Sid Bacon

It was a great week, but it is always nice to reach the weekend …
 

I am amazed that I feel as well as I do today, about 24 hours after chemotherapy.  The anti-nausea patch is certainly doing its thing, and I’d like to believe my improving physical strength and condition are helping me weather this storm.  My walk today was fairly brisk, though a bit shorter than yesterday’s.  Today was a scheduled day for weight lifting, so I did that, too … so far so good.  About the only acute side effect I experience with chemo these days is tiredness … I am not more fatigued, just a little sleepier … nothing that a strategically timed nap can’t cure!
 

I mentioned yesterday that the medical professionals at Piper are discussing my case to determine the next step in treatment.  They just didn’t expect tumor markers to reach normal this soon in treatment – it was certainly their goal to get to normal, but they may not reach that goal with everyone, and certainly not this soon.  It is nice that these brilliant minds are thinking so hard about this problem (and a very good problem it is).  It is exciting to be at the forefront of this medical fight against pancreatic cancer, even if only as a patient. 
 

The next regimen of chemo drugs is more toxic than the first, which I am on now, and thus I may have new side effects to deal with.  Fortunately, they have drugs to counteract those effects, and I will continue to hope that my strength and generally good condition will help carry me through chemo with flying colors.  In truth, I am okay with the notion of greater toxicity, particularly if it does even more damage to my tumors.  One may ask why it would be necessary or at least advantageous to switch early, and not continue on to the 6th and final cycle with the current chemo drugs.  One reason is that the current regimen has perhaps done all that it might be expected to do.  Also, it is important to stay one step ahead of the tumors. Cancer is opportunistic.  Cancer cells may become resistant to today’s treatment, and therefore become active again.  What is effective today may not be effective tomorrow.  That is why we are always going to be in this fight, in this war against my cancer.  We need to keep winning the battles and have the correct arsenal at hand to keep the cancer at bay. It won’t be easy, but I have faith in my medical professionals and I have faith in you.  It is, as I’ve said before, a multi-pronged approach to this fight.
 

I forgot to mention yesterday that I have now gained 1.6 pounds more than I lost!  I don’t necessarily have a new goal for weight gain.  I’ll just keep eating a healthy diet, full of calories and protein.  Any extra weight will be good.
 

Laura’s follow-up appointment on Wednesday with her orthopedic surgeon was a success.  Her wrist is healing well.  This has been a good week for her, not only in terms of her wrist, but also with the Heat winning the NBA championship.  You can almost hear the celebrations in the two states of the union where the majority was rooting for the Miami team: Florida (obviously) and Washington (the Oklahoma City Thunder used to be the Seattle Supersonics … no lingering bitterness there …).  Laura is going to move back to her house today.  She gets an award for tolerating her parents for such a long period of time.
 

A couple days ago Cathy and I had lunch with Liz’s parents (Cathy and Richard).  It was fun to get together with them.  Among other things, we reminisced about the wedding, looking at various photos that had been taken by Liz’s mom as well as by the hired photographer.  The wedding has provided so many wonderful memories.  It is so nice that the two sets of parents enjoy getting together; indeed, we look forward to many more such gatherings. Dan and Liz thought that they were the only ones to benefit from their union …
 

I know that Dan and Liz are enjoying their honeymoon in Costa Rica.  We’ve received a few pictures and emails and they have communicated to us via the guestbook on this web site.  They have done so many fun things, and are creating happy memories to cherish for a lifetime.  Cathy and I certainly will look forward to hearing more about their trip and seeing more pictures, probably when we visit them in early July.
 

Thanks again for your continued support. Cathy and I benefit so much from it.
 

I hope you all have a wonderful weekend!  More on Monday …

I had a good weekend, and I hope you did, too.  But unfortunately, as we all know, weekends fly by too quickly! 
 

I had an incredible amount of energy on Saturday, two days post-chemo. Surprising, amazing, and much appreciated!  I went on a long walk, during which time I found myself in an incredibly positive mental state.  I was on top of the world, and so grateful to be there.  I spent some time outside, cleaning the patio, etc., but then moved inside when it got too hot (didn’t take long!).  I vacuumed the house and still had lots of energy.  Had it been nice out, I might have spent the entire day working in the yard.  I felt that good.  But because it was hot outside, I shifted to more sedentary activities inside.  I talked to my mom and dad on the phone, did a little work for the journal I edit, and continued reading the book on cancer that I mentioned last week. Cathy and I went out to eat Saturday night.  It was a wonderful meal, and of course a wonderful evening.  It is just so nice to spend time with her.
 

On Sunday, Cathy and I went on an early-morning bike ride.  I hadn’t been on a bike since my diagnosis.  We used to ride at least once a week, to give ourselves a break from running.  We didn’t go all that far yesterday, but it was a good ride … I think I’ll ride a few times per week, just to mix up my exercise routine.  But I think I’ll stay on the streets, and not venture onto the mountain trails.  I’m just not that adventuresome, nor am I in that good of shape. 
 

