#17 - February 12th, 2008

Hi Everyone!

I received a letter in the mail that I thought I would share with you. It is short in words but huge in significance. The letter reads:

"CT of chest & abdomen & pelvis show no recurrent cancer."

So this chapter in my life is finally coming to a close.

In one sense, I find it hard to believe that I just went through what I went through. But, of course, I did. I don't feel profoundly changed but I expect, as the experience percolates through me, the significance will become apparent. This will be especially true now that I am not distracted by dealing with treatment!

I've said it a million times but I will repeat it one last time. Thank you so much for your support - your prayers, your letters, your cards, your emails, your phone calls. It made a huge difference in my life as I went through treatment. I can't begin to thank you enough.

So this will probably be my last email to the group.

And that is just fine by me!

Love,

E.

#16 - January 29th, 2008

Hi Everyone!

My apologies for my long silence. I have been riding the chemo coaster and it hasn't felt like there was much to report.

Well, now I do have something exciting (for me) to share - tomorrow is my last day of chemo. It has been a long road but the end is here. That, quite frankly, ROCKS!!! I have a CT scan scheduled for next Monday. Assuming that comes back clean, I am done, Done, DONE! YEA!

Between New Years and finding myself at the end of treatment, I've been reflecting on the last year. Here is some of what I have learned:

• That Carol is amazing. I couldn't have asked for a better partner and caregiver in this experience.

• That I can climb into that radiation machine even though the last thing I want is to get burned even more.

• That, along those same lines, I can walk into the chemo room and get juiced even though I'm completely over feeling like crap.

• That I have amazing friends. A highlight for me is coming home after surgery and finding almost 200 email messages. The support has made a huge difference.

• That I love to walk. I already knew this but what a gift it is. Not only does it help my mental well-being, but my physical well-being too.

• That not being able to cry (because of pretty significant tear duct pain) is the most cruel chemo side effect EVER!

• That I have angels in my life.

• That if the cold has created needles in my hands, a little quality time at the sink with some hot water completely solves the problem.

• That I (and all you other Motion Picture Health Plan participants) am blessed to have the most amazing health insurance.

• That I really can sleep 4 hours during the day and 10 hours at night. Of course, I have to be feeling pretty bad to pull that off...

• That, along those same lines, sleep is the biggest gift during icky days.

• That living within our means has been a huge stress reducer for Carol and me during these times of reduced income.

• That there are fantastic people who work in the healthcare industry.

• That patient advocacy is of supreme importance. No one is more vested in my health than I am (and, of course, those that love me). Ironically, during my stay at Cedars, I almost got a double dose of Heparin. Granted, it wasn't the 10,000 times the recommended dose (like what Dennis Quaid's twins received) but still... At least we were paying attention!

• That, as strange as this may sound, dealing with cancer has brought me innumerable blessings.

And I could go on...

I'll check back in after getting my scan results.

I'll say it one more time - I am THRILLED to be at the end of my treatments.

Love,

E.

#15 - November 21sts, 2007

Hi All!

Well, I just realized that is has been over a month since my last update. Time to let you know that I'm hanging in there!

By the end of next week I will be halfway through my chemo. YEA!! Overall things are going fine. I do have bad days along with the good days. It kind of comes with the territory. Typically, the first week of my three week cycle is the toughest. It gets better over the next couple of weeks then the cycle repeats.

Last time I wrote, I was set to try a new anti-nausea drug. That was for round two. It ended up working quite well - I was only out of commission for a day and a half.

Last week we tried yet another combo of anti-nausea drugs to try to make things even better. Unfortunately, I ended up feeling cruddy for most of the week. I like to think of it as, My Life as a Dog. I spent most of the week on the couch periodically waking up, looking over, and watching our wonderful elderly labs stretched out on the floor, dreaming their doggy dreams. I was totally stealing a page from their playbook! Anyway, I think I'll go back to the round two combination of drugs and hope that it works as well as it did the first time.

BTW, jury duty ended up working out just fine. Each of the five times that I called in, they said they didn't need me. My carefully prepared speech, the practice tears and my finely honed pathetic expression all proved to be in vain. I never got to try it out.

