 |
| Recovery Space (Compilation) |
One year ago, April 20, 2021, Bob’s innards were renovated by the inimitable, skilled, enthusiastic, energetic and gifted Doctor Lee S. Cummings (and team).
The diagnosis was Pancreatic Cancer. The procedure was the Whipple.
The surgery saved Bob’s life.
We didn’t fully comprehend during this complicated, stressful period just how fortunate Bob was to qualify for the life-changing, body-altering modification to his digestive and excretory processes. And the accompanying opportunity for the rigorous, Herculean task that is recovery (difficulty of which is eclipsed only by, we’re told, open heart surgery).
Only 20% of all pancreatic cancer patients qualify to undergo the Whipple, which stands as an only-option treatment (along with chemo) for Pancreatic Cancer which has not metastasized outside the pancreas. All while offering no guarantees that a patient will come out of the experience cancer-free.
A yet smaller percentage of Whippled individuals, we are reminded, survive more than 5 years.
Following surgery, Bob completed 12 cycles of the Gold Standard (ie, super hard) Chemo Treatment known as Folfirinox. On April 13, 2022 he received a diagnosis of “NED” (No Evidence of Disease) from his oncologist after his first set of post-chemo CT and labs.
Officially cancer free! Whoop and holla! Go Bob!
In 3 months, he’ll have another set of CT/labs, with aims to receive the same report.
Three months after that, he’ll do the whole CT/labs thing again. And once more, three months after that – and every three months thereafter. For two years. Then every 6 months for 3 years, taking him to the coveted 5-year mark.
Survivors who achieve their 5-year pin (so to speak) are rewarded with annual scans. Every year for the rest of their lives. Yippee!
Meanwhile, Bob returned to full-time, in-office work on April 4, 2022.
 |
| Go Bob! |
Bob continues to carefully monitor his fats, sugars and proteins to keep his redesigned engine running smoothly. In return, his pancreas has kicked in, requiring only a little help from once-daily insulin injections. This annotated sugar monitoring organ (30% of his pancreas having been removed, along with the tumor) rarely needs additional mealtime, or other, correction.
Since he’s also now minus a duodenum - an important iron and fat-processing bit of intestine - Bob makes sure to eat protein rich foods, limit fats and avoid sugar and alcohol. He takes a stool softener, blood thinner, cholesterol meds and high dose iron supplements. As his body doesn't absorb iron efficiently, he may one day need infusions to keep anemia at bay.
He exercises, drinks lots of water and gets plenty of sleep too. There are good days and hard days, persistent thrush, rashes, exhaustion and belly aches. But there is also LIFE.
He got this.
One year down. A celebratory trip with the fam to Florida coming up. A lifetime follows - to dream, scheme, travel, put the finishing touches on our home addition, love one another.
We are grateful.
 |
| Peace Out Chemo |