Cancer Journey

Ocular Migraines

2009-12-25T08:21:00.000-08:00

During a recent visit with Dr. Agamah, I told him about some eyesight problems that I had been experiencing. He suggested that I go to my eye doctor and tell him about my symptoms. I met with my optometrist Dr. Clark, and I came away with good news. When I described my symptoms (seeing zig zags or flickering lights) in my peripheral vision field, he said that I was experiencing a migraine aura. Since I never have a migraine headache, I have what medical professionals call a silent migraine. Each episode occurs once or twice a month and lasts approximately four minutes. A migraine aura without headache occurs more often later in life, and more often in men than women. He also tested my eyes using an Optomap machine. By looking at the results of the test on his computer, he could clearly demonstrate that I had suffered no damage to my optic nerves. He did not seem alarmed and suggested that I just watch things more closely.

During a subsequent visit with Dr. Agamah, I told him about my visit to my optometrist. Dr. Agamah strongly advised me to schedule a consultation with an ophthalmologist, and one of the nurses made an appointment with Dr. Posegate. I had two appointments with Dr. Posegate, and he tested my eyes very thoroughly. He diagnosed my problem and called it an ocular migraine. Patients with ocular migraines can have a variety of symptoms including flickering lights (scintillations) in the peripheral vision field. As far as I can determine, a migraine aura and an ocular migraine are essentially the same condition. Both Dr. Agamah and Dr. Posegate suggested that the problem is not serious and is probably the result of eleven years of chemotherapy treatments.

Cancer Awareness Day

2009-09-18T03:13:00.000-07:00

I have been fighting the effects of colon cancer since September 18, 1998, the day when I initially heard the dreaded diagnosis from Dr. Juranek, my primary care physician. A subsequent colon surgery revealed that I had contracted Stage IV colon cancer since the cancer had metastasized to my liver. Each year on this date, September 18, I commemorate and celebrate what I call “Cancer Awareness Day.” It is also a time for me to reflect on the past years and remind myself again that I am exceptionally fortunate to still be alive. I also use this opportunity to think back on my life and try to determine how I have personally affected the lives of all the family members, friends, students, and colleagues that I have interacted with over the years.

On this day, I also contemplate the fact that my cancer struggle has not only been a curse for me to deal with for eleven years but has also been a blessing for me for two reasons. Since I have kept an account of my cancer journey throughout the period, I have shared my stories with other cancer fighters. Other friends and readers who read my stories have shared their chronicles with me. That mutual sharing of our cancer narratives has changed my life immeasurably. I have also served as a role model for others who admire my courage and my ability to remain positive and hopeful despite my frequent health problems. However, the most important blessing for me has been the strengthening of my faith life. My two pastors and the many members of my congregation and other congregations have been extremely supportive of me during the past years. It’s a powerful idea for me to know that others are constantly praying for me. My faith tells me that I do not have to struggle alone because I am part of a larger faith community. Both my faith and my cancer encourage me to think about the important portions of my existence and not to dwell on insignificant details.

Neuropathy

2009-09-04T04:38:00.001-07:00

As I continue to take chemotherapy treatments as least once a month, I am increasingly aware of the fact that my symptoms of peripheral neuropathy are gradually worsening. I constantly experience tingling and numbness in my hands and feet. My feet always feel as if they are asleep, and I find it difficult to walk and maintain my balance. The numbness in my hands and fingers makes it difficult for me to button and unbutton my shirts. Fortunately, I seldom feel any pain in my feet and hands, and I am very thankful for that.

While looking back on my eleven years of chemotherapy treatment, I realized that there are at least three contributing factors that have led to my current difficulties with neuropathy. In addition to the usual dosages of 5-FU, Leucovorin, and Avastin, Dr. Agamah in 2005 added a relatively new drug called Oxaliplatin (Eloxatin) to my chemotherapy cocktail. Unfortunately, one of the numerous side effects of taking Oxaliplatin is peripheral neuropathy. Dr. Agamah discontinued the use of Oxaliplatin in 2006 largely because of my continued battle with the neuropathy side effects.

I told Dr. Agamah in December 2007, that the numbness in my hands and feet was increasing. He told me that I had contracted a second kind of peripheral neuropathy called hand-foot syndrome or palmar-plantar erythrodysesthesia. This condition is one of the side effects of my receiving Fluorouracil (5-FU) all these years. The syndrome occurs when small amounts of chemotherapy leak out of the capillaries in the hands and feet. Some chemotherapy drugs build up in the tissue of the feet and hands because this tissue has fewer sweat glands and thicker skin than the rest of the body. Once out of the blood vessels, the chemotherapy drug damages adjacent tissues.

