Sent Jim a message yesterday asking (somewhat tentatively) how we was
doing. This is his response (unedited) which I received this morning. My
apologies if you don't care for the subject matter but I would hope that
we all care what happens to one of our own.
---
Trudeau, James L wrote:
>
> Howdy Patrick,
>
> Nope I don't consider it "intrusive".  Matter of fact you can
> forward this to the list, edited if you so desire, OFF-TOPIC
> of course.
>
> Well lemme see here...........uummm tought to see thorough
> all the medical bills I'm stacking up.  If you decide for whatever
> reason that you need cancer you best be for checking that
> you have a *real* good health plan.
>
> Ok, short but sweet.  So I left my dear, dry rocket farm and
> went to the the big lights in Houston.  I left big cities (LA, San
> Francisco, Seattle, blah, blah) and sometimes need a reminder
> of why.  The Houston trip did it.  Anyhow I digress.
>
> M. D. Anderson Cancer Center is *HUGE* if you need it they
> got it but don't forget to take a warm shirt, lots of patience
> (they already have plenty of patients) and lots of $$$$$.  I saw
> a number of specialists and after a week (6 days) they all were
> of the same opinion as the surgeon here who sent me up there.
> Because of the location (upper esophagous just below larynx)
> that surgery of any kind would be a last ditch effort.  To many
> wind pipes, food tubes, voice boxes (I can't speak) and nerves
> and things hang out in that neck (note clever pun) of the woods.
> They discounted angiostatins and a bunch of other stuff and
> "not ready for prime time".  So it's chemo/radiation therapy.
> I finally realized they were talking about doing it there.  Sorry
> not on *my* budget.  So back to home sweet home.
>
> Talked to an oncologist Monday (after doing some deep checking
> on who he was.....it's my life ya know) he reviewed all the material
> to date and said OK.  I've been waiting for over six weeks for the
> medical community to quit asking the same questions over and
> over, go here, wait there, hi, howya doing today (this one really
> iritates me what do you say "Well I have cancer today and a
> number of doctors have told me it's quite serious, howya doing
> today) and *do* something.  So....
>
> In I went Tuesday morning expecting a quick radiation hit and
> be on my way.  Uh-Uh.  Off to the ER at the adjacent hospital
> to have a cather installed in my subclavian something or other
> in the upper right front chest up by the collar bone.  Back to
> the clinic and get wired into an IV.  Sit for over 3 hours soaking
> up the chems while they tell you about, and you read about
> all the side effects.  Yikes, I thought the rumors were bad
> enough.  Three hours are up....yahoo.....I'm outta here.  Nope.
> "Oh here's your bag sir".
>
> "Bag? Bag? What freakin' bag?"
> "The bag for your pump sir."
>
> So, for five days once a day I go in for the hangy old 3 hour drip
> thing then get the pump back until the next day.  After five
> days of that it' three (?) weeks of radiation once a day followed
> by a repeat of the current five days of 24 hour chemicals.  Then
> we'll see where I'm at, there might be more.
>
> Lordy I hate this stinkin' bag.  I should have stayed married and
> slept with my wife.  Not to imply she was a bag;-)
>
> After having been around a bit it looks like I *may* get off with just
> this.  Course you get to spend the rest of your life worrying about
> recurrsion.
>
> I have been and will probably be pretty quiet on the subject as
> I already see myself setting up to be some kind of a "Cancer
> Crusader" and the list isn't what that's for, there are others for
> that.
>
> Anyhow Patrick have yerself a good day, with luck I may be
> able to rejoin the 3000-l in about a month or so.  In the
> meantime keep them 3k's flying!
>
> Jim (got more stinkin' chemicals in my body than they got
> in all of Deep South Texas) Trudeau

For those of you who don't have it, Jim's email address is
<[log in to unmask]>

Patrick
--
Patrick Santucci
Technical Services Systems Programmer
KVI, a division of Seabury & Smith
Visit our site! http://www.kvi-ins.com
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"If they try to rush me, I always say, 'I've only got
one other speed -- and it's slower.'"    ~ Glenn Ford