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Jerry’s Greatest Challenge
12-09-2007 through 12-16-2007
What a Challenging Week this Has Been
Editors Note: This is week number 41 since Jerry was diagnosed with lung cancer. Jerry has reported each week regarding the progress, treatment, feelings, events and thoughts as he goes through this challenge. If you have similar challenges why not give Jerry a call. Sometimes just talking to someone going through the same or similar situations will make a difference.
To reach Jerry email him at Jerry@JerryFowler.com. If you miss the weekly newspaper articles in the New Irmo News, The Lake Murray News, the Cayce West Columbia News or the Northeast News you can catch up or go back to week one by going to Jerry’s web site at www.JerryFowler.com , look on the left side menu and click on Jerry’s Medical Updates.
From Jerry: Well I had my ninth radiation treatment on Friday and the after affects are starting to hit my body. (More on that later). Remember radiation not only kills the bad cells of cancer but also damages the good cells. We hope the good cells will recover and the bad cells will just die. That is the goal.
For the first time since I have been receiving Chemo treatments I was rejected this week for my treatment. Each time a Chemo treatment is scheduled one must go through a series of blood tests to make sure the levels are safe. They check the hemoglobin, the white cells and various other components of the blood.
This week my white count was just too low to take the treatments. I tried to talk the doctors into just giving them to me but hey said it was simply too dangerous. When the white count gets low your body is susceptible to all type diseases. My white count was about 50% of what it should be.
This is Christmas and there are a lot of drop-ins that we go to. Sometimes this is the only time we see some of our friends and acquaintances the entire year. We have not attended any drop-ins and will not unless the counts go back up. Being around people can be very dangerous to someone with a low white blood count. We are hoping the count will rise by not having the Chemo treatment this week. That is what we are praying for and I feel it will. We will know on Wednesday 12-19-2007.
The after effects of radiation are difficult to bear. Probably the worst is the sore throat. The throat is so sore that it feels like knives are passing through just to drink water. When you try to eat the food feels like sandpaper is tearing at your throat. Not a very comfortable feeling. In fact the pain is so great that your head aches when you are finished. Even your ears hurt inside. I think because the ears and throat are so called connected this is the reason.
I am not sure what the doctors can do. We will find out tomorrow, Monday. I do know that this is one of the dangers of radiation in the area I am receiving treatments for and the fact that so many patients will actually start losing weight because they simply cannot eat food.
Another after effect is the breaking out on my chest where the radiation is focused. The chest is very red and broken out with a skin irritation that makes it uncomfortable.
Fortunately the sore throat has not affected my voice so I am still able to do the radio show and record my daily tips. I fully believe and trust that this will not change.
God has been good to me and my family. This trial that I am going through will help me better communicate with others who in the future will go through the same. I plan to give part of my life to help others deal with the devastation created when cancer is the disease.
If you have a family member or friend going through cancer or similar problems make sure you send them cards regularly and call them for a short conversation. You will never know how much they appreciate your attention. Don’t just contract them once. Stay in touch on a regular basis. Help the caregiver of the family by offering to stay with or help them take care of the patient. They are giving part of their life and just a few hours of rest and just getting away for the situation will be greatly welcomed and will help give them the boost they need to keep going.
Now I am geared up more than ever to beat this disease. Through your prayers and positive thinking I know this will be over soon and thousands will be helped through my experience. God bless each and every one of you for your thoughts, cards, emails and prayers. Now it is time to get ready for Christmas.
Be sure to tell your family you love them and if you have a family member you have not spoken to in a while, pick up the phone and don’t wait another day, another hour, or another minute to tell them you love them.
Just remember that day by day, in every way, by the grace of God, you are getting better and better.
Now let’s go out and create a terrific week. God bless each and every one of you.
Jerry Fowler
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