This is a particularly thankful Thanksgiving for me. I'm really looking forward to it. I trust you all will have a wonderful Thanksgiving as well.

Love,

E.

#14 - October 11th, 2007

Hello Everyone!

I have finally reached the third and final phase of my treatment. I started my first three week cycle of chemo last Monday. The first day I get a chemo drug via IV. Then the next day, I start two weeks of another drug via pill. The third week I get off (Yea!) and then the whole thing starts over again. I'm in for eighteen weeks of treatment or, six three week cycles. That sounds a lot better! If my math is correct, the treatments will take me to the end of January. Which makes February a month of celebration!!

Last week was actually pretty tough. I was nauseated (sometimes less, sometimes more) for the better part of 4 days. (This was thanks to the IV chemo.) Thankfully it broke by Friday and we were able to partake in previously planned social activities. Yea! I saw my oncologist on Monday and he prescribed for me a fancy pants new anti-nausea drug for my next infusion. I've got my fingers crossed that it will make my week more pleasant next time around.

One of the whacked side effects of this same IV chemo is cold sensitivity. During the first week after infusion, I have to avoid all contact with anything cold. Touching the outside of the door (in the cool evening) felt like needles shooting up into my fingers. Not too pleasant. Fortunately, it is easy enough to deal with. Gloves!! And I started nuking my breakfast cereal to warm up the milk. Who would have thought!

And the last couple of days have been really good - the best since surgery. I like that!

Next week I have jury duty. I tried to get out of it last spring with a doctor's excuse but they just postponed me. You'd think they'd give me a pass while I fight the cancer and just hit me up in a couple of years...but noooo. I plan on going in and putting on the saddest face imaginable. I can't imagine a judge wouldn't want me to get my next chemo infusion!

As always, thanks to all of you for your good thoughts and prayers.

Love,

E.

#13 - September 21st, 2007

Hi All,

This last Tuesday was one month since my surgery. Amazing how time flies!! My recovery is moving steadily along. Although I feel like I have a ways to go, I also feel a whole lot more 'myself' than a month ago!

One of the highlights for me has been taking to heart the surgeon's recommendation to walk to speed my recovery. In the last 3 1/2 weeks since arriving home, I've walked over 80 miles. I love being out in the fresh (by LA standards...not Montana standards) air. (Well, over Labor Day, during the heat wave, um, not so much!!) It is good for me on a bunch of different levels.

Thankfully, my recovery has basically been pretty free of pain. In fact, the last pain meds I took were via the magic button into my IV before I left the hospital. However, I still deal with some discomfort while moving about although it gets better and better each day. Right after surgery, it felt like the surgeon had accidently implanted a basketball in my gut. Soon it felt like a football, then a softball, then a baseball and now it is down to a racquetball. I'm setting my sights on the golf ball.

By biggest challenge has been being a patient patient. I struggle with being fed up with feeling icky. However, realizing what I'm up against is half the battle so I feel like I'm winning. And the surgeon has been pleased with my progress - and she's really, really smart!!

I've been in discussions with my oncologist about my upcoming chemo. He's given me some options and I'm leaning towards doing the same one I was doing during radiation (via pill) and a new one that I would get via IV every other week. I'll be monitored during treatment and the drugs and/or dosages will be changed based on how I handle everything.

I plan on starting treatment at the beginning of October which will mean I'll be finishing up right around Valentines Day. Saweeet! And, although I'm waiting to see how I feel, I'm hoping to get back to work during chemo.

Thank you all so much for the kind words, the phone calls, the emails and the cards. It is a huge gift.

Love,

E.

PS Tonight, Carol and I are going to go see the movie that was named for my tumor. Oh wait, other way around... :-)

#12 - August 28th, 2007

Hello All!

Just a quick email to share the good news that I have left the hospital and returned home!! Yea!! The doctors were pleased with my progress so, after a quick staple removal, I got the green light this morning and was home by 11.

I'm grateful for the excellent care I got over at Cedars. (Well, with the possible exception of watching the air bubble in my IV creep towards my arm as I called for a nurse. All's well that ends well!!) But seriously, I got truly excellent care. The doctors and nurses were outstanding!!!

