[FROM PETER]
Susan and I haven't written here as frequently as we used to, as there haven't been many dramatic or new developments. Here's where things are 3 and 1/2 months post-surgery.
Susan and I haven't written here as frequently as we used to, as there haven't been many dramatic or new developments. Here's where things are 3 and 1/2 months post-surgery.
First off, my voice is back about 90%. That may be temporary, due to the injection of collagen into the paralyzed vocal cord about a month ago. But it could also be the healing of the damage to the nerve that was done during surgery. We're hoping for the latter, of course, but time will be the determining factor.
As you may know, the post-surgery pathology report was good - the cancer had not spread to the lymph nodes and the surgery excised the tumor (clean margins), but there were still cancer cells in the tumor - so not as promising as it would have been had the radiation/chemo of 5 weeks erased the cancer entirely.
In early May
my Duke oncologist recommended that I undergo 15 weeks of oral chemo
("Xeloda," an form of 5FU) to address possible remaining cancer cells. We, especially
Susan, had strong reservations about this. Susan objected to the fact
that the drug had no demonstrated efficacy for my kind of
cancer/treatment, and that the drug's side-effects, e.g., to the immune
system, could be significant. It has been used for other cancers-
breast, colon- that have metasticized. I worried that resumption of
chemo meant a return to the lethargy, poor appetite, low mood, et. al.
that came with the pre-surgery chemo. Thanks to daily exercise, I'd been
feeling better and stronger and was wary of sabotaging that progress.
After a lot of input from family and friends, some of whom are doctors, I decided to try out the Xeloda, knowing that I'd stop it if I lost too much weight or became too fatigued to exercise. The routine is seven pills a day, two weeks on and one week off, for 15 weeks. After the first three weeks, I felt only twinges of fatigue and low appetite, which passed during the week off the drug. I was okay enough to exercise without missing a day.
Susan and I give major credit and appreciation to Duke on several fronts. The Medical Center and Hospital have been outstanding in their timely and clear coordination and communication about appointments, test results, et. al. The various departments with which I'm involved- Radiation, Oncology, and Surgery- have been terrific regarding their joint work. Alongside my knowledgeable and caring medical personnel, kudos go to support and administrative personnel.
With initial instruction from friend Joe Coates, I began weightlifting two months ago at the Triangle Sportsplex. I'd been concerned about looking and feeling weak, especially in the upper body. Though my initial fitness evaluation was discouraging ("Mr. Kramer has the strength of a moderately strong 12 year old female"), the every-other-day routine of lifting (very) light weights has resulted in noticeable progress. In fact, I recently earned the following Certificates of Recognition for the second quarter of 2012 from the Sportsplex:
"Most Progress, Deltoid Muscles, Junior Division"- Tied for second place
"Most Progress, Pectorals, Boys Aged 13-16"-- Honorable mention (I was eligible for this age-division because of my illness)
"Best After-Use Clean-Up Of The Abdominal Machine"- Top ten
"Worst Complainer About The Music Played Over The PA System"- FIRST PRIZE
Speaking of music, I frequently recall and give thanks for the music that lifted me up while in the hospital, songs by the Doc Branch Band, Poco, James Brown, The Beatles, and others. I've heard a lot of excellent live music lately. Cool shows attended included The BilliTones at the Caldwell Farm Fest, the Cedric Watson creole/zydeco band at the ArtsCenter, Red Rover (Tim and Susan Wells) at the Schley Grange, Vince Gill and his bluegrass band at the beautiful Durham Performing Arts Center, Lise Uyanik and the Mobile City Band at the ArtsCenter, the Stinging Blades (with Dick McPhail and Bill McCarthy) at The Depot, and the Doc Branch Band at the Durham County Library. I give thanks for the exemplary life and music of Doc Watson.
After a lot of input from family and friends, some of whom are doctors, I decided to try out the Xeloda, knowing that I'd stop it if I lost too much weight or became too fatigued to exercise. The routine is seven pills a day, two weeks on and one week off, for 15 weeks. After the first three weeks, I felt only twinges of fatigue and low appetite, which passed during the week off the drug. I was okay enough to exercise without missing a day.
