James, you are in great hands with David! He is very educated with all things relating to OC and its treatments. He is somebody I would want in my corner if I needed a hand.

If you want someone to talk to about the pros of having a feeding tube then Im your gal. Let me know if you need any tube info. David is anti-peg for his own good reasons, but he does know alot about the benefits of a nasal tube.

Best wishes!

Welcome aboard James. Another buckeye in our midst it seems. Keep a positive attitude and let these people give you some great advice if you need it ot answer any questions you might have. I have a lot of Angels that see me thru and have been for the last 6 1/2 yrs or maybe longer. and a half with OC but much longer than that. Yours will help if you listen to them.

Let me add my own welcome to the other, James, along with my best wishes for an easy trip through this exercise.

I was delighted to read that you work out now, please get started as soon as you are able to resume working out. I have had a couple of recurrences (distant metasteses, which put me in Stage IVc) and (to my MO's astonishment) never missed a day in the gym while going through the subsequent treatments. He said that in over 20 years of practicing oncology, he'd never had a patient that could use "chemo" and "working out" in the same sentence before.

My first treatments, however, with Cisplatin were another story, I had a mediport and couldn't workout for the next 6 months, and the Cisplatin made me nauseated for 90 days. I could only keep one bottle of 350 cal Ensure + down, everything else came right up, and I lost 38 lbs, going from a very solid 192 to 154.

Nonetheless, the MO agrees with me today, that working out hard while taking chemo (which elevates the metabolism) speeds the poisons through the system and makes the process much easier to bear. I have evidence that it also speeds the excretion from the system.

At any rate, by second round of treatments, a year and a half after the first remission, I got 7 4 week cycles of Carboplatin w/Taxol (changed to Taxetere after the first 3, after I reported some further hearing loss) and had no adverse reaction beyond the hearing loss.

This brings up another point, be very vigilant for neuropathy, especially any tingling or numbness in the finger tips or toes. Neuropathy is usually permanent, and the way it can affect your feet can make you miserable. So report it ASAP if you experience it. Or tinnitis. Talk with your MO for a full list of symptoms of neuropathy.

Good luck, Jim. And since you're already in good shape physically, you may have an easier time of it than you'd otherwise expect. I know I did, and I was 70 when I got diagnosed the first time.

Bart

Bart - thank you for the welcome, encouragement and advice. I can't speak enough about the members of the forum. The passion and determination to assist is remarkable. I explain to those close to me the importance of this group in my life (being self sufficient up to this point) and the hope/reality of OC Tx and survival I now possess. All of you have the right to speak and we have the responsibility to listen. That is a right earned from enduring the battle. You are one more example of this. Especially at age 70? Inspirational.

Age is just a number, brother James. Your mind is where it all happens.

A positive outlook like yours is a major asset in going thorough any situation where your life is at stake. In fact, I kinda suspect that it is the determining factor in the eventual outcome.

While I know that it sounds a lot easier than it is to do, if you can detach yourself from the outcome and simply believe that you are going to come through this with flying colors; and hold on to that as you run into the inevitable flack (the damage that is inescapable, like hearing loss, or loss of some salivary function,) you'll be amazed to find it wasn't as bad as you feared. Take it from me, this can be done if you are determined to do it.

After all, it's YOUR mind. You CAN control what your attitude to anything is if you are determined to do so.

I'm going to PM you my email address. If you have questions about any of these assertions, drop me a line.

Best Regards,

Bart

First pre therapy treatment was administered today. Erbitux double dose preceded by benadryl and steroids. Dr. Gillisons head nurse and nurse practitioner visited. blood workup was normal. Sailed through this one. Benadryl put me to sleep for most of the 8 hour day. One more prep tool (PEG) and full therapy begins Monday June 3.

Good luck with the rest of treatment. I liked the Benadryl, It made me sleep too, and the decadron pumped me up lol.

Welcome James. Glad to read that you are set in your plan. The advice you receive here is great, nothing like people who have "been there" to assist your through this process. Good luck!

-Dan

I understand, just call when you feel up to it and have the time.

So here we go. May 11th I posted for the first time. Everyone gave me the encouragement and advice I needed to prepare. Preparation time is now over. PEG surgery was yesterday home today. 1st dose of Erbitux was Tuesday. I have gained 15 Lbs. so far and laid out a nutritional and exercise program. Radiation will start on Monday June 3rd. No introductions are over and I will move to the under treatment forum Monday and keep everyone up to date. I can't say thank you enough for the inspiration, motivation and examples all of you have given to me. You are the heroes on the battleground.