I wasn’t supposed to start treatments until 7 Aug, but in the interest of “getting on with it” I asked if I could go earlier, so took my first chemo and radiation yesterday, and another dose today…should be done by mid-September.

I find a lot of this fascinating…the goal here is for the targeted chemo to weaken the tumor cells and the radiation will kill them while hopefully keeping the total dose under the amount that will kill my brain and blind me. They shoot my head in three different “fields” or areas to try to keep the amount of healthy cells killed to a minimum and where the beams cross is the tumor (yes they are crossing the beams but in this case it is good, Venkman). They shoot me in my forehead and in each temple. I get to wear a cool mask that holds my noggin still, but I can’t open my mouth or my eyes…I’ll send out a pic as soon as I can get them uploaded.

hair loss will probably take a couple of weeks to kick in, but I’m already feeling nauseous all the time especially in the evenings (which is why I’m sending this out now, and not tomorrow…can’t sleep when I feel like I’m gonna yack, which stinks ’cause I’m also tired most of the time…I can fall asleep sitting up anywhere, which I could only do in staff meetings or in the plane before). We’re hoping for maximum tumor cells killed, but probably won’t see actual tumor shrinkage until my body starts absorbing the dead cells.

Sheila, Declan and Aidan are back at home and the kids started school…both are already having fun and are excited about being “bigger” boys this year. Obviously I miss them and want to see them ASAP. Sheila is doing a great job “holding it all together” and building our new house. Besides missing my wife and boys that is my biggest disappointment right now…I really looked forward to seeing this house go up and finally declaring victory over losing eveything to the damn hurricanes.

I have to tell you all again how much the prayers, positive thoughts, calls, e-mails and visits have meant to me and my family. I’m not able to answer all the e-mails but I read everything, and y’all are and have been really encouraging to me.  I had to move hotels ’cause they ran out of days for me at the old one, so now I have good internet connectivity and airconditioning.  I’m always on my cell phone if you absolutely need to reach me…if I don’t answer it is because I’m in treatment, on the phone with a doc, my kids, my wife or my bookie, or praying to the porcelain god, but if you leave a message I’ll get back with you ASAP.

Love and Thanks…