CSTAR

Sorry I haven’t posted lately…radiation is starting to kick my ass. It’s not something to succumb to, however, only something to endure. My point is, we all have a finite amount of energy to do things every day. I just have less than before right now. It doesn’t mean I don’t do anything. I still work out every day. I still handle my schoolwork. I help the unit out as much as possible. I don’t sit around whining about being tired. I do most of the things I usually do, I just have to sleep a lot more. It’s just an adjustment. Bosco sleeps 22.5 hours a day, and he’s plenty happy. All of this was reinforced by the first topic:

PinCushion

Based on recommendations for TMC (traditional Chinese medicine) from several oncology physicians, we went to see Dr. Guo in Chinatown to start herbal therapy and acupuncture. Seriously, Dr. Guo is the man when it comes to TCM in the U.S. He is one of the first people to bring TCM to this country, and definitely the pioneer when it comes to adapting TCM to western medicine. Take a look here, its very interesting:

http://www.liferising.com/about/guo.html

Our appointment with Dr. Guo blew my mind. I don’t know if I am quite ready to accept everything about eastern medicine, but that guy has too much respect in the western medical community to be dismissed. I am very excited to begin his treatment. Here’s our general treatment plan:

1. Emotional – A well balanced emotional state will lead to health and the defeat of cancer.
2. Sleep – more sleep, more sleep, better quality sleep, more sleep, more sleep (both eastern and western doctors have said this is the most important thing I can control in my fight)
3. Diet – a variety of foods is crucial to provide the largest spectrum of nutrients for health. This also includes herbal therapy, where I am now taking 5 different types of herbs, mushroom-black tea, and miracle cookies (actual name). Herbal therapy does not interfere with western medicine, and mine is designed to boost my natural immune system as well as mitigate the destructive effects of radiation therapy.

I could go on and on about the different thought process TCM presents, but here is the main thing:

1. Cancer is a symptom: meaning that a condition existed that caused the tumor. Dr Guol is only interested in my diagnostic images from before all of the surgeries. He says he will treat the underlying problem that caused cancer, while western medicine removes the tumor. Awesome!
2. Dr. Guol doesn’t consider TCM to be alternative medicine. He considers it medical science, period. Therefore, he will treat me as a cancer patient. Meaning, he doesnt really concern himself with Dr. Pelzer’s efforts, only with healing my body of cancer and its underlying conditions. This is super cool because I don’t care if the Americans or the Russians get to Berlin first, only that one way or the other Nazi Germany is wiped out (check your history).
3. The coolest part: TCM IS SO EMPOWERING! I really like the fact that it presents me with an opportunity to heal myself. All of my western treatments have happened to me. Cancer happened to me, surgeries happened to me, radiation happened to me, and I just endure it. Now I have an opportunity to improve my own health by applying herbal therapy, eating a variety of foods, being super active (as I can), and sleeping, sleeping, sleeping. Its just nice to pick up a weapon and participate in the fight.

After meeting with Dr. Guo, I next went to see Jun, who is Dr. Guo’s acupuncturist. She divided my treatment into two parts: immune system enhancement and shoulder therapy. She began by sticking needles in the top of my head, bridge of my nose, stomach, right hand, knees and my feet. It was very relaxing after my intial apprehension, but I wasn’t yet a believer. Then she says she wants to work on my shoulder. I thought I should roll over, but she says its not necessary. She tells me to put my shoulder in the position where it hurts, which I proceed to do. Then she starts working a needle into my left calf, which loosens up my shoulder and takes away the pain. Amazing!

More on this later, but radiation sucks. The first few days weren’t so bad, but it is really starting to accumulate in the form of fatigue. No big deal, not freaking out, but its not cool at all. They are nuking my brain every day. I’m putting together a walkthrough for everyone, but this post is already too long.

Big Thanks to DVision! Chris at DVision has been super helpful to spend a ton of money on several pair of glasses and sunglasses for me. I am trying to make some lemonade about how paranoid I am about protecting my other eye, and expensive designer eyeglasses is a nice start. Big thanks for their help in selecting great stuff.

Next post will be about radiation (Sunday?), and also about Dr. Pelzer getting me in to have my shoulder treated by the Bears team orthopedics physician (Dr. Nuber). I just hope I get Urlacher results and not Grossman/Orton therapy!

I am going to start posting from the hospital, since we estimate we spend 20 hours a week between 8 different doctors there, and I’m usually too tired from radiation to post when I get home. So more info in the near future.