A Turn

It has been quite a while since my last communication.  But I have not been able to work on the computer at all until today.  That is because of a major turn.  I’ll share the highlights (if they can be called that!)

After the radiation I took a dramatic turn for the worse and was hospitalized.  Blood work showed serious liver blockage that would not allow the liver to do its work.  So a procedure was done to install a stint.  Happily it was a success and the liver is now doing its work.  Good news!

However, on the downside is the bone pain has dramatically increased.  The rest of hospital stay was work to get on top of the pain.  I am now at home because of a portable pump that administers the meds.  I've gotten a lot of relief but it is still a battle.

The doc has determined the chemo drugs will change to address the bone issues.  The main need is to gain strength and weight and begin chemo again.

Well, time for rest.  Thanks again for your prayers and acts of love and help.

Glen

It’s a Pain

I’ve been so impressed with the quality of care – and specifically from the line staff – that I have received every place I’ve gone.  I’ve had multi-CT scans, PET scans, MRIs and now daily radiation.  I really appreciate the professionalism and efficiency I’ve experienced.  Currently that is at Rush University, a large teaching hospital complex close to the Loop, downtown.

I’ve completed 3 of ten radiation treatments, finishing a week from Tuesday.  The procedure itself is quite manageable – the three visits to set it up, not so much.  But now it is a 20 minute in-and-out routine.  Thanks to Adam for driving me nearly every day, what a blessing!

The main purpose of radiation is to reduce the bone tumors’ size and hence the pain produced.  That seems to be happening in the lower back but my hip is very painful yet, now with pain radiating to the knee.  Last night was quite an ordeal as the morphine does not seem able to do much.  I’ll be talking with the doc on Monday to try to understand this more and see if other measures are needed.

I’ve determined that cancer is a lot like trying to repair very old plumbing – complications do easily arise that require significant interventions in all sorts of unexpected arenas. Both are messy and gross, too!  :-) 

So my current prayer request is simple – relief of pain in the hip, knee and leg.

Thanks friends.

Radiation Update

Lonni and I had our radiation consult and here is my layman’s report:

In cases like mine where tumors are numerous it is not practical to treat them all as a course of eradication.  However, treatment can be effective for those tumors that are creating pain.  Therefore, in a few hours I shall return to the scene of the crime to be scanned, measured, aliened and tattooed (honestly) in prep for radiation treatments.

The treatments will be daily but the in and out time of only 20 to 30 minutes, total of 10 sessions in all.  They are optimistic that this will bring pain relief but cannot venture to say to what extent.  There is a standard answer, which I completely understand, to the specificity people like me want: “Well, everyone is different.” – got it – but I still going to ask.

I very much want this procedure ASAP as the situation has made me far too sedentary.  Meds help quite a bit but do not enable me to get around without pain (mainly the hip is a problem.)  

So we shall see and hopefully in 2 or 3 weeks things will be improved.  So to my millions and millions of followers out there  (My dark side wants to be Rush L) – I’ll keep you posted.  So to those who find it tedious to follow along I’ll include pictures – but only if I end up glowing in the dark.

When the radiation is done my chemo treatments will include several more drugs and, as I said before, the doc is optimistic that there will be reduction in tumor size and make this a manageable complication over the long haul.  This cancer springing up in new places is to be expected -- the doc doesn't to say that, but that is kinda my sense.

Thanks for caring!

glen

An Elusive, Complicated Bugger!

In the interest of transparency this edition will share my current struggles and direction as we know it.  The last few weeks have been filled with medical consults and scans.  Cancer is an elusive and complicated bugger that morphs in more ways that Mitt Romney. 

The main issue is the spread to the bones --  the pain the lesions cause and the course of treatment.  This is not the worst pain I’ve experienced (chest surgery and a 6 month battle with mega kidney stone top it), but it is debilitating.  I move like a 100 year old.  So the issue is pain management.  We’ve ratcheted up to a morphine patch that I just put on 12 hours ago and will take another 12 to fully kick in.  I did have a pretty good night last night; slept more that I had in weeks.

Of course, the long term use of morphine is not attractive so, what’s up on the treatment side?  I’m starting two additional drugs.  One is to strengthen the bones because cancers invades and deteriorates them, the other is another chemo drug that will begin after radiation.  I saw a spine and a long bone orthopedic specialist.  Had my vertebrae and/or femur deteriorated and at risk of breakage?  -- Major complications!  If so, surgery with metal implants would be necessary.  So, as has been our experience traversing the dark trails, God’s grace is always active.  I am SOOOOOOOOOOOOO happy to say that in both of those places there is not yet bone deterioration!!  That is a tremendous thing to be thankful for, and we are.

So, nice guys as they are, I was happy to say goodbye to the surgeons.  So now it is hello to the radiation oncologist with a consult next Wed.  With him we will determine how many of these lesions will be zapped with radiation.  Our hopes and prayers are that this treatment will reduce pain and that the new drugs will reduce the cancer tumors.

I continue to be more than pleased with the Block Center.  Such caring and knowledgeable professionals!  Yesterday was chemo day but those are not bleak days – in fact, another evidence of God’s grace is that these chemo days give me an uplift, not a downer.

Along that line my precious family and friends continue to be amazing blessings.  Susan found us a wheel chair to borrow and Sunday afternoon our little brood spent Sunday evening on the Lakefront from the 12 st beach to Millennium Park.  My wife -- she strong like bull!!  That was great fun.  It was great to be mobile but very strange to be in a wheel chair.  Man if I l only had a segway!! :-)   I do like having a handicapped parking permit though!!

You know the old saying, “Be careful what you wish for”?  I was reflecting with a nurse that I battled all my life with weight and often thought, “Man I wish I didn’t have a desire to eat.”  Well that wish came true!  I used to live to eat, now I only eat to live.  It is a chore and such a weird deal not to ever be hungry.   At the worst of my fatness I was 265 lbs years ago.  Yesterday I weighed in at 165.5lbs (40 lbs were intentional, the rest a spinoff of the battle.)  Think about that – I have.  So another prayer request is that I will eat more to get my weight up to 175 – 180.

I’ll finish with telling you of another joy in my life.  Cy (who will be 8 yrs old tomorrow) and I have developed a tradition.  We read a Harry Potter book together and BEFORE we see the movie (currently on book three.)  The reading times (averaging twice daily) are great times for cuddling and fun interaction.  BUT, of course, one thing leads to another so now the birthday Lego requests are HP centered.  Hogworts is not cheap!!

I lied, I’ll really finish with a request: do you know of a mobility scooter hanging around someplace getting dusty?  Circle is such a big facility that in my condition I can no longer transverse.  With a scooter I could get around a lot of it.  I pray this is a temporary condition so I don’t want to buy one, nor can we afford to.  I also figure that there are a lot of these things around.  If you know of a possibility please shoot me an email: glenk@circleurban.org.

