It's now been a week since I've been done with radiation treatments. It's great not to have to make that daily trip to Portland anymore. The doctor said to go back to my activities and we'll wait until June to see what's happened. Kath and I had been running for a week and a half when the knees revolted. My kids all reminded me (Michael said "Dad, I'm going to tell you what you would tell me..." and Tory reminded me of the importance of stretching....which I have never done)that I need to ease into it so I am waiting for about a week before I start up again. The body wasn't ready for any type of activity after half a year off. Everything is going great except for the sleep. The doctor is still managing sleep medication in an effort to find one that is going to help me sleep through the night. The doctor said the radiation could continue to work for up to six weeks. My lower back feels numb and if I sit too long, I can feel the tightness, but that is the only ill effects of my treatment. It is still difficult for me to carry on a conversation on the phone for any length of time. Hopefully, that will improve. I am working to concentrate on the positive and it is difficult to do sometimes. One of the things that was difficult in Portland was listening to people talk about their illness and ask me how I was doing. Although I appreciated them asking, I am not the kind of person that needs to be reminded that something is wrong. Our doctors told us that we need to talk openly about the situation so that we can deal with it. It definitely does not work for me. We told them that it did not work and that we would not deny it, but we were not going to dwell on it. And so we choose not to talk about it. Kath and I have always been positive and we will continue to look forward. I guess I don't understand those patients who want to talk about it, all it does is just bring me down.
On another note, Kath and I have sold the house and made an offer on one four miles from where we live now. It is in a new development and the house will be completed in another two to three weeks. We both figure it is about time that we treat ourselves to a newly built house that has not been lived in before. It will be nice having a small yard and 1960 square feet instead of 3700 square feet. The closing date is set for May 29th if all goes well. Kath is packing now. I'm glad I went through our storage room last year and got rid of lots of stuff we did not use. It's nice to be going back to some of the old routines such as our constant trips to Costco, Great Harvest, having lunch with Carl, and doing numerous activities with our kids. Kath and I are planning to head to Black Butte next week, and I am in the process of planning a June bike trip with Carl. It's nice to look forward to things, and it's always nice to know we have so many caring friends out there. I love you all (in a manly way, of course).

April 20th

Three more trips to Portland!! To celebrate we are going to stay in Portland Tuesday night and have dinner with Tiff and Andy. The biggest change this week was the doctor's appointment on Monday. He gave me the okay to start running. My wife's reply was, "oh no, now I have to start back." So Monday we ran for six minutes, Tuesday for fifteen minutes, Wednesday twenty minutes, Thursday twenty-five minutes, Friday thirty-one minutes, and Saturday we ran for thirty-three minutes with Tory. It feels good to actually sweat again, by choice. It isn't helping me sleep at all though. I will be glad when Friday is over because it is the last day I have to put the ointment on my back and lay on the couch for hours. The doctor still can't believe that I have not been burnt from the radiation,. In fact, he made me lift up my shirt so he could see for himself. I know I am not burning because of my wife's expertise on rubbing lotion on my back and the fact that I am staying still. We had lunch with Michael and Amber on Tuesday to celebrate his birthday. Aaron came over Thursday to watch TV and have pizza. Barry stopped by Friday, which we appreciated, but it is not a habit of mine to visit with people while I am laying naked on the couch with the ointment on, so Kath and he talked outside. Yesterday we spent the morning with Tory and we ran into Corky, Cathy and Kristin at Great Harvest. Then later in the day we met Reed and Kelly at Costco...there's a shocker. It is nice running into people when we are already out and about because once I am home I am unable to entertain visitors while I am laid up on the couch with the ointment on. Bailey (our grandpup), Tiff and Andy came down for homemade pizza today. I am still unable to get much sleep. The acupuncture doctor said on Thursday we should discontinue doing it because it was not helping. Both the doctor and I were disappointed that it didn't work.

Thanks for all of the comments, it is a joy to see them all.

April 12

Kath and I have eight trips to Portland left. Again, emphasize, I HATE the commute. I am so tired of driving in that traffic. I have been very fortunate of going through this for five weeks and still no radiation burns. The appetite is still good, actually putting on pounds. Not being able to run is making it harder to keep the weight down. The only negative that I really have is that I can feel a tightness in my lower back which bothers me. It is not really a pain, it is just something I am aware of. They have changed my medication for the antidepressant dosage medication. Been able to sleep lately, with medication, for three to four hours at a time. Look forward to the day that I can go to sleep without any help from medication.

While we wait for my appointment each day, we sit in the waiting room and it is depressing to me. Other patients try and talk to me about what they are going through and ask me questions about what I am going through. All it does is just bring me down. I enjoy thinking of other things, I don't want to talk about it. I just want to think positive.

