The Radiation and Chemo Super friends.

I just got back from my mask fitting and it wasn't fun at all. As you can see, it goes part way down my chest. It went on wet and got firmer by the second as it dried and molded to my body. 

Even though, I tried to transport myself to a happy place, it was a little too much for me. 

I wasn't allowed to open my eyes, or mouth during the entire process, which with CT scan lasted 20 min.

It felt like an hour.

Im so thankful it's over..  

Below is a picture Sheila snapped before having to leave the room.  Beneath it are pictures of the radiation and chemo friends that are guiding me through the rest of my journey. I'll still see Shonka and crew at the clinic once I'm through with treatment, and every 3 months for follow up appointments.

Here is my Chemo MD, Dr. G, who I met 2 weeks ago.  She is amazing and was so warm and welcoming to Sheila and I.  She's the best! The camera picked up what I believe is her aura, its blue and beautiful, just like her. 

Finally, the members of my Radiation therapy team..From Left to Right, Dr. Wilson, me, and Dr. Read.

I am so thankful to be receiving treatment at UVA. I can't think of any other place I'd be. 

Back to UVA!

Heading down to UVA tomorrow for my follow up with Dr. Shonka, Nguyen and the team. 

Afterwards, we'll grab a bite at our favorite mexican restaurant Guadalajara.  Sheila's Paw-paw wants to hit one of the other locations. (they have 5 in the area)

 I have to admit, the last time we ate there, our server seemed like she was somewhere else, like in a galaxy far, far, away...

Then, we'll scoot over to see Dr. Read and I'll be fitted for my mask and will receive a CT scan before heading home.

Hoping to run into Dr. Levine so I can get a pic with him.  He's like a unicorn in a sense, magical and you never know where he'll be from one second to the next...

Thanks for keeping up with me!

:)

T

You know what, fuck that...

FUCK YOU CIGNA. FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU. FUCK YOU. 

I DIDNT HAVE A PRE EXISTING CONDITION FROM APR 2011-JUNE 2011. 

I DIDNT GET CANCER UNTIL 2012. WTF IS YOUR DEAL??!!  

YOU DON'T WANT TO PAY ME FOR A BENEFIT THAT I PAY INTO ALL YEAR LONG?  

WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT...

YOUR LACK OF COMPASSION REEKS LIKE THAT OF HUMAN DECOMPOSITION. 

AFTER I TELL YOU I HAVE TO REALLY WORK TO FILL OUT YOUR FORM, YOU'LL GET IT FAXED IN THE MORNING, YOU MEET THAT WITH A SHITTY "OK" AND HANG UP. 

FUCK YOU. YOU HEARTLESS FUCK.

WE'LL SEE ABOUT THAT....

(THIS ASSHOLE, DIDNT EVEN TELL ME WHEN HE FIRST TALKED TO ME, THAT I WAS GOING TO BE "INVESTIGATED" WHAT KIND OF CUSTOMER SERVICE IS THAT??)

First shave in a month!

Yesterday I felt safe enough to trim down the jungle of growth that took residence on my neck and face. Thankfully, the guards on my clippers glided the vibrating blades across the scar on my neck.

I still felt a little uneasy doing it, but took my time and went slowly over the area. 

It didn't turn out Picasso-like, but none the less, I got most of it down. 

Later this morning after my PT, I'll do another run and might try my razor and shaving cream. We'll see how confident I'm feeling at that point. 

I'd like to have a lot of it tamed before my follow up appointment on Thursday with Shonka and team, and then my mask fitting/CT sim. 

Yes, I deleted my last rant against Cigna...After talking to my wife last night, I came to a realization that this is the shit-storm process I have to submit to and have no real choice in the matter. 

It's just the redundancy of paperwork that is so aggravating. I've probably signed the SAME Hipaa form about 5-6 times now......(rolls eyes, sighs, and am moving on..) They want to talk to UVA after EVERY appointment...By all means, have fun calling them for the next 6 weeks, bastards! (LOL!!) 

I'll have my Social Sec disability interview next Tuesday and can't wait to be trapped on the phone for an hour. (insert sarcasm) 

The list of information I have to compile is quite outrageous...Especially considering I won't be out for a full year. As soon as I am ready to go back to work, I'll end up canceling this process for SS disability.

• Need all doctors treating since your date last worked-doctor’s name, addresses, phone number’s, and first, last, and next doctor’s visit.
• If you have been in the hospital since you stopped working, we will need the name, address and phone number of the hospital and the approximate dates you were there.
• A list of all your current prescription medications and the doctors’ name who prescribes each medication.
• Your Work History for the past 15 yrs – Job titles, job duties, approximate dates job titles were held, and current employer’s physical address.
• A copy of your W-2 from last year.
• A copy of a recent check stub from your employer or approximate gross earnings until date last worked.
• The approximate amount of Short Term Disability/Long Term Disability that you have received.

