MARYSVILLE, Washington
United States
Everett Wa
AARP sucks when you try to up load a video, and beware of there medical insurance
THE LAST DAYTumor treatment for Michael
Hello my name is Michael Kee,50 years old. I was diagnosed with nasopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma On 5/2/08. I was told that I have to go through Seven weeks of Chemotherapy and Radiation therapy To remove this tumor. On 5/30/08 they removed 12 teeth, Becuse the Radiation will kill the teeth. 6/9/08 I had the mask that I will be wearing made.VERY INTENSE! Today 5/12/08 Im going to have a feeding tube put in.
6/13/08 My first time over night in the hospital, very noisy. I was surprised how easy the surgery was. I have three days to heal till I go back to work. (My wife suggested that I add what I,m feeling so it’s not so black and white.) Here we go, I’ve been flying hanggliders for 17 years. I have had a few close calls.But I can’t beleave the wide range of emotions. The fear is so intense at times.
6/16/08 First day back to work sense my Peg tube was installed, was going just fine. Then I had slight pressure around the tube. Then all of a sudden the pressure went a way. So I look under the bandage and called the hospital I have a small infection.Weeks worth of antibiotics. The waitting _ _ _ _ _ till treatment.
6/21/08 Two weeks and still nothing, this waiting is driving me nuts. I wake up at 4:00am in a cold sweat. My mind sure can wondor. Sun risies sure are beautiful, A pair of blue jays are getting use to me sharing there mornning. I’ve been healing for the the last three weeks. I need to get out! I’m going flying today.
Well I start treatment on Monday 6/30/08
6/27/08 I had the Technicians take some pictures of me in my mask. Its pretty intense being bolted down to the table. They are giving me meds to treat anxiety.
7/5/08 Chemotherapy kicked my ****! I have three days off To heal. Laurie says my demeanor is comming back. I sleep all the time. I’m eatting solid foods now. I feel pretty punky.One week down!
Week two down! I’ve lost 12lbs and Im on the feeding tube now. The Radiation damage is starting. I’ve lost my taste buds. On the good side of things the Doc said the tumor is getting smaller, and I was able to get 24hrs lite duty at work.
7/19/08 Week three down. I’ve gain 5 of the 12lbs back. Tuesday I was scoped and the tumor was gone to the naked eye." BUT" I still have to survive four more weeks of treatment. Im unable to work any more,the mouth sores are to bad and Im on pain Meds. I was able to mow my lawn yesterday It took awhile but it made me feel good.Fallowed by a 2hr nap.
7/26/08 Mowing lawns are over! I had Chemo on the 7/21/08 I got out of the hospital today the 26/08 Im down to a 163lbs. I had to miss one radiation Treatment I was to sick. Ya know I have not been sick in my life, of coarse the flu and a cold here and there. But I have nothing to compare this with. The look I saw in my wifes eyes I don’t now to explain it. GOOD news I’v got three cans of food in me now Im at 164.4lbs AND HOLDING Ya Hoo
8/5/08 Week five down. I’ve been adjusting to my daily routine of food and naps, walks around the backyard,
I’m done with Radiation treatment. Now I have to heal from treatment, thank you for pain meds.
8/28/08 Two weeks sense Radiation treatment I’m eatting food and doing pretty darn good, Taking long walks. I have nine weeks of Chemo comming up. They want my weight up frist. Its weird teaching my body to eat food again.
9/05/08 Doing fantastic, eating three meals a day. Still no taste buds. Walking a lot doing push ups and sit ups. It feels good to mow my lawn. Trying to get back to work! One more week till Chemo.
11/01/08 Yesterday was my last Chemo treatment, I'm DONE!! I've joined a gym to rebuild my body. I fly hanggliders so Im hoping I will be in flying shape by february, and back to work by the frist Dec. Thank You for your prayers and support
12/8/08 I had a cat scan on 12/5/08 the cancer is gone but they went to remove a dead lymph nodes in my neck. I'm trying to have it remove before the end of the year but will see.Still going to the gym every day, up to two miles on the tread mill. Work has not taken me back yet.
