tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-278149483155718952024-03-13T05:48:44.611-07:00Roger's updateRogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.comBlogger57125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-48174850192630542912011-10-24T16:33:00.000-07:002011-10-24T16:33:00.511-07:00Six Month Progress report.I got great news from the doctors today. They say I am in full remission and won't have to see them until January. This time last year I didn't know I had a problem and now it looks as if I won the first battle. Dr. McGary said I responded to treatment much better than most. Dr. Arnold said my faith had made me well. Both agreed that I had done better than the majority of lung cancer patients. <br />
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I feel like I should do something special for all those who prayed and supported me through the darkness of chemo and radiation treatments. I just wish I knew what I could do. I will pray for and ask a blessing for you all and I know God will answer my prayer. See you in a while.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-1318465610077338712011-07-21T13:27:00.000-07:002011-07-21T13:27:11.928-07:00The Hawk Soars HighI have news from the doctor today and he tells me that the cancer is virtually gone. My last PET scan is in and the results are that I am showing no cancer in any of the lymph nodes or trachea. My main tumor has shrunk to nothing but a scar and I am feeling good. <br />
It has been a while since I have written anything on this blog and it is because I have had nothing to report. It has been a nail biting, waiting game to see how the radiation and chemo worked. It worked good but I think it had a lot of help. The first Sunday in July, during communion, I had this nudge that told me I was healed. I believed it and kept telling myself not to doubt. Well, the doctor confirmed it today and I give the credit to God for doing it through the doctors and trough the prayers of the many.<br />
Let me end by saying I really appreciate your prayers and your kind words of encouragement. god bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-90971583814043453342011-06-20T08:03:00.000-07:002011-06-20T08:03:18.954-07:00June 20,2011It has been a long time since I reported on this blog. Truth is that I have not had much to report. The time after treatment until now has been a waiting period or, as we refer to them, the doldrums. So, here goes. I got a good report , cancer wise, last week but my oxygen levels were low and I felt lousy. Today I went back to follow up after week on prednisone and an antibiotic and everything is back to normal. well, normal as one can be at ths point. Bottom line is that my tumor has srunk from 8+ cm to 1.8 cm. that is good news and the fact that I finally feel beter is even better news to me. We prayed that we would be healed by the hand of God and I think we have achieved much. I will praise God for this outcome and I want you to praise Him with me. We are not through with the fight but we are winning at this point and that is enough or me to celebrate. <br />
I can't thank everyone enough for your love and prayers and I hope you continue to keep me in your prayers. I must admit that I was in the vally of the shadow of death and I foud that He was always with me. The Hawk always flew before me laughing and, as I said before, The tumor is srinking. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-10048866586827794562011-05-18T07:22:00.000-07:002011-05-18T07:22:36.117-07:00May 18,2011I haven't writtten much bucause there has been little to write about. I am doing well and I am just waiting for the June 10th, scan to see what we do next. While I wait, I am feeling good enough to resume normal activity and am feeling better each day. I still have a little burn in my swollowing and my back is still itching like a sun burn. My feet still have some numbness from the chemo. I don't know if that will ever go away. My hair is not back yet so I have a ways to go. <br />
Please don't stop praying as I need it now as much as ever. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-3735643319467432302011-05-11T06:16:00.000-07:002011-05-11T06:16:37.554-07:00May 11, 2011I have been thinking about how all my friends and family have been so supportive through all this battle. I guess there will never be a way to repay any of you but I sure wish there were. It has been an eye( and heart), opener for me. <br />
I guess until you are in this situation you never stop to think about needing help from friends. We all assume that we can pretty much handle all that life throws at us. Then it throws a curve like you have never seen or expected. It is then you realize that, as John Prine said, " everybody needs sombody that they can talk to"and as Bob Dylan says " you got to serve sombody; It might be the Devil or it might be the Lord, but you got to serve sombody. Well, I found out both statements are true.<br />
I am trying to say,badly, that we cannot complete this life alone, without help. We need our friends, family and, most of all, God. I am talking about the God of Abraham. I had no idea how much I needed God until this cancer battle. He does what he says he will do and He made me able to stand all the poison they put into me without much problem. I was blessed to never get sick through all of this. I had my battles but the Hawk was always there. It may have been through a friend stopping by at the right moment, a check arriving in the mail on the right day, a card in the mail from someone giving me encourgement or someone praying for me but when I was down. He was always there. I do not ever want to forget that. All you friends out there: don't ever let me forget it. If I ever get to acting like I was the one who brought myself through this, smack me up side the head and remind me what I have said here today.<br />