Blessings and thanks for the support

glen

A Machine that Cheney Could Love

Well friends, today and yesterday were a day of scans and tests in preparation for next week.  One of those was with my friend and dentist, Mark Jacobs.  One possible (and remote) side effect of a med that I will begin next week can be jaw/gum inflections which can have very serious complications.  I was thankful that I cleared that hurdle but that stinker Mark found a cavity!! (I think there is a big conspiracy "FIND SOMETHING ON KEHREIN")  On Thursday and Friday I had MRI’s on my spin, chest and hips.  I had just watched an interview with Dick Cheney where he defended “enhanced interrogations”.  When I was in the enclosed MRI space for long periods of times I kept thinking – “Dick Cheney would like this machine.”

So now I’m all set for the appointment on Monday with the orthopedic oncologist at Rush University, following that on Wednesday (chemo day) we will begin the new course of treatment.  I’ll post the addition info on Thursday.

So how am I doing?  Yesterday I sat on a bench at Rush watching people bustle by, and thought “I used to able to walk like that.  They don't really know how great it is to do that!!”  So I look forward to getting that ability back and I will have another tremendous praise – walking without pain!!  So if you are having a tough day just think how blessed you  are to get out of a chair and walk/run at will!  That is just one of the many things I’ve taken for granted and now appreciate like never before.  There are many others like when Lonni and I lay in bed together we are so happy to have each other and another day.  I’m taking such pleasure in the fact that Cy is loving his new school – little things now mean so much.  I am so blessed – so are you, I bet J

  

So continue to pray for reduced pain and a good clear path of treatment to address this current challenge.

Thanks my friends.

This PET is not warm and cute.

Doctors have some great lines, like, “Let’s do this test and rule out any problem here.”  The problem with that is, that the results can also “Rule in” a problem.   Ignorance, however, might feel like bliss – its only trouble.

A PET scan works by “lighting up” fast multiplying cells (radioactive particles suspended in glucose are drawn to the tumors.)  The test revealed that the cancer has spread to bones in my spine, ribs and pelvis.  I have also deteriorated physically with pain in those areas, especially my hip.  I’m walking with a cane at times to garner sympathy.  I’m thinking about a tin cup and a cardboard sign – but I’m not pitiful enough yet.

As I’m sure you feel, this was a blow.  Cancer in the bones sounds fatal.  So we’ve (esp me) been very emotional as I look at Cy and my dear, dear wife with the thought of leaving them alone.  It seemed our course of recovery was remarkable and that the trajectory would continue.  This is yet another form of denial – battling cancer is peaks and valleys.  That is just the way it is.

Now you are thinking – where from here?  While we got this news over a week ago I wanted to wait to post until we had a consult with our doc – that happened today.   The week in between  I shared with a number of close friends, family and colleagues only because I wanted to have this confab first and share the course of treatment more broadly.

Actually, the news starts to get better from here forward.  The doc, then the Phys Asst and the RN wanted to assure us that is not fatal news.  This is not an uncommon direction this disease takes and the doc said it does not change his diagnosis that we can get on top and manage this disease for years to come.  As our Jewish friends say, “From your mouth to God’s ears!”

I know it is counter intuitive but the doc would rather see this metastasis (to the bone) than in the soft tissue (that compromises organ function.)

These things were encouraging and helped calm the fears.  It is another battle to be fought in this war, but it is not, apparently, Waterloo.

Beginning next treatment I will be getting a bone strengthening injection to prevent breaking and associated complications.  They also add another colon chemo drug.  I’ve being referred to an orthopedic oncologist at Rush University – one of the top guys in the field – who will help us decide on radiation treatment.  They actually call the tumor zapping  “spot welding”  cuz it not only shrinks the tumor but strengthens the bone.  This is a likely course with my hip.  But I will keep you posted.   Looking forward to increased mobility.

Also counter-intuitive is that it has also been a powerful time of feeling drawn to the comfort and peace of God’s arms in the middle of a lot of tears and fears.  He wants us, not for what we can accomplish, but because his love is so total.  In case you might not have noticed, I am a doer and not much of a mystic.  End of life issues sensitize and heighten our senses.  I am feeling God’s love in new, powerful and peace-creating ways.  Words don’t suffice, but you get the drift.

Thanks for your thoughts, prayers and expressions of love.  I am a blessed man.

Glen

PS: a dear, dear friend gave us four seats behind the visitor’s dugout (5^th row).  It was a beautiful day, perfect setting for Cy’s first Cubs game.  In every way the day was perfect and created precious memories.  Can you believe Cty walked out the park with two balls!!

Like I said, I am a blessed man.  Thank you my brother Jim.

Catching up a Lucky #13

If you are reading this you are indeed a faithful friend, as I am rarely posting these days.  The reason being, things have settled into a boring routine.  This is, of course, good news.  There have been no major turns, no dramatic developments.

As I write I’m in the final hour of my 13^th treatment, with my portable pump slung around my waste.  Since dropping the most toxic drug my energy levels have risen and my mind is clearer.  I’m excited about new developments at our ministry and the role I can yet play and feel energized by it.

You might be surprised to hear that I am working every day, full days.  Yesterday that included an evening meeting until 10pm (Lonni was at my side to monitor, in case you wondered)!   I’m even back to by hobby – a construction/rehab project, this one is a concrete garage slab and patio at our River House I’m getting to on weekends now and then.

How can a guy with stage 4 colon cancer be more blessed than me?!?  Friends tell me I look better than before – this, of course is cuz is down 75lbs!  Hey, if you used to be a medium shirt but are now an XL we ought to do a shirt swap!!  J

Last week I had CT scans and the tumor marker blood test.  I’d love to report that the TM number plunged to normal – but that did not happen.  But it did come down some (114 to 92; normal = 0.)  So, microscopic cancer still exists in my body.  The doc cautions that the TM alone is not definitive.  That brings up the CT scans.  In brief, there is no evidence of new tumor growth but there is a spot on my hip that the radiologist thought needed a closer look.  Late next week I’ll go for a PET scan.  Stay tuned.

My family, particularly my wife, is amazing.  She keeps me on target with diet et al.  She tells me I’m being a good boy; I tell her, and anyone who listens, that she is saving my life!  What a woman!!

Thanks to you all for your encouragement and prayers.  We remain hopeful and diligent in the quest to stay living!!

After Number 11

This treatment (Wed)  was my 11^th and after the next one I will again get scans and blood work.  After this an assessment will be made to determine the next round.  This will include continued chemo, length, etc are yet to be determined.

