To All,
I hope all is well with everyone.
It looks like good weather for our Canada Day long weekend. Everyone deserves a break and this is a good time for one.
Spending time with Family and Friends is always meaningful and can never be replaced.
Since I have been cleared to have surgery, on Wednesday I was in Montreal to do the necessary pre-operation tests. I did well on the stress test.
On July 15, I will revisit the surgeon in Montreal and then the surgery date will be set. The recovery period will be 7-8 weeks which will include 1-2 weeks in the hospital.
After the recovery period, I will undergo further Chemo treatments for maybe up to 4 months.
So the schedule has been set, with final dates to be established.
It is so great to be off Chemo. Now is the time to build up my strength for the surgery.
Tomorrow I am off for a 2 week family holiday.I am truly looking forward to having a wonderful and meaningful time with Liz, the kids and for one week with my Mother. Included in the vacation is one week in Israel to visit Family.
Wishing everyone a great Canada Day and an enjoyable month of July.
Will report back mid-July.
All the very best,
Arnie
Thursday, June 27, 2013
Monday, June 24, 2013
June 24
To all,
Much has transpired since May 31st, so I better get started.
On June 3rd I was in Montreal to do blood work and meet my oncologist.
I did a test for my tumor marker. The result was 59 and when I started on April 15th, it was 559. A person without cancer would have a result in the 30's. My oncologist was more excited than me as I did not understand the implications.
The conclusion would be that the tumor has shrunken but needed to be confirmed by a CT Scan. So I was able to book a CT Scan at TOH on June 14th with a review of the scan by my surgeon on June 17th.
My Chemo treatment in Montreal on June 4th went well but it was adjusted to last 3 weeks. Also my 46 hour pump was changed to taking Xeloda for 14 days starting on June 6th.
The Xeloda really knocked the crap out of me. No energy at all and by day 8, June 13th I had extreme diarrhea. Given the women in the house who use their fair share of toilet paper, I was up there now as the number 1 user. I stopped the Xeloda on June 13th.
I was so knocked out, I worried if I could get to the CT Scan on June 14th. I did though and the process went very well at TOH Riverside Campus.
The results confirmed what my oncologist thought, that the tumor had shrunken.
Now to hope to get enough strength to get to Montreal on June 17th.
My diarrhea continued badly. So bad that I spent Father's Day, June 16th getting hydrated at TOH Civic Campus.
Liz and I made it to Montreal on June 17th. The surgeon confirmed we are good to go to surgery, so Chemo has stopped, halleluya! Considering how I was feeling though, it was hard to celebrate.
Hopefully surgery will be by July end. I am going to do preopp in Montreal on June 26th.
On June 9th, I spent the morning outside on my hammock doing nothing, looking into the sky and reflecting on life, something I should do more often.
I then remembered how my Dad enjoyed so much lying by his pool or by the one in Florida or lying on the dock at the country house in the Laurentians and doing nothing. I realized that he was spending the time reflecting on what he had accomplished together with my Mother and what more he wanted to do. Here, 5 years after my Father passed away, I was learning a lesson from him.
Later that day, I went out to the cemetery to thank my Dad for what he had done, together with my Mother, for my wife, my kids and for me.
A truly great man and an unbelievable role model.
By the time Father's Day on June 16th came around, I was totally whipped. I was not able to participate in the Ultimate Run (2km walk) but I was well represented by Liz and the kids. It was a great day to support the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (ORCF) and being part of Team Geggybear. Once Liz got back, we went to TOH for me to get hydrated.
During the last few weeks, I have experienced such wonderful support by so many and in many different ways. It is such a great feeling and so helpful for me.
Though I know ORCF is glad I was able to raise $45,000, what was more meaningful to me was it was from close to 200 people. Thank you so much.
At our Arnon/Ron Engineering corporate golf tournament on June 19th, $36,000 was raised for Pancreatic Cancer Canada. This included a remarkable donation by Telus in the amount of $20,000.
What a wonderful feeling, so many people working together to help 2 great causes.
I have now finished 3 books and woking on my fourth. The problem is I have already received 4 new books, I almost 500 pages and another almost 600 pages. This is a lot of reading for a simple engineer to endure. I am sure I am good until the fall at least.
My wife Liz, my rock, and my kids have been great these past few weeks when I have on occasion not been the nicest of people. We will endure as a family and will be stronger for it.
We are going on our 2 week family trip on June 28th. I will try to use a wheelchair when ever I can to conserve energy. Being together as a Family will be a meaningful experience.
My life is moving forward. A plan will soon be in place.
With everyone's thoughts and prayers and support, I certainly have so much added strength mentally to do battle.
I will be a Champion of cancer, and you will all be on my Championship Team.
With much love and with much thanks,
Arnie.