• If you received any sick pay, vacation pay, bonuses or commissions after the date you stopped working, we will need to know the approximate gross amount of money paid to you.
• If you are currently married we will need your spouse’s name, date of birth, social security number & date of marriage.  If a previous marriage ended in divorce and lasted less than 10 years, we will not need this information.   If you were married over 10 years and it ended in divorce, please provide your ex-spouse’s name and approximate dates of marriage & divorce and date of birth or approximate age.
• If your spouse is 62 years or older and receiving retirement benefits, we will need their monthly benefit amount. If your spouse is currently working, we will need their annual earnings.
• If you have any children under the age of 19 and still in high school, we will need the child’s complete name and date of birth.
• Do you have any dependents that were disabled before the age of 21? If so, you will need the dependent’s full name, DOB, and SSN.
• If you have ever received Worker’s Compensation benefits, we will need to know the approximate amount paid and approximate dates when benefits were paid.
• If you have received any other type of public benefit since you stopped working (state disability, public assistance, unemployment, etc.) we will need to know the approximate amount that you received and the approximate time frame you received that benefit.
• If you have ever served in the military we will need the start and ending dates.
• If you are receiving VA benefits, we will need the monthly amount.
• If you were not born in the U. S., please have your citizenship papers/naturalization papers in front of you for the interview.
• Have you filed for Medicare?
• Please have Checking/Routing number for Direct Deposit

I can't wait to get started with treatment, I am still in some nerve pain, but it's more manageable with the meds I'm on.  The PT is helping me too, I can tell. 

woo!!

Swinging at a curve ball..

Sometimes life throws us curve balls, and I just had one pitched to me.

I just received 3 appointment notices in the mail today for 8:15, 8:40, and 9:15 for September 11th, on different floors in the Cancer clinic where I'll be receiving Chemo and Radiation treatments.


I phoned the RN in the Rad dept who is assigned to me to find out what was going on. Her name is Mary and she is a real sweetheart who cares about her patients. 

Because of the labor day holiday falling on a weekend this year, I won't get to begin my radiation/chemo treatment until the 11th. 

Mary told me they want to make sure I am 100% healed, because if I am not, the chemo and rad will really slow that process down and it won't be good for me. 

Sheila tried to warn me this might happen, but I just figured with Tues-Fri still in that work week, we'd have time to get the show on the road, as the saying goes...

I have to honestly admit, it all caught me off guard and I did breakdown.  : ( 

Mary told me it would be ok, and soon it would be over and I would be able to forget all of them, forever.

I told her through tears that I never wanted to forget any of them, because they've taken such amazing care of me.  

(Especially not judging me for my appreciation and collection of tattoos. I can't harp on that enough. They really do love you unconditionally at UVA health, whereas others have taken one look and out come the gavels of judgement!!)   

I thanked Mary, got off the phone, grabbed my Yoga blocks, and did my breathing technique to calm myself. 

It really helped. Within 2-3 minutes, I felt a lot better about things.  : ) 

God bless!

An amazing family.

I received a wonderful gift yesterday, and these cards made with love came with it. I am so lucky to have such an awesome family.  :) 

I head back to UVA next week for my follow up appts, CT scan and mask fitting.  I'll have more to share then. 

God bless! 

 T

Dr. G and the Chemo team.

Had a nice meeting with Dr. G, the head of the Hematology/Oncology dept at UVA. She was a very nice Doctor and so welcoming to me and Sheila. I gained another fan of my tattoos and of the artist that donned my body with them, Mr. Kenny Brown Esq. aka Dreamboat aka Woodbooger. 

 She informed me that I'll be getting at least 2 doses of Cisplatin a chemo drug via IV. If I am up for it, I'll get one more at the very end.  We'll see about that last one..I might just soldier up and accept it to be rid of this monster. 

Dr. G went over the side effects with me and how the doses will work. I'll get a bag of regular fluids, then the Cisplatin, along with something for pain and nausea. She said they've come a long way with the Chemo drug and hopefully I won't get sick at all.

There is a chance though, I'll get a fever. If I do, I'll need antibiotics, which will mean, another case of the Thrush.

At least this time, we'll be ready for it and can keep it at bay while I finish the antibiotics. Im hoping I won't get the fever, but knowing me, I probably will.   We'll deal with that later. 

The first day of rad will be a long one, as I'll go for the rad, then have my first chemo session. I can imagine it will feel like I've been hit by a train, but we'll stay positive and will deal with it as it comes.

I am so anxious to get this over with, I hope the 6 weeks flys by.  I really do. 

It will be hard not having Sheila there with me. I know I can make it, but man, it's going to fucking suck not having her around..

At least, she'll be able to take a week off near the last part of it, to be with me and take care of me. She takes such awesome care of me too, I am so lucky to have her. 

I am still sore and relaxing from the neck surgery. At least I am sleeping a little better though. That helps. 

Going back to see Dr. Shonka on the 30th and have a CT scan with the rad group, in addition to being fitted for the mask I'll wear during radiation. Im not too afraid of it anymore either.

I have a lot of strength in me to continue and finish this fight. This Cancer has taken a lot of things away from me and Im real pissed about that.  Im using that energy to toughen up and FINISH THIS BITCH.

More soon, god bless and thanks for continuing to follow me.  

Im half way out of hell and can't wait to get to the other side.   Oh, I'll be posting pics soon of the amazing people at UVA that have been caring for me. I have a pic of Dr. G and will capture the others before posting...more on that soon! 

T