My blood counts continue to be good enough for only an occasional booster shot.  All in all, I continue to be very blessed, very, very blessed.

The big news is that on my 10^th treatment it was decided to stop the most toxic chemo drug because of the neuropathy and concern it might be causing permanent damage.  This has meant that I have a bit more energy  and generally feel more normal.  It is hard to describe “chemo” brain for all you poor saps that have never gotten to experience it.  It kind of dumbs down thinking, motivation, increase depression, etc.  It seems these things are  improving with this change.

So these things are always a risk/reward thing.  More to follow.

Thanks for your prayers and thoughts,  Lonni and I are upbeat but as scans draw near anxiety grows until results are in.

Love to all, from the incredible shrinking man (65 lbs down!!  -- folks keep telling me how great I look!  -- they are nice to not add, you were a fat pig before J).  I haven't bought medium sized shirts in 35 years!!!  

A Freak of Nature

That is what my chemo nurse called me.  She is a lot of fun and we joke around a lot but she was referring to how well I am doing – outside the normal expectations.

This last treatment, my ninth, I had a consult with two docs – the oncologist (Dr. Thomas) and the integrative care doc (Dr. Mike, protégé of Dr. Block.)  Several days earlier I had CT scans done.  Once again the news was good.  The scans do not reveal any tumor regrowth, one lymph node is reduced in size to normal and the other two are unchanged (slightly enlarged).  There are a few other things like my tumor marker number is slightly up (from the precipitous fall of the previous reading -- that does not alarm the doc, scans are much more important) and this round I'm getting the booster shot for white blood cell count, which I have not needed for the last four times.  These things just let you know I'm not a total freak.

I asked each doc to rate me on 1 to 10 scale.  Thomas gave me an 8 and the Mike a 9.  Dr. Mike remarked on how good I looked, “I see cancer patients all day, every day, but if I didn’t know you had cancer I would not see it.  You look the best of any patient here.”

It was a good day.  Can you believe how very blessed I am?  My support team, led by the best wife a man could ever hope for, deserves so much credit.

Number 9 means I am 3/4s of the way through the first round.  After that I go into a maintenance cycle.  I had naively hoped that meant chemo was over.  No such luck.  I will actually continue chemo for another year.  That is the bad news.  However, there is good news.  I will be dropping the drug that is the most toxic.  This will dramatically reduce the side effects that are the most bothersome.  In fact, Dr. Mike said that patients report to him that they feel nearly normal.  Given how well I’ve done thus far I’m hopeful for that close to normal state.  I look forward to an energy return, which will be nice.

So much to be grateful for!!

Tomorrow marks one year from the day we received the fateful call that Nathan had taken his life.  It hardly seems possible that he has been gone a year already.  How are we doing?  Sad, yet peaceful.  Memories of Nate as a boy bring us joy as we think of his zest for life and variety of life experiences that he enjoyed so much – from playing basketball in the inner city to enjoying small town adventures (and misadventures) with his cousins in Wisconsin.  But adulthood mental illness made life so very, very difficult.  There is a peace in knowing he no longer suffers.

We are so blessed with family and friends who have stood with us, prayed, encouraged and helped over these years of challenge from one thing to another.  Your gift to us is beyond words of appreciation.


Thanks to Eric Metcalf for passing on this quote: 

“If anything matters then everything matters.  Because you are important, everything you do is important.  Every time you forgive, the universe changes; every time you reach out and touch a heart or a life, the world changes; with every kindness and service, seen or unseen... nothing will ever be the same again.”  William P. Young in The Shack

I'm Back!!

Very sorry for going dark.  I acquired a bad virus that had me down for a number of days and I’m still not really over it.  Oh, forgot to mention – it is a computer virus!!  I’ve always liked the bad-news, good-news approach!  Lonni said I was mean to lead with this but… well I’m writing it and I could never be as consistently sweet as her, right?  Plus I’m doing too well – need a little drama to keep my readers.

As I mentioned before, no news is good news.  I write this with my chemo pump on my hip.  As with all rounds this 7^th time my pump friend will be with me until around 10am Friday when Lonni removes the tether.   It really is not hard to manage,  amazing what the body and mind can adjust to!  So things continue to proceed well.  I have not had the white blood cell booster shot for this last three treatments;  this one makes the 4^th in a row.  This means my body seems to be able to recover from the chemo assault pretty well.  My blood counts are all in the lower range of normal.

I take this as another sign of a successful treatment path, complete with much support and prayers.   This time around, because things are so stable the Physician Assistant and I had little to talk about – the no news good news thing.  But next time will be different because I had thirteen tubes of blood drawn to do my follow up “comprehensive terrain”.  This deal is looking at and comparing to the baseline terrain first done when I started.  Results will tell us how the supplements and diet have worked to address my areas of deficiency (besides all those that you all know about.)  I’m looking forward to getting that objective feedback and will report out here. 

I continue to enjoy meeting other patients and hearing their stories.  It is amazing how consistent each has been.  In Penny Block’s noontime group we get to interact a bit and then more later between treatments, massages et al.  I have yet to meet a fellow patient who came to the BC in their first round so I consistently ask them to compare and contrast their experiences.  Everyone is so much more pleased with the BC.  This week I spoke to a lady from out east.  She has pancreatic cancer and went to a number of places including Johns Hopkins.  She, like others, spoke of the mass treatment approach of – get in, get hooked up, get out.  Just soooooooooooo different from the Block Center of family feel, relaxed and even fun place.  Lots of joking and laughing – not the norm, in other places.

NOTE HERE:  I hope I am not coming across judgmental or critical of traditional places.  I think people who chose to work in oncology are special folks choosing to take on the weight of so much sadness and suffering and help many people to be sure.  It is just that this “integrative” approach seems to hold such promise and dispenses hope so well.

Obviously I am a true believer and a Block evangelist!

Thanks for the prayers and interest.  God has been so good to me… so have you!

The No-News Post

You know the old “no news is good news” line.  That has been this week for me.  I had a very good recovery this time.  Best yet.  Glad to have my cold behind me.  BTW the last two rounds I did not receive the white cell booster shot cuz my blood counts have been good.  All signs are as good as we could ask for!

I even had some friends ask me if I had gained weight!!  (no)  That question puzzled me until I realized I was wearing clothes that fit, not having the old xlarge hanging off me.  J

The most common comment I get from folks who haven’t seen me for a while is, “You look good!”  Hey, at 62, it might be worth it all just to get those compliments!!

I’m preaching twice tomorrow at a missions conference and so appreciative that I can continue my work through this period – a blessed man indeed!

Thanks for your continued interest, thoughts and prayers.

Report Card Time

Round five will finish in about 18 hours as of this writing and the next treatment with mark the half-way point in this initial phase.

