A blog about Personal Journals.
Real Name: Steve E. Swenson Address: PO Bin 440 Bakersfield, Ca 93302 Cell: (395)736-7 Gender: male Date of Birth: January 03, 1949 Member Since: March 17, 2006 Last Signed In: September 30, 2009 Profile Views: 10866 Blog Views: 14988 Didn't catch any fish and Lopez Lake, but lots of fun anyway I feel oppressed, and out $33 Eating a burger in the shadow of Michelle Obama A must watch and pass on Lovey dovey on my patio Mexico trip rerouted to California -- oh yippee, skippy Met up today with an old cancer buddy The governator wants to tax golf???????? Took my love to Red Rock Canyon Ending fish plants in the Kern River???? June 06 July 06 August 06 September 06 October 06 November 06 December 06 January 07 February 07 March 07 April 07 May 07 June 07 July 07 August 07 September 07 October 07 November 07 December 07 January 08 February 08 March 08 April 08 May 08 June 08 July 08 August 08 September 08 October 08 November 08 December 08 January 09 February 09 March 09 April 09 May 09 June 09 July 09 August 09 September 09 October 09 November 09 
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The cancer mask, the tummy tube and an assisted clean belly button
This has been an event filled week on my cancer journey.
I returned to Dr. Dean Davis' office where I was fitted with a white mesh cancer mask about six weeks ago. Still fits, which means my head hasn't swelled or shrunk. The purpose of the mask is to keep my head still while they radiate my neck, the location of my cancer lump that has been shrinking quite nicely since my chemotherapy has begun. My ever attentive wife, Mary, took pictures of the mask, the machine which lines me up so the radiation doesn't wander off into my brain and cause possible damage or improvement. The nice lady with me in one of the pictures is Lorri, my own special cheery therapist. She was quite impressed that I kept a taped mark on my chest since September. I attributed that to only showering once. (just kidding) I got a new CAT scan to see how much my lump has shrunk. I think I mentioned that I can no longer feel the lump in my neck, which is how this whole journey got started. Lorri called that responding to treatment. Since this stuff has been in the blogs and newspaper, people have been talking to me about their experiences. So I asked my assigned nurse, Doris, what is it I'm really in for. She thinks six or seven weeks of radiation, which will basically ruin my mouth and throat. I'll get dry mouth (of which I already have to some degree), lose my taste buds and fry my throat so I can't swallow food. How fun. Then it will take months to heal all that so that my estimated time of being back to normal is about May. Hard to put a good spin on that, so I won't. So how am I going to eat, you may ask. Why, through a tummy tube. The call it a PEG tube, which is not named after some babe named Peg who had a fascination with tummies. It is a percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy tube, or PEG for short. On Tuesday, Mary took me over to Mercy Hospital where Dr. Ishaan Kalha of the Advanced Gastroenterology Center is going to tube me. I'm glad "Advanced" is in the name; wouldn't want a Backward G center. After signing more paperwork than I did for my mortgages, I got put in one of those gurney bays surrounded by curtains. The lady next to me was a little vocal about her two-day fast for her procedures; I only had a 16-hour fast for mine. Some technicians asked her questions including how tall she was. "5-foot-4." How much do you weigh? In a barely audible whisper, she said, "201." I took that to mean okay with the height, but not so much with the other. I got a very pretty technician named Yvonne who wheeled my gurney into the operating room. She explained this whole PEG procedure to me. The doctor will put a camera tube down my throat, look for a nice place in my stomach (can't imagine any bad places in there), make a small incision in my skin, stick a (I'm presuming crochet-like needle) into my stomach which they will use to pull out the tube that the doctor sticks down my throat. One question. Will I be out for this. "Yes." Good, I thought. That will keep me from making a mess all over the room. Dr. Kalha came in, assured me everything would be fine and asked Yvonne to clean and shave my tummy. And, the doctor said, make sure to clean the belly button. While Lorri became the first woman to shave some of my chest hair some weeks back, Yvonne wielded that razor over a much more expansive area. And then, just like they did to actor Steve Carell in "The 40-year-old Virgin," she pulled out remaining stubble with tape. Though I had peach fuzz compared to him. Then Yvonne put that brown guck all over me and dipped into my belly button, becoming the first woman since my mother to do so. As always, there is the normal expectation and then what actually happens to me. A 15 minute procedure and a half hour in the recovery room. I didn't wake up for 2 and 1/2 hours. Then I tossed what remaining cookies I had in my system. I held it until the recovery room technician, Bob, could find a plastic bowl. I would have thought those would have been a little handier in a gastro unit. I was supposed to be able to take liquids right away and solid food a couple hours later. It was all I could do to get a can of chicken noodle soup down in six hours. Now I can only lie down on my back. I was supposed to have some tenderness around the tube site. I got searing pain about every 45 minutes or so. The relief was to take deep breaths. Which you can't do and sleep too. Dr. Kalha explained to me on Wednesday afternoon that the pain was from cinching the tube tightly — again so my guts didn't spill out. He loosened it. I went out Wednesday morning in some discomfort to get the newspaper. To pick it up, I had to genuflect. I will tell you right now, I have genuflected for God, but never for my newspaper. For lunch, I had chicken Parmesan. It went down real well. I looked at my tube afterward and saw no tell-tale spaghetti sauce. Seemed to me to be a good sign. 19 comments from 17 users
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posted by
robbwillis
on Nov 7, 2007 at 04:29 PM
What a great attitude you've got, Steve. Whatever awaits me, I'll try and meet it with your good cheer. Best Wishes, Robb posted by
blognroll
on Nov 7, 2007 at 04:34 PM
This makes waterboarding seem like snowboarding or skateboarding. BTW, I wish you well, Steve. I know that telling you that you're in my prayers may seem like a bit of a cliche, but it's a true one. You're right at the top of my prayer list right now as a matter of fact, though some, after hearing that, might tell me to GET A LIFE! :)
posted by
randomfactor
on Nov 7, 2007 at 04:37 PM
The play-by-play is fascinating, Steve. Do you have a journal? You might come out of this with a book, y'know. Look at that published author Herb Benham for guidance.