In February 2009, I told Dr. Agamah that the neuropathy in my hands and feet seemed to be getting worse again. He suspected that I was experiencing a Vitamin B12 deficiency, and a subsequent blood test confirmed that diagnosis. Neuropathy is one of the symptoms of a Vitamin B12 deficiency along with fatigue, impaired judgment, and lightheadedness. I now take regular vitamin B12 shots each time I go to the clinic.

Chemo Again

2009-07-31T12:58:00.000-07:00

Roberta and I met with Dr. Agamah on Monday of this week, and I received another chemotherapy treatment. Since Dr. Agamah had recently returned from a medical mission to Ghana and we had come back to Springfield from our trip to San Diego and Santa Fe, we had a lot of catching up to do. One of the nurses called me at home yesterday and told me that my one of my immunoglobulin levels was still lower than normal. The IgG antibodies, found in all body fluids, are very essential in fighting viral and bacterial infections. The normal range for IgG antibodies is 751-1560 and my level is currently 588. The nurse also reported that my recent CEA (carcinoembryonic antigen) test, used to determine how widespread my cancer is, was very low at 1.0. That was very good news!

Lincoln In Sculpture

2009-07-24T07:13:00.000-07:00

My many friends and family members know that I have been a Lincoln enthusiast ever since we moved to Springfield in 1960. Over the many years, I have attended countless Lincoln-related book talks and conferences. I joined the Abraham Lincoln Association thirty years ago. I have accumulated a rather sizeable library of Lincoln books. Several years ago, I decided to photograph and document all the numerous Lincoln statues and busts in Illinois. I traveled to at least thirty communities in Illinois to photograph and gather information about these statues and busts. What started out as a hobby became a more serious activity as a friend from the Illinois State Historical Society approached me and offered to publish my stories and photographs in the society’s bi-monthly journal, Illinois Heritage. My first two stories were published in the November-December 2006 issue of the journal.

Earlier this year, my friend from the Illinois State Historical Society suggested that we compile forty of my Lincoln statue stories into one new publication under the auspices of the Society. We entitled the book Lincoln In Sculpture. In addition to the forty stories and photographs, we decided to also include photographs and basic information about twelve Lincoln busts, four Lincoln replicas, and six idiosyncratic Lincoln statues that I called Lincoln Lite. My friend wrote a very complimentary introduction for the book, and I included a Table of Contents and Bibliography. The final copy was released from the printer about a month ago, and I have been busy promoting the book to book sellers and review writers. I am very pleased with the quality of the book. An obsession like mine can often produce dividends.

Family Reunion & Vacation

2009-07-23T10:57:00.000-07:00

Roberta and I recently returned from a twelve-day trip to San Diego and Santa Fe. We first flew to San Diego and attended another biennial Volkmann family reunion. Some of my family members were not able to attend the reunion this year, but my three siblings were there. We all had a wonderful time together as we always do. We ate several meals together at various locations including the home of my brother and his wife. We went to Balboa Park one day and Sea World the next. We made tentative plans to gather as a family in two years in Washington, D. C. We spent the next week in Santa Fe, our Shangri-La. We attended a performance of La Traviata at the Santa Fe Opera, heard a concert by the Santa Fe Desert Chorale at the St. Francis Cathedral, and attended an opening night concert of the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival in St. Frances Auditorium. In order to do something entirely new this year, we toured the recently opened New Mexico History Museum near the Plaza and rode the new Rail Runner commuter rail line to Albuquerque and back one day. Before we left Santa Fe, we signed up for another ten days next summer at El Paradero, our favorite Bed & Breakfast.

Immunoglobulins Test

2009-06-20T06:29:00.000-07:00

When we met with Dr. Agamah last Monday, I told him that I was still fighting the cold that I developed several weeks ago. He expressed concern and told me that he would give me an immunoglobulins test to measure the level of antibodies in my blood. Dr. Agamah called me at home on Wednesday and told me that my immunoglobulin level was lower than normal. When a person’s immune system makes low levels of antibodies, one has a greater chance of developing repeated infections. One of the five major types of antibodies are the IgG antibodies, which are found in all body fluids. IgG antibodies are very essential in fighting viral and bacterial infections. Dr. Agamah told me that he would continue to monitor my situation and deal with it if my condition worsened.