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I am having good days now. I don't know if the battle is over. I won't know that until the 10th of June when they do my other scan but I do know that, so far, I have been doing good through all of this because of all of you folks out there who have prayed and encourged me through it all. I really thank all of you friends, family and church, for your support. God bless you and your houseRogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-43706456782768377502011-05-09T05:16:00.000-07:002011-05-09T05:16:47.333-07:00May 9, 2011It is nice here this morning; clear with a tempeture of 60. I was able to sleep in two hour blocks last night which is better than I have been doing. My heart rate is up and it keeps me from sleeping. I'm going to call someone today to see if we can figure out what is going on. Other than that, I feel good. I'm eating good and can do most anything. I attempted to cut my grass Friday and had to get Tammy to rescue me about 3/4 of the way through. I'm still a little weak but improving dailey. The only problem now is the sleep thing and the heart beat of 100+ per min. Who knows.<br />
The last hawk I saw was getting pounded by a crow. It was last Friday morning when I went out with my dog. They flew away with the crow attacking the hawk over and over. I wonder what that could have meant. Anyway, God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-43800085001141319142011-05-05T19:03:00.000-07:002011-05-05T19:03:43.671-07:00May 5, 2011I had a breathing test today at UK hospital. It was given to determine if I have lost any breathing capacity and to see how much my lungs are converting the oxygen I take in to usable oxygen in my blood. Everything came out great. the lady who gave the test said I was "perfect".(I think she just meant on the breathing thing).<br />
That made me feel a lot better. I even came home and attempted to cut my own grass. I got most of it cut before I had to get Tammy to rescue me. I just couldn't quite make it. It will take more time.<br />
The hawk is soaring high today and the tumor......well, you know how tricky tumors are, but it is shrinking and there ain't nothin' it can do about it.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-28064396850820043792011-05-02T14:16:00.000-07:002011-05-02T14:16:43.697-07:00May 2, 2011Pet scan shows that cancer is much smaller than before in the left lung. The spot in my wind pipe is smaller but still showing up and two lymph nodes show about the same as last time. The oncologist says we are making real progress and the radiologist says we are making progress. They want to wait another month before making a decision on future treatments. All in all it is good news for two reasons. 1. I get 5 more weeks of a break and, they tell me, it wll most likly shrink more over the next few weeks. I am not jumping up and down with the news but I am cautiously optimistic. It sounds like I have a good chance of fighting this thing. <br />
God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-42933757479841779872011-04-28T05:29:00.000-07:002011-04-28T05:29:55.252-07:00April 28, 2011Going for the PET scan today. I will not get the results until Monday. This will make for an interesting weekend; Waiting to see about the rest of my life. Whatever the Lord has for me I must face with a smile and praise. Pray that I can do that. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-49481540992253910432011-04-26T14:00:00.000-07:002011-04-26T14:00:53.060-07:00April 26, 2011It looks like my scan is scheduled for Thursday April 28, at 12:00 noon. I will not see the doctor that day but will have to wait until Monday at 12:00 for that. At least it is not too long of a wait. Let's all pray for a good report. <br />
I have felt very good today and have had a fair amount of energy. The pain is gone and I am not taking pain medication and haven't for 5 days. That is really a help to me to not have to take pain meds. they take away the pain but make me feel bad otherwise. I am eating good and have very little pain when I swallow. That is also a big step foreward for me.<br />
I hope this is a preview of things to come. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-57170595595200165832011-04-22T12:56:00.000-07:002011-04-22T12:56:28.849-07:00April 22,2011My insurance company(Humana), has refused to approve my PET scan for Monday. Therefore, I must wait until we can convience them that this is needed to tell if we have any cancer left in my body. A pet scan is the only way to be sure what,if anything, is left. The insurance company knows that and they are just flexing their muscles. I will be in their face as soon as I can be there and give them what for. In the mean time I will have to wait longer to find out if they whipped this thing or not. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-83084162085446670712011-04-21T18:56:00.000-07:002011-04-21T18:56:16.010-07:00April 21, 2011Another bad day and just when I thought they were behind me. Had one of those days when all I wanted to do was sleep. I hurt all over and my eating was way off. I just lade around all day and slept. I hope that is a one day thing. I pray that tomorrow will be better. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-45602074944419980072011-04-20T10:50:00.000-07:002011-04-20T10:50:09.292-07:00April 20,2011Up at 6:30 today after a good nights sleep. I went out o take some things to Tammy she had forgotten and to the new Tractor Supply store. Came home and slept another hour on the couch. I guess I need it but this sleeping thing is taking too much time. I am eating better and feeling better except for the tiredness. I am tired all the time. Have very little energy to do anything. As if I could do anything with this constant storming around here. It is supposed to be better for a few days now. I hope so. <br />