Now I'm home concentrating on healing so I can get on with my final chemo and put this road bump behind me.

Thank you all so much for your prayers, good thoughts, calls, visits, cards, flowers - well, for everything!! I so appreciate it.

Love,

E.

#11 - August 27th, 2007

Note: This was also written by my wife, Carol.

Hi everyone,

Well, we're still in the hospital, but things are looking up as Eric is very rapidly feeling better with each passing hour.

He had rough 48 hours, a bit of a set-back, although not uncommon - Friday and Saturday - dealing with some pretty bad nausea. He was quite miserable and no amount of anti-nausea meds helped. He was immediately put back on the ice chip diet. Then, poof, like magic, it disappeared late Saturday night. He graduated to broth and juice yesterday and today he's already had 3 square meals of very low fiber food like mashed potatoes and scrambled eggs and white bread! This type of food will be our future for the next month or so - lots of white food that's easy to digest. Basically, the polar opposite of the kind of diet that we''ll eventually adopt to keep cancer away for good - high fiber, nuts, fruits, veggies, beans, etc.

Even during the days that he felt really horrible, Eric made himself walk as much as he could as that seems to be key to getting one's system working again. I now wish I'd taken a picture of him traipsing around with his IV tower in his cute little gown and booties! Today he's taken several large laps around the floor (probably 1/4 mile each) and has even been down on the outside plaza level walking in the sun for a bit (and checking out the news vans waiting for the scoop on Owen Wilson!). They also removed his IV and a drain. So, now he can walk freely, albeit gingerly!

The best news this week was the pathology report we received from the surgeon on Saturday. Basically, it confirmed that there was no cancer in the 10 lymph nodes that were checked and there were good margins around what was left of the tumor. Eric's oncologist called today and confirmed the good news.

We feel so blessed that everything is working out so well. All of your e-mails have been amazing and heart-warming and funny and beautiful and touching. We so appreciate all the positive thoughts and prayers, the visits, the flowers, the cards, the phone calls. It's made Eric and I both feel so loved and surrounded by the best people in the world. And, I have to give a very special thanks to Eric's sister, Amy, who arrived from St. Louis last Thursday. She's been a god-send for us both - so incredibly helpful and knowledgeable and caring. And her partner, Mary Jo's, physician assistant's knowledge and advice (long distance from St. Louis) has been invaluable. I'm not sure what we would have done without them! And, we're just so so grateful for Kristen and Junior taking good care of dear labbie boys while we're tied up here at Cedars. We miss them terribly but have felt great relief not having to worry about them.

Again, thanks so much for your amazing support!

Love,

Carol (& Eric)

#10 - August 21st, 2007

Note: This was written by my wife, Carol.

Hi everyone!

Firstly, thank you all so much for all your good thoughts and prayers today. We've felt them and so appreciate them!

We arrived at Cedars-Sinai at 5:30 this morning as directed. We checked in and were escorted to the surgical floor and officially admitted. A nurse escorted Eric and 3 other surgical patients down the hall around 6:20 or so. We said our goodbyes and my waiting game began. Luckily, our most excellent and dearest friends Elise and Todd were here to help me while away the time. Though I had initially thought I wouldn't need company, it was truly wonderful to have them here. They knew better than I . . .

I received a call around 8:45 saying that everything was going fine and that surgery had started at 8. My next call came at 9:50, the minute I stepped away for a 1 minute break! But of course! Elise took the call. Again "everything is going fine". Then, after a long worrisome spell with no calls . . . Dr. Facklis came out around 1:30 to tell me that everything went well. She was able to do the entire surgery lapariscopically which may mean a quicker recovery period for Eric. She said that the remaining tumor basically looked like a smallish, flat ulcer. Good news! He responded well to radiation and chemo. Yay - that's awesome news! Now, we'll wait for the pathology reports. I'm not sure when we'll know about those.

Right after his first surgery, a second surgeon came in to install the port that will be used for chemo later on. I never heard from that surgeon, but was told that Eric went into recovery around 2:40 and would be there for a couple of hours. The waiting room had pretty much cleared out by 4:30 - all the volunteers leave then as well - and I took it upon myself to answer the ringing phone behind the desk. As luck would have it, they were calling for me - Eric was en route to his room. Yay again!