A Welcome Chemo Break

2009-06-15T15:25:00.000-07:00

Roberta and I met with Dr. Agamah today, and I received another chemo treatment. Dr. Agamah is leaving for a three-week mission trip to Ghana next week, and we are spending eleven days in San Diego and Santa Fe starting on July 9. Since Dr. Agamah is such a good doctor and friend, I don’t have to go back to see him until July 27. Knowing that I now have six weeks between treatments should make my current recovery period more tolerable this time.

Another Chemo Side Effect

2009-05-29T13:10:00.000-07:00

I chose not to write about my appointment with Dr. Agamah on May 18, because my subsequent chemo session was unremarkable. However, my usual one-week recovery period was hindered by the fact that I developed a very bad cold at the same time. I had always been told that my resistance to infection was always low following a chemo session. That fact was unquestionably true in my case this time. Dr. Agamah first prescribed Zithromax, a well-known antibiotic that fights bacteria in the body. I took the whole dose as ordered. By the end of last week, I was still sneezing, coughing, and blowing. Dr. Agamah then prescribed Levaquin, another familiar antibiotic for treating bacterial infections. I have been taking that medication since the first of the week, and I’m finally felling better at week’s end. I can now devote my attention to writing and socializing, and I don’t have to take a nap every day.

Student Of The Year

2009-05-02T06:49:00.000-07:00

I attended the annual Susan Cook House Student Of The Year Dinner Party again last night. Held at the JP Morgan Chase Bank each year, the program recognizes the scholastic achievements, leadership skills, and community and school involvement of high school seniors. I served as one of the judges for the competition in 2002; consequently, I receive an invitation to attend the banquet each year. The program begins every fall as local county high schools nominate a student of the week. The nominees are then featured in the local newspaper. Altogether, 136 students were nominated this year. That number was narrowed to forty after judges read all the applications. The forty finalists then submitted essays and other supporting documents. A team of three judges narrowed the field down to ten this year. The Student of the Year winner was one of four students from Springfield High School in the final ten. It is always heartwarming for me to realize that our future is in very good hands because there are so many outstanding high school graduates preparing to serve as our new leaders.

Chemo Brain

2009-04-20T15:36:00.000-07:00

We met with Dr. Agamah at 9:00 this morning, and I received another chemotherapy treatment. The most debilitating side effect of these regular treatments for me is chemo brain. Chemo brain is a common term used in the medical literature to describe the thinking and mental retention problems that periodically linger for days after therapy. The condition is also called chemo fog or cognitive dysfunction. After my therapy, I routinely have problems with concentration, memory lapses, remembering names and dates, recalling common words, slower thinking, and the processing of information. The American Cancer Society recently reported that “imaging tests have demonstrated that after chemotherapy, some patients have a smaller brain size in the parts of the brain that deal with memory, planning, putting thoughts into action, monitoring thought processes and behavior, and inhibition.”

In spite of this, oncologists do not always agree with the theory that chemotherapy is the cause of concentration and memory problems for cancer survivors. Dr. Agamah maintains that my troubles might instead be a result of the cancer itself, my advanced age, depression, stress, low blood counts, fatigue, sleep disturbances, or possible guilt over the death of so many of my fellow cancer fighters. He and other medical experts recommend that I do exercises for my body, stimulate my brain by doing word puzzles, get more rest and sleep, try to focus on one thing at a time, and make lists. Because he is such a good doctor and friend, Dr. Agamah also decided to give me one extra week off between chemo treatments. I do not have to go back to see him until May 18.

Local Authors Day

2009-04-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Roberta and I participated in a different book event today at Lincoln Library, the public library of Springfield. The library observed National Library Week all week long, and we were invited to discuss our book on Local Authors Day. It was a thrill for me to address the group at the same lectern where I gave my farewell speech to the library board and staff on February 26, 1993. We were limited to fifteen minutes, so I gave a shortened version of the usual discourse I present about the origins of our book. Fourteen other authors were in attendance to sell and sign the books that they had written. Unfortunately, there were more authors there than attendees, so we sold just two of our books. However, we did get to interact with the other authors, and that was interesting and informative.

City Museum

2009-04-15T16:05:00.000-07:00

Roberta and I drove to St. Louis today to attend a one-day Elderhostel event at the City Museum. Constructed in 1997 by classically trained sculptor and entrepreneur Bob Cassilly in the former 600,000 square foot International Shoe Company headquarters on North 15th Street, the museum is a diverse mixture of imagination and entertainment for visitors of all ages. The museum contains numerous examples of old and recycled architectural objects such as bridges, chimneys, tile, door knobs, and reclaimed building materials. A large organ from an old theater was installed in the museum several years ago. One section of the museum houses a large collection of artifacts from the architectural practice of George Grant Elmslie and Louis Sullivan. Two museum employees gave us tours of the three story complex. We both enjoyed our brief visit to this unique institution in downtown St. Louis.

