Merkel and Me

 Thursday May 7, 2026     Today is another one of those milestone days.  One year ago today I had my final radiation treatment. 5 weeks of 5 days -a-week treatments were finally completed. By that day I was finally starting to feel and see the effects: skin that was warm to the touch, redness, blistering and cracking, and some pain. For another week it would just get worse and then start to subside. One year later the site can still be dry but no heat, no redness, and all the scans are still clean. I had the blood test this week so we will be looking forward to another zero. No other cancer related tests, procedures, scan, or appointments until July.  I'm in the sweet in-between of necessary check-ups right now.      I do have a couple of appointments next week to go over the results of my second colonoscopy. I'm not too worried.  I'm assuming anything serious they would have been in more of a rush to talk and plan next steps. I've been livin...

 Tuesday April 14, 2026     I probably should have written this last Tuesday to recognize that it was the one-year anniversary of the beginning of my radiation treatments. Six weeks of driving to Irvine, Monday through Friday, lay on a table, and have a machine shoot two, 45 second zaps of radiation at my surgical site. I never felt anything, just heard the machine go "buzz." As I've shared, I didn't have any effects for most of the first five weeks, started feeling and seeing the effects during the final week and for about two weeks after. Two of the ladies we know that have been going through breast cancer treatments have both started their radiation treatments in the last week or so. I know they will find it easier than chemo, but they will still need prayers for what it does to the skin and our bodies.  As my radiation oncologist told me, "We are affecting that area down to the cellular level."      My extra colonoscopy was a breeze, one of the bes...

Monday March 30, 2026     Thursday thoughts on a Monday.  Maybe I should come up with a name for everyday of the week and just write whenever: Monday Musings, Tuesday Topics, Sunday Summations, and so on.      It's been an interesting few weeks and another interesting one coming up. Thursday I am scheduled for the surgical colonoscopy (what I'm calling it) to remove a large polyp or two. I had to have an EKG (anybody over 60) and it was nice to know they approved my heart for the procedure. Today I have to get a general clearance from a PCP.  You would think with all of the procedures I've had over the past 15 months they could just considered me good to go.  Nope, check all of the boxes first.  Prep day for the procedure is always a challenge, both in the fasting aspect and then the prep procedure.  Thankfully I was invited to play golf Wednesday morning/afternoon so that will keep me busy.  Just have to remember to stay well hydra...

 Thursday March 12, 2026     Just when you think you've found calm waters... I thought I was going to write today about being done with my year-after checkups, scans, and tests. I did have a dental procedure this week, part two of an implant. It went very well and the dentist did a great job with the anesthesia; I didn't realize when I fell asleep or when I woke up.  From my perspective, I was awake from beginning to end.  I wasn't, but it felt that way. There's been little pain since the Tylenol 3 wore off, and no bleeding. After that, I anticipated a quiet week of relaxing with little on the schedule.      And then... I contacted the colonoscopy specialist my GI wanted me to see. I anticipated there would be an evaluation and assessment appointment and then we'd schedule the colonoscopy. Turns out this doctor only specializes in surgical procedures, and they scheduled me for April 2. My GI had said I should do the follow-up in 3-6 months, but wh...

 Thursday March 5, 2026     It's been a good week.  James 1:17... Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variations or shadow due to change.      Tuesday, I met with Dr. Tran, my surgical oncologist.  She reviewed my CT and PET scan and outside of a kidney stone, everything came back clear, no signs of metastasis anywhere. She said the site looks good and I'm right where I should be. Again, because of the potential seriousness of merkel cell she is going to keep a close eye on me for another year. Check-ins every 4 months and CT and PET scans every six. Once we pass the two-year mark, we can start checking in and testing once a year.      Wednesday, I met with my gastroenterologist to discuss my colonoscopy results. We've been together for over 15 years now. As I shared, I was more inflamed than I had been previously, but not as bad as I've been in the past....

 Thursday February 26, 2026      Anniversary day. One year ago, I had my surgery to remove the cancer from my backside. I'm meeting with Dr. Tran next week, but she called me today to talk about the CT and PET scan (more on that in a minute).      My last post shared that Cathy and I were going to the Marriage Event at our church. Over 250 couples came and enjoyed a great dinner, a couple of fun games, and a fantastic message from Pastor Bobby on Malachi 2:14, "The Wife of your Youth." Saturday, we went to Las Brisas in Laguna Beach for Valentine's lunch. Not only is Las Brisas where we had our first date, but we also had our engagement date, and our first lunch as husband and wife there. It all started 21 years ago on March 6th.      I had 5 different doctor's appointments and/or procedures the past two weeks. It started with a blood test for my hematologist checking on my iron levels. It's better than last time so we are going to monit...