A good point for a score card.  I owe it to all of you great friends, readers and prayers to share results of my scans and blood work completed last week and shared to Lonni and I yesterday.

CT scans: clear of any evidence of a tumor regrowth (the surgeon did get the entire mass).  No evidence of spread to the liver of lungs – the normal path.  Good news.

Lymph  nodes: there are about five that are enlarged.  Each has shrunken slightly.  More good news!!

Tumor marker count: (this number measures a secretion the body emits to fight cancer cells, a normal count is 5, cancer patients counts can be into the multiply thousands.  The importance here is the direction this is moving, up is bad.  My baseline count was 538 (3 months ago) my current count is 75.  538 to 75!!!  

I heard WOW a lot. Very good news!!!

I was told that at this stage of treatment they are hoping to see things leveling out, not rising or growing.  These kinds of positive signs are very remarkable.

I don’t want to prematurely declare victory – it certainly is far from that.  But this is very hopeful news, essentially telling us that my body is responding very positive to this method of treatment.  This is a long road to travel and I am bolstered by encouraging signs like this.

Thanks to each of you for your support and prayers.  Bless you each, one. 

Through it all...

It’s the Monday following the fourth treatment.  Lonni and I had a long conversation with the oncologist.  She is new to the BC and this was our first medical consult with her.  We talked over the course of treatment some, however, so much is yet to be determined, of course, depending upon developments.  This week I’m going for scans and blood work to determine the current situation.  It’s funny how little words make a big difference.  For instance, a CT scan order reads “with contrast” meaning I drink about 40 ounces of a hideous drink before the CT scans.  Minor detail, major yuk.

We are also trying something different.  My blood counts have been strong so the doc decided not to give me the $5k white cell booster shot.  On Wednesday I’ll go for blood work to see how my count has regenerated without the shot.  The doc thought that for the long haul it is better that the body not become dependent upon the shot if it does not really need it.  We will see, but it seems that is good news.

I’ve developed a cold so I’ve laid low the entire weekend and am working from home this morning.  Don’t want it to develop into anything serious. I'm now completing this on Tuesday afternoon and after an active morning I'm resting once again.

So, the Block Center has moved into its new home.  It is quite a contrast from the previous space.  It is occupying a two story atrium with lots and lots of windows and sunlight.  It must be two to three times more space but things were in such chaos it was hard to tell and construction is not yet finished.  The location is easier for us to get to, so that is nice.

This morning we kissed Cy goodbye for five days!  His school goes to a marvelous camp called “Nature’s Classroom” in Southern Wi.  We are going to miss him but it is a terrific place.  Circle’s school used to go there and I once accompanied our group for a week.  Terrific fun and interesting ways of making science come alive.  Cy went last year and was anxious to go again, counting down the days.  On the way to school Lonni asked him what he was looking forward to – “Just everything!!”.  Next, “Is there anything that you are considered about or afraid of?”  “Yes, that Daddy will die when I am there,” he replied immediately.  It is sobering to think that my condition so weighs upon his heart.  I think of the thousands and thousands of children who live with ill parents.  Their feelings and fears can be so easily overlooked as the stuff of trying to heal is so overwhelming to the adults.  But Cy has a great mommy who is very attentive.  Cy enjoys going to talk to his counselor.

Lonni!  What can I say about her?  We met at 14 & 15 years of age and never really had eyes for anyone else.  I realize how unique and special our bond is.  Married as virgins, all we’ve know is each other and the deep intimacy that comes from the journey of many years together(41 on March 21 – it was the first day of spring that year and the first day of the spring of our lives.)  She is my anchor, my rock, my intimate soul mate.  These last years have been our most difficult in regard to grandchildren, loss of sibling (Lonni’s sister) and parents and our dear son, Nathan, and now my health challenges.  Through it all we have leaned on each other.  As God would have it when one is down, usually the other is up.  But of late the weaker one is certainly me.  My emotions seem always right on the edge.  I lose the will to eat and to take all the damnable pills every day.  But there is Lonni, beautiful, sweet, loving, understanding – and persistent , “Eat this honey, it has a lot of protein.”

This is who she is – a loving saint of a woman who is literally a life saver to me.  I didn’t think I could love her more than I did before this all came about.  But the capacity to love and be loved is ever expanding.  Several months before Nathan took his life he tattooed across the entire face of his hand:  “God’s Gift: Lonni”  Son I could not say it better.

Another Adventure

In a few hours Lonni and I will drop Cy off at school and we will head off to treatment #4 (that is 1/3 of the way for the first stage!!)  Cy will be picked up from school by Nita, his "grandma."  How can you even genuinely thank friends who stand by you and help with the stuff of life?  We are so blessed.

After the goodbye kisses, it is up to the Block Center -- but now relocated to a new site in Skokie Ill.  The new location is more convenient for us (cuts off about 25 minutes of travel each way) and will be larger space.  We are looking forward to seeing what the new center is like.  There has not been a lot of information given out so we are in for an adventure to see what they have done.

More later...

75 Pills a Day!

Four days since chemo and I decided to preserve energy and not go to church.  Lonni and Cy are in Northern Wisconsin with all those obnoxious Packer fans.  Looks like a winter storm will hold them another day.  It is hard to imagine a better wife and son than those two.

I’m often asked about side effects so here is the current update: cold reaction up quite a bit.  This means when I touch something cold or even room temp water or metal, my fingers and toes (cold floor) go numb and all tinglely.  However, this is a temporary condition that is manageable.  Weakness is clearly a side effect and we have timed the chemo to give me the weekend to recover.  On Monday I’ll work from home and hope to be in the swing of things by Tuesday.  Then the following week should be fine.  I have had zero nausea – is that not terrific?!  Another reason not to go to church is that chemo knocks down the white blood cells and hence my immune system is compromised.  Catching a cold that could get worse could be quite serious, so an ounce of prevention…  I am so happy to have been resistant so far.  My blood counts were very good prior to the last round.  My prayer is that this kind of cycle could be typical.  My only significant issue at this point is my appetite.  I simply do not have one.  I am never hungry and must force myself to eat.  When 50 lbs overweight this is the kind of thing I wished for.  As they say, be careful what you wish for.

When first looking into a course of treatment, I was glad to hear that the Block Center ‘s  methods were designed to reduce side effects; it was good news, but I wasn’t sure how much to believe.  I am becoming a believer and if things continue like this I’ll be so grateful.   Thanks for all your prayers, some friends have told me that they are praying specially against the side effects.  Thanks.

