“People hang on his every word . . . even the prepositions”
“He can disarm you with his looks . . . or his hands, either way”
“He speaks french . . . in Russian”
“He once had an awkward moment just to see how it feels.”
“He is the Most Interesting Man in the World.”
I have got to hand it to the marketing wizards at Dos Equis. I absolutely love these commercials. I even find my self buying Dos Equis because it makes me smile. One day I had a 12er at the checkout of the grocery store and an old man, in a wheelchair, behind me says “you must be the most interesting man in the world.” As I left the checkout, I responded “Stay thirsty my friend.”
Recently I was perusing some of the commercials on YouTube because who wants to actually work this time of year. I came across a fairly profound quote that touched me personally. Its kind of like a fortune cookie. You usually get some vague stupid uplifting messages. But one time I got “You have a promising future in the field of wacky inventions.” Now thats a fortune that I can do something with. It has detail and direction, not just vaugue mumbo jumbo.
The following is a clip that may have just changed my life:
As you deal with questions of death you start asking yourself what mark you are going to leave on the world. You always hear the phrase “life is short” but now it really means something. So, it is time to start beefing up that obituary.
If you would like to take in the genius of the rest of the commercials, here ya go:
Merry Christmas. Although I’ve been draggin my ass all day (kids got us up at 6 a.m.) even with two naps, its been a great day. Christmas is one of those days, for me, were you really reflect on family and remember some great times. I hope you all had a similar day (without the dragging of the ass part).
Its been about 1 year since I started this journey. It has been a difficult, yet eye opening year. Wishing you all a Colonoscopy this Christmas (if you have not had one yet). Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.
When I started this mess I was told it was 12 treatments. Wtf? Well, 12 did not do the trick. I took a small break for some surgical consults and I am heading back up to talk to a radiologist on Jan. 7th about thera-sphere treatments. But, my onc, as I stated, was afraid that with too big of a break in chemo my tumors would be raging faster than my hemorrhoids. So, yesterday we did a round of Chemo Lite ® (I have not actually registered the trademark . . . but I should). I did the 5 F.U. and Leucavorin (I never spell this right) but no Oxi or Avastin. That way I can have the procedure done if necessary with only a light dusting of poison in my body. I’ve got to say that Chemo Lite is not nearly as bad. Still feel tired and I’m enjoying the constipation but no cold sensitivity, no jaw pain, and generally, just not feeling as beat up. My bigger question is, can the 5 F.U. really do the trick without the Oxi? Who knows. But, I am looking forward to being away from chemo for the rest of the holidays.
Have a Merry Christmas if we don’t talk before then.
Sorry, I have already used that joke. But whenever I have a break from chemo, and have to go back, I generally say “no no no” and the Amy Whinehouse lyrics start flowing.
My onc is concerned about the length of this chemo break. I have not had chemo since Nov. 19 waiting for surgical consults and it has been nice. Then, the radiologist put his appointment out to Jan. 7 and my onc is afraid that my tumors might start raging faster than my Hemorrhoids. So, I’m doing chemo on Monday less the Avastin and Oxi. I will still get 5 fuck you’s and leucivorin. But, I will spare the approximate 20 fuck you’s provided by the Oxi. Likewise, I can avoid the “cold sensitivity Christmas.”
Treatment update: One of the radiologists on the tumor board called me thinking I was a candidate for the embolization therapy. This is the one I told you about where they jab little radioactive spheres near the tumors in my liver. I am heading back to Huntsman Cancer on Jan. 7. The good news is no chemo during the holidays.
It has now been like 3 or 4 weeks since the last chemo. But my fatigue is still trough the roof. I’m dragging my ass every single day. I don’t sleep well, but even when I do I’m still tired as hell. By about 2 or 3 I am nodding of asleep no matter where I am. I can’t muster up enough energy to do a damn thing. It is like a perpetual hangover without the benefit of a perpetual drunk. I mean if I was drunk every day and night I could live with this consequence. But I getting the hangover without the fun of the drunk. This blows.
Breakin 2 Electric Boogaloo is the best break dancing movie ever. Thats your breaking news.
In other news, I just returned from my trip to the SLC and Huntsman Cancer Institute. As I have stated before, Huntsman is the freaking Marriott of hospitals. I ate lunch at the 6th Floor restaurant which has glass floor to ceiling showing an amazing view of not only my alma mater University of Utah, but the entire Salt Lake Valley. I could see all the buildings in which I skipped many classes.
I met with the Surgeon first. This guy did my liver resection in July. He’s a good guy. I explained that I had new tumors immediately after surgery even before we could get back on chemo. He says the new tumors are not resectable as he is afraid it would not leave me enough liver to sustain life. I quickly informed him that sustaining life was one of the goals I was shooting for. He has suggested that an RFA or another procedure where they jam radioactive beads up the vein near your groin (I don’t recall the name of the procedure) may be options. I’m not sure I like the terms “radioactive” an “groin” in the same sentence.
I also met with an oncologist just to get another opinion. Another good guy. He gave me pretty much the same answers as my local onc, but shared much more analysis and detail. He explained that if we are going for cure it would have to be surgical. At best, chemo is pallative care to keep things at bay. He indicated that he had patients that had undergone more than 100 rounds of chemo. Gee thats great. He also indicated that with the advent of 5FU, Oxi, and the I drug in FOLFIRI that they statistically add 24 months to life. Are you shitting me. Are you saying that I am going to be on chemo for the rest of my 2 year life. More wonderful news you asshole. Of course, he clarified, everyone is different, it could be much better.
The two docs are presenting my case to their tumor board on Tuesday, so I will know a little more then. But, I could not help leavingthere with a somewhat bad taste in my mouth. I quickly drove to Squatters Pub Brewery in downtown SLC to improve the taste in my mouth with some delicious Nut Brown Holiday Ale. That helped a little. I followed that up with dinner and attending the Jazz - Pacers game with the best seats I have ever had. So, night ended well.
If I’m not dead by tuesday I’ll let you know what the tumor board thinks.
“People hang on his every word . . . even the prepositions”
