Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
7-15-2007 through 7-22-2007

Editors Note:  This is  week twenty since Jerry was diagnosed with lung cancer.  Jerry has reported each week his progress, treatment, feelings and thoughts as he goes through this ordeal.

Good morning readers and today finds me feeling really great for the moment.  It is really strange that it has been three weeks since my last Chemo treatment and I am still in and out of the so called Chemo Brain as I talked about several weeks ago.

Let’s discuss what that means.  According to the American Cancer Society there is an accepted term called Chemo Brain.  Chemo brain is a result of the buildup of the chemicals used in the Chemo treatments.  Thank God this is not an ongoing problem however it hits you at the most inopportune   times.  In my case this weekend while doing the Real Estate Focus radio show, which I have done for fifteen years, I forgot the listener call in line number.  I simply could not remember the number even though this number has been used for the past 7 years and I have given this number out each week.

Chemo brain seems to affect the memory of things one is most familiar with. This is strange because the first thing a person thinks is, oh my, am I developing another problem.  If you are a cancer patient or a family member of a cancer patient, don’t become alarmed.  After 4 treatments this seems to become more apparent.  Chemo brain will fade away, however the bad news is it takes some time after the treatments have stopped.

The American Cancer Society explains that the steady build-up of chemicals will affect everyone to some degree and once the Chemo treatments stop the body takes a while to recover. We must remember that the chemicals used in Chemo treatments are designed to kill cancer cells, however the chemicals do not discriminate, and they also kill healthy cells as well.  This is the reason for hair lost and nails problems as well as memory lapse.  

I have always prided myself on being quick on my feet and this has made me sit back and think before I answer questions or give opinions.  Maybe this is great in my case because it sure makes one think more before responding.

Another thing that is unusual to me is the bouts with the good and bad feelings.  Human nature makes one believe that when treatments have stopped the good feelings will return and return they do.  However, although most days are very good now compared to the feelings I had before, I do have moments that I start feeling just like I did after I had the last Chemo treatments.  These come on so quickly and last various lengths of time up to several hours. Moods are another thing one must deal with. I am generally a very positive person however lately I have had to really do extra things to keep my mood upbeat and positive.  

If you have a friend with cancer please understand this.  You may have a trip or day planned with your friend who has cancer and all of a sudden your friend is just not feeling up to the event.  Don’t think they are being unsociable.   Chances are they have “hit the wall”, as I call it.

This past week I “hit the wall” several times.  My day started off great and then all of a sudden I started feeling really bad including the nausea feeling one gets after Chemo.

Another thing cancer victims go through is how they feel from hour to hour.  One hour one can feel fantastic and the next hour they can be completely in the opposite direction.  I am told that it takes 9 to 12 months to get the chemicals used for Chemo out of your body.  Until the chemicals have been disposed of by the body the cancer patient will have various degrees of ups and downs.

I have had many phone calls and emails asking how I am doing and others who are suffering from the same or similar situations who just ask questions about various physical conditions they are experiencing.  Each person will experience different levels of discomfort and side effects and I don’t mind the calls and emails at all.  If I can help your friends or you understand this thing called cancer then I am happy to do so.

My CAT scan is scheduled for tomorrow, Tuesday 7-24-2007 along with blood tests and a visit with Dr. Babcock.  I am excited about what this test will reveal. I would certainly appreciate your prayers as we go through this challenge.

I will report back to you next week on what the CAT scan revealed and where we are.  Until then please remember to write a note, an email or call, better still, go by and see a friend that might be suffering from cancer.  

Let me remind you again not to forget the person who has cancer. Many will write notes during the first few weeks but few will stay in touch after the initial contact.  Send a note, card, email or call at least every two weeks. I have had patients tell me that the cards are the only thing that gave them the strength to forge forward and beat this disease.