The sun is shining!!

Got my latest dose, number 11 (or Round 2 Dose 3 depending on how you are counting) on Tuesday. The nurse wasn’t happy with the look of the rash on my back – I can’t see it, but I know it has been itchy. Dr. Lange came in and looked at it, and fortunately decided it was not severe enough to cancel the treatment. In addition to my antibiotic ointment, he added some oral antibiotics to my regiment. I told him that as long as it wasn’t on my face, I could handle the rash. It is in my scalp again which is beyond annoying, but neither Dr. Lange nor the nurses could see it because as they said, I have too much hair – not a common problem in the Oncology ward. Dr. Lange also asked after my diarrhea. I told him that I’m still at about 10-15 bathroom trips a day. He is not happy with this.

We talked about a drug he wants me to try. It’s called Sandostatin, and it requires several subcutaneous injections a day for a few weeks before going dropping down to weekly injections. I am still doing research on the drug, while the nurses and drug company are fighting it out with my insurance company to see if/how much will be covered. I don’t mind doing the injections – I still have one numb thigh so sticking myself 3 or 4 times a day where I can’t feel it shouldn’t be too bad. Of course I say that now – ask me again in 3 or 4 weeks after several dozen sticks. However, if the drug does what it is supposed to, then we’ll all be happy. Funny thing is the side effects of both the antibiotic I am taking and Sandostatin include diarrhea!! Somehow I think it’s a no-win situation.

It’s been a busy few weeks. We took a brief weekend trip to Miami two weeks ago – got to soak in some rays, see a Marlins game, and have a long overdue reunion. It was a good weekend, but exhausting. Last Thursday night we went to see U2 at the Fleet Center / Boston Garden, or whatever they are calling it these days. The t-shirts say Fleet Center – maybe they will have new ones printed up before their shows in October. Maybe I’ll have to go again just to find out. The concert was great. This was my first time seeing Bono and company, Pat’s second. Of course the last time was 1987, so this was a slightly different show. We both agreed it was one of the best concerts we’ve seen in quite a while.

Memorial Day weekend we did something unusual for us. We stayed home. I think this was the first time in the 7 years we have been together that we did not go anywhere for the weekend - like New Hampshire, New York, or Puerto Rico. This was mostly because Pat did not have Monday off so we would only have had 2 days, but also because we are both exhausted and it was nice to just stay home and take it easy. The weather finally cooperated and we had this big yellow ball in the sky that they tell me is the sun. We took a drive up the north shore coastline. I got my first lobster roll of the season, we blew out a tire (we and the car are fine, and for once luck was on our side because as we pulled to breakdown lane of Route 95, a AAA tow truck pulled up behind us), and spent some time driving aimlessly around trying to decide if any of the towns we drove through were worth considering as a place we’d like to live. So far no, but stay tuned.

This weekend I am heading up to Maine with my friend Heather while Pat stays home and well, works. The sun is supposed to shine once again, so we should have a fine time in Ogunquit – lots to see and do and maybe I’ll even take a picture or two. Not sure what else will be on the agenda – perhaps a stop in Kittery, but mostly just taking it easy.

Enough from this end. I just wanted everyone to know that as much as I can, I am doing some stuff other than going to the bathroom, work and to the hospital once a week.