Give Thanks

Nine months ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 melanoma, a serious form of cancer. Left unchecked and untreated I might not be here today. I sought the best care available and there has been encouraging results.

I am thankful for the medical personnel and their knowledge to assist me with treatment.

I am thankful for the many, many prayers from this body of believers as well as friends and family all over this great country.

I am thankful for our soldiers who continue to protect our great country.

I am thankful for the many, many cards, emails, meals, phone calls and words of encouragement from you my brothers and sisters.

I am so very thankful for my caregivers, my family.

I am so very thankful to be a part of the body of Christ.

I am not out of the woods yet but someday I will be cancer free.

May God bless you all.

Meltdown

I had a mini meltdown Sunday morning. It was not my first but it's the first time I've revealed it in this forum. I had just finished scanning the newspaper and started my ritual of getting up from the chair when I soon realized I was to weak to push myself up. Feeling sorry for myself I began to weep, then sobbing. My wife heard me and came to my rescue but not before holding me until my tears subsided. She is such a good caregiver!

You see I'm weak from months of idleness AND Parkinsons Disease.

Parkinsons: not just a tremor

Parkinsons Disease has taken over my day to day life. I believe when people think of Parkinsons the image that comes to mind is a tremor in the hand. Granted, a tremor is usually the first sign of PD. But, it can be so much more. Keep in mind PD affects everyone differently.

I take three different meds four times daily to help control the symptoms. Unfortunately the meds don't always have the desired effects. Enter what's called "off" time, which is the time when the meds are not medicating. During "off" time simple tasks such as buttoning a shirt, handwriting, cutting food, brushing teeth or typing this report can be extremely frustrating if not tortuous. The off time is usually upridictable. Some of you may have seen MJF, on the telly wrthing and trembling uncontrollaby. That is usually an indication that he is not taking his meds in a timely manner or he's not taking them at all. These symptoms are compounded especially when we are nervous or distressed. Adversely, "on" time is when everything is working as close to normal. Again, "on" time is usually unpredictable but much appreciated.

One should establish a schedule for taking their meds and try to take them as close to the appointed time as possible so your body will adjust to the correct time.

I'm going to beat this!

Hello,
If what I write here seems redundant...........just remember............I've got Parkinson's Disease AND melanoma cancer AND a poor memory AND.....................I forgot what else!

I started a new trial program on Nov. 8 which equips my own immune system to fight off those bad old cancer cells within my body. For the non-medical people it is called an "Immune Enhancer". It's medical name is "IPILIMUMAB Monotherapy" or "CTLA-4."

CTLA-4 is a molecule that controls a part of your immune system by shutting it down. Researchers believe that one way cancers can escape the immune system could be through this shutdown. An antibody against CTLA-4 can stop it from turning off the immune system, allowing the immune reaction to continue. Your body's immune reaction may help your body to destroy cancer cells. In animals, it has been possible to eliminate some cancers using an antibody against CTLA-4.