Much has transpired since May 31st, so I better get started.
On June 3rd I was in Montreal to do blood work and meet my oncologist.
I did a test for my tumor marker. The result was 59 and when I started on April 15th, it was 559. A person without cancer would have a result in the 30's. My oncologist was more excited than me as I did not understand the implications.
The conclusion would be that the tumor has shrunken but needed to be confirmed by a CT Scan. So I was able to book a CT Scan at TOH on June 14th with a review of the scan by my surgeon on June 17th.
My Chemo treatment in Montreal on June 4th went well but it was adjusted to last 3 weeks. Also my 46 hour pump was changed to taking Xeloda for 14 days starting on June 6th.
The Xeloda really knocked the crap out of me. No energy at all and by day 8, June 13th I had extreme diarrhea. Given the women in the house who use their fair share of toilet paper, I was up there now as the number 1 user. I stopped the Xeloda on June 13th.
I was so knocked out, I worried if I could get to the CT Scan on June 14th. I did though and the process went very well at TOH Riverside Campus.
The results confirmed what my oncologist thought, that the tumor had shrunken.
Now to hope to get enough strength to get to Montreal on June 17th.
My diarrhea continued badly. So bad that I spent Father's Day, June 16th getting hydrated at TOH Civic Campus.
Liz and I made it to Montreal on June 17th. The surgeon confirmed we are good to go to surgery, so Chemo has stopped, halleluya! Considering how I was feeling though, it was hard to celebrate.
Hopefully surgery will be by July end. I am going to do preopp in Montreal on June 26th.
On June 9th, I spent the morning outside on my hammock doing nothing, looking into the sky and reflecting on life, something I should do more often.
I then remembered how my Dad enjoyed so much lying by his pool or by the one in Florida or lying on the dock at the country house in the Laurentians and doing nothing. I realized that he was spending the time reflecting on what he had accomplished together with my Mother and what more he wanted to do. Here, 5 years after my Father passed away, I was learning a lesson from him.
Later that day, I went out to the cemetery to thank my Dad for what he had done, together with my Mother, for my wife, my kids and for me.
A truly great man and an unbelievable role model.
By the time Father's Day on June 16th came around, I was totally whipped. I was not able to participate in the Ultimate Run (2km walk) but I was well represented by Liz and the kids. It was a great day to support the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (ORCF) and being part of Team Geggybear. Once Liz got back, we went to TOH for me to get hydrated.
During the last few weeks, I have experienced such wonderful support by so many and in many different ways. It is such a great feeling and so helpful for me.
Though I know ORCF is glad I was able to raise $45,000, what was more meaningful to me was it was from close to 200 people. Thank you so much.
At our Arnon/Ron Engineering corporate golf tournament on June 19th, $36,000 was raised for Pancreatic Cancer Canada. This included a remarkable donation by Telus in the amount of $20,000.
What a wonderful feeling, so many people working together to help 2 great causes.
I have now finished 3 books and woking on my fourth. The problem is I have already received 4 new books, I almost 500 pages and another almost 600 pages. This is a lot of reading for a simple engineer to endure. I am sure I am good until the fall at least.
My wife Liz, my rock, and my kids have been great these past few weeks when I have on occasion not been the nicest of people. We will endure as a family and will be stronger for it.
We are going on our 2 week family trip on June 28th. I will try to use a wheelchair when ever I can to conserve energy. Being together as a Family will be a meaningful experience.
My life is moving forward. A plan will soon be in place.
With everyone's thoughts and prayers and support, I certainly have so much added strength mentally to do battle.
I will be a Champion of cancer, and you will all be on my Championship Team.
With much love and with much thanks,
Arnie.
Thursday, June 13, 2013
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
June 4
To all,
Chemo was finished at 3:00pm today and we are on our way home.
I now have a slightly different Chemo. It includes 14 days of pills so the duration is 3 weeks.
My next Chemo is scheduled for June 25th.
I have a CT scan scheduled for June 14th. I will take it to Dr. Metrakos on June 17th.
He will then decide if it is time to schedule surgery or if more Chemo is required.
I might not have to do the Chemo on June 25th.
This is definitely more to think about.
But in the end, it will be whatever it will be.
We shall see how the next 2 weeks go.
Love you,
Arnie
Chemo was finished at 3:00pm today and we are on our way home.
I now have a slightly different Chemo. It includes 14 days of pills so the duration is 3 weeks.
My next Chemo is scheduled for June 25th.
I have a CT scan scheduled for June 14th. I will take it to Dr. Metrakos on June 17th.
He will then decide if it is time to schedule surgery or if more Chemo is required.
I might not have to do the Chemo on June 25th.
This is definitely more to think about.
But in the end, it will be whatever it will be.
We shall see how the next 2 weeks go.
Love you,
Arnie
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