Our Chatham Book Talk

2009-04-08T10:28:00.001-07:00

Roberta and I gave an additional book talk to another P.E.O. chapter in a nearby community at 10:00 a.m. this morning. Twenty-six group members listened attentively to our efforts, and six women bought a copy of our book. We knew at least half of the women present at the meeting, so it was a good opportunity for us to get caught up with several of the attendees. Once again, I was outnumbered twenty-six to one, but I managed to hold my own.

Outfoxed Again

2009-04-07T07:04:00.000-07:00

As I was eating breakfast this bright and sunny morning, I looked out over our lake to check the bird population. I was pleased to observe that several of our migrating waterfowl were still present. I glanced toward our dam and discovered that our Canada Geese couple was still busy building a nest. Then for the first time this spring, I saw the fox that had eaten all the eggs that had been laid by our ducks and geese last spring. The geese bravely chased the fox away, but I know that he will come back to eat eggs when he gets hungry. Unfortunately, this means that we will again have no baby ducks and geese to keep an eye on this season.

Chemo Session #163

2009-03-30T13:33:00.000-07:00

Roberta and I met with Dr. Agamah today, and he scheduled another chemotherapy treatment for me. It was the 163rd time that I have tolerated a chemotherapy session since I received my initial treatment on October 26, 1998. Over the previous 126 months, I have received a total of five chemotherapy drugs including 5-FU, Leucovorin, Avastin, Oxaliplatin, and Camptosar. Dr. Agamah stopped ordering Oxaliplatin and Camptosar over the years because of the unfortunate side effects. Ever since I started going to the Central Illinois Hematology Oncology Center in 1998, the clinic and office spaces have been enlarged and remodeled twice, and they are running out of room yet again. Two additional oncologists joined the staff in recent years, and at least a dozen new nurses and support staff now assist in the clinical work. This 163rd chemotherapy session will end 46 hours from now when I return to the clinic to have my portable chemotherapy pump removed.

Our Condo

2009-03-28T04:21:00.001-07:00

We moved into our Huntington Woods condo twelve years ago today. Spring is my favorite season here because I can watch the grass turn green once more and observe the shrubs and trees come back to life. However, my favorite pastime is to look at the birds returning to our small lake after wintering somewhere else. In the last several days, I have viewed a number of migrating Lesser Scaups, Buffleheads, and Northern Shovelers. Our stately Great Blue Heron has returned, and I saw my first Red-winged Blackbird earlier this week. Before too long, we will be inundated with dozens of Barn Swallows, and I will watch their flying antics as they glide across the lake looking for insects to eat. A fox ate all the eggs laid by our nesting Mallards and Canadian Geese last year, so we didn’t have any babies to watch into adulthood. I hope that this doesn’t happen again this year.

Another Book Talk

2009-03-25T13:22:00.001-07:00

Roberta and I gave our fifth book lecture of 2009 today when we told about our book in front of a group called the Memorial Medical Center Retirees Club. Once again, I talked about the origins and development of the book, and Roberta gave a PowerPoint presentation about hidden sculptures in Springfield. I noticed that several of the members were dozing off while I was speaking. That’s why they call it a retirees club, and it was an after-lunch session. Most of the forty other members were attentive and receptive. We didn’t sell any books, but we did get a free lunch.

A Lincoln Sculpture Road Trip

2009-03-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

Most of my friends and family members know that I am a dedicated Lincoln enthusiast. When we relocated to Springfield in 1960, I soon realized that I had entered a Lincoln paradise. I joined the Abraham Lincoln Association and started to accumulate a sizeable collection of Lincoln books. I regularly visited the Lincoln Home, the Lincoln Tomb, and the new Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum. In the spring of 2006, I started writing stories about all the Lincoln sculptures in Illinois. In order to photograph the sculptures and determine the GPS coordinates for each site, I drove to nineteen Illinois communities over a period of several months. My Lincoln sculpture stories are now published on a regular basis in Illinois Heritage, the magazine of the Illinois State Historical Society. Up to now, thirty-three of my stories have been published, and I have much more writing to do. With that thought in mind, I drove to Bourbonnais, Chicago Heights, Lockport, Chicago, and Waukegan on March 19th and 20th. I can now write five more stories. I had a very pleasant trip, and the brilliant sunshine on both days helped make my photographs look better than average.