posted by
Laurah
on Nov 7, 2007 at 04:38 PM
Stevie, Will you be able to talk after all that mouth-drying and throat-frying? I can't imagine a nonverbal Steve - although I'm sure you would find ways to communicate. ;-) All kidding aside, you have one awesome attitude. posted by
blognroll
on Nov 7, 2007 at 04:41 PM
You might come out of this with a book, y'know. I'd like to order an autographed copy in advance. posted by
bakonative
on Nov 7, 2007 at 05:00 PM
Keep up the good spirits Steve! We're all pleased with your progress!
posted by
mildmannered1
on Nov 7, 2007 at 05:17 PM
I'm also looking forward to the book. So, with the camera could you see that chicken parmesan? Our family's keeping you in our prayers. xx posted by
bluegrassgrrl
on Nov 7, 2007 at 08:59 PM
You should NEVER have to genuflect to the newspaper, Steve! Keep eating the good eats! Praying for ya, Michelle posted by
RoyTullis
on Nov 7, 2007 at 10:01 PM
Hang in there Steve. You can beat this thing.
posted by
NancyII
on Nov 7, 2007 at 10:16 PM
Steve, You have more courage than anyone I know..and you have all my respect. With your positive (and funny) outlook this whole business will be behind you before you know it. If nothing else, the short hiatus from golf will make you appreciate it all the more. You have a huge cheering section you know. posted by
TomW
on Nov 7, 2007 at 11:13 PM
Steve, don't know if I mentioned this before, but my dad was Dr. John Webster, a professor out at Cal State. I'm not sure where he knew you from but he always admired you. You've impressed a couple generations of Websters.Stay in there punching. posted by
allRED
on Nov 8, 2007 at 03:35 AM
Hang in there Steve time passe's so quick think about those cold morning's you tee'ed off you will be up and running in May and the temp will be great to start off the new year of golf. Ron. posted by
steveeswenson
on Nov 8, 2007 at 07:01 AM
Tom, I did know your dad. Talked to him several times about various stories and issues. No wonder you're smart. Michelle, Always good to hear from the Kentucky contingent. Also, I visited Dr. Davis after I wrote the blog. He said the tumor has shrunk by 50 percent or more since chemo began, which he said was an excellent sign. I also got this huge syringe from nurse Doris and we squirted a little water in the tube to clean it. Felt cold going into my stomach. Kind of like good liqueur going down the throat except a more direct route. And thanks everyone for the kind thoughts. You guys are awesome. posted by
randomfactor
on Nov 8, 2007 at 07:42 AM
Steve, no funny business, now. The syringe isn't rated for good liqueur... Stick with the rotgut. :)
posted by
BakersfieldDoc
on Nov 8, 2007 at 07:51 AM
Steve- Hang in there. You are mentally strong and that is a key ingredient to your recovery. Of course prayer and a great supportive wife does help as well. I agree on writing a book for those who really want a realistic view point of what is happening. Thank you for sharing your life with all of us. As I read your blogs I can only imagine the pain you are going through. Many of us here wish you did not have to experience this but you do, and we all hold you up in prayer and thoughts. ~BD posted by
sagefever
on Nov 8, 2007 at 09:15 AM
You will get through this with, as they say, flying colors. Concentrate on your self,and your wonderful Mary.I continue to hold you in my thoughts.
posted by
Mom2CandC
on Nov 8, 2007 at 04:43 PM
Steve, It's good to read that you are doing so well! I really like the new haircut! I think you should keep it! Get a few more ball caps and a large brimmed hat for your days in the sun and you are set to golf your days into retirement! The radiation is rough....my step-dad likened it to becoming beef jerky.... The awesome news is that the tumor is shrinking at a very rapid rate! That's amazing! The radiation should kick it in the tail! Keep your sense of humor and enjoy the good days with Mary and your family! When you have a bad day...take Mary for an ice cream! You are in my thoughts and prayers! posted by
r44time
on Nov 8, 2007 at 05:42 PM
Steve,Hang in there. We are pulling for you to recover. My dad who is 82 has cancer and the doc says he can "cure the sucker!" I sure hope so. My dad is a very positive person and people say that matters a lot. Thanks for sharing your journey with others. Sincerely, r44time posted by
anglo1
on Nov 8, 2007 at 10:23 PM
I've mentioned a Friend of mine who is going through the final stages of treatment similar to yours. Yesterday he showed up at a spot a few friends meet at every morning [his first solo drive in about 6 months] and after a short time got his "food" out along the syringe and proceeded to "eat" two cans of breakfast while we all watched. Hope you can be that comfortable with your friends to share your new found eating talents. He has a great attitude also. Best wishes.
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