Surgery is on the 31 of December it looks like I'll be able to bet this in 2008!! The year from HELL!! I hope I'll be out of the hospital by my birthday on the 4th. MERRY CHRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR !!!!!
1/02/09 Cancer Survivor, The surgery is done and I got home today to heal.
5/4/2009 Here it is a year after being diagnosed. Im in good shape my tast buds are comming back and all so are my saliva glands. My weight I can't get over 160, but may be that has to do with I only have eleven teeth in my head (haha). Im working part time as a school bus driver due to the economy. And Im back flying my hangglider, I flew for a hour yesterday YAHOO. Last year has change my life on so many levels. I'v been reading a book of positive quotations, Here's one that I like,
I just KNEW we'd hear from you again. Hooray! Done with chemo. That was quite a ride wasn't it? It is good to hear that you have a plan in place and that you are preparing your body for one of the joys you have in your life. I am not one to do adventurous things so I applaud you on flying around like that. It must be very exciting. You are a fine role model for other cancer patients!
faith, love, courage, hope
Dropping by to say, Hi. Not sure what is happening with you at this point.
Just want you to know that you continue to be in my thoughts.
This is a difficult disease to deal with.
I remind myself often that I can only deal with it one day at a time.
I continue to be encouraged by the spirit of other 'patients'.
As I watch the leaves change color I am reminded of the seasons of our lives.
May this find you in good spirits.
Love, hope, faith, courage
9-8 What a great update from you! Per my brother...the taste buds will return. He certainly never lost his for ice cream. Mowed the lawn..great. Never take mobility for granted. I just returned from DC and saw first hand how difficult it was for my travel partner to get around. Hope that if it happens to me, I will be willing to get help. That goes for our cancers, too. Often it is fear that causes people to not go to the doc, etc. So, keep on taking care of yourself! hope, courage, love, faith
Hi, there. Was looking for an update to your journal. I smile everytime I see your picture. You remind me so much of an old special friend of mine who is no longer with us. You just look so happy in that picture.
Hope you are coping and that things are running smoothly for you and your wife.
Faith, courage, hope, love
Just stopping by to say, Hi.
If you have not read "Tony Snow's Testimonial" I just want to say I found it to be very useful to me. It is posted on a number of sites which you can reach just by google(ing) the title. It may be for you and/ or your wife or not. Just thought I'd mention it to you and others.
Hope, love, courage, faith
Hey, Glad to hear that you are including some walks around the backyard. Remember to look UP. There are some fascinating cloud formations that most of us miss every day. I find, too, that when I look at the clouds I find myself talking in my head to people I've known. In my heart I know that they are watching over me. Don't get too used to those naps. When you get your energy back you will have chores again!
Don't worry too much about the scale, Michael. The numbers are bound to go up and down. Take it easy, OK? Sometimes we measure the accomplishments of a day by how much work we have done. Well, when our bodies are stressed like this we need to measure a different way. Like, how many sounds did I really listen to today? Did I look up at the sky? Did I feel some different textures? Did I do some deep breathing and focus on those breaths? Did I say, "I love you." to someone?
Please let your dear wife know that she is also in our thoughts. This is a tough road, there is no question of it. Faith, love, hope, courage..
Hi, Michael
Mowed the lawn, huh? That sure must have been a real sense of accomplishment. Keep in mind that it is OK to have some things that we give up doing for a while. That 2 hour nap was a great refresher for your body. When I had chemo I was given a booklet that had suggestions for dealing with side effects. There is info out there about things one can do to deal with the mouth sores. If you don't have this info perhaps your med. team can give it to you if they haven't already, or I can list some here.
Keep on keepin' on! Love, courage, hope, faith
Michael, praying that God, Love, and the medical profession will see you through this, stay strong.....Jen
I have been there too. I had Pancreatic Cancer and when local doctor found it I went straight to surgeon at HCMC in Minneapolis and had surgery the next day. Spent 28 days in hospital and another month in and out of hospital, had a procedure done called the "Whipple Procedure". In 2002 I was diagnosed with Ovairian Cancer and that is when the weeks of Chemo started and it was a knock out punch but I survived both. So will you, God's Speed and hang in there. Betty
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