Jamie LaRue

2009-03-17T07:45:00.000-07:00

On March 15-17, I spent some quality time with Jamie LaRue, my Assistant Director at Lincoln Library from 1983 to 1987 and now the Director of Douglas County Libraries in Castle Rock, Colorado. He had come to Springfield to give the keynote address at an Illinois State Library sponsored conference called “On The Front Lines: Agents Of Change.” I had heard Jamie give the keynote address at the Illinois Library Association convention in Chicago on September 24, 2008, and I definitely wanted to hear him speak again. This time his topic was “Transforming Libraries.” Once more, I was full of enormous pride and pleasure as Jamie gave another well-conceived and well-delivered speech to a very receptive audience of librarians. I was yet again reminded of the fact that Jamie has reached a level of excellence as an administrator in the public library world that few of his contemporaries can match. His resume is filled with countless examples of his many awards and accomplishments. His writing and public speaking skills are exceptional. After his speech, we spent the afternoon strolling the streets of downtown Springfield. We stopped at Lincoln Library and talked briefly with Library Director, Nancy Huntley. We stopped at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and received a tour of the library from Library Director, Katherine Harris. We subsequently explored the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Museum, and Jamie thoroughly enjoyed seeing this major downtown institution. As we said our goodbyes at the airport his morning, we were both reminded of the importance of friendship in our daily lives.

CT/PET Scan Report

2009-03-10T11:00:00.000-07:00

We met with Dr. Agamah on March 9, and I received another chemo treatment. The session lasted the full four hours this time since the clinic had received a new supply of Leucovorin. Dr. Agamah also gave us the radiologist’s report from my CT/PET Scan performed last week. Apparently, there is a new location for a possible tumor on my left pulmonary vein. Dr. Agamah did not seem too concerned about this new development, but he does want me to take my chemo treatments more frequently from now on. Instead of giving me four or five weeks off between treatments, he now wants to see me at least every three weeks. The radiologist observed no problems on my liver or in my colon. I was hoping for a more positive report, but it could have been a lot worse.

Talking And Hosting

2009-03-09T07:14:00.000-07:00

On March 6, Roberta and I gave another book talk in front of at least sixty older adults from the Christ The King Catholic Church. The group meets once a month on Friday nights to eat an evening meal and find out about some new topic of interest. I gave my usual speech about the origin of our book, and Roberta presented her latest PowerPoint program on some hidden sculptures and plaques that we found in our research. We hosted an event at the Willard Ice Building the next day. Sponsored by the Sangamon County Historical Society, the happening allowed members of the society to view the architecture and art works in the headquarters of the Illinois Department of Revenue. Completed in 1984, the edifice contains more than thirty works of art all secured through the Capital Development Board’s Art-In-Architecture program. One our friends who works for the Revenue Department was our host, the architect who designed the building explained his vision for the project, and the Assistant Coordinator of the art program gave us an interesting and informative description of all the art pieces. We were all very pleased that the two-hour program turned out so well.

Elderhosteling In Savannah

2009-03-04T13:19:00.000-08:00

On February 21, we started driving toward Savannah, Georgia, as we had signed up for a new Elderhostel event. The title of the experience was Savannah History, Mystery, and Music. Sponsored by Savannah’s Armstrong Atlantic State University, the program more than lived up to its advance billing. We learned about the history and geography of this charming city by hearing lectures from local scholars and touring the historic district. The famous book, Midnight In The Garden Of Good And Evil, provided the mystery part of the program. The events and characters mentioned in the book came up repeatedly throughout the week. We viewed an informative A & E Documentary on the same subject, and it gave us new insights into the magic and mystery of the city. We listened to several musicians who helped us understand the importance of music in the history of the South. This was especially true of local hero, Johnny Mercer, who as a lyricist and composer was responsible for creating more than 600 published songs. During the week, we took a field trip to the Wormsloe Plantation and stopped for treats of ice cream, cookies, and candy. On our free afternoon, we drove to Tybee Island and Fort Pulaski. Before leaving the region, we decided to drive to Charleston, South Carolina, to spend the weekend. We managed to see many of the city’s highlights in two days. We enjoyed a carriage ride around the historic downtown, took a boat out to Ft. Sumter, shopped in the historic City Market, toured The Charleston Museum, and visited the South Carolina Aquarium. All in all, it was a great region in which to take our “warm weather winter trip” for the year. We learned so much in a short period of time, and received a generous dose of Southern hospitality.

