Date is set

Well I got a call today from the hospital and the date is set. Monday September 29th is the day that determines my future with this thing. I know it isn't the beginning of the month like I wanted but who cares it is booked and gives me time to get my stuff together. I am getting two more chemo treatments as well. I also am going to see a friend of Kristi's who does accupuncture for a living. It is supposed to help out with some of the chemo after effects. I am really looking forward to having it done and see if there are any changes. Currently I am a little bit under the weather. Not too bad though just a few sniffles. I am starting to notice that I am loosing weight from working out and watching what I eat. Good to know that all of the changes that I have been making have been starting to make me feel a hell of a lot better and making my body fight harder.

Dr.Hegeman in Madison returned my phone call this afternoon and I asked him a few questions. I told him that the tumor shrinked and that the growths have stopped growing and that Dr.Maddaus is all systems go about removing the tumor, spleen, and lung parts. Hegeman said that the fact that the tumor has been reacting and shrinking is a very good thing even though they changed the type of chemo I am on. As long as progress is shown and things keep changing for the better I have a serious shot of betting this thing completely. Problem is even with the surgery I am facing a 25% chance of it being "cured". The one thing he did tell me is that my youth and personal health is a huge factor in beating this thing and I need to keep on the things I have been doing. I really wanted his opinion of what he thought for a few reasons; 1.) Skubitz is a just not the doctor I want and I only stay with him as motivation and his experience in the field. 2.) He did let me know what he thinks I need to do to increase my odds of survival. 3.) Hegeman is a pretty smart fella. This whole surgery to me seems like the only chance I ever am going to have of freeing myself of this thing. I have to do this no matter what the chances are. I just don't know how I am going to keep my head straight for 5 weeks leading up to it. I have appointments to see the doctor doing the splenectomy and the plastic surgery reconstruction of my chest in the second week of Sept. The plastic surgeon is George Landis. He is considered one of the best reconstruction surgeons in Minnesota. He is also an in network doctor for Humana aw yeah! Funny thing is that he didn't think that he needed to see me at all before the surgery. Obviously I put my foot down on that one. I actually have a ton of questions for him. Especially since we are talking about nearly my entire upper body being replaced. I just want to know the procedure, risks, benefits, and how it is going to affect my life afterwards. I think that is a legit reason to see the guy. The doctor doing the splenectomy wanted to see me right away so he can inform me of the risks and everything involved. I think I like that guy. I am bummed that it isn't in the beginning of Sept. but atleast it is booked right away.

Today I talked with a couple of older ladies in the lunch room here at the Hope Lodge and we talked quite a bit about all of our situations. It turned into them asking me questions about what they think is good for them to do. It was amazing to hear some of the questions they asked me. It was mainly about foods, doctors, and my experiences. I basically told them that there is always a doctor out there willing to help you and do what you want to do, ask as many questions as you can and get educated about your situation and not an generalization of many situations, go to a nutritionist or learn from the internet or books about cancer preventing foods, and never give up on yourself. These two ladies were pretty amazed because I have been through it once already and how I am handling everything. It was a nice boost to my own moral. It made me realize that when I am done here with this thing that I need to help others in my style of situation out by speaking to people or having one on ones. I didn't realize how much knowledge I retained from my experiences. Think about it I was a zombie for 8 months the first time. I hear things from people that I didn't even know where there or I just didn't know I was there. I know that is also part of the purpose of this blog as well. I guess others that aren't sick don't really understand the mental toll it puts on ones self and people need to talk with others one on one not in a group session. That is why I do not go to the group sessions here at the lodge. They are generalized and seem to be big rah rah speeches. They don't help anything. I honestly think i might have found my calling.