 Friday February 13, 2026     Friday the 13th but nothing scary going on here. I just received the results of my blood test, and it came back with another 0. Never any guarantees, but a year's worth of zeros I think means that my cancer was confined to the one spot and my surgeon, and the radiation, got it all. There are still tests to go and another year to monitor, but lots of reasons to feel confident and hopeful.      Now, on the other hand, my colonoscopy was another test/procedure that is going to lead to more tests and procedures.  I was more inflamed than two years ago (even though my condition has never been more under control) and there were polyps. Because of my situation, my GI wants me to see a specialist at UCI and undergo another colonoscopy in 3-6 months where he will check things out and remove anything that looks fishy. I'm not overly worried because there is no rush to get this taken care of. My GI said we will talk about it at my ap...

 Friday January 30, 2026     Today is the one-year anniversary of receiving the phone call. Last January 23rd I had visited the dermatologist's office to have a "cyst" removed. One week later, January 30, 2025, the dermatologist called to tell me that the pathology report had identified my "cyst" as Merkel cell carcinoma. And that started my year long journey through surgery, radiation, and regular check-ups and tests. One year later I am very grateful to say that it appears I am still cancer free and doing well.      I say appears because there will still be tests and check-ups to go for at least another year. The oncology surgeon told me to throw the first party at the two-year mark and then throw the big bash at the five-year mark. Between now and March 3rd I have a follow-up with the oncology radiologist, the surgical oncologist, a CT scan and a PET scan. I will also have the specialty blood test.  It was supposed to have happened this past week, b...

 Thursday January 15, 2026     So, it's been a week of doctor appointments and procedures, only one which was tangentially connected to my cancer. Tuesday, I had a blood draw for my hematologist checking my iron and ferritin levels and my iron saturation level. Because of my ulcerative colitis, I've had my blood checked on a regular basis for 20 years. I never had a problem until 2015. I started having trouble breathing, running out of breath just from talking. They did a blood test and I was anemic.  My blood count was only 7.2. My doctor wondered how I was still going to work every day. I had a blood transfusion and then started having regular iron infusions.  I hit another low point in 2017 (6.2) and had another blood transfusion. It was all from blood loss from the colitis. Thankfully, the new medication my doctor prescribed in 2019 has been the answer. I have basically been in remission for the past 5 years and I haven't needed to have an iron infusion for ...

 Thursday January 8, 2025 Romans 12:12... Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Today was my first day dealing with all of the insurance changes.  It wasn't too bad, but it wasn't a piece of cake, either. I have to switch all of my prescriptions from my current pharmacies to my new pharmacy under the Medicare plan. The phone call about my colitis drug from the specialty pharmacy went well and should transfer with no problems. My other medications, little more tricky.  I called the new pharmacy, and they said to contact the old pharmacy to have them switch all of the information.  When I called the old pharmacy, they said they couldn't do anything until the new pharmacy contacted them. So, back to the new pharmacy who contacted the old pharmacy... but they didn't answer, probably on lunch break. Hopefully I will hear from the new pharmacy tomorrow that everything has transferred.  I had phone calls with a couple of other doctor offices tod...

 Thursday January 1, 2026 Happy New Year!!! I don't have anything new to share about Merkel and me so today will truly be a "Thursday Thoughts" with a selection of random views and vignettes that I thought I'd share.  A new year means we are all getting another year older, at some point.  There are three things this year that are going to make me feel very old indeed. #3, I am now an official Medicare recipient as of today.  All three ID cards have come (Medicare card, insurance supplement card, and pharmacy RX card) and I will spend the next few months updating every one of my doctors about my insurance changes. #2, I will be turning 65 in 21 days and will be an official senior citizen, eligible for every senior discount available. #1, the thing that is going to make me feel the oldest, every student who was in my first sixth grade class in 1987-1988, at Ramona, will be turning 50 this year. OUCH!!!   I actually don't mind getting older. I believe I've sha...

 Friday December 26, 2025 Merry Christmas and Happy Boxing Day. I pray everyone is recovering nicely from all the fun and festivities of the past few days. I also pray that everyone had the opportunity to reflect on the beauty of the birth of Jesus.  Philippians 2:5-7...Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed,   but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant. When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, Cathy and I had a wonderful Christmas. We bought one present for ourselves, a treadmill to keep us both walking when the weather turns unpleasant.  One or both of us have used it every day the past week and a half. Christmas Eve, I worked our church's Book Nook before and after the 12 PM service. Cathy's sister and family came to that service and we sat together. Cathy has a friend who i...

 Thursday December 4, 2025 Lamentations 3:22-23...     The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.     Two weeks in a row, everything back on track. I talked to my surgical oncologist Dr. Tran on Tuesday, and we went over the PET scan. Like the blood test, it came back showing no signs of cancer.      However, I realized that I'm at that age where every scan is going to show something. It's like taking your car to the shop for an oil change and find out you need new tires and an air filter. So, as excited and pleased that I was that there was no sign of cancer, the news was tempered a bit by the news that I needed to have a couple of things checked. One was kind of funny, and I can't wait to talk to the ENT doctor about it.  The scan showed that I have tonsilitis. Weird since I had my tonsils removed when I was 9, but apparently, they can grow back. Thi...

