Hello All,

Another week has gone quickly by. Let's hope the next 7 go as quickly! Meeting tomorrow with an Naturopath to get some advice on dealing with side effects, etc. then start treatment with radiation at 2:45, then meet with dentist at hospital. It's a very busy week. On Tuesday I have a 'mental' test at 9:15 to measure if I get any Chemo 'fog' over the next 5 years. It's a research study I agreed to join. Then radiation, admittance to the hospital and Chemo via IV. I overnight in PMH, have radiation at 12:40 Wednesady then, if all is moderately well, head home only to return Thursday AM and PM for 2 radiation treatments as Friday is a holiday! We also meet with the medical team late Thursday afternoon. That meeting will happen every week.

How am I doing? In truth I feel great. I feel healthy and fit. I know this will change soon enough but am enjoying food and flavours. I was told to gain some weight and have tried my darndest! They tell me I'll loss about 10% of body weight over the course of the next 2 months and don't want me dipping below that level.

It's an interesting psychological battle in that in almost all instances over time things get better whereas in this instance things will get worse. I have recovered from sprains, injuries etc. and as time passes you know you'll be feeling a bit better each day. In this treatment better doesn't even rear it's head, begin slightly, until about June 1 if all goes well. Each day is progressively worse than the previous one until that point. That's what I have been told by those who have gone through it. I figured martinis or Amarone down the feeding tube but that has been nixed by the medical grinches.

Once again thank you for all your love and support...it means a lot more than words can say. Warm Wishes to all.

Peter

Hello All,

Well it's been a busy week of parking, poking and prodding at Princess Margaret. The end result is that all biopsies came back negative. No primary has been found. This means they will radiate the obvious tumor on my neck and all other suspected sites including the other side of the neck. Met with Dr Sui, the Chemo Queen yesterday. She is a delight. I'll get Chemo on week 1, 4 and 7. Week 7 she says will be a challenge but she assures me that 'we' will do it. Another of the very positive competent world class practitioners at PMH.

I should have bought shares in the parking garage. Yesterday's appointments at 9Am and 4:40 PM ensured another $ 40 day. I rather be paying for green fees! I now have an official start date on March 29th. No overly happy with that given all the pre work we did in Vancouver to speed this up but the system moves at a pace I can't effect... that many be a big part of my learning. Get radiation on the 29th and for the next 34 week days after that until May 14 (that might be extended to make up for holidays or down days for equipment) and get my Chemo on the 30th. I stay overnight on any Chemo days so they can watch me and ply me with anti nausea drugs. I am sure there have been members of audiences at some of my speeches that wish they could have had those drugs!

Have talked with more folks who have gone though what I am facing. Constantly learning new things to help both physically and mentally. Thanks to you all for the amazing positive support. I'll update this as things progress and/or change.

March 16 update

Just a bit of news. Had 3 meetings yesterday, an anesthetist, then a hearing test( to set a base line for my current hearing level as treatment may effect it), and with the dentist at PMH. Radiation wipes out some of the saliva function and increases acid in your mouth and therefore cavities. they liked what they saw, you all know I have beautiful teeth... and made two 'mouth guards for me, top and bottom. I will use these to apply a fluoride treatment to my teeth and mouth for 5 minutes every day. This will reduce the acid and therefore cavities. I will be doing this for many months/years. Because radiation increases the brittleness of the jaw it is inadvisable to pull teeth for 3/4 years and therefore they want to ensure I have 'good' teeth.

Today I was put under for an panendoscope. Dr Gilbert went in search of the primary tumor. We'll know the results in a few days. I am at home in beautiful sunshine and about to sit on the porch...might even have a glass of the red!

March 13th Update

Hello all you wonderful people.

I can't get over all the support I have received. Yesterday 2 dear friends laid out a full schedule of volunteers for driving, help, support, etc while I am being treated and beyond. I feel so grateful.

On Friday I met with Dr Zoltan Rona who is a biologically oriented Doctor. He will help me create a healthy and quicker than predicted recovery. I went to the lab today and gave 22 vials of blood that they will be analyzing for him. I am also recording all food intake for a week. The more we understand about where I am at internally and where I need to get to the better able he will be at helping me.

I also talked to someone who face a similar throat cancer 5 years ago and got some amazing tips from him and his pharmaceutical wife.

On Monday I will talk to people at a Swiss clinic, have an appointment with a hearing specialist, (establishing a base line in case my hearing is effected by treatment) and go to the hospital dentist. Can't have dental work for a few years after radiation due to bone brittleness in the jaw so things must be check out now.

On Tuesday I will undergo a panendoscopy. They put me under and then try and find the primary tumor, the original site of the cancer which they believe is at the base of my tongue or where my tonsils used to be. They would like to find the primary so they can limit the amount of radiation they give me to the primary and the second site on the side of my neck. This is not surgery. They are simple looking in my throat and taking a biopsy of the suspected sites to see if any are cancerous.

On Friday I meet with the chemo specialist. I have already meet with the radiologist and have had a mask made that will hold me in a set position for radiation. It is much bigger and whiter than any of our goalie masks!

Finally...I hope to start the 7 weeks, 35 sessions, of treatment sometime on the week of the 22nd. Everyone is trying to speed things up and move this along but there are many steps. I have been so impressed with everyone I meet at Princess Margaret. They are all kind and considerate...patients and staff alike.

This will be my longest 'update' as I had to catch you all up on what has transpired. You should know I am in good spirits and ready to face what is coming...naive...but ready! The very best to all of you.