People marvel when they hear that I now take about 75 pills and capsules a day.  Ten are medications but the remainder are supplements.   What are they for?, is the next question.   My goal is to starve the cancer of nutrition while at the same time hitting it with the chemo to knock down (out) all the cancer cells.  Third,  feeding the body what it needs to prevent the cancer’s resurgence.  So the food I don’t eat, plus the food I do eat, plus the nutrient supplements is the formula.  Simple to say, harder to do.  Funny isn’t it that the thing that used to be the hardest – stay away from food, is now the easiest (could go from rise to rest without eating).  So eating right is a challenge – particularly not wasting away from lack of protein.  I continue to lose weight slowly.  Another funny reversal: in 62 years of living I’ve never before stepped on a scale wishing the weight to be up!    Never!!  This has been an effective weight loss plan.  Though, I would recommend eating right and exercising -- just as effective, a lot less bother.  Given my previous state of denial I wouldn’t have been reading this blog if a friend was writing it.  So, therefore, I am writing it, and in my ear I hear the voice of my dearly departed mother, “Well let that be a lesson to you.”  Yes Mom, it certainly is!  The lesson of a life-time, one could say.

So what are all those supplements, anyway?

Some replace what my diet limits.  I don’t eat dairy and meat because those fats feed cancer.  But the body needs fat but cancer loves bad fat (Omega 6).  So eight (the biggest 8) are omega 3 fish oil capsules. Inflammation aids cancer; some of my supplements are anti-inflammatory and also are antioxidants that fight damage to our cells caused by free radicals, others strength the body against fatigue and exhaustion, vitamin C & D are critical, (I was very low in both), others provide the essential daily nutrients needed for optimal health and aid immune support, others (probiotics) aid the digestive system – a big issue for me since surgery.

Anyway, it goes on and on and this is the simplest, most basic explanation – doesn’t rate high enough to call it a primer.  If you have reasons to do serious research I recommend Dr, Block's book, "Life over Cancer".  There are many others that address this topic in depth.

Well, I’m going to close cuz I have not taken my morning supplements – yum, yum.  Got to get crackin.

(I posted yesterday as well, including an upbeat story.)

Return on Investment

The feedback I get encourages thanks me for the positive nature of my reflections.  We all know of the value of being positive, but it is hard to "gen up", if it is not there.  I am so grateful to have so much to be positive about.  Having a potential fatal disease has brought many friends to my door who have said very kind and thankful things to Lonni and I.  These are the kinds of things usually reserved for the funeral service.

My cousin, Sheryl Marshall has battled illness her entire adult life with very little relief.  Her struggles have made her a very good reflective writer/reader.  She shared the following story with me that has take-aways for us all.   Out of his pain and struggle this author found a simple way to turn it around with gratitude:

I (Sheryl) am currently reading a wonderful book called "365 thank yous: The Year a Simple Act of Daily Gratitude Changed My Life" by John Kralik.  This guy is age 53 and his life is falling apart. Book Jacket blurb..."One recent December (2007), at age 53, J. K. found his life at a terrible, frightening low: his small law firm was failing: he was struggling through a painful second divorce: he had grown distant from his two older children and was afraid he might lose contact with his young daughter; he was living in a tiny apartment where he froze in the winter and baked in the summer; he was 40 pounds overweight: his girlfriend had just broken up with him; and overall, his dearest life dreams seemed to have slipped beyond his reach.  Then, during a desperate hike on New Year's Day, John was struck by the belief that his life might become at least tolerable if, instead of focusing on what he didn't have, he could find some way to be grateful for what he had.  Inspired by a beautiful, simple note his ex-girlfriend had sent to thank him for his Christmas gift, John imagined that he might find a way to feel grateful by writing thank-you notes.  He set the goal-come what may-of writing 365 thank-you notes in the coming year.  One by one, day after day, he began to hand write thank yous for gifts or kindnesses he'd received from loved ones and coworkers, from past business associates and current foes,from college friends and doctors and store clerks and handymen and neighbors and anyone, really, absolutely anyone, who'd done him a good turn, however, large or small.  Immediately after he'd sent his very first notes, significant and surprising benefits began to come John's way-financial gain, true friendship, weight loss and inner peace.  While John wrote his notes, the economy collapsed, the bank across the street from his office failed, but thank-notes by thank-you note, John's whole life turned around.  365 Thank Yous is a rare memoir: its touching, immediately accessible message -and benefits-come to readers from the plainspoken storytelling of an ordinary man. Kralik sets a believable, doable example of how to live a miraculously good life. End of blurb.  I have only read a quarter of the book but I am hooked.  I do see on jacket that...in 2009, he was appointed a judge of the Los Angeles Superior Court. SO...draw your own conclusions.

Round #3 and reflections on the dark valley

It’s 5am Thursday as I begin this.  My Chemo buddy pump hugs me on my left side, tethered by an IV tube to my chest.  The Block Center uses a delivery method called chrono-modulated.  Developed in France it uses the capacity of computer/pump to time the delivery of the chemo drugs.  They have found this to significantly reduce side effects.  Standard treatment would be to turn the pump on and it pumps a regular dose for 46 hours.  C-M method puts the pump to work at 10pm and takes advantage of the body at rest.  It even changes dosage through the night based upon sleep cycles, shuts down at 10am Thursday, back to work at 10pm then done by about 10am Friday.  Lonni will do the disconnect at home and then give me my standard $5000 shot (price is up)!

This is one of the approaches the BC uses in their very deliberate efforts to limit side effects.  Do these efforts work?  The antidotal reports from the other patients who have taken chemo elsewhere seem to clearly say yes.  Given this is my first experience; I have no comparison base personally.

This treatment trip my good friend, Jim Hallene, replaced my best friend, Lonni, as my driver and companion.  I've known Jim for years and we both are part of the Chicago Fellowship, a group of Christ-followers journeying together to include regular Friday am bible studies, trips to Honduras for work times at several orphanages, breaking bread, accountability, etc.  The group has fed my soul and blessed my life and ministry.

Jim has been a blessing in my life, but particularly now.  I don’t think he would mind if I share this email he sent me after I had received the diagnosis:

Glen:  You have been in my prayers a lot over the past years and daily over the last month.   I pray that the God of Comfort gives you comfort like you have never experienced before; that the God of Peace gives you His peace that passes any understanding you can fathom, and the God of Healing heals your body, mind and soul.

In 1992, my dad had an attack in his office.  He was rushed to the hospital and told he had stage 4 sarcoma of the kidney.  The doctors told us he had six months to live.  Well, almost 13 years later as he was in his final stages, he said cancer was the best thing that had ever happened to him...and he meant it.   He said he would not trade the spiritual truths he learned or the tangible examples of body of Christ in action.

Glen, you are starting a journey that I so very much want to be a part of with you.   I would love to come and see you when you have time.   I wish I could be at Fellowship with you tomorrow but I am traveling. Please know that I will be praying for you during your talk.