I had to wait awhile before they'd let me in as they were getting him settled. I heard him say his pain level is at about 8 on a scale of 10. He's slowly getting more comfortable but still in pain. He's basically pretty groggy and out of it. His shoulders ache - possibly from the position he was in during the long surgery or maybe the gas pumped in during surgery. I'm not sure.

So far, there's been a parade of residents and nurses - all quite loud with big accents. It's very multi-cultural here! And I think they think he's deaf instead of just tired : )

His room isn't quite as posh as we were led to believe it might be - no biggie. I'm just glad we're finally in a room! They'll bring a cot or something in for me tonight. I think the parade of loud people and machines will continue through the night. Wish us luck!

I know this blow-by-blow may be more than some of you asked for - sorry!

Thanks again for all your support!

Love,

Carol

#9 - August 20th, 2007

Hi Everyone!

Well, I am finally ready for my surgery. Bright and early tomorrow morning, Carol and I will head down to Cedar Sinai Medical Center for the removal of 'Resident Evil'. I'll also take care of getting a portocath put in since I'll probably need that for my post-surgery chemo. My surgery is scheduled to start at 7:15 and the two procedures will probably take until 11. I've got a good feeling about it all and I certainly feel like I am in great hands.

Carol and I recently got back from a wonderful vacation with our families in Michigan. We don't get back that often so it was great to connect with everyone. The week was filled with great conversation, fun on the lake, lots of laughter, good food and taking in some spectacular nature (from nesting bald eagles to a meteor shower). It provided the perfect energy leading up to my surgery.

I thank each and every one of you for your good thoughts and prayers over the next few days. Although I have struggled a bit with some fear, I am utterly confident that things will work out perfectly.

With love,

E.

#8 - July 11th, 2007

Hello All,

Well, I am thrilled to report that after 7 weeks of feeling a bit ickier every day, a week ago Sunday I finally rounded the bend and am now feeling better and better each day. Let me tell you, I'm really grooving on feeling better every day!! The one good thing about feeling icky is once you feel better, you REALLY appreciate it! I have a ways to go before I'm 100% but I'm inching closer every single day! I'm even weaning my way off of the pain meds. (No rehab, dang...) Saweeeet!!!!

Now my focus is on getting as healthy and strong as I can before surgery. I've been walking every day. In fact, last night, Carol and I walked almost 3 miles around downtown Burbank enjoying the cool evening and the great vibe of the huge lines waiting for the midnight opening of the latest Harry Potter movie. I'm also trying to put on the 10 pounds that I managed to lose over the last couple of months. (Not the best weight loss plan, I might add.) So we stopped by Coldstone Creamery to try to fatten me up! My how my life has changed!! :-)

I am now in my 6 week period of post-radiation healing. We are planning on a week trip back to Michigan for a family reunion and I'll be having my surgery upon our return - either the 2nd or 3rd full week in August. After I recover from surgery, I'll be getting more chemo to eradicate any remaining cancer cells. And then, tada!!!

Once again, I thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your prayers, good thoughts, visits, phone calls and cards. I appreciate it more than you can believe!

Until next time,

Love,

E.

#7 - June 28th, 2007

Hi All!

Let the healing begin!!

I am thrilled to report that I had my last radiation session on Monday morning and I took my last (for now) chemo pills on Monday night. Yea!!!!!! (Up next is 6 weeks of rest followed by surgery.)

Unfortunately, it doesn't mean that magically everything is back to normal. If radiation is like extreme sun tanning, I've spent the last 6 weeks at the beach - getting burned but still happily frolicking in the sun. Now I have finally gotten the sense to get out of the sun but there still is that nasty burn to deal with... And, of course, my burn is a pain in the ass!!! :-) Anyway, things should be markedly better by the middle of next week. At least that is what I have been hearing from my trustworthy doctor.

A few years ago, I went on the biggest day hike of my life with my friend Hannes. We hiked from Whitney Portal to the top of Mount Whitney and back again. And it really was a big hike! Round trip, we covered 22 miles. But, more importantly, it has an over 6100 ft. elevation gain topping out at the highest point in the lower 48 states, just under 14,500 ft.