Just mainly sitting around here waiting for the pet scan to come, on Monday at 11:30. Nothing much to add except God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-3670764525708712272011-04-18T05:06:00.000-07:002011-04-18T05:06:41.005-07:00April 18, 2011If my Dad were alive today he would be 109 years old. He was born this day in 1903. He died in 1986 and I still miss him every day. <br />
We had the praise service yesterday and I came away feeling that we did what the Lord wanted us to do; Praise and worship him. there were not a lot of people there but those who were there were God's own.<br />
My thanks to Jack and Gwin Tipton, Megan and Christopher Stull and Leigh Shultz for their singing. Jen Jinkins for her beautiful solo and Wayneanne for helping me out in leading the songs. The prayers that went up were,I know, a sweet smell to our Lord. Thanks to everyone who made it possible especially Mark Murphy who did sound.<br />
Feeling better today but still have that ole chemo hangover that will last some time more. I'm eating pretty well except when I get in a hurry and try to take too big of bites. If I keep it slow I can do ok. I would still like to gulp and wolf down a peck of food.<br />
One more week until I find out what progress all this has made against my cancer. I pray that it has had some effect. It would be a shame to go through this and have nothing get better. <br />
God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-65740529552757698542011-04-17T06:29:00.000-07:002011-04-17T06:29:31.072-07:00Sunday April 17, 2011I will try to write a little to catch everyone up to date. I'm feeling sick today and this is the day I plan to have the praise service at church. I haven't felt this bad in days. My throat seems better and eating is not as much of a problem but I am just sick at my stomach. I have not experienced this until now. <br />
I hope to see everyone at the praise. Get thee behind me satan. <br />
God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-3637367458086690842011-04-15T07:07:00.000-07:002011-04-15T07:07:06.767-07:00April 15, 2011Sorry for the long silience. It has been an interesting couple of days. I have had trouble eating and drinking and therefore not been able to keep up with anything else. I guess you could say I am doing better. I think the problem is that I want to feel much better than I do. I'm done with this laying around the house but my body says I am not. I want to be able to work in the garden and cut my own grass. I want to be able to go back to work. I want to be able to eat what I want, when I want and not have to take small bites and small sips. I don't always get what I want and this is one of those times. I wont say I'm loosing faith but I am loosing patience. By the time I get through this I will be fully cracked. I was half cracked before I started. <br />
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I hope all you who read this can come to the praise service at the 1st Baptist Church Sunday at 3:00 PM. I want to sing in my chains with all who can come and all who cannot should sing were you are. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-37284217764705378312011-04-12T05:04:00.000-07:002011-04-12T05:04:29.815-07:00April 12, 2011Yesterday I would not have given much hope for my pain and suffering easing up. Today I awoke after 7 hours of unaided, sleep and was able to eat an egg, a piece of toast, bacon and a cup of tea. I even drank the tea in gulps. I recall telling my wife that "if I could just sleep through the night and wake up without pain killers of any kind, then I would feel that I am on the mend. Well, does God ever do anything half way. I did all that plus eat a full breakfast. I have raised my hands and shouted like my great uncle Bob Kennedy. He was my grandfather's brother. Though I never knew him I have heard stories of how he would shout to the Lord in the field while he worked. He was not trying to impress anyone except God.<br />
I hope this is a trend. I have had good days before but this one feels different. I know that a lot of good people have been praying for this and I cannot thank you enough. Lets praise God for what he has done.<br />
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We plan on having a praise service this Sunday at 3:00 at the 1st Baptist Church in Mt Sterling. If anything this will be more unorganized and impromptu than the last one. I just want anyone who wants to sing to come and sing and anyone who wants to praise or pray to come. I have a PET scan in a week and I want to praise God for healing me before then. Come if you can or praise where you are if you can't.<br />
If you want to sing, let me know and I will put you on the program. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-78527040283099396472011-04-11T13:40:00.000-07:002011-04-12T05:06:47.096-07:00April 11, 2011Today has been like the past 5 days. Impossible to eat and drink and very tired. I can't wait for the turn around day when I feel better than the day before and it continues day after day. I look forward to the day when I can say " I am better than yesterday." <br />
Until that day I will just have to tough it out. One can take more than one thinks. The trick is not to thinks too much. Keep busy and don't think about your problems is the best way. Another is to concentrate on and pray for someone else and their problems. Keep the mind occupied. Pray for others and talk to others. I will continue an let you know when it breaks to the good side. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-8268400830302424532011-04-08T16:23:00.000-07:002011-04-08T16:23:16.498-07:00April 8,2011I am recovering from a hard night and morning. It has been good since about noon. I have been able to eat and drink this afternoon and that is a good thing. Not much, but at least I got something down. I'd give a lot to be able to eat a full meal right now. Biscuits, beans, taters and a nice pie for desert. It will come.<br />