The weekends have been the most fun because I get to see my kids. Last couple of weeks Tiff has come down on Friday nights and spent the night and all day Saturday with us. Everyone is excited about that except for our cat who has a problem with Bailey, Tiff's dog. Our cat seems to have Bailey buffaloed. It was a real treat when Tory and Chris brought their two big dogs down and they didn't back down and chased the cat all over the house. It had been a long time since I have laughed that loud.

I appreciated Barry stopping by and Reid driving down from Tualatin to meet us at Costco and Bill stopping by on his bikeride. I take visits in very short bursts, I don't last real long. I never know day to day how I feel about visitors, but these guys hit the right time. In the middle of all of this we got an offer on the house and we are waiting for the inspection on Wed. If it sells, fine, if it doesn't, that is fine. We have a hard time leaving this location because it is a nice location. However, 3600sq feet, five beds and a huge backyard is a little much. My poor wife mowed the front and back lawns this week because I didn't have the energy. MY hair is growing back slowly, but not fast enough for me. My progress still amazes the doctors, but we know that I am an amazing man. (per my wife) I have four more acupuncture sessions left. I do not recommend it, all it does is hurt and I am seeing no change, but it was worth a try.

We saw a glimmer of my old routine today, as Kath, Tiff and I spent three hours at Costco, visiting with friends and low and behold, we ran into our other daughter, Tory. Also we got lots and lot of samples and some supplies.

Thank you all for your comments and thoughts.

April 5th

We only have thirteen more trips we have to make up to Portland. Kath and I are getting really tired of the commute, we don't know how anyone does it. I've been fortunate in the fact that I have not lost any weight, which is a typical side effect and I have not had any radiation burns either which is also a major and typical side effect. I lay on the couch and Kath puts lotion on my back that does not absorb at all. It is to keep the moisture in so I have to lie on the couch for hours and hours to make sure it does the job, and so far it has. I think why other people get burns is that they put clothes on immediately after and it wipes off, so I have been good to keep things off of it. I have not lost my appetite, which is another typical side effect. The only thing that is very typical is the depression and fatigue, but I fight through that to get a walk in every day. The major obstacle is that I can not sleep at night, I go days without sleeping, Medications work occasionally. I will be seeing a psychiatrist this week. They can prescribe other medications that are more symptom specific than the other doctors could give me. I had a real good day Wednesday, Kath, Tiff and I rode the tram down OHSU, caught the street car, rode into Portland into the Pearl district and walked to 23rd and then rode back for a total of walking 50 minutes. Then I had BK...haven't had the stomach for that in a long time. Haven't been there for months. Also, I can't see it, but my family sees my peach fuzz on my head. I can't wait for it to grow back so my internal thermometer can get back on track.

We arrive at OHSU about 8:55 and they have gotten me in the minute I arrive most days, but one. So to beat the fatigue, Kath and I walk right after the appt. at Lake Oswego. I am pretty exhausted by the afternoon so I haven't been taking my usual walks with friends. I look forward to not being on this schedule so I can resume the walks once more. It is bizarre, but my taste and appetite are back for everything but the donuts.

I have never appreciated my wife and kids more than I have over the last couple of months. They really have helped me through this.

Finally, Tiff wanted to wish Sport Happy birthday!

Well, Ron has just hit the half-way mark with regards to the radiation treatment. It is nice to realize that we just have to make that "delightful" drive to Portland sixteen more times. He gets his treatments at 9:30 each morning now, so we get to see some of the commute that many people make each day. We have a whole new respect for those folks. Dr. Hung continues to feel positive about the progress of the radiation. Ron's skin still is clear of all burns (which is a real plus), but he is experiencing the fatigue associated with his treatments. He is now off ALL pain medications, which is definitely positive progress considering that two months ago he was on a Fentanyl patch of 150 mcg. He did go through some powerful withdrawl symptoms when he discontinued the patch. We are now past that "bump" in the road. As suggested by the doctor Ron continues to walk everyday.....even when he is exhausted. I (Kathy) have become his walking partner, so he is working to get me in shape. I can hardly keep up with him. It is so nice to hold hands and talk during our walks. He is still receiving acupuncture without any good results. He is going to continue for a little longer in hopes that it can help with the insomnia. It is amazing what a little sleep will do for the attitude. He went for three days with NO sleep and was able to sleep last night for a little over six hours. Hopefully this will continue. We have been able to spend lots of time with the kids, which is one of the brightest part of the week. Our kids are WONDERFUL!!!! Thanks for all your thoughts and prayers!