Lincoln Turns 200

2009-02-19T12:23:00.000-08:00

February 12 was the 200th anniversary of the birth of Abraham Lincoln. Since Lincoln’s Birthday was always a City holiday, in previous years I always spent the day attending Lincoln lectures at the Lincoln Home Visitor’s Center and the historic Old State Capitol. Roberta and I also attended the once a year banquet sponsored by the Abraham Lincoln Association. During this 2009 Lincoln Bicentennial in Springfield, there were literally dozens of activities to choose from. I attended the usual lectures at both the Old State Capitol and the Lincoln Home Visitor’s Center. The Abraham Lincoln Association banquet was outstanding this year. President Barack Obama came to Springfield, and we heard him speak to the assembled gathering. It was a great thrill to be there and hear his stirring address. Our daughter and her husband were also in attendance. We will all remember forever the fact that we were present for this historic event. Roberta and I spent the rest of the weekend in Chicago attending an opera at Lyric Opera of Chicago and having dinner with friends.

Book Talks On The Road

2009-02-19T04:28:00.001-08:00

Roberta and I gave back-to-back book talks on February 9th and 10th. We drove out to Buffalo on Monday night and talked to fifteen women from the Woman’s Club. Since I started my professional career at the local high school, I told the group that it was similar to a Homecoming for me. We knew several of the women, and a former student of mine was also in attendance. We drove to Athens on Tuesday morning, and presented our book talk before twenty-five members of an adult group at the Athens Christian Church. I gave my customary twenty-minute spiel about Arcadia Publishing and the background for the origins of our book. For the first time, Roberta gave a PowerPoint presentation that illustrated the sculptures and markers on the lawn of the Illinois State Capitol. Members of both groups seemed to be interested in our presentations.

Another Chemo Side Effect

2009-02-18T07:01:00.000-08:00

Roberta and I went to Dr. Agamah’s office on Wednesday, February 4, and I received the 16th chemotherapy treatment of the current series. Once again, I did not receive any Leucovorin because of the continuing national shortage. I told Dr. Agamah that the neuropathy in my feet and hands seemed to be getting worse. To determine the extent of the nerve damage in my feet, Dr. Agamah alternately pricked my feet with a sharp object and a dull object. I couldn’t tell the difference between the two sensations. He suspected that I was experiencing a Vitamin B12 deficiency, and a blood test confirmed that diagnosis. That finding explained why I had been feeling the symptoms of weakness, fatigue, shortness of breath, lightheadedness, mental confusion, and difficulty walking. He told me to come into the clinic once a week for four weeks and get a shot of Vitamin B12. He scheduled another CT/PET Scan for March 5.

Arias And Touchdowns

2009-02-17T15:30:00.000-08:00

We took the early train to Chicago on January 29, and we attended the opera Madame Butterfly at the Lyric Opera. We stayed overnight in the city and took the train to a Chicago suburb the next day. We invited our son and his family out to dinner that evening and helped celebrate our son's birthday. We rode the train home the next day, and I watched the 43rd Super Bowl game by myself on February 1. I have watched every Super Bowl contest on television since the first game was played in 1967.

Starting To Blog

2009-02-17T13:51:00.000-08:00

I received the 15th chemotherapy treatment of the current series on January 6. Because of a national scarcity of Leucovorin, Dr. Agamah could not prescribe this drug as part of my treatment. As a result, I finished the session two hours sooner than I usually do. Unfortunately, I did not recover from the treatment any quicker than I typically do, and I didn’t return to full strength until the first part of the following week.

On January 20, Roberta and I gave our first book talk of the new year to a P.E.O. group. P.E.O. (Philanthropic Educational Organization) was founded on January 21, 1869, at Iowa Wesleyan College. The primary goal of the organization is to encourage educational opportunities for women. I was outnumbered twenty-three to one, but I managed to hold my own. The members of the group were very attentive, and they responded well to our speeches. We also sold three copies of our book.

First A Journal, Now A Blog

2009-02-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

I have been fighting Stage IV colon cancer since September, 1998, and I have kept a journal of my cancer battle from the beginning. I self-published the first eight years of my journal in a book I called Journeys Near The End. I have also written my journal for the years 2007 and 2008, but this material is not in published form. With this new experience of writing my journal on the internet, I will tell the continuing story of my cancer fight from January 2009 on.