My pastor, rick Johnson came by for a visit today and he really picked me up. We talked about everything and by the time he left I felt much better. He even suggested I take advill as it is an anti inflammatory and I did and it worked. Thanks Dr. Johnson. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-31792890618206348232011-04-07T15:57:00.000-07:002011-04-07T15:57:25.794-07:00April 7, 2011Free at last. I have no more radiation treatments. My chemo ended Tuesday a week and a half ago and Now I just have to fight my way back. On the way home today the Hawk showed himself in great glory. Pray that I can keep my eye on the hawk and off the tumor. <br />
I am still feeling much pain when I try to swallow. If I can just get liquids down me this weekend I won't have to go back to get hydrated. That's a big if as it hurts so bad, when I swallow that it bends me over and I shout out loud. Tammy says it's enough to scare anybody in the neighborhood off and that it makes her fear for my life. Pray that it gets better. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-56982229320794192102011-04-06T14:08:00.000-07:002011-04-06T14:08:07.357-07:00April 6, 2011Had my treatment and follow up visit with Dr. McGary today. Other than not being able to eat much and my heart beat being a little high, I'm supposed to br doing ok. He says I have done remarkable. I'd hate to see bad. I had a rough night last night and started feeling better around 8 this morning. Can't figure out why nights and mornings are so bad. With chemo and radiation both, it is hard to tell which is responsible. Or it could be the one of the many medicines I'm taking. I hope it gets better soon. <br />
Thanks to Sally Hodgson for taking me today. Enoc Eubank is on deck for my final treatment in this series tomorrow. It will save a lot of time and money not to have to go to Lexington every day. Gas is $3.79 here and that takes it's toll. <br />
I did ot see a Hawk today. Sometime you just have to have faith when you can't see. Now is such time. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-30036595900619300892011-04-05T12:17:00.000-07:002011-04-05T12:17:47.924-07:00April 5, 2011This is the first day I have seen the light in a while. I have felt almost human today. I went early today so they could feed me some IV liquid and Before I could get to my radiation treatment they called me and said the machne had broken down. So, I came back home and before I could get back home they called me and told me to come back at 2:00 for the treatment. I went back and just now got home. That is what I get for having a good day. I'm not complaining, I'll take feeling better, along with two trips to Lexington, any day instead of feeling bad all day.<br />
I have two more treatments and I am done. Praise God. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-52689376998327942272011-04-04T11:20:00.000-07:002011-04-04T11:20:39.346-07:00April 4. 2011Had my Dr. visit today and she thinks I am doing ok. She said this is the week that I hit my wall. I think I hit it last Friday and can't seem to get past it. I'm dehydraded again so I had to get an IV and stay for an hour and a half extra for that. Iwill also have to stay each day this week until Thursday and get more liquieds. My pain is about 12 on a scale of 1-10. Dr arnold told me that I was tougher than most of her patiences. She feels I am doing extremely well considering what I have been through. I don't know so much about that. I don't feel so tough right now. I have many friends praying for me and I know I have much support. I saw a Cooper's Hawk today but no Red Tail. Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-16574136742967155722011-04-03T08:22:00.000-07:002011-04-03T08:22:32.458-07:00April 3,2011It is 11:14 and the first time I have been up today. Last night wasn't so bad but today has been pretty tiring. Haven't been able to sit up much without getting really tired. I ate a little and feel some better now. I'm going to try to get outside some and enjoy this beautiful weather today. I hope I get some answers from my appointment with Dr. Arnold tomorrow so I can not fear everytime I get a new symptom. I am more afraid of all the pin killers and pills they have me on than I am anything else. I feel like I'm out of it most of the time and I do not like it. For some reason or another I feel like the drugs are making me feel spacy but it may all be part of the chemo experience. I did not feel this way on the last round of chemo but it may be different this time. Anybody out there know about these things? I could use someone with experience about now. Hope to write more tomorrow. God bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27814948315571895.post-83799920893784581842011-04-02T10:54:00.000-07:002011-04-02T10:54:07.568-07:00April 2, 2011Woa Nellie, it has been a hard couple of days. I started feeling better this afternoon after Tammy talked me into eating some chicken soup. I fought it but gave in and found that I could actually eat it and afterward it made me feel better. Mom knows best. So far I have felt much better this afternoon and hope this is a trend. The last two days have been an up and down ride. I can't tell if it is the effects of the chemo or the pain meds. or both. Whatever it is. it's something I don't want to do again. I do know that the pain from the radiation is getting much worse and the pain medicine is not working as well. The prayers have come and that has sustained me and I will never forget those who pray. God Bless you and your house.Rogerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01512604754500220442noreply@blogger.com1