I've been thinking about it recently because I see many parallels between that day and my radiation treatment. When I think back on that day, I do remember pain. The last mile and last 1000 feet of elevation gain were VERY difficult for me. In fact, I remember saying to myself at the time that I NEVER want to do this again - it just isn't worth it! (Of course, after getting back to the comfort of home, I've reconsidered and would do it again...HA!) In much the same way, the radiation has shown me pain that I have never experienced before and that I'd be quite happy not to ever experience again. (I WON'T reconsider that!!)

However, when I think back on that trip, my overriding memory is one of the incredible beauty of the area, that tremendous sense of accomplishment and a wonderful time with a good friend. Similarly, even though I am still in the middle of my current 'hike', my overwhelming feelings are of gratitude for the incredible support I am getting - from all of you guys, from my doctors and nurses and, most of all, from my extraordinary wife Carol. I thought I knew her but she surprises and amazes me EVERY SINGLE DAY!!

And I know, as time moves on, the pain will be less and less of my memory...

So now I am working on getting through the next week or so, hiking back to the car so I can take off my boots and kick back with a huge smile on my face.

As always, thank you so much for your prayers and good thoughts. I feel them and they are working. It is a tremendous comfort to me.

Love,

E.

#6 - June 14th, 2007

Hello Everyone!

The last I wrote to you all, I was just over halfway through my radiation treatments. Well, now I am honing in on the end!!! YEA!! Only 7 treatments left. I'll miss my doctor, the nurses, the techs, the volunteers and the other patients but I CERTAINLY won't miss getting zapped.

One of the big hurdles that I have crossed is getting hooked up with the tools to make things manageable as the side effects build up. I'm sure it is always a delicate dance for the doctors and nurses and, thankfully, they came through for me. Believe it or not, I'm actually now on a twice a day dose of morphine with additional pills should I need an occasional bump. No mamby pamby Vicodin for me!! (Speaking of which, I do have some of those left over...I suppose I should try eBay to get rid of them...HA!) Of course, I certainly don't want to get hooked on the pain killers, especially considering my line of work!! (Dear Rush Limbaugh taught me that being a pain killer addict and a sound professional don't mix!) But then again, the more I think about it, a stint in rehab in the hills of Malibu could be kind of fun. I'd get to meet lots of stars and everything! OK, I am TOTALLY kidding!!! :-)

Another tool that has been super helpful is getting fluids via IV at my oncologist's office. I haven't always been getting enough to drink and I know now, in no uncertain terms, that getting dehydrated can be really, well, icky. So every couple of days or so, since the end of last week, I've been getting IV fluids and it has been doing wonders. I guess it is pretty common for people in my situation.

Speaking of my oncologist... I realized the other day that in all the visits that I have made to him, the longest that I have waited is 5 minutes!!! We've all waited in doctor's offices enough to know how CRAZY wonderful that is. And to top it off, the office always has a great positive energy. Have I mentioned how well I am being taken care of!!

I haven't been able to answer all the wonderful emails that I have received in as timely a manner as I would like. If you haven't gotten a response from me, please know that it is no reflection of how much I appreciate hearing from you. I will get to it. I promise!!

Last Thursday, while we were still trying to get my pain meds squared away, I realized that I could no longer juggle work in addition to the cancer so I am now officially, well, home. I'm planning on staying off of work until I recover from my surgery. (Surgery hasn't been scheduled as of yet but will probably happen in the middle of August) Everyone at work has been wonderful and supportive of my decision.

One of the goals of my pre-surgery chemoradiation is to shrink the tumor. Believe it or not, it is even possible for the tumor to completely disappear - even one my size. If this were to happen, that would be a really good thing. So, one of the things that I have been doing, is visualizing just that - the tumor going completely away. If any of you, in your prayer want to join me, that would be wonderful!!

Thank you all SO much for everything. I feel so, so blessed.

Love,

E.

#5 - June 3rd, 2007

Hello Everyone!

Time for another update on my journey.

