2 Steps forward...

I met with my surgeon today and have tentatively scheduled my final surgery for March 31. That is the good news. On the other side there are still some complications and the surgeon is going to the tumor board next week to make sure I am ready for the surgery. Since my last post, I have had 2 ct scans. The last one finally showed closure but there is still some scarring and a stricture that has to be dilated. The previous scan showed some leakage which set me back and put me on pretty heavy antibiotics for a week.

I also learned that I have been a little naive on the recovery from this surgery. It will be 2-3 days in the hospital but 10-14 days of recovery and 6 weeks of no lifting and limited activity, then up to 6 months to a year before everything finally settles in. But the more I know the more I learn this medicine is as much an art as science and there is a lot they just do not know. I am confident my doctors are doing the bet they can for the best long term survivability, not rushing has been difficult for me to adjust.

I am still confident of complete remission and recovery to a "normal" lifestyle, but there are always complications. In terms of my health, I am finally gaining some weight, up 7 lbs and I am back exercising, although on a limited basis: yoga twice a week, weights twice a week and walking/biking twice a week and never two on the same day. The neuropathy has not settled down much. Still a lot of pain in my fingures and numbness and tingling in my feet. I understand I am doing better than most that have gone through the same treatment, but I really did not expect it to last this long. I am told it could be 6 -18 months, but at my cancer survivors group I ran into a lot of people who still have it 3-5 years post chemo, and this treatment was not done in the United States longer than 5 years ago.

I have changed my diet and have been reading about combining eastern and western medicine in the fight against cancer. I am still receiving accupuncture and I am also engaging in pranic energy healing which is helping with the neuropathy. I figure the more weapons in my arsenal the better. Which also brings me to thanking everyone again for the prayers and good wishes, which I also believe continue to aid in my battle and recovery.

I am really hoping I get the clearance for the surgery and I can move on to the next stage of recovery. Hopefully, I will post when I know for sure of the date, in the meantime, thank you again for all the love and support.

Bruce

ps if the typos are especially bad, I am blaming the neuropathy.