IN THE EYE OF THE STORM
Tuesday, June 28, 2016
It's amazing there can be any calmness associated with cyclones, hurricanes and thunderstorms...but there is. Within the towering dark circular clouds, raging winds and peltering rain and debris, there is a region of mostly calm weather at the center: the eye of the storm. Located in the center of the storm is light winds and clear skies, encircled by the towering, menacing beast.
This is where I'm at today...resting amid the eye of the storm in my fight against cancer.
The surgeries and biopsies are behind me. The left leg is healing well. The sore pain in my throat associated with last week's surgical biopsy has significantly decreased (and by the way, yesterday, I was told the pathology report revealed no indication of cancer near my tonsillar region!).
Now, I get to have a short reprieve before entering back into the storm.
I meet with my oncologist today to learn what type of treatment I will undergo during the second phase.
Based on previous talks with my oncologist and medical team, most likely they will have me undergo a year of immunotherapy, which essentially uses my immune system to fight the melanoma cancer in my body, by basically turning it into an Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Terminator" style attack system.
The downside of immunotherapy is that it can cause a variety of negative side effects - from minor side effects like fatigue, mouth sores, diarrhea, high blood pressure, vomiting, headaches, to serious negative effects, such as colitis, hepatitis, nerve problems, vision, etc.
Obviously, this is the risk I have to take. To fight for my faith...family...and friends, I have to endure whatever comes my way. And regardless of what comes next, like I said before, cancer is going to have to earn its right to be inside me.
ajh
To learn more about immunotherapy, click here.
To learn more how you can support someone with cancer, click here.
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