I love you, Brother Glen.  You are a more of a blessing than you will ever know!

Jim

I am beginning to understand the mystery in Jim’s Dad statement about cancer.  There is a “gift side” to affliction that one can receive no other way.  I’m sure many of you have experienced something similar, and we say things like, “I would never want to go through it again but I … (fill in the blank.)

For instance, and Jim/Lonni would amen this enthusiastically, it is an amazing thing to spend these Wednesdays in the company of people so committed to healing – while fighting against such long odds.  They simply do not submit to statistical diagnosis.  And often this hope shows much better results.  Everyone believes in the body’s ability of heal – not just "extend life" and hang on for a few more years or months.  If the goal is healing, then hope is promoted and we believe it is possible.  (I told Mrs. Block -- "You guys traffic in hope")  We believe it is again possible to dream of graduations and weddings for grandchildren, growing older with my life-long love, etc.  These dreams the dark early days of diagnosis stole away.  Those long hospital nights post surgery are fearful and very, very lonely.  The valley of the shadow of death… whew, well said a long time ago.

So there you have my low point!  And since then I’ve seen God’s grace woven throughout this journey in so many amazing ways.  Here is one:

As I said earlier our little guy, Cy 7yrs, was taking this hard.  He has lost five family members in four years.  He was in his own valley of death as he feared I would not come home from the hospital.  The glow on his face, the hugs and kisses when I did emerge, was a priceless gift.  But I was weak and fragile – hugs and touches were very light.  Ah, but the marvel of the healing body.  This Monday night when I put Cy to bed (a lengthy routine) he asked – “can we wrestle?” (a long established and beloved routine – and extended tickle match really – that had been suspended.)  My knee-jerk response was, “no, I’m not…”, then I stopped and took stock – “Yes we can, I’m recovered from surgery”, immediately going in for a fast take-down, tickle tackle and quick pin.  I cannot begin to describe the happiness, belly laughter and complete joy that emanated from that boy!  It is priceless.  Downstairs I told Lonni and she recounted Cy's prayer from the night before: "And God I pray that Daddy would get better so we could do the things we used to do."  My goodness, was God on time?  Did his spirit interrupt me and whisper (Yes you can!)   It is a gift I will treasure as long as my memory endures – how does it get better than that?  But, remember, is was a special gift that only affliction produced.

Well life is stirring around here and I will soon take Cy to school – back to Thursday routines!! Yay!  Chemo buddy and all.  I hope to post soon again to talk about the chemo day and integrative care as I am experiencing.

Blessings my faithful friends and family.

Round # 2 in the Books

Round two is complete, and Lonni is now trained to perform removals from this point forward.   It is a bit of a process to include giving me the shot that costs $4k!  She did it like a pro!  What this means is that we will not need to make a second trip up to the BC every two weeks.  It also means that I we be able to attend my beloved group, the Chicago Fellowship on Friday mornings.  It will save us the 3 hours in traffic, gas and give us a day back.

The only thing is, we will miss the time at BC!

This visit included a cooking class that Lonni attended while I got a massage!  It was my first one ever – boy what I have been missing!  My shoulders were quite tight and I had a knot in my back.  All that dissipated.  Really nice.  I hope to do this each infusion.  (now don’t be jealous!)

Lonni & I also had some long talks with the medical team -- the oncologist and the medical assistant.  We got educated on how we will be judging progress and effectiveness of the treatment (through blood work and scans.)  Every three months or so will be blood work and scans.  I’m sure this is very familiar for any of you that have gone this route yourself or with loved ones.

I didn’t have much time to chat with others at the BC but Lonni and I did meet a young women who had been treated at Mayo and is now at the BC.  I think everyone we have met so far comes to BC after a round or two or more elsewhere.  She talked of how stronger she is this time around.  Before she couldn’t walk three stairs without a rest and now her friends tell her that she is more healthy than they!  (She has, of course, embraced the whole diet and nutrition program.)  It is obvious that the effort the BC puts into reducing side effects pays off.

I went for both a CT scan and MRI to establish a post surgical baseline.  I had been wondering what was going on inside since the surgeon looked it all over and said that he could see no remaining tumors or lesions.  (Spreading to the liver and lungs is the malignancy pathway.)  The other concern is the abdomen wall where the surgeon was not able to get “clean margins”  -- and, of course, any reoccurrence on the bowel.  Finally, the lymph nodes (32 or 37 removed showed cancer.)  I’m so thankful to report that the abdomen seems clear – liver, bowel, etc. at this point.  There is some enlargement of several lymph nodes.  So those become points to watch.So in three months we will check in again and look for changes.

Side Effects?  Still quite manageable – I am so fortunate.  I was pretty wiped yesterday after a very rough bought with constipation (I’ve got to figure out how to combat the meds that cause this).  But this morning, Sunday, I feel stronger and plan to attend church – another place I get a lot of love.  I'll probably sleep through much of the Super Bowl!

Lonni continues to be amazing and is really taking to this healthy shopping and cooking.  It is amazing the healthy and creative alternatives are out there.  But I can’t imagine doing this whole routine without her help and support.  I am a very blessed man.

Cy is doing well and has not had any dark expressions.  Thanks for praying for him.

Continue to pray for my immune system in these compromised states after chemo.  An infection can be life threatening.

(PS I exercised every day this week -- did you?)

Another Terrific Chemo Day ( #2 of 12 more or less)

Tuesday at 3 pm, all three of us, (to include Cy) crowded into our old faithful 4 wheel drive Ford Ranger pickup just after the storm began in earnest.  We prayed for a successful trip north anticipating an adventure.  Cy’s school was due to close the next day so it presented a great opportunity to introduce Cy to what Daddy was doing every two weeks.  We were driving up the night before to stay over close by.  Four hours through the blizzard including a supper stop and we were thrilled to settle in and watch the blizzard blow.

The day before we had secured a commitment that the BC would be open, two other patients did the same.  They had a skeletal medical crew to serve the three patients that did not want to get knocked off schedule – one walked a mile and half to the el train and the other is from the east coast.

We had the run of the place!  It was terrific time for Cy because there were so few – and not the usual number of those that are and look very sick.

Now here is something that you aren’t going to find in traditional treatment:  I walk down the hall to the kitchen and smell food – what is this?  Jackie, dietitian director (5 dietitians on staff) came in on her own – didn’t need to – but she wanted to cook for the patients and staff cuz she knew no restaurants were open!

