Wednesday, March 3, 2010

2010 already?!

Well just had the quarterly scans and the residual mass in me continues to shrink and the chest x-ray was clear. So nothing else was noted on the films and or from the physical examination by Dr. Heyer.

We talked about how there are still marks where the medi-port was in me, and he found that interesting, but said it's most likely like a tattoo, due to pigmentation changes caused by the Chemo. Marnie said just go get some sun you're blinding me! LOL

With all the weather have been hard pressed to get any aerobic exercise (except lots of snow shoveling!) so still lacking in any prolonged stamina. With the coming of spring here, hope to be able to start walking, running, biking and regain that last aspect of my health.

Hope this finds all of you doing well.. been a wickedly crazy year since this all went down in 2009 and still coming to terms with the impact and changes that have been across the spectrum of my life.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Year draws to a close

Well a bit late with getting back here, but better than last time *grins*.

So had my quarterly scan at the end of Nov and then saw Dr. Heyer last week. Things are status quo, no changes in the size of the residual mass, leaving him pretty confident that it is just a fibrous mass. Based on the last couple scans, am now just going to be having CT Abd/Pelvis with a chest x-ray. No more CT's of the chest unless something changes and warrants further examination. Still on a quarterly cycle with scans in Feb & May. After that it will be one year post chemo and depending upon the scans, will evaluate things at that time.

Talked with him about my thermo regulation issues and he said that's very normal as we have screwed with the whole metabolism given the drug cocktail I was being subjected too. That may change in time, so we'll see how that progresses. Right now the cold is just bothering me more than it ever has before.

Along with that is a lovely bonus from the bleomycin, called Raynaud's Syndrome. Basically what this means is that the nerve damage to my fingers/toes has affected my bodies ability to regulate the blood vessels at my extremities and I literally lose circulation to my fingers and toes. If you want to know more about this, click on the name above. So far haven't had any respiratory issues related to the bleomycin, so I guess that's a good comprimise. Not sure if this is a permanent thing or something that will fade with time.. we'll see won't we?! LOL

Otherwise physically I'm doing good, had a small set back with some torn muscles between my ribs and a bruised left hip from a fall, but am now recovered from that and getting back to working out again, finally!

The family is doing good, Shannon made the all A honor roll in her first quarter in 7th grade, Ashley continues to do well and they both ran the Reindeer Romp again this month is freezing rain/snow. We have started winter softball clinics after 6 weeks off and they seemed to be doing well, Ashley is still pitching and starting to work hard to improve. For Marnie & I work continues to occupy our time, as well as Girl Scouts (yes we are cookie parents for both troops again this year). In addition Marnie is again doing candle sales through Partylite which she enjoys.

Hope this finds you all warm and healthy and truly wish you all a great Holiday Season! To all a Merry Christmas and good night for 2009....

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Time Flies...

Well gotten out of the habit of posting something here and was talking with someone about my experience and realized that I didn't want to let this fade away, so let me bring you back up to speed on things in my life.

At the end of August I had a follow up CT scan and when I saw Dr. Heyer (Oncologist) in early September, the results were encouraging. The residual mass which was thought to be fibrous or scar tissue has shrunk slightly giving more confirmation that what's left is just a fibrous mass that will continue to slowly shrink over time. Am scheduled for another CT scan in Nov and will be interesting to see if we continue to see ongoing shrinkage of the fibrous mass.

As for me, mentally/emotionally I still have some moments (LOL don't we all!) especially when going for the scans, that still gives me a bit of consternation. But on the whole I am doing well. Physically everyone says that I look great! I have kept the head shaved (girls like it, especially Ashley *wink*) and my color/stamina are back to normal. I still have some moments were things just tucker me out though, so would say I'm about 95% back. One thing that I have noticed is that the chemo has affected my ability to thermo regulate. I used to never be the one cold or have an issue. But now I find myself chilled a fair bit more and have to watch for that, will be interesting to see if this is a long term thing or short term (gotta remember to talk to Dr. Heyer about this!) So now time to start looking at closing that gap over the next few months and getting back to 100%

I'm back to coaching softball for Shannon's team and helping out with Ashley's team as able. This is always a busy time for us, with both girls playing we have softball 5 nights a week and then on Saturdays. Broken down that's 2 practices, 2 games, pitching/catching clinic and then the Saturday games. So needless to say between work and softball, along with a few other activities I am flat out like a lizard drinking.

It is also interesting to me how, having been through this ordeal, I find myself giving more time/energy towards events that are geared towards educating about and eradicating cancer. Am working with the American Cancer Society again in 2010 for Relay for Life, and have seen/participated in events for Leukemia/Lymphoma Society as well. Funny how coming to the edge and looking in the abyss, one gains a whole new perspective and priority!

