Twenty - Ten

So after a machine stop yesterday, today went smoothly and I'm all done with 20 rounds of radiation - yippee! As you can see, I've started to lose hair in the radiation zone, but shaving my head is nothing new for  this swimmer. We're off to the pool now for the 4th time this week, and are really looking forward to the kids coming back home after that. 

This week Senator John McCain was diagnosed with a glioblastoma, and a very inspirational Op-Ed was published in the NYT today by Jessica Morris, a woman with the same diagnosis. Here's to all the members of our unlucky club - let's enjoy life to the fullest, one day at a time. 

Halfway!

This morning we all went swimming together, just like 30 years ago when we first moved to Edgemoor. To mark my 15th day of radiation - the halfway point! - I did a 1500, while they did 1000 each. The shirt I'm wearing is not a coincidental choice - it's 22 years old, from the basketball team Dad coached. 

This surreal situation has allowed Mamina and Bhapu to play the role of parents again, taking excellent care of me this week that we've been alone. Before that, they learned our family routines and helped out with the kids in the early mornings and late afternoons when we needed it most. This week we've had a Norwegian lesson at breakfast every morning, and they're well on their way to becoming 'ekte Drammensere.' 

And with that, I'll sign off with a big 'tusen takk' til mine flotte foreldre❤️

Ro i sjela

Best way to start the new week, with a walk up to the pond. Anette and the kids are leaving Rauland this morning, having spent the night on their way to Haugesund and Vikedal. Mamina and Bhapu will drive me to the hospital this week, and when Anette returns alone on Saturday I'll be halfway through this stage of treatment. 

Two weeks down!

How do you celebrate two weeks of radiation? With a hair cut and ice cream! 

Swim4Life

Who'da thunk it?! My beautiful wife said that she was going to swim this race alongside me, but I never thought she would actually get in the water. Two days in a row, two thousand meters later, we're finished with the first five days of radiation and feeling fantastic. My parents are also swimming every day, and they feel great, too. Do what you love, do what makes you feel like your best self. 😄💪🏊❤️💕

Immunotherapy

  

So this is the final treatment of the day, a half-hour's infusion of Nivo/placebo, which I will get every two weeks for 16 weeks. 

Radiation

  

 

 

So it looks pretty scary, but I couldn't feel a thing. Just 5 minutes or so of whirring and the first round of radiation was over. V-Mat method is used, arcs of targeted radiation around my head with the photons calculated to be most effective where the tumor was removed. 

Chemotherapy

 

So these little pills, in combination with radiation and immunotherapy, are supposed to cure me. I take them on an empty stomach one hour before radiation; thirty minutes after taking an anti-nausea pill. The treatment is a triple threat - chemo, radio and immuno. We found out this morning that I was accepted into a clinical trial for Nivolumab, the drug that has revolutionized melanoma treatment. 

The Stage II clinical trial is arranged by Bristol Mayers Squibb. Lab Corp Ctr for Molecular Biology confirmed the results that the doctors in Oslo had gotten; that I have the MGMT mutation that should make my body more receptive to the Nivo. Of the 15 patients in Norway who are participating in this trial, I am only the 4th with the MGMT mutation.

Camping!

  

Treatment now delayed until Monday, so one more weekend of normalcy. Told Sunniva today that I have cancer, and she was fine with it; just wanted to keep playing and was happy to accompany us to the hospital one day to see how the doctors take good care of me. Third summer in a row we've gone camping, and that is indeed something to be proud of!

Makin' Lemonade

 

When the hospital gives you lemons, make lemonade😉💪☀️