I'm a tad wrecked. They took out a tonsil bed (saw nothing important) and did 2 deep tongue biopsies. They couldn't get my bp down or my O2 up. Started at 7 a.m. home at 6 p.m. with orders to leave the bracelets on and come back if I had to. They spent 2 hours going through all the surfaces and the back of my tongue with scopes. I lymph node the size of an egg, considered secondary cancer, confirmed. No signs elsewhere. Start 7 weeks of radiation and chemo on Tuesday, every day except Sat and Sunday. Got a team of 20 people I met the other day, from dietitians to oncology dentists for radiation to a fashion consultant, I can get a wig for free! I'm thinking Grateful Dead style rather than Marilyn Munroe.

I've lost 37 pounds, and they twisted every muscle in my body in whatever stupid position I was stuck in for 2 hours. Oh and they said, here's just some Oxygen, stuck a mask on my and I got peed off, swatted it away and told them listen, I'm not stupid, it's ether, quit the freaking lying. At least I'm on the fast track. Have to check in with my own Doc once a week, somehow fitting that into the chemo and radiation. I get free cab rides, and they've a piano I can play in the big room where you sit before each treatment and between them. Free Coffee and danish. I don't know why most of the others look so old?

I have molds to get made Monday for radiation protection. My daughter's birthday that night with family. My wife's birthday Friday. My grandson's on Sunday, and we are going to Toronto Saturday on the train for our anniversary.

3/4 of a bottle of boost mixed with coffee for breakfast, and tylenol 3's. Whee....

I hope to be able to swallow on Saturday night. I want a really good steak. Too bad about the no booze from now on thing.

Oh, and I've become diabetic. Nice. The GOLDEN years, osteoporosis, fibromyalgia, cataracts, macular degeneration, cancer, and a wobbly voice.

My favorite was when the oncology/radiation dentist explained that the radiation was going to kill all my back teeth so I had to have them out. I took the case out of my pocket and told her to take what she wanted, I was getting little use out of them. She said the radiation would spare the dentures if I didn't wear them..... She vows to save the 5 the pucks and other things didn't get.....with a mold...wow. I'm off to buy birthday presents, can't talk, just whisper, and it takes a long time to get in and out of the car....oh well.

Oh yeah, and the other day they stick this scope down my nose, 50 inch high def TV right in front of us. Get to my vocal chords which are the size of Mt. Everest and they say say EEE. I go Ceee. He says EEE, and I say, I can't hit the the but the C is usually ok. He says what EEE, and I say, the one above middle C? Man those 3 docs were some focused...or they didn't get it at all. My wife is cracking up saying, look, if ever think you are going to get him serious you better start amputating some fingers....

And all this started with a pea thing in my neck a specialist in arthritis found during an exam. 3 weeks ago. So far 4 full days in hospital, 12 appointments, and 20 people later. I swear there were 25 in the OR.

I wonder what this would cost in the US? Oh, and I get full time disability now. Add 1200 a month to the coffers from the Canada Pension Plan, I can't moonlight any more...LOL..underground economy coming up.

The oncology Doc said, the "pea is now officially a large egg." I asked "grade eh?", and he stared at me like who is this moron?

John from Canuckistan

John Conley
Musica est vita