Laughter is the best medicine

Cancer really isn't that funny. It isn't even fun. But funny things happen along the way to beating it. For example, during my last go around with Hodgkin's I was on the same treatment schedule as Bill Cosby's slightly older sister Bunny. I really don't think she was his older sister but it sure made me laugh to see her smiling full mustache and all every time I went in for treatment.

The purpose of this blog then is to share the funny events that take place while I beat cancer as well as keep folks up to date on my treatments, progress and banana flavored barium intake schedule. Please feel free to share funny things in the comments section as well, as everyone needs a good laugh.

Friday, April 27, 2012

And the Fun Begins

Today is day 3 of many of a clinical trial drug I am on to weaken the tumors before and during chemo. Its called panobinistat. Some folks who take it get irregular heart beats so they make you get EKGs a few times a week. Thankfully no crazy heart beat for me but on walking into a new clinic today they assigned the new guy to do my EKG. Instead of the standard stickers to attach the leads he somehow decided super glue was a better adherent. On trying to get this off after the tests it stuck to my fingers and from there to the mall to out to eat with my lovely bride I felt like Clark Griswald in Christmas Vacation, hands sticking to everything, menus, napkins, small children, toilet paper, it was great. It took paint thinner when I got home to finally get it off.

Monday check in to MD Anderson for 4 days of an inpatient chemo called ICE. For those of you who haven't had chemo it feels like someone took a baseball bat to every part of your body, its pretty fun. I can't wait. I found a viking helmet at the mall, I think I might wear that for chemo.

10 comments:

  1. Oh, Clark! Thank you for providing a giggle today:). Love you Chuckie! Xoxo

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  2. Lol Charles!! We did BM transplant with my dad at md Anderson and it turned out to not be so bad :) It became our life for a few months but it worked! Well be rooting for you.. Love that you will chronicle it! Congrats on the outlook you've chosen, it's definitely a marathon and not a sprint!

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  3. damn baseball bats. Good call on the helmet! You've totally got this! Chris will be in Houston on May 17 and San Antonio I think the 18? Would love to say hello. Huge hugs to all...miss you much! I told Albert that Aiden's papa had to go to the doctor's and he wants you to know that you need a bandaid- cause those are "the rules" according to Albert.

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  4. Awesome, Amor! Thanks for putting a smile on my face and on many others! You've made me smile from Day 1. (Well maybe day 2 since we talked about serious stuff on Day 1) I'm so lucky to be sharing my life with you! Not leaving your side any time soon Funny Man!

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  5. Charles, my dad was diagnosed with lung cancer when he was 63 years old. The doctor told us that with his age and his medical history there was nothing else to do, that we should start getting ready because he had six months, maybe a year at the most, the doctor said that 99% of patients with that type of cancer died within a year. But six months later he had nothing. Every doctor said he was a miracle and they couldn't believe it. There's really nothing written, only God's final word.

    When I asked my dad how did he feel after he was told he was cancer free he said he was actually a bit sad. I asked him why and he said "I was never much of a walker, I was really starting to enjoy being ferried by someone else on the wheel chair"

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  6. OMG! You could be Spiderman and my nephews would love you! Keep up the humor it's the light of life

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  7. Hey, Chuck! Your wit and usual good humor are awesome! You've got people pulling for you all over the place. Love to you and the fam from the Lazzaras. Kick some butt!

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  8. Charles- Keep up the good work my friend. I am rooting for you 110%!! Regards to the family.
    -Seth

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  9. A beer helmet may do the trick better than the viking one, Pete. Julián says: "Acá baba tuuuu" which in baytalk I guess it means something like Hakuna Matata or if he´s taking after his nerdy parents maybe it´s more like Carpe Diem. We're all rooting for you today!

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  10. Hi Charles, I love the film clips! We are all behind you 100%! Stay strong and fight hard, I look forward to you next post.

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