ON THE ROAD AGAIN

April 5, 2012

This is just a quick note to say Pegs and I are off again. Our plans for New Orleans have materialized and we are heading to Toronto this morning to visit friends and to catch our flight Saturday to New Orleans (it is cheaper to fly Delta from Toronto than Ottawa). We fly back in time to attend the Educational Conference on the 21st and then that night head for Winnipeg to visit with my daughter, her husband and the grandchildren for ten days.

This week, I met with a heart oncologist, Dr Johnson, who has given me the okay from a heart perspective to proceed with targeted therapy using Sutent. I had been using the term chemotherapy but was corrected by Dr Moretto saying the more correct terminology was “targeted therapy”. I am assuming that chemotherapy is reserved for therapy involving injections and/or radiation. Sutent is an expensive pill taken orally once a day. As one of the side effects of Sutent can affect the heart, there was some concern. I had lost about 15% efficiency as a result of a heart attack about 30 years ago. However, since that time I have become an obnoxious non-smoker and have run several marathons. While I am no longer running, my waist line shows it, I  still walk every day and frequently hike during my vacation periods. In short, while it is not as efficient as I would like my heart to be, it is still very robust and should be able to handle what I am about to throw its way. All the same, I will keep an eye on it.

It is still undecided when I will start the Sutent. I know it will not be until May at the earliest which is why I am traveling now. In the meantime, I am continuing to work on my physical conditioning, reduce the belly girth and to work on the mind. I have started to read Dr Bernie S. Siegel’s books beginning with “Love, Medicine & Miracles”, great stuff. I am finding lots of interesting information. I have always been attracted to the power of the mind, although I have been lazy developing its full potential. I think now is the time to give the laziness the boot and get busy at this task. Why do I always leave things to the last minute???

Well, Pegs is honking the horn so I have to bolt. Will let you know how New Orleans and all that jazz go. Bye for now.