Another person joining us for her very first day at work was the new Oncologist, Dr. Thomas.  Without the normal patient load we sat and talked along with Sheila, another patient, around the kitchen table.  Are you starting to get the feeling that the BC is like a big family?  I am asking the Doc (who is Indian) about eastern vs western medicine and integrative care, and particularly why is it that traditional medicine is so resistant to alternative (i.e. diet and nutrition, etc.).  Before she says much Sheila jumps in.  She is a fountain of knowledge and I am saying to myself, “This is one heck of a knowledgeable patient.”  At one point she slips in “I do research.”  Turns out she is a PhD and the Research Director of Judith Nan Joy Integrative Medicine Initiative, Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago.

The thread of God’s grace runs continually through all of life --  the ups and the downs -- and it shows itself like this: a casual, extended conversation with two brilliant people – that would never have happened without the snow storm (when does an on-duty Doc have an hour + just to chat?)  BTW many of you know I had the painting “forgiveness” tattooed upon my inner left forward running from wrist to elbow bend such as Nate had.  I did this in memory of my son (see www. http://circleurban.org/newsletters/Eulogy-web.pdf if you want the full story from the eulogy I wrote a delivered.)  I have a lot of blood taken and my left arm has got the good accessible veins.  Almost everyone is struck by the tat.  Same around the table.  Shelia (father was Chinese doc) expressed herself like Gandi:  I would like Christianity except for the Christians!  From innuendos and classic Asian indirectness I am guess that the oncologist is a believer.  Opened some great talk.

So, once again the time flew by with numerous great conversations and interactions.  This is such a place of peace!

 When we headed home and hit the main streets and expressways they were open.  We wondered if our alley would be passable.  Not to worry.  Our long held friends Nita and Jon Beran joined by neighbors gathered together to help each other and us, shoveling it to an acceptable condition.  We drove right in!  What a blessing!!  Andre Hinton our faithful house sitter shoveled the front walks – wow.  Nita (a nurse practitioner) was one half of the founder staff team of Circle Christian Health Center and Jon has been a MD with Circle Family Health Care Network (current name) since 1978.  Jon delivered our son Nathan in the height of the blizzard of 1979.  But will all the medical love and care over the years – to include many visits to our home – this house call set all records!!  I’m just glad they didn’t have a heart attack!!  “You are old people!”  I jokingly reminded them.  BTW JB and Nita are also Cy’s surrogate grandparents.  He and us are lovin' it. 

Chemo creates a reaction to cold so I was a bit worried, yet with the way cleared I could zoom right into our attached garage and carry in all our stuff right into our warm house.

What a blessing to have such friends!  And so many more.  Others will be taking me to treatment and relieving Lonni of that all day burden.

What about side effects?

I’m picking up the writing of this Thursday morning.  Going through the morning routine reminds me that I’m on Chemo.  My hands and feet can take NO COLD, even a glass of tap water.  If I forget and reach into the refrig to remove a jar the reaction is like grabbing a plate you did not know was hot.  It is likened to the instant tingling of when your foot falls asleep with heat-type burning and loss of feeling.  The cold floor does the same to my feet – slippers are an easy fix.

I awoke with a scratchy/hoarse throat.  If we talk I will sound weak, I have not experienced a lot of fatigue yet.  Yet it is early.  We will see, especially over the week end.

Time for Feedback

Okay now I’d like you to weigh in and give me feed back.  Do you want me to blog more about the nutrition piece of my treatment?  Like why isn’t taking 70 pills a day just nuts!?  Only weird people do that.  Glen, are you so desperate to live that you have weirded out on us?  Glen and health-food-nut don’t go together.  Ya you was fat but a comfortable fat, you make me look skinny, now you make me look fat, Glen and the way you are eating you will stay that way!  Besides how the heck can you have a Super Bowl Party with tofu and seaweed.  That is un-American! – and weird.  So will you ever return to normalcy?  You are making me feel guilty for eating my potatoe chips, they taste good, I feel like a better American with a bag of chips and a coke.  The big question: What makes you think all this hocus pocus will work?

This would have been my reaction if a friend of mine got cancer and went down this path, so it might be yours.  So I’d like feedback on whether I should explain this more.  On the serious side, will all have friends and family that get cancer.  Should I use my experience to describe how this skeptic is becoming a true believer and why?  Or will that turn your interest away?  BTW I mean to do this occasionally especially howthe dots connect for me.

You can use the comment feature if you want your comments public or you can mail me:  glenk@circleurban.org

Be Blessed, I sure am,

glen

Ten Days After Chemo

It is now a full week since I wrote and since I was disconnected.  Next Wednesday starts another round.  So how did it go?

I have experienced some side effects but they have been relatively minor.  If every round was like this it certainly would be fine with me.  However, we are reminded by the nurses that there is an accumulative effect so we need to be practical.

For those of you praying, here are some of the short list of common side effects to pray would be kept in check:

·         Nausea

·         Neuropathy in extremities

·         Sensitivity to cold (bringing on neuropathy)

·         Fatigue

·         Dry mouth and mouth sores

·         Dry eyes

·         Immune deficiency (this is the most serious risk of complications, of course)

So, for you detail people here is my two week routine:

• ·         Wednesday:  10 am at Block Center, begin infusion of various drugs; chemo starts at 1 pm or later for 2 hours.  After that I am hooked up to a portable pump.  This gets to be my snuggly for the next 48 hours.
• ·         Friday: 10 am back at the BC to remove the I.V. and disconnect from pump
• ·         Weekend: Lay low and recoup.  Immune system is now compromised so be careful with contact
• ·         Week later, days before chemo: get new blood work to inform medical staff as to blood count and acceptability for next chemo round

This past Wednesday I went for CT and MRI scans.  This may show any development of the cancer over the two months since surgery.   Kind of a base line, if you will.  However, they did not detect the large original tumor, that was found by the surgeon.   I’ll report back on the results.

A final pray concern is for our little one, Cy.   Cy is seven and in the last three years he has lost 5 family members.  He is, of course, worried I will soon follow.  Recently he has said some disturbing things about his own life (I want to go and be with Nate and Auntie Joy) and things like, “when you and Daddy die who will take care of me?”  We have found some great resources, including a terrific child psychologist who has begun to see us.  We have been counseled to take these concerns very seriously.

Thanks so much for caring and praying.

Disconnect Day

Yesterday was disconnect day – meaning the portable pump I was tethered to for two days had finished its work by 10 am  Friday.  So I have officially completed the first of these treatments.  One down, eleven to go.  (after that there will be follow up treatments of a different sort.)

So, how am I doing?  Amazingly well.  I’ve got some unrelated digestion issues since surgery but the other side effects have be mild.  (You don’t really want to hear about the 40 minute bowl movement do you?  Didn’t think so.)  I’m currently in the stage where my white blood cells have been knocked down and around day six will start to build back up.  They give a shot to help with that.  The shot costs $4,000 each! Do the math, as they say.