The big news is that I am officially half way through my chemo/radiation. YEA!! I'm looking forward to it being over so it feels good to be past the hump and heading to the finish line. The side effects have gotten more noticeable and I'm still trying figure out the best way to manage the pain. Unfortunately, I still need to use the part of my body that is being radiated and herein lies the problem. I suppose I could stop eating...oh, nevermind, that would cause other problems. I'm confident that the doctors will help me get more comfortable soon.

I remain humbled by the support of everyone who knows what I am going through. To give you an idea of the love I am getting at work, I was surprised on Friday (in the middle of mixing the penultimate zombie battle in our movie) with a half an ice cream sandwich accompanied by a votive candle in a wine glass. So, not only did I get to celebrate my half way point, but I got to blow out the candle and make a wish!! Awesome!!!

So, again, I thank you all for all your prayers and good thoughts. I soooo appreciate it!!

Until next time,

E.

#4 - May 20th, 2007

Hello Everyone!

Well, almost exactly one month after my diagnosis, my treatment has officially started. (Speaking of diagnosis, let me digress for one moment. I recently remembered the moment that my gasteroenterologist informed me of the tumor. I was still in recovery and wasn't fully awake from the anesthesia. If memory serves, I started giggling!! Why, I don't know - I think the doc was pretty confused. But I like to think that set the tone for my journey into being a cancer survivor.)

Anyway, on Monday, I began chemoradiation. Five days a week, for the next five weeks (one week down - yea!), I pop by the hospital for a quick radiation treatment. I'm also taking my chemo in convenient pill form. The main reason for the chemo is to make the radiation more effective and to catch any straggling cancer cells that are floating around.

I really feel like I am getting great care. I'm being monitored by not only my oncologist and radiation oncologist, but I even have access to a registered dietitian. One of the challenges of this part of the process is keeping track of everything I need to do for my treatment (managing appointments and taking my meds) as well as everything I need to do to minimize side effects (doing mouth rinses, applying cremes, etc.). But I'm hanging in there!

This week I also met with a colorectal surgeon over at Cedar Sinai Medical Center. Carol and I liked her so we've decided to have her do my surgery. She's co-director of the Colorectal Cancer Program and Chief of Colorectal Surgery at Cedars so I, again, feel like I'm in good hands. The pieces are falling into place!

I don't want to sound like a broken record but thank you all so much for your prayers and good thoughts. It is making such a difference in my life. I want to share with you an email I got from our exchange student friend down in Rio. I'm sharing here again without permission... :-)

Such a bad news from Eric, cancer is a disease that always scare us, but don´t be intimidated. My gramma had it and my family and I were so concerned about her age and the size of the tumor, but after the whole process of chemotherapy and surgery she was fine, happy, cooking, and talking, talking and talking, as usual, like if it had never happend! Last year was her 80th birthday and we did a really big party for her! So I´m trying to say that sometimes life plays tricks on us, but if we have love, family, friends and dogs :) to support us, nothing can get us down. Tell Eric that I´ll pray for him every night, and that I´m really good on that kind of pray, because it worked for my gramma and I´m 100% sure it will work again!

See, I'm in good hands all the way around!

Love,

E.

#3 - May 11th, 2007

Hi Everyone!

I thought you all might be interested in the latest news of my journey.

The last couple of weeks have been about sussing out treatment options. I'm 90% sure that I'll do the standard treatment for cancers of my type called, quite crazily, 'The Standard of Care'. The other option would be to do a newer less-tested treatment (basically, moving the chemo that is typically after surgery to before). However, I'm leaving my final decision until I talk with my oncologist one more time. Not that I'm scared of commitment, or anything.

This week my big revelation was that cancer is one of those diseases with treatment choices. I probably knew it before but now it has really sunk in. It isn't like a broken arm where all doctors would agree on the same treatment. Different doctors have different opinions. So, Carol and I have been learning as much as we can and then we'll trust that we will be led down the right path. Thankfully, the confusion I was feeling earlier in the week is being replaced with a sense of direction. (Due in no small part to the prayerful support I have been given!)

I got 3 tattoos today!! OK - they're the marks that the radiation techs will use to line me up in the machine but they are, nevertheless, tattoos. I asked to see the book so I could pick out a cool design. (I thought maybe a bulls-eye would be fun and appropriate.) I was to be sorely disappointed. I got 3 dots - nothing more than freckles. Apparently, that is all insurance will pay for. :-)

I should have my treatment locked into place next week. In fact, I could start radiation & chemo as early as Monday. Time will tell.

