So, to go back to how I found out, and get several things up to date. .
By January, I realized I was not eating as much, but had been over-eating for awhile (holiday meals) so did not think much of it.
Early February, I could tell I had swelling in my lower abdomen. I had two hernia operations years before, installing a “net” each time, and those nets were helping keep things tight. I made a doctor’s appointment, and saw him March 2nd.
He quickly made an appointment for a CT scan. Once he got the result, he called me and told me I had pancreatic cancer. He tried to get stuff to happen quick, but there were too many examples of an appointment one week, then another appointment a week later, and so on. Not enough urgency (not his fault). I took control to push for “early” appointments, rather to sit back and wait for them to be assigned "whenever".
Anyway, after a biopsy, I finally saw an oncologist and they gave me the news. Cancer spread to the liver, and into the bloodstream. Too late for surgery to do any good. So, the only treatment option is Chemo. The oncologist showed me a sketch of a Bell Curve, showing 1 year at the peak.
My "Time Thrust Curve"
I should say I got that diagnosis over a month ago.
I got a Chemo Port installed, located in my upper right chest.
It goes under the skin. See article:
https://moffitt.org/treatments/chemotherapy/what-is-a-chemo-port/
So, rarely any more use of my arm veins for blood draws or IV’s. Far more convenient. Might seem a bit offputting, but I prefer it, for sure.
Finally, Chemo day. Except…. I had some kidney infection issues, causing chemo to be called off, and a hospital stay for awhile.
Finally, Chemo day. And…. it finally happened. Two chemicals. I ended up having a very low Hemoglobin by the time I went back a week later. And I had certainly felt very weak. One of the chemos had too much of an effect on my bone marrow. So, cancelled chemo again, and a 4 day hospital stay where I got 3 pints of blood.
Next Monday, did not have that chemical, had only the other one. Felt OK, but when I went back for Chemo this past Monday, my platelet count was too low, so they cancelled Chemo again, to next Monday.
I’ve been told adjustments to Chemo were expected. But I know this is not good. So my life expectancy will likely be reduced by this. As far as revising my likely life expectancy evaluation, they said we’d look at that a few more weeks down the road.
So, that gets the basic cancer & Chemo info/news up to date.
I mentioned swelling of my abdomen. The liver cancer causes fluid, called Ascites, to accumulate in the abdomen. Info:
https://tinyurl.com/437jn35c
At times my belly looked like I’m pregnant, and still is swollen. Very uncomfortable at its max. There is one form of relief, to physically drain out the fluid. For awhile they only drained it every 2 weeks or longer. Finally have that regularly scheduled once a week. It’s an outpatient procedure, and I am awake the whole time (injected local anesthetic), so I can drive home later.
I think the max removed might have been over 8 liters. Last week, 7.4 liters. Thursday, 5.0 liters. So, far less discomfort now that it is drained regularly, with less build-up.
My apartment is NOT ADA compliant. But I can handle most of the stairs OK thanks to handrails. BUT, outside the main door, there are two steps higher than usual, and NO HANDRAILS! Before being weakened by cancer, it was not something I realized as a risk. A Physical Therapist worked with me to work out an improvement on how to try to navigate them safer. She suggested a cane. But a normal cane did not seem suitable. Then “Light Bulb”. A 4-legged cane (below left). Makes a huge difference, much safer using it.
I also got a “Rollator” (above right). So I can use it to help walk longer distances. It has a storage bin. Also, the brakes can be locked, and the top of the storage bin works as a seat. I keep it in my car, and get it out to walk to places such as hospital appointments, and will use it for launches and other non-shopping purposes (Used it to get into the theater , & get into my theater seat, to see Guardians of the Galaxy last week).
For shopping, I use a store’s own shopping carts. Also use electric scooters in stores that have them and one is available.
Also, have a disabled parking placard now.
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