FAQ

I've been getting some of the same questions over and over again, most typically from people not up here in Washington, so those who don't see me on a regular basis. Let's see if I can answer a few of those:

Have you lost your hair?
No. You all know I wear my hair short anyway, but I haven't lost it. The rate of growth has slowed tremendously, though. Typically, I cut my hair once every 10-14 days. I've only had to cut my hair twice since starting my treatment in May. It's actually kinda nice.

Have you lost your appetite?
Definitely not. In fact, I think I am forced to eat more. In the week after each session, if I get even the slightest bit hungry, I get extremely nauseous. This forces me to eat a lot more than I probably want to (or should).

Have you lost weight?
Nope. In fact, due to the lack of losing my appetite, I've put on weight. They weigh me before each treatment, and before my first treatment, I was 204. Before my last treatment I was 212. I have plans once this is all over to eat right and exercise, but for now, I'm relying heavily on my comfort foods - Ice Cream Sandwiches, Jack in the Box, and Double-Stuf Oreos.

Do you have any pain?
No, not really. Headaches, but otherwise the pain is limited. The chest and back pain that led me into the hospital to get this all started is gone.

Are the Tigers going to win the World Series?
Yes, assuming we can pick up another guy for the bullpen (Eric Gagne? Brian Fuentes? Chad Cordero?). If not, we'll have a hard time beating Cleveland. Boston is overrated, and will lose their first playoff series. The Angels don't have enough offense to make a run, and Seattle doesn't have enough pitching. The entire NL is a joke. The real World Series will be Detroit vs. Cleveland in the ALCS.

Are you able to go out and do "stuff"?
Yes, I can. Typically, I feel pretty normal on my "off" weekends, and am able to live pretty normally - go out to dinner, go to the driving range, barbeque, etc. Every other Tuesday, a bunch of us in the office go to the movies. So far this summer, we've seen Spiderman 3, Shrek 3, Knocked Up, Ocean's Thirteen, and Live Free or Die Hard. It looks like we're going to see Ratatouille this coming Tuesday.

What does the chemotherapy feel like?
It's interesting. I'm feeling pretty good, even as the treatment is starting, but within 5 or 10 minutes it's like someone pulls the plug on my batteries. I get really tired and sick, and my head starts spinning a bit. It's a very strange feeling, and that's the best way I can describe it.

If there are other questions, don't hesitate to email me. I like hearing from everyone! :-)