I felt more tired yesterday than Saturday, although I still had a fair bit of energy.  Sunday seemed to be worse for me last week, too, in terms of being tired and generally just sleepier.  It may reflect the fact that Sunday is my first day post-chemo that I do not take steroids (I take them for just two days after chemotherapy).  My mental state wasn’t quite as strong either.  I think to some extent it rides along with my physical state, although it didn’t help to read a letter to the editor in the paper that mentioned how dismal the 5-year survival rate is for individuals with pancreatic cancer.  I try to avoid those statistics.  I am not an average patient or a data point reflecting the average of all those with pancreatic cancer.  And I am getting cutting-edge medical treatment, treatment that is on the forefront of pancreatic cancer research.  Moreover, I am responding remarkably well.  I have reason to be optimistic, even in the face of pessimistic statistics.  I just need to stay focused.
 

Cathy’s sister-in-law, Carter, was in town for almost 24 hours; it was fun to see her! Laura picked her up at the main Phoenix airport late Sunday morning and drove her to our house.  Cathy took Carter to the regional airport this morning, so she could catch an Allegiant flight to Rapid City, SD.  Carter and her husband, Paul (Cathy’s brother), spend the summers in the Black Hills, away from the sweltering Houston heat.  Paul already has been in the Hills for a little bit this summer.  Carter just returned from a two-week trip to Latvia, where she ran art workshops for children.  She had great pictures and stories about her trip.  Her visit just preceded Hillary Clinton’s visit to that small country.  Two celebrities in such short order! I’m sure they enjoyed Carter’s visit more than Hillary’s.  Carter is way more fun.
 

Yesterday afternoon, Cathy, Carter, and I went to see the new movie “Seeking a Friend for the End of the World”.  It was a good movie, well-written, well-acted, etc., but it hit a little too close to home …
 

Cathy and I went on a nice walk this morning.  We haven’t walked together for a little while, so it was especially nice.  She is my rock.  She said I’d be the “Lance Armstrong of pancreatic cancer”.  I think she meant I would beat the disease, not that I would win the Tour de France, although coming so close on the heels of yesterday’s bike ride, one never knows for sure …
 

Dan and Liz returned safely from their honeymoon in Costa Rica.  They got home early this morning.  We look forward to talking with them later today, and really look forward to seeing them in a few weeks, at which time I’m sure we’ll hear more about their trip and see all their pictures.
 

Thanks to all of you for your continued support.  It means so much to me and Cathy.  Team Bacon fights together.  

I certainly have been overwhelmed and transformed by the gifts of friendship I have received through the Caring Bridge website.  I have been touched by so many.  Some are friends from the past, from either high school or college days … friends I may or may not have seen for almost 40 years!  Regardless, here they are, offering their friendship and support … fighting with me, side by side.  Others are friends I have made since college, many – though not all – through work. They all join my family in supporting me through this ordeal, lifting and holding me up as we continue down the recovery road.  It truly is extraordinary, and I am sincerely touched.
 

I live with my very best friend.  Cathy is unwavering in her friendship and support.  I couldn’t do this without her.  Her friendship is a gift.  She is a gift.
 

If I were a young man looking for a male friend, I would seek Dan.  He is amazing.  He already knows how to be a caring and loving friend. He just married his best friend … what a gift.
 

And if I were a young man looking for a female friend, I would befriend Laura.  She is incredibly compassionate, with a heart of gold.  She will be there for her friends, no matter what … a true gift.
 

I have made new friends over the past few months, as part of my ordeal. One is a physician.  Although I am not under his care anymore, he calls me occasionally to see how I am doing.  His care and compassion are just what you want in a physician.  He called me yesterday to say how pleased he was to see the most recent reports on my progress.  He cares.  What a gift.
 

Today’s photo is a picture of Cathy, her sister Mary, and, in between them, their friend Debbie.  Debbie sent us this picture last week and, as you might gather, she has done a little photo shopping to insert the Team Bacon sign. Debbie has been an incredible friend to Cathy and me.  She is exceptionally thoughtful and caring … a real gift to us.
 

The best friendships work in two directions, full of give and take.  I have not been able to reciprocate adequately the gifts of friendship, to give you as much as you have given me. I hope, however, that the gifts you receive from your own acts of kindness will sustain you through our friendship.  You are dear friends.  Thanks for being there for me.

Wow, another hot day in Phoenix!  (Not surprising, but not particularly enjoyable either.) The predicted high for today and the next several days is around 111 degrees.  It is a dry heat alright, but 111 is 111 … just plain hot.  It is getting harder and harder to exercise outside before it gets hot, as it is already pretty hot by 5:30 AM. 
 