As good as round one went I am reminded that Chemo has an accumulative effect.  Neuropathy (tingling and loss of feeling) in the hands and feet is to be expected, aversion to cold – bringing on neuropathy --  nausea and fatigue are some of the issues.  So I would appreciate prayer regarding those specific side effects and that I will remain free of infection as my immune system is compromised.

We spent a very long time getting educated by an incredibly bright Chemo nurse with 12 years experience.  She took the time to go through all of what to expect, what to do, etc, etc.  Lonni works to keep it all straight while I try to sound like I understand.  The time the staff takes with a patient is quite incredible.  That is because the success of the program depends as much or even more upon what the patient does.

 Following the diet and nutrition regimen is extremely demanding (not to mention expensive.)  which was reinforced by our extensive time with the dietician.  We went over my extensive blood work to see where I was out of whack and inhibiting healing.  This is amazingly specific in the connection between nutrients and how they impact the specific biological aspects of fighting cancer down on the cellular level.  This helps greatly in understanding why all this diet and nutritional stuff really matters.

And now, to fortify this all with an amazing tale.

I know you are going to get sick of my praises for the Block Center but I’m afraid I must.  This time in the way of a testimony.  One of the big benefits of the BC is meeting others and hearing of their journey.  This is inspiring because they are not cherry picked testimonials rather whomever happens to be there and wants to talk.  It seems to be quite common that patients are happy to share their journeys.

Lonni and I met Nancy – only bad thing here is that she too is from Packerland – actually, from the belly of the beast -- the heart of Mordor itself -- Green Bay .  Nevertheless, I am compelled to tell her story.  Nancy was diagnosed with stage 4 liver and pancreatic cancer.  She had tumors with tentacles spreading across her abdomen and into most organs.  She went to Mayo, but they said there was nothing they could do, she probably had three months left so they sent her back to Green Bay.  The best oncologist in GB refused to take her if she was going to use nutrient supplements and bluntly said, “Lady you are terminal.  Get your affairs in order.”   Hopeless.

Nancy found her way to the Block Center and to make a long story short is completely cancer free!  Can you see why the BC is a hopeful place?  Reading the success stories is great but talking with a real person is quite amazing.  BTW that same doc now refers patients to the BC.

Please don’t get me wrong, I’m not believing this to be a miracle machine.  Yet miracles of healing are not uncommon, even for those cases that seem beyond hope.  Next I’m going to muse about how I see all this connected to God’s healing power.

This is long enough. Those of you who made it down to here go ahead and treat yourself to some fresh vegetables!!

The Dreaded Chemo Day

Since the day of the news that I had stage 4 colon I knew chemo was coming.  Healing from surgery  required a respite.  I don’t know what has happened inside my body (going for scans soon) since then but this time has been great emotional, educational and spiritual preparation.

Yet the dreaded day was coming.

That first day was yesterday.  Actually the treatment started yesterday and continues until Friday.  As I write this, next to me there sits a fanny pack holding a pump and a tube leading to a port implanted in my chest.   The chemo is being delivered over two days with side effects to follow.

But, back to the dreaded day, and in particular “the dread” of how horrible this could be...

Nothing could be further from the truth.  The day was just terrific – can you believe that?  Can you believe that starting chemo would be a good day – a great day?  Amazing, huh?

This place (The Block Center) we have chosen is amazing.  The entire atmosphere and everyone we meet is lovingly committed to my healing.  This is an important concept to grasp.  Generally speaking in standard care, managing cancer is the goal for people like me – extending life a few years is as much as I can expect.  Healing is not realistic.

This was my day: (Lonni was there throughout taking notes and keeping things straight, something I need desparately.

          ·         10 am arrival, welcomed, shown around the chemo side of the operation and given a room.  Each    person has a small private room for their chemo day, nice feature that reflects BC values.

•         Chemo nurse hooks up the port, starts with pre-chemo medications drips
  ·         Extensive talk with Physician’s Assistant regarding what to expect – dizzying amount of info – side effects etc.  Reiterates the commitment to work hard to lessen side effects as much as possible.  (She expects me to remain pretty active throughout. ) While this can feel overwhelming the confidence of the BC staff walking along side me is very tangible and comforting.  This woman, like everyone we encounter knows her stuff.  I am cleared to start chemo.  This clearing protocol happens each time chemo is delivered.
  ·         Penny Block PhD (wife of founder) runs a group from noon to one.  She brings a salad and her special cookies to illustrate what can be done to make acceptable good food (how about chocolate chip cookies without sugar or chemical sweeteners!) and a short lecture on how exercise of the body and mind fit into the healing process.  The rest of the time was spent with folks sharing their experiences.  It is certainly true that the toughest cases come here!  I breathe a prayer of thanksgiving to have come here early in the battle. 
  ·         While the meds are delivered I mill around the large demonstration kitchen.  It is filled with foods and snacks that everyone (including visitors) can enjoy.  Lots of terrific ideas to make the diet of no meat (but fish), sugar or dairy, possible.  This room with its glass wall is center stage, physically and demonstrates the significance diet plays in healing.  A meal is cooked every noon day except Wednesday.  Lonni begins to record all these great ideas.
  ·         Next is the physical therapist who tests me for neuropathy to start with a baseline.  Neuropathy (numbness and tingling) in the fingers and toes is a side effect.  She talks a lot about exercise and its importance.  

Finally, I purchase some supplements.  For a guy who never even took a multi-vitamin (insert question here: “And how is that working for ya, big guy?”), this supplement thing is totally new and a major league change.  Diet and cancer fighting supplements are critical to the plan.  The number of pills and capsules is amazing – reading about the role each plays is very interesting.

 The atmosphere of the BC is laid back and filled with, “what do you need?”, “sure you can do that!”, “yes bring your friends”  and also includes a lot of laughing and kidding around – just my kind of place.  Before the day is out Dr. Block drops by for a cameo meeting and handshake.  I thank him for hanging in there over the years so that when I needed it this place was here. He reminisces about the serious attacks first from establishment medicine and then from the alternative crowd.  Standing in the middle of the road means you get hit from both directions, he said.   It is interesting to note here that while conventional medicine has not embraced the alternative approach Dr. Block is now on staff at the University of Chicago medical school where he teaches integrative care.  History of medicine clearly shows it to be a slow adaptor – which is quite understandable.

I only thing I would change in the whole place is that I don’t think Packer fans should be allowed to speak in the group!  Not this week anyway!! J

Well, that is probably more info than anybody needed.  If you have made it down to here, you might have a particular concern for yourself or another.  If you are interested in visiting the Block Center  (for any reason) let me know and we can time it with my visits.  I’d enjoy the company!  The BC is are very welcoming.  Email me at glenk@circleurban.org with any questions or requests.

Your prayers, love and support continue to bath over us.  Thanks so much.