Susan and I give major credit and appreciation to Duke on several fronts. The Medical Center and Hospital have been outstanding in their timely and clear coordination and communication about appointments, test results, et. al. The various departments with which I'm involved- Radiation, Oncology, and Surgery- have been terrific regarding their joint work. Alongside my knowledgeable and caring medical personnel, kudos go to support and administrative personnel.
With initial instruction from friend Joe Coates, I began weightlifting two months ago at the Triangle Sportsplex. I'd been concerned about looking and feeling weak, especially in the upper body. Though my initial fitness evaluation was discouraging ("Mr. Kramer has the strength of a moderately strong 12 year old female"), the every-other-day routine of lifting (very) light weights has resulted in noticeable progress. In fact, I recently earned the following Certificates of Recognition for the second quarter of 2012 from the Sportsplex:
"Most Progress, Deltoid Muscles, Junior Division"- Tied for second place
"Most Progress, Pectorals, Boys Aged 13-16"-- Honorable mention (I was eligible for this age-division because of my illness)
"Best After-Use Clean-Up Of The Abdominal Machine"- Top ten
"Worst Complainer About The Music Played Over The PA System"- FIRST PRIZE
Speaking of music, I frequently recall and give thanks for the music that lifted me up while in the hospital, songs by the Doc Branch Band, Poco, James Brown, The Beatles, and others. I've heard a lot of excellent live music lately. Cool shows attended included The BilliTones at the Caldwell Farm Fest, the Cedric Watson creole/zydeco band at the ArtsCenter, Red Rover (Tim and Susan Wells) at the Schley Grange, Vince Gill and his bluegrass band at the beautiful Durham Performing Arts Center, Lise Uyanik and the Mobile City Band at the ArtsCenter, the Stinging Blades (with Dick McPhail and Bill McCarthy) at The Depot, and the Doc Branch Band at the Durham County Library. I give thanks for the exemplary life and music of Doc Watson.
In the near future, please consider attending on August 18 the second "Healing With A Feeling; A Night of Burning Love" show at Cat's Cradle. Featuring four wonderful groups of old friends and organized by Kim and Stephanie Anderson, it's a benefit for the NC Jaycee Burn Center at UNC Hospital. At the Hillsborough Depot, see Mary Rocap and her band this Thursday night 6/28 and my group Red's Rhythm this Saturday night 6/30. RR features the considerable talents of Stacey Curelop with backing by Frank Hunter, Roger Jones, and Wayne Watkins.
Love to all from Peter and Susan
Really nice update Peter. Thanks. I've changed my opinion of W. Dixon by the way. There's a Zen-like quality with where he finally perched -- kind of Salinger without the pretensions & hangups of Salinger. I wouldn't've gotten to this appreciation without his book, & I would not have read the book without your urging. On a related matter, I made the mistake of buying a DVD of the Cadillac Records movie. An awful movie about Chess & the Chess artists. I had high hopes . . . Speaking of regrets, we'll not be able to get to the upcoming live music above as we'll be up in the mtns, but it's certainly great that's it's all happening -- seems to be a flurry of activity lately.
ReplyDeleteRob G.
Thanks Peter! Just back from Django in June in Northampton, MA - a week filled with Gypsy Jazz, beautiful weather, and a sense of community with people who like music. Guitar, violin, accordion and bass workshops. It's fun going back to camp as an adult! I'd love to hear what you're voice sounds like - is it anything like Louis Armstrong? You could do something with that! - Jay
ReplyDeletePeter(& Susan)
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for this more definitive update, it's so great to understand where you are, sort of in the middle of a large, and hopefully fertile field. You deserve this progress so much, & I am happy that your new chemo regime seems to be less invasive and, we hope, more efficacious. Thanks also for your plug for our Aug. 18 event, especially since , as we have already discusssed, your Depot gig that night conflicts with our own in CH. I'd love to figure a way to co-promote dates/events to boost both our cause and as well your own profile & cause, or tale, as well. It's been a long time, baby, and we're still both here. Love and many thanks for how you stuck by me.