First Day Of Radiation Treatment

Weight: 137.8
Pain: 3/10 chest pains
Nausea: 0/10
Depression: 1/10
Tiredness: 2/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 5/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin, Tylenol

I just had my first radiation treatment this morning. Everything went smoothly and quite routine - just as what I expected. The radiation part only took about a minute or two so I was in and out in just a matter of minutes. I just have to keep going back 5 days a week for the next 6 weeks - all with chemo at the same time. I imagine it'll be much more intense than my first chemo experience. I start my next chemo treatment tomorrow with taxotere.

I also received the results of the biopsy for my colonoscopy - everything is fine. The polyp turned out to be benign. No worries.

Result of Colonoscopy

Weight: 136.6
Pain: 0/10 (little aches all over)
Nausea: 0.0/10
Depression: 2/10
Tiredness: 1/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 5/10
Medications: none

I had a colonoscopy yesterday due to suspicious activity in my colon as revealed in my last PET scan. I also had slight abdominal pain a week or two ago in the same area where that activity was. I had talked with my oncologist last week and he agreed that I should go ahead with the procedure (even though he said that it is highly irregular for esophageal cancer to spread into the colon).

The preparations for the procedure was quite uncomfortable - I had to spend most of the time in the bathroom. But I think the worst part was drinking the laxative - it tasted horrible, even when mixed with fruit juice.

The results of the procedure were mostly positive. The only abnormality was a small polyp in my colon which was biopsied; I won't know the results of the biopsy for several days. Polyps are quite common from what I hear and most of them turn out to be benign in nature, so I'm not too worried about it at all.

Second PET/CT Results

Weight: 136.0
Pain: 0/10
Nausea: 0/10
Depression: 5/10
Tiredness: 1/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 3/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin

So I had my second PET/CT scan yesterday. It was quite routine as usual - not much different than the first time around. The whole procedure took a couple of hours. An hour after I finished the scan, I requested CDs of the scan images and took a look at the results. My first impression of the images were quite depressing - it looked as though activity of the tumor site increased, but the size was about the same. I also noted lots of activity around my colon which scared the hell out of me as there was no such activity around that part in the first PET/CT scan that I got.

A few hours later, I read the radiology report and it said that the tumor was stable - no significant change at all; it also said that there were no other organs that were affected. The tumor is the same size (but there was noted increase in activity in the tumor as revealed in the PET scan). So I probably shouldn't worry about my colon; but the fact that I've been having intestinal issues for nearly a week might be something of significance added to the fact of increase in metabolic activity around that area. I'll notify my doctor in our next meeting.

After all I went through with chemo for 2 months and still no change - it really is quite disappointing. I expected so much more from what I've been through and to find out that nothing has changed its VERY depressing.

But at least it hasn't spread or gotten bigger. But it still sucks.

Busy Working on Project

Weight: 136
Pain: 0/10
Nausea: 1/10
Depression: 3/10
Tiredness: 2/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 3/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin, Imodium AD

Since I'm busy working on a personal project of mine, I decided not to write everyday in my blog. I will only write about important events related to my health from now on.

Made Appointment For Next PET/CT Scan

Weight: 136.4
Pain: 0/10
Nausea: 2/10
Depression: 3/10
Tiredness: 2/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 3/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin

I have my next PET/CT scan appointment this Thursday. They'll know from the results if the treatment I'm getting so far has worked enough or if they'll need to tweak my treatments.

Lots Of Stomach Problems

Weight: 136.2
Pain: 0/10
Nausea: 3/10
Depression: 3/10
Tiredness: 4/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 3/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin, Immodium AD, Mylanta

I don't know why, but I think I feel worse today than I did two weeks ago - as if the drugs they game me on Tuesday were much more concentrated. The most annoying issues were gas and diarrhea which immodiam and mylanta mostly took care of. The other side effect that I still feel - even after 5 days of chemo - is tiredness. Its something that I just could not shake off.

Going For Nutritional Supplements

Weight: 135.4
Pain: 0/10
Nausea: 3/10
Depression: 3/10
Tiredness: 4/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 3/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin,

I feel like I've been losing a lot of weight lately - I've just hit my new low of 135lbs, down from about 142 before diagnosis. I'm gonna start myself on Ensure Plus and see if that'll help. I hear its very tasty and comes with different flavors. I can't wait!.

Tiredness Is Back

Weight: 136.2
Pain: 0/10
Nausea: 5/10
Depression: 3/10
Tiredness: 7/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 3/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin, Compazine

I was really tired getting out of bed this morning, but I managed to do it. I also did a 30 min. walk on the treadmill like I do almost every morning just to build up more energy (it really does help).

The feeling of vomiting every time I get close to food (and even thinking about it) is something that I have yet to overcome. I do take my anti-nausea pill, but that doesn't seem to get rid of the vomiting feeling.

But at least its a Friday....

First Support Group Meeting

Weight: 136.4
Pain: 0/10
Nausea: 5/10
Depression: 3/10
Tiredness: 4/10
Swallowing Difficulty: 3/10
Medications: Prevacid, Vitamin E, Multivitamin, Compazine

I attended my first support group meeting at the Wellness Community. It was pretty much what I had expected - discussions of each of our "issues", sharing experiences, etc. It was a small group, even more so since some people were not in attendance. I was the youngest in the group, as well as the most recently diagnosed. Everyone else was at least a year into their fight and at least in their mid-thirties.

It was a valuable learning experience, and I certainly would do it again. The only thing though, is that hearing other's struggles does not exactly build up that sense of positive emotions that I really need. But its really about give-and-take, and I can deal with that.