Will try to post back at least monthly and feel free to give me a shout out if I start slacking again!

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Settling back in

Well things are starting to settle back to a dull roar.

With the girls gone to CA for 3 weeks, Marnie and I have been playing catch up on everything and getting there!

Got out for a 20 mi bicycle ride on Sunday and was surprised that I was able to go the whole way, without being in agony. A little butt sore the next couple days from the seat, but otherwise was a great ride.

We are getting ready for our little get away before the girls get back, going to head down to VA Beach for the State Motorcycle Rally. That will be a blast, hopefully we have a good turn out. Then girls get back and back into the routine.

Hope all are doing well, things here are getting back on track!

Thursday, July 16, 2009

Out with the old..

Well let's see the last couple weeks have been good, the weather here in VA has been so mild, gotten time out on the bike and enjoyed it as well. We have been busy with Swim Team and Ashley is have a good year and enjoying herself, Shannon decided not to swim and has been a good cheerleader from the side of the pool!

Got my medi-port removed on Tuesday July 14th, what a way to celebrate Bastille Day! Our neighbor Diana, went with me, so that Marnie didn't have to take any more time off from work. Everything went well and they even gave me the port, so I could show the girls. Will take a couple photos and add them here later tonight. Was out of it most of Tuesday from the sedation & drugs. But then went cold turkey yesterday and just took it easy working from home. Back in the office today and the incision site is still a little swollen and sore, but getting there slowly. Have to be careful how I move my right arm and neck, but otherwise everything is good.

The bummer about this is that I can't ride for 10 days until the incision heals up, and we are having this great weather! But a small price to pay for having the port out of me. I had a constant bruise around it, that appears to be dissipating finally, and think that there could have been a little leakage from the vein were the tube was inserted. But all is removed and closed up now, so things are healing and I'm feeling better.

Next scheduled scan is end of August and I got the results of my last blood work today with everything looking normal, they checked the levels of the tumor markers and they are normal as well. Seems like things are settling back to normal all around, and once the port incision heals can get back to working out and running with Marnie!

Couldn't have done this without the thoughts, support, prayers and myriad of other things that everyone has done for me and the family.

YA'LL ROCK!!

Thursday, July 2, 2009

Watch & Wait begins...

Well back from seeing the Oncologist and we are now officially in the watch and wait mode!

We looked through the results of the PET scan and there was no indication of increased metabolic activity from the area of the metastic tumor by kidney. This would say that the mass left is fibrotic (dead) tissue and thus NO surgery is necessary at this time! WOOO HOOO!

They did see a bright spot on the right side of my neck in one of my lymph nodes. But when this type of testicular cancer (seminoma) spreads, it goes to the chest first (which is clear) and then to the LEFT side of the neck. So it appears to be totally unrelated to my cancer (could be from my port on the right side, or a cold) however, will continue to watch that closely. Additionally when felt it was tender to the touch, a sign of inflammation. A cancerous lymph node is usually swollen but not tender to the touch.

Speaking of ports.. get my Medi-port out in less than two weeks, on 7/14, so that could resolve the whole lymph node thing too. Have my next CT scan at the end of August and they will do an additional scan of my neck to just make sure that there is nothing going on there. Otherwise it will be alternating CT scans and PET scans for the rest of this year, about 2-3 months apart.

Will be good to get the port out though...

Well off to enjoy a nice ride and do a little celebration of what was the best news possible at this point in time!

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Schools Out

Well it's the end of another school year and big changes are in store for the Gaffey's in the fall. Shannon moves to Herndon Middle School to start 7th grade and Ashley will be back at Clearview heading into 4th.

With the end of school, the pool is now open full time and Ashley is swimming on the community swim team again this year (Shannon opted out.) So we had our first couple meets this past week. Marnie is doing her thing scoring again and I've become the unofficial team photographer and well as the loud parent cheering on his daughter! LOL

Had a wonderful Father's day with family and friends all around. Marnie, the girls and I rode out to pizza with 13 other motorcycles and had a great day. The weather threatened rain, but was just a blustery wind and overcast. It was a nice 80 miles of riding, pizza and ice cream for everyone. And a very relaxing afternoon before heading off to play softball. It has been good getting back on the field myself and helping out my friends team. Hopefully get picked up full time in the Fall or next Spring!

Had the PET scan yesterday, that wasn't bad at all, just was like a meat locker in the scanning room..brrrrr. I was cold for a good hour afterwards and even Marnie commented that's unusual for me! So now we are waiting to go see Dr. Heyer next Thursday July 2 and see were we go from here.

Thanks to all for the continuing, thoughts, prayers, support, encouragement and all that you do!

