Day 2

It's Day 2 and Dad has started as he means to go on. He's taking his GTX (the common name for the three oral chemo drugs he's on because someone, somewhere decided "gemcitabine," "capecitabine," and "docetaxel," was too much of a mouthful), resting when he's tired and getting outside when he feels like doing so. He went to a cocktail party with a bunch of his friends last night and sounded in good spirits when I spoke to him today. I think he knows that when it comes to fighting cancer, chemo only takes you so far. The rest of the battle takes place in your head and in your heart.

Being so new to this, I am doing a lot of research. Today's cancer lesson: excess simple sugar feeds cancer cells and helps them grow. It's not as simple as "sugar feeds cancer," which is what I first thought. It's actually excess insulin, which is produced when the body gets a lot of simple sugar, that causes the spike in cancer cell growth. So I guess that means no Jolly Ranchers and Tootsie Pops for Dad. Not that the Flying Dentist is a hard-candy junkie - that's hardly the case - but it's hard to take anything off the menu.

Dad's first intravenous chemo session is on Tuesday. We've got our fingers crossed that he handles the drugs well and that the cancer proves reactive to the chemo. We won't actually know how we are progressing until the middle of December, which seems like an awfully long time to wait (patience is not a strong Oberle trait - we prefer quick (okay - immediate) gratification), but we will just have to grin and bear it.

Thanks to all the people who have sent warm wishes, comments and e-mails of support. We appreciate each and every bit of positive energy you send our way!

Peace,

Connie