Hello, cyber friends. Can I state the obvious? Cancer sucks.
Many years ago, shortly after my mom passed away, I can remember walking from the bus stop to my office in a fog of sorrow, looking around in amazement that other people were so normal. I think that’s the way Ken feels, caught up in his illness and surprised as other people casually go about their activities.
Ken’s PET scan came back with a combination of good, neutral and “eh” news. The primary tumor was significantly reduced by radiation treatment. There is a “suspicious” area that is probably new cancer but there’s still too much radiation damage to be sure. Finally, there is new lymph node engagement in the area around his aorta.
Since he is three treatments into the new round of chemo, the oncologist said that the treatment approach won’t change for now. I guess that’s good because this chemo has been particularly tough. Ken is exhausted until the weekend before his next treatment and some days he is quite (justifiably) grumpy.
Time for a funny story: Last week, I had to fly (window seat!) to Tampa on a packed 7AM flight, on my way to a multi-day planning meeting. The middle-seat lady purchased a vodka and cranberry as soon as we were at cruising altitude; and not 5 minutes after she purchased it, she spilled it into my lap, down my leg and into my brand-new, birthday-present-to-myself All Stars. (If you know me, you know that I only have one shoe weakness, Converse All Stars. I buy one pair a year and wear them until they are shredded. It’s a darn good thing I bought the black ones instead of the violet ones I had considered!). Really, when you think about it, I was very fortunate; I was also wearing black pants!
She had a rough flight. Before taking a nap on my shoulder, the poor lady spilled two more drinks, both on the aisle-seat lady. After all that excitement, she needed a nap!
Ken didn’t find my little travel story funny. He did, however, appreciate this joke that I read online last week: What’s the difference between a hippo and a zippo?
Ready?
One is very heavy and the other’s a little lighter.
Hehe
He really could use some cheering up. Any suggestions? Or jokes you’d like to share with him?