Monday, June 15, 2009

Relay for Life

So this past weekend was our local Relay for Life, which I participated in for the first time. I joined the Clearview Elementary team (Ashley & Shannon's school) at their request, and only afterwards did I find out that BOTH of Shannon's 5th grade teachers were also Cancer Survivors!

We had a great day on Saturday with the entire Clearview team walk/running to raise money for fight against Cancer. Not only was it Marnie & myself out there, but both Shannon and Ashley got into the swing of things themselves! They each walked/ran over 8 miles .. and had a good time doing it! There were so many other kids out there, friends from school supporting other teams, people from softball, around the community it was truly awesome seeing the whole Herndon community come together for this event.

Saturday night was a bit wet and we didn't make it through the night, went home got a few hours of sleep and came back early with donuts & coffee for those from our team who kept the baton going through the night! The girls wanted to spend the night, but this being our first year and me still not up to snuff, we weren't ready. Next year however, we are there for the haul, and look forward to seeing ya'll out there with us, one way or another!

At this point, thanks to the many generous contributions we crushed my goal raising $3,285, the Clearview Team has almost double their goal raising $6,898 and the entire Herndon Relay for Life had 787 participants, raising $183,945. It was truly an awe inspiring event just as a person, let alone as a cancer survivor!

Special thanks to those who did come and walk with me during the event, your presence lifted my spirits and lightened my load. I am truly blessed to have people like you in my life and words alone can't express the Thanks and emotions that I feel. Hope to see you all out there again next year!

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Playing the waiting game.

Well things are getting back to normal around here.

My blood chemistry is almost all back in the normal range, so that is a great start! I'm back in the office full days again. And back active all around, slowly getting back that strength and stamina though, some days I'm just knackered.

Started playing Men's softball again as a sub for a friends team and that is going well, a little rusty but was great to get back out on the field again! In an ironic twist of fate, the team I'm now playing for was the team I last played against 3 years ago before my shoulder surgery!

Things at home are busier than all get out, end of the girls softball season, start of swim season (for Ashley), end of school year, Shannon graduating from elementary school, Marn doing a little more traveling now that I'm getting healthy again, and of course we are out riding the motorcycles now that the weather is getting nice!

Everything with regards to the big "C" is on hold right now.. waiting for the PET scan which is scheduled for Jan 24th. This will tell us if the remaining mass is metabolically active. The hope is that what's left on the CT scans after the Chemotherapy is just fibrous tissue or "scar tissue", if that's the case, then into watching mode for the next few years. However if the remaining mass shows as metabolically active in the PET scan, then I will be having surgery to remove the remaining tumor and then we go into the watching mode. Very hopeful that another surgery is NOT required, as that will take a couple weeks to recover from, given the location of the metastatic tumor in me.

Follow with the Oncologist is scheduled for July 2, so just weekly blood work between now and then, keeping an eye on things, had my medi-port flushed out last week and am so ready to have that removed!! But alas until we are sure things are done, it remains buried in me, just in case.

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Visit with the Dr

Sorry if I freaked a few of you out, got caught up with getting ready for Rolling Thunder and didn't get to posting here! Well after recovering from a weekend of riding the motorcycle and spending time with a couple hundred of our close SCRC friends, back to business.

Saw Dr. Heyer on Thursday and he confirmed what I saw on the CT scans, the chemotherapy shrunk the tumor over 60%! And he was overall happy with the results and my tumor markers in my blood are all back to a normal level.

What they can't tell at this point is if the remaining tissue is just 'scar tissue' or it is still metabolically active (ie still a viable tumor and growing) Based on previous studies less than 25% of the time is the tumor still alive. So to determine if this is the case, I'm going to have a PET scan (Positron Emission Tomography) at the end of June. With the help of a tagged sugar, this scan determines if the area is still highly active (indicative of cancer)

If the PET scan comes back as normal, then we are into the watch mode following treatment that can go on for 3-4 years. If the PET scan comes back with the tumor as still alive/active, then I have surgery to remove the residual mass (now possible due to being post chemo and the size of the remaining mass)

So right now just getting back on with life, softball is winding down, school ends in a couple weeks and Shannon will be graduating to Middle School! Working at least half time in the office, and slowly increasing that over the coming weeks. But taking it slow as I regain my strength and stamina.

Not the ideal outcome from the Doctor's visit, would have loved to hear that the tumor was all gone! But better than it's still the same and chemo had no effect on the tumor.. YIKES... that would have sucked! So we are just trying to put this on the back burner and keep busy with life, family, friends, work, etc. We'll see what happens come the end of June. Will keep writing here every week or so, keeping ya'll up to date.

Your thoughts, prayers, and everything else has certainly been invaluable and I can't express enough what it has meant to not only myself but Marnie. We are still in awe of all the support that we have received from all corners of our lives, you guys ROCK!!