Surgery Postponed

The window for my surgery is apparently 4 to 8 weeks after chemotherapy and radiation. Initially it was scheduled 4 weeks into the window. There was a little concern expressed by my chemotherapy doctor about the “early” schedule because it would be better to wait longer for the radiation effects to heal. Six weeks would be optimal.

Today I received a call that moves the surgery 8 weeks into the window. Surgery date is now scheduled for March 20th. Now *my* concern is; will the extra wait for surgery result in my cancer worsening? I am assured it is okay. I trust my doctors are making the right decisions. So what? Me worry?

I am feeling *very* well, and I have no apparent ill side effects from the radiation and chemotherapy.

QuickTax and Vista

Yesterday I installed Intuit’s QuickTax Standard Edition software on my notebook computer using Vista Home Premium OS. I had started my tax form using “Quick Step” then saved it after only completing the first page of the tax form. Upon opening it later, I found that I could not return to the “Quick Step” method to continue with the entries. I called the Quick Tax help line, on *my* dime, and after about 20 minutes and two reinstallations I could again continue with the form using “Quick Step”. However, upon saving and *again* trying to continue later . . . it didn’t work. Another call to the Quick Tax help line, again on *my* dime and with another help line tech *we* determined that when QuickTax is installed using Vista it is necessary to firstly right-click on the Quick Tax icon, and secondly, select “run as administrator”, in order to properly access the program. It appears this is another all too common incompatibility between an application program and Vista.

No problem now, but I think the telephone calls cost me *more* than the software.

Poop Bags For Cisco

Today Cisco had only a few “poop bags” left. So I would not run out of bags and have to leave Cisco’s deposit in the way of unsuspecting pedestrians, or children, I purchased a small supply of 36 bags from a place that I will keep anonymous. I had the choice, of course, of choosing where to purchase more bags (I still had a few left) but I decided against that extra effort of walking to town again (which would make three trips today) and I bought 36 bags at a cost of 20 cents each. I did, however, complain about the price. The response was that they were only for sale as a convenience. Oh? I think not. If it was for the convenience of the customer then why not sell them at cost? If the bags were being sold as a convenience to the *seller*, then perhaps it *was* because the seller would not have to restock the bags very frequently. But an even *larger* convenience for the seller would be to not sell them at all.

Later today, I did walked to town *again* and found Poop Bags for sale at the Dollar Store for 2 cents each, for a package of 75 bags. Why was I not surprised?

Will I do this again? No. But it *was* an interesting exercise . . . wasn’t it?

Crab Grass Bluegrass

Yesterday evening a local bluegrass band, called “Crab Grass”, entertained at the Rotary Cancer Lodge in Kelowna. The band was well received and their music was appreciated by all. The residents of the lodge are frequently treated to various volunteer entertainers.

Surgery February 22nd

My surgery has been scheduled for February 22nd in Penticton BC. That moves up my completion of *all* currently planned treatments to the end of June instead of around the middle of July. Everything seems to be going well; my immune system is still good, I feel great and there are no noticeable negative side effects from my chemotherapy and radiation treatments other than diarrhea which is under control with the occasional Immodium medication.

Cisco was *very* happy to come home for the weekend and he is happy whenever I take him back to the boarding kennel. So I can assume he is being treated very well during my time in Kelowna at the Cancer Lodge.

I think that I am currently located at the best place possible for my cancer treament. *All* staff in *all* areas of the Kelowna Cancer Centre, the Kelowna Hospital, the Pentiction Hospital, the Oliver Hospital, the Freemason’s volunteer vehicle program, the Rotary Cancer Lodge, Yukon Health, and the *many* volunteers everywhere, are excellent in *all* areas of their work. May God bless them *all*. I know I am receiving the best treatment possible in an efficient, professional and pleasant manner. And the support of many friends is also *greatly* appreciated. The care that Cisco is receiving at “Hillside Grooming” in Oliver is also “greatly* appreciated. Cisco and I are *both* well looked after.

After 8 more radiation treatments and 10 more days of chemotherapy I will have 4 weeks of recovery time before surgery. I wish I knew *now* how the surgery will change my life.

Back To The Land Of The Living

Please accept my apology for neglecting my Blog. Since I have been diagnosed with Cancer, I have gone through the complete range of emotions from initial *shock* to current *acceptance*, and *every* emotion in between. I didn’t realize that my Blog had so many readers. Well, I am now back in the land of the living. And I feel *great*.

It’s Monday, and I am beginning another week in Kelowna, living at the Cancer Lodge and receiving daily radiation and chemo therapy next door (at the BC Cancer Agency). I have completed all of my appointments today and because it is the beginning of the week . . . I had to make my bed. Given a fitted bottom bed sheet that was close to the size required for a baby’s crib, I tugged, and I pulled, and I huffed and I puffed and *finally* made it fit; kind of.

So far my prognosis has been good and my current treatment plan is close to the following:
Dec 13/07 to Jan 24/08: chemo and radiation
Jan 24 to Mar 6: recovery
Mar 10: surgery
Mar 11 to Apr 21: recovery
Apr 21 to Apr 25: chemo
Apr 25 to May 19: recovery
May 19 to May 23 chemo
May 23 to Jun 16 recovery
Jun 16 to Jun 20 chemo
Jun 20 to Jul 14 recovery
Jul 14 to Jul 18 chemo
Jul 18: Cured? Of course!

Yesterday, in Oliver BC, I started another website, for “RV Creations”; a full time RV couple (semi retired) who make Sun Rooms and Skirting for trailers and motorhomes. The site should be advanced enough to be available online in the near future. The URL is http://rvcreations.net.