The results from the CT scan showed that everything is stable … not much has changed since the last scan, about two months ago. Although I did not expect the scan to show anything bad (given the Ca19-9 results), it is always good to have that hunch confirmed. It is likely that the pain I have been experiencing is due to the ulcer; in fact, one hypothesis is that the pain is the result of the ulcer pressing against the nearby metal stent that I had inserted back in February, to allow food to pass through my stomach. We can’t move or remove the stent, so we’ll just need to be patient while I am healing. I’m not sure if we’ll try some additional medicine to help that healing process, or just continue as we have been. In any event, I am optimistic that we’ll manage the pain better and better and that ultimately the pain from the ulcer will go away. In the meantime, it is a lot easier dealing with this pain when I know it is not caused by an aggressive tumor … Pain, without the anxiety.
Cathy and I went on a nearly one-hour walk this morning. It has been much cooler in the mornings lately. Today it was in the mid 70s, although the humidity was about 80%, so it was pretty muggy. Nevertheless, it was a great walk. Unfortunately, Cathy hurt her hip a week or so ago, so she hasn’t been able to run lately. I think it is nearly healed, though, so perhaps she’ll run a bit tomorrow. While she has been injured, she has been walking the entire routes with me … a silver lining, at least for me!
Classes start at the university today. Cathy is teaching one undergraduate class (with a current enrollment of 101 students), which meets in the late afternoon on Tuesday and Thursday. I used to teach a year-long undergraduate seminar that I developed when I was department chair, but we (the current department chair and I) decided that someone else should teach it this year. I plan to teach it again next year. I won’t be teaching anything this year, but I hope to contribute to the department in other ways, whenever I can. Once again, I am so lucky to be working in an environment with so much flexibility and understanding. It takes a lot of pressure off of me, allowing me to focus on healing.
I do have a PhD student who is currently defining her dissertation research. I am meeting with her later today to talk about two possible topics and associated experiments. With good fortune, she’ll be able to finish her dissertation within a year or so. I hope I am able to provide her as much assistance and guidance as she needs. For the next six months, I probably will be available remotely, from home, the week of chemo, but I hope to be available to meet with her at the university on my “off weeks” (this chemo regimen is one week on, one week off …).
Right now it is a little hard to plan our lives for the next six months. We’ll get some clarity soon, however, once we start the new chemo regimen. I realize that these new drugs are likely to be harder to deal with, but I am optimistic that I’ll do well and that the chemo will not impact our lives too negatively. We’ll certainly know soon enough. What I do know now, however, is that Cathy and I will get through this, just like we have gotten through everything else. And we’ll continue to rely upon Team Bacon to give us support. We couldn’t do it without you.