I'm looking forward to a lightening of my work load. We've been on the final push to predubs on Resident Evil (also the new nickname for my tumor, courtesy of one of my friends!) and it has been tolerable but, frankly, a little much. (I haven't had two days off in a row since my diagnosis...) I pushed through, however, knowing that is was short term - a sprint, if you will. After this weekend, things should mellow. I'm hopeful for a pleasant dub...

Thanks to all of you for your continued prayers and support. I appreciate it, more than you know. This last week had the most ups and downs since my diagnosis so it was particularly comforting. (Not to worry, I remain ever the optimist!!!)

Just so show you some of the awesomeness that is coming my way, I recently got this in an email from my sister. Craig is a friend of hers. I'll quote her without permission:

Another tidbit of support -- Craig, who is very popular among the kids at school, has been growing his ponytail for a couple of years. After hearing about your diagnosis, he decided to auction off the right to cut it for the Relay for Life (cancer fundraising) week at school and give the ponytail itself to a local concern that makes wigs only for people with cancer (a local Locks of Love). Last year's whole Relay for Life slate of activities raised a total of $500. The bidding just on cutting his pony tail is over $350 already and there are still a couple of week to go. Plus there will be the race and other activities. He figures this is both practical support for "the cause" and as he says "damn good karmic energy for Eric".

See! How can I not feel the love!!!!

Until next time,

E.

#2 - April 27th, 2007

Hi All,

This week was full of doctor visits, cancer education and, of course, a good dose of Resident Evil (my current film). On Monday, Carol and I had a consult with the surgeon, Tuesday I had an endoscopic ultrasound and today, Friday, we met with the oncologist.
In case any of you are wondering, what I have is clinically Stage 2. This is what the tests show although we won't know for certain until surgery. It looks like it will be 6-ish weeks of chemo (I'll keep my hair...) and radiation, followed by 6 weeks of healing, then surgery and more chemo. Next on the current agenda is a visit with the radiation oncologist on Monday, my general physician on Tuesday and the chemo counselor on Wednesday. Oh, and we start Resident Evil predubs in 2 weeks!! Phew!!!

I'm struck by how my sickness has been such a thoroughly positive experience so far. From doctor visits to reactions from friends and family, I feel totally blessed. So, yes, your prayers and positive energy are reaching me!!! Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

I had kind of a cool experience today. I realized this morning (in the shower, if you must know) that I was afraid of the process of determining treatment and picking doctors. I was afraid that I would be presented with a situation where there was no clear answer and I would be forced to make a decision. Once I realized this fear (which had been growing in me for the last few days),I was able to replace it with trust that I would, in fact, be led down the right path. And guess what, the visit with the oncologist was outstanding. Not only did Carol and I feel he was totally competent, but he was a very personable and funny guy. In fact, atone point Carol, the doctor, the nurse and I were all having a big laugh over some bodily function anecdotes (very mature, I know!). It was the happiest oncologist's office we have ever been in. (OK, it is the only oncologist's office we have ever been in, but you know what I mean...) And he answered a lot of the nagging questions I had. I'm so grateful!

Well, that's all for now. Thanks again for all your support!

And important stuff like that.

E.

#1 - April 19th, 2007

Hi All!

Have I ever mentioned that I like good news!

Today, Carol and I learned from the doctor that the CT scan shows
that the cancer has not spread to other organs or lymph nodes. In
fact, I'm going to upgrade this to REALLY good news.

The doctor also said that what I have is common, well, at least in
the colon cancer circles. This is also good news. I'm quite happy not
having the, "Wow, THAT'S CRAZY! I've NEVER seen anything like that
before!!" kind of cancer. In fact, the only thing about it that is
out of the ordinary is that I even have it, considering my age and
lack of risk factors. (Thankfully the fact that I've never smoked
wasn't just to prevent cancer. If that had been the case, I'd be
pretty pissed off right about now!)

So there you have it!

Thanks again for all your good thoughts and prayers,

Love,

E.