Ernie is still fighting the effects of the last chemo. This means lots of rest and nothing that requires a lot of concentration. However, his spirits are excellent as he knows he is in the home stretch as far as chemo is concerned. Our thoughts our now turning to the radiation.
The week of September 19--that is the week after he finishes his last chemo--he will have all of his follow up appointments to gauge the size and locations of the tumors post treatment. The docs will then decide whether he is subjected to 5.5 weeks of lower dose radiation or 7 weeks of "normal" radiation. Then, we get a week off, which we will use to go to Minnesota. When we return, it will be time to start the five days per week of radiation.
Our wonderful oncology nurse introduced Ernie to another man--Peter Kaufman--who just completed the same clinical trial that Ernie is in. Peter, who happens to be an MD and, in the small world department, used to live in Winston Salem, was jubilant about his results. He and Ernie exchanged emails and Peter has been giving Ernie insight into what to expect during radiation as well as dos and don'ts. He has not sugar-coated the experience (told Ernie he would feel like crap after the first week or two) but still, it is very reassuring to talk to someone who has actually "been there and done that." We can now start to see the light at the end of the tunnel.
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