Done With Treatment

Well, this Wednesday was it…my last radiation treatment. First off all, thanks to my radiation oncologist Dr. T and this team at Vanderbilt. They were very positive and great! I have a little bit of fatigue and a sunburn and itching on my chest and back, but with a little aloe along with encouragement from my SPF-protected friends, I should recover fine.

Now it is time to move on with living life and enjoying each day. I see the doctor a month from now and get my next PET scan around the same time. After that, it is PET/CTs every 3 months for the first year. It is better than going to the hospital every day. It is time to breathe now.

Will life ever be the same? No. I keep thinking of a quote by Albert Camus I saw online, “in the depth of winter I found within me and invincible summer.” God doesn’t give us anything we cannot handle.

Romans 8:28 (Ph)
“Moreover we know that to those who love God, who are called according to his plan, everything that happens fits into a pattern for good.”

Thanks everyone for your prayers, hugs, and general kindness. I will continue to update this blog (less frequently) as things progress.

Cancer Ain't Cheap

Cancer is not cheap. I just looked on the UHC (United Healthcare)website and my total medical costs to-date (without radiation costs) are $250,373.64. I only paid $2500 plus some minimal prescription costs. Thankfully, when I was real sick, I was off for the summer so I didn't lose work income either. God has blessed me with insurance through my job and obviously I needed it. No one is invincible. For my friends, fellow musicians or students who don’t have insurance, I urge you to get it. Even a major medical policy with a high deductible through a company like the Farm Bureau isn’t that expensive, something around $300 per year – it is cheaper than writing a $300,000 check. Please pray for the millions of Americans who can't afford insurance and find themselves in this situation.

Radiation Part 1

Just a quick update. I have been going through radiation treatments every weekday since the last week of Sept. I have 25 in total and I have completed 9 of them as of today.

At the beginning of treatment, my Radiation Oncologist explained the possible adverse effects of treatment to me with the targeted area being my upper chest…possibly coronary issues, increased chance of lung cancer, etc. It is all scary-but what hasn’t been in the last 6 months? Right now the most important thing is killing whatever is left of Tyrone for good!

I have little magic marker alignment markings with sticky tape on me for the next month to line me up with the machine. Because the radiation is directed towards my upper chest, I also started to develop a pretty raw sore throat this weekend. I was constantly in pain and couldn’t talk. The doctor had previously prescribed Nystatin, but then bumped the prescription up to “Miracle Mouthwash”. (Tetracycline, Nystatin, Dexamethasone, Diphenhydramine, i.e. antibiotic, antifungal, steroid, antihistamine). To make things worse I also developed a cold this weekend while my parents were visiting. After taking steroids and the Miracle Mouthwash I seem to be recovering today and was able to lecture to my class without the use of a microphone.

I have attached a few pics. Two of Meghan and I in Florida during Labor Day and one of me under the radiation machine! I also put a picture of driving towards Pt Dume in Malibu because it cheers me up. I have to indulge sometimes. ;-)