 Thursday November 27, 2025     Happy Thanksgiving!!! I hope everyone has a wonderful day enjoying lots of love, family, and gratefulness for all the blessings that God has bestowed on us all. I obviously have much to be thankful for this year. I have a lot to be thankful for every year, but this year a little more than normal. So far, so good, on the cancer front. There was a minor hiccup a couple of months ago when a CT scan showed that the area of the surgery was larger than it had been.  The possibilities included post-operative fluid collection or recurrence of the cancer. My surgical oncologist wasn't overly worried but scheduled me for a PET scan early in November.  We are still awaiting those results, but in the meantime, I had the quarterly blood test and that came back with a nice big 0 again. I have a phone conference with Dr. Tran on Tuesday.  Hopefully the PET scan results will be available by then so we can confidently continue to go forward a...

 Friday August 22, 2025     Good news this week, the blood test came back with the beautiful number of "0." That means there is no evidence of cancer in my body, at the moment. Tuesday will be six months since my surgery so I think I can say on that day, "I'm six months cancer free."      Thank you to everyone who has been praying for me. God has definitely answered prayers from the very beginning of this journey, and I have appreciated His love, care, and concern, and I appreciate all of your love, care, and concern, too.      My two friends in the fellowship group have now had their second chemo treatments. It's rough, but they are hanging in there and keeping their faith strong. One of the ladies brought up a great point with me today. At the beginning of the year Compass HB planted a new church in Long Beach. About 140 people left, including some fellowship group leaders, our group included. The elders had to reorganize some groups, and w...

 Thursday August 14, 2025     Still waiting for test results from the 29th.  I think they go to my oncologist and then I'll hear from her. I had my three-month check-up with the radiation oncologist yesterday and he seemed to think that everything has healed up nicely.  The area is a little tough, and a little discolored, but there is no pain and there were no adverse reactions in my leg. He checked for swelling in my right leg, and strength and mobility.  He was impressed that I had gotten up to an 18-mile bike ride before my hernia surgery, and that I was walking 10-11,000 steps every day after. He was pleased enough that instead of 3 months, I don't have to see him again for 6 months.      He did see that there was an order for a CT scan from February that never happened, so he suggested I go ahead, and I was able to get an appointment for September 30. That means I will actually go 47 days without a doctor's appointment. There haven't bee...

 Friday August 8, 2025     It's been a good and blessed couple of weeks. My friend Dave received his new heart the Friday after my last post.  He was doing well enough the next Monday that we were able to have a short conversation on the phone, and he was able to come home that Friday/Saturday. He needs to take it easy for a number of months and keep his contacts with other people limited, but so far, prayers have definitely been answered.      My two friends from the fellowship group have both started their chemo treatments. They are doing well after their first visits and keeping spirits up. We start Fellowship group meetings next week and we are hopeful they will feel up to attending.      As for me, the biggest highlight of the past two weeks was celebrating my 19th anniversary with Cathy. As I've said before, I can't imagine going through all of this without her by my side. We went to Leatherby's a nice restaurant at the Segerstrom ...

 Thursday July 24, 2025     The dermatologist appointment went well, nothing new to be concerned about. Tuesday I will be having the special blood test which will highlight if there are any markers or antibodies present to indicate a recurrence of the cancer. Prayers would be appreciated.      Monday, I had my hernia surgery.  It went well, but the process had a few hiccups. My surgery was originally scheduled for 11 AM, but Friday the hospital called and told me it was switched to 4:30 PM because of an emergency surgery the doctor was needed for in the morning. I arrived at the hospital at 2:30 and taken to pre-op around 3:30. We then learned the doctor was just getting out of surgery and had another one before mine. I finally was in the operating room before 7:30 PM. The surgery was over around 10 and at that hour, the doctor decided to keep me in the hospital overnight. I had a nice single room and great nurses throughout the experience.  It to...

 Thursday July 10, 2025      My church fellowship group meets on Thursdays (we have been off the past few weeks for a summer break) and then every other Saturday morning, the men and women meet as separate groups. The men have been working through the book The Practice of Godliness  by Jerry Bridges. There are three of us who have been taking turns leading the discussion. This week I'm up and the chapter topic is Peace.      That is one thing I know God has truly blessed me with during this cancer journey.  I have had complete peace throughout the experience. He gave me the wisdom and comfort to just take each day at a time, to patiently wait for, and through, each test and procedure, and to have full confidence that everything would work out exactly the way He had planned.           John 14:27         "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to y...

 Thursday July 3, 2025     It has been one month since my last post. I have been doing quite well. I've reached the point where I'm so close to normal that I have to remind myself that it really happened, it seems like a different time and different life.  Thank you, Heavenly Father, for your divine mercy and healing.      When it was suggested that I write this blog about my experiences, the person specifically said, "You can help the rest of us when it becomes our turn." I hope that is true, especially since during this past month, two different ladies in our fellowship group were diagnosed with cancer, one uterine and the other breast. The woman with the uterine cancer had her surgery today. We are praying for both of them, and their families, and I hope some of the thoughts I've shared, and verses I've pointed to might prove beneficial to them during this time.      When this year started, I had 2-3 medical procedures/issues I was go...