Any Port in a Storm

Just a quick update: more will follow when have a few more details. Plus, I believe Karen will want to update the cast of characters.

We just returned home from our visit to Fargo. I guess it is kind of mixed blessing that I can find my way to the Roger Maris Cancer Center, blindfolded. Karen appreciated not having to naviguess, like we do in the Cities. As much as RM is a great institution, I never really wanted to visit the place as a patient, ever again. So my eyes wanted to leak a bit as I made the turns along the tree-lined avenues that led us to a new world. The coffee machine in the alcove off the lobby, still made an "ok" pre-meditated brew, and the little donut balls, tasted homemade. At 53, I still feel like a youngster in the crowd that waits in the lobby for their names to be called.

Dr. Shahidi has the smallest hands I have ever seen on a physician. Karen said she kept waiting for him to make eye contact. He was able to answer some basic questions relating to my treatment. For those playing along at home, my cancer is a T3,N1, which is a stage III B cancer. I will be the fortunate recipient of a 'port'; an implant in my chest, for the administration of my chemo. I will be having chemo, "24/7" during my radiation. My radiation treatment will be 5 days a week, for 5 weeks. Sometime this week or perhaps early next week, I will have the port surgically implanted in my chest. It will be an access point for the little pump I have to wear for those 5 weeks. I will be carrying my 'medicine bag' all the time. Maybe I can add my own special touches; personalizing it, if you will. That whole 'port thing' will be a learning experience, with its' own special potential for problems but really is an effective way to administer meds over a long period of time. I will have the port all the way through the chemo that will follow my surgery.

So, to summarize, we are closer than ever to actually beginning treatment. I should know more tomorrow, or the next day, in terms of when I have the port installed. And I still have my radiation oncology visit set up for Friday.

Peace,
Mike