunch Boys all had perms?
I think I made that same pact with my college friends in 1973
George
Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.08/08/08…RC neo bladder
09/09/09…New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]
It surely is getting more grey. I did not need to shave it. Just got my haircut and it looks ok. I had Liz come with me to help decide if it looked ok. Can see my head a lot more through my hair but now that it is trimmed it looks a lot better.
I have to email a friend I haven’t seen in years to tell him that I may naturally (thru chemo) wind up with curly hair. The reason for this is that he and I made a pact back in early 80’s that if other one ever got one of perms that guys were getting in the disco days that the other of us is required to put them out of their misery with no warning.
:). :woohoo:
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
Mike, I had friend who went through chemo….came out with very gray hair, very
thick and VERY CURLY!! Can’t wait to see your new avatar!!Sara Anne
Diagnosis 2-08 Small papillary TCC; CIS
BCG; BCG maintenance
Vice-President, American Bladder Cancer Society
Forum Moderator
Thanks everybody! Yesterday was my couch day.
Today is my next haircut. Growing slow, thinning a lot, and growing at different rates of speed. Used to need a haircut every two to three weeks. Not sure if we’re going to wind up shaving it off but today is going to be a shorten it some more day at least. For some reason, the grey hair seems to hold fast while the brown hair keeps disappearing. I know it comes back but it still is a bother because then I look like a chemo patient. However, I also don’t want to be one of those guys who is a chemo patient trying to hang on to the last strands and looking even more pathetic ( like that guy with three strands of hair trying to do a comb over).
Not a big deal in the long term but it feels like it now because it is the only outward sign.
We shall see….
Best to all!
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
Thanks for this update, George. And, Mike, it is no surprise that you are staying strong and hitting this thing head on. I was happy to read that your kidney pain is gone.
As we have always heard… “You can’t keep a good man (or woman) down!”
Best wishes… CatherineTURBT 1/21/10 at age 55
Dx: T2aN0M0 Primary Bladder Adenocarcinoma
Partial Cystectomy 2/25/10
Vanderbilt Medical Center
Nashville, TN
After years of having cyber friendships on this site, I needed to hear Mike’s voice on the phone. Thought he needed some cheering up.
Boy was I wrong!
We had a Great Chat. It could have gone on for a long time, but someone was in my office door with that “I need You NOW!” look.
I will let you know this. Mike is going to defeat this! I am absolutely sure. Instead of me, cheering him up…….. He ended up making me forget all my work issues and cheering me up!
Thanks Mike!
Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.08/08/08…RC neo bladder
09/09/09…New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]
So glad you are handling this so well Mike and it sounds like it’s working. I went in for my checkup today and I got 2 weeks off so I am a happy camper. Good for you Mike.
Counts were good and was feeling great so I got my day 1 of cycle 3 today. CT scan scheduled for the 21st. Since my kidney pain has been gone for a month, I am taking that to mean it is working.
Had a great chat George while I was on the way home!
Thanks to all for the support and prayers!
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
Dear Mike,
Damn. Sorry for what you are going through. I stalked and read many of your posts, including the most recent posts, since I returned to the forum after finding out my husband was back into the “cancer club”. You have both been dealing with this for the same amount of time.
You are such a great support for so many and have always had the greatest attitude. I wish the best for you and keep that funny and upbeat personality and it will help you get through this.
You are someone to look up to. Many positive thoughts and vibes heading your way.
Age 53 Currently
Bladder Cancer Diagnosis October 2006 T1G3
2011 Finally made it 6 month between Cystos
8/22/2011 Cysto in the OR
(BCG and BCG Maintenance over the years)
Graduated to yearly Cystos
Tumor found at first one year Cysto – TURBT 4/26/2013
Kidney pain – CT scan 5/1/2013
Mike I find that eating little meals during the day is much easier on your stomach. Don’t let your stomach get empty. The nausea will be worse for some crazy reason.
You know we all blame ourselves for smoking and that is one of the reasons we got this cancer but over the years I have found another common denominator for those people who never smoked was diet soda. I was a big, big diet pepsi drinker. Sometimes 5 or 6 a day. I do not let anyting with aspertame in this house anymore. Once in a blue moon I have a diet pepsi because I just love it so much but it’s a pretty rare occasion. Smoking was June 22, 2006 for me. There are times I still miss it but I will never go back.
Thanks George! Best of luck on your 5 year!!!
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
So good to hear from you Mike.
Thanks for the update and diet information. Your stomach is probably the size of a pea by now and you can’t fit anything in there.Each day I check on you and you never seem to change your inflection. You matter of factly go through the process and always keep your eye on the prize of being “c” free.
For all of the victims of this thing…….. Thanks for posting.I am about to go for the 5 year check. But my Dr. has changed the appointment twice now. So I won’t have any news until after July starts. Just getting a little edgy as anything can happen….. and does!
Thinking of all of you out there.
George
Light a man a fire and he is warm for an evening.
Light a man ON fire and he’s warm forever.08/08/08…RC neo bladder
09/09/09…New Hip
=
New Man! [/size]
Thanks Duke,
Some days it is a 1 hour nap a some have been 3 hour naps. Catching up for all the long nights of work over the umpteen years! I’m not worried about the weight loss. As long as it isn’t too fast it is ok. My many attempts over the years to quit smoking added about 60 lbs. I finally became a nonsmoker August 26, 2011. No way I’d go back even if I knew I only had five minutes left to live.
Still, if I can drop weight during chemo I am happy. It has mostly been because I’m not that hungry and when I am I eat better and better portion sizes.
Mike
Age 54
10/31/06 dx CIS (TisG3) non-invasive (at 47)
9/19/08 TURB/TUIP dx Invasive T2G3
10/8/08 RC neobladder(at 49)
2/15/13 T4G3N3M1 distant metastases(at 53)
9/2013 finished chemo -cancer free again
1/2014 ct scan results….distant mets
2/2014 ct result…spread to liver, kidneys, and lymph system
My opinions are my own and do not reflect the opinion of ABLCS or anyone else. I am not a doctor nor do I play one on TV.
Mike, Naps are a good thing. I think we are so use to always pushing ourselves sometime we don’t know how to slow down. It takes time to get the idea it’s OK to rest. I know the weight loss can be worrying but I can tell you from experience the old human body is pretty darn tough. Just keep fighting this thing and that weight will come back faster then you want. Hang in there Mike. You can do this!
Wishing you the best.
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