I went on a pretty long walk this morning (~50 minutes).  Cathy joined me for at least half of it, before taking off on her run.  It has been great to have her with me on at least part of the walk the past several days.  It would be easier for her to skip the walk and just run, to get her exercise over with before it gets any hotter, but she doesn’t think about herself first.  Given this heat, it is fortunate we have a pool.  Cathy usually dips in after her run to cool off.  I haven’t been in the pool this season, in large part because of my anti-nausea and anti-pain patches – it is best not to get them too wet, otherwise they don’t stay on very well.  And, indeed, we are having enough trouble keeping them on as it is, given that it is so much hotter and I am more active.
 

A decision has been made regarding my chemotherapy treatment.  I will continue on with the 6th cycle of the current regimen (12th, 19th, and 25th of July), and will then begin the new regimen sometime the week of 20 August. Sometime before starting the 6th cycle, I’ll likely have a CA19-9 tumor marker test, and sometime after the 6th cycle, I’ll probably have another CT scan and tumor marker test.  We will, of course, be hoping that the tumor is still shrinking and is still inactive.  I will have chemo on Wednesday the 25thrather than Thursday the 26th, as we’ll be leaving for our godson’s wedding in CO on the 26th. It doesn’t concern me at all to be having chemo right before leaving, as I’ve been doing so well with the chemo lately that I don’t think it will affect me in any particularly negative way.  I may be a little tired the day of the wedding, but the adrenalin will likely carry me through. It is going to be fun.
 

There are several logistical differences between the two chemotherapy regimens.  The new regimen consists of four chemotherapy drugs, compared to the two I get now.  The infusion period will be longer, which means longer days at Piper.  Moreover, one of the drugs is infused over a 46-hour period, so they give me a pump to bring home to complete the infusion.  This also means that I will need to return to Piper when the infusion is complete, so they can disconnect the pump.  A cycle is also different: in the new case, one cycle will consist of one week on, one week off, one week on, and one week off (compared to the current three weeks on, one week off).  I may have mentioned that these drugs are apparently more toxic than the ones I am on now, with somewhat different side effects.  Although I may be more adversely affected by the chemo, you just never know.  I’ll be starting out strong, so I hope I can tolerate the drugs well.  I can’t say that I’m looking forward to the new regimen, but I like the idea that the drugs may be even more effective, given their higher level of toxicity.  It is good to have strong drugs in our arsenal.  Fight, fight, fight …
 

I am looking forward to going to Piper tomorrow, to complete the infusion part of cycle 5 (next week is my week off, during which time we’ll be in San Diego visiting Dan and Liz!!).  I have more and more confidence that my platelet count will be sufficiently high to have chemo (it was 112,000 last week; it needs to be 50,000), although it is always a relief to be told that they are high enough for treatment.  We’ll keep our fingers crossed, and will post tomorrow’s blog from Piper sometime in the afternoon.  In the meantime, I hope you have a great day, and thanks for all your support!

It is monsoon season in Arizona.  The Phoenix metropolitan area was hit last night with two dust storms (haboobs, as they are now called, at least by some …).  Neither was anywhere near the size of the major dust storm we had last July 5th (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HdDr8l3n1H0), but one was at least 3000 feet high (not sure how wide or deep).  Both were sufficient to cause visibility problems, and to leave a bit of a mess, especially in our pool and on our patio.  They were accompanied by very little rain. Indeed, our area of the Valley was about the only one to receive any precipitation.  It wasn’t much, but we are grateful for any that we get.  These dust storms are impressive, but not very welcomed.

In addition to my regular editing duties, recently I have been busy reading all the articles published in that journal in 2011, in order to pick the best one to receive the Editor’s Award.  Although I started my term in January of 2011, most of these articles were edited by my predecessor, given the time it takes for articles to matriculate through the peer-review process and ultimately be published.  I have just about reached my decision, which is due tomorrow …

I am headed to Piper in a few hours.  I am hopeful and confident that my platelet count will be sufficiently high to receive treatment today. Unfortunately, I am feeling uncharacteristically nauseous this morning, but on the bright side I will receive an anti-nausea drug intra-venously before my first dose of chemo, so I should feel better soon. This little bout with nausea is a great reminder of how good I generally feel.  Always good to be reminded …

I am at Piper.  They set me up in a little room so I could have a bed rather than a recliner … when I am nauseous, I tend to feel better when I am in a horizontal position.  They even gave me the anti-nausea drug prior to knowing my platelet count … they usually don’t give you the “pre-meds” if you don’t receive chemo, but they are trying to make me feel better as soon as possible.  They take good care of me here.

They just came in to tell me that my platelet count was 54,000, so we are good to go.  I am pleased.  We are fighting!  Onward we go.  Thanks for fighting with me.