Greetings Family and Friends,

Time for another update. Myron continues to suffer with constant pain, but on our visit to the oncologist this afternoon she increased the dosage of his painkillers by 50%, with the option of increasing it even further in another three days if that dosage isn't working. So, we are really hoping that he will be feeling much better very soon. If the pain is under control, then his quality of life will markedly improve. So please keep your fingers crossed for us that this will work. Myron is still losing weight, but his appetite has increased remarkably since he started taking the steroids, so hopefully his weight loss will also be under control shortly. We met with the dietitian today to discuss what Myron should be eating to prevent further weight loss, and it looks like we've been feeding him the right things all along, so that is good news. We just need to make sure he eats more frequently than his three square meals per day. Myron's new chemotherapy treatments will begin on Monday of next week. Normally this chemo is given once every three weeks, but the doctor has decided to give it to Myron in smaller dosages once a week in hope that it will not be so hard on him.

Otherwise, our life continues as normally as possible. Our kids and grandkids stop by to visit with us on a regular basis. We took the train up to Toronto last weekend and went out to a Toronto/Detroit hockey game with Barb & Keith. We went out for dinner, spent the night in Toronto and then took the train back to London the next day. We both had a wonderful time and it was so great to have a change from our daily routine. Many thanks to all those who helped to make this mini vacation possible for us. Myron was absolutely worn out on Monday, but his pleasure in the trip made it all worthwhile.

 Out to dinner before the hockey game

 In front of the Royal York Hotel where we spent the night

Myron and Keith at their seats in the ACC prior to the game

 

We have been busy around the house, and for the first time ever, we have our Christmas tree and Christmas decorations up in November. Even the outside lights are up, Myron put up some of them himself, and Steven (the son of some neighbours) did the rest of them for us. A large part of the Christmas baking is done, and now we have to get going on our Christmas shopping.

Myron at work, putting up the outdoor Christmas lights - You can't keep a good man down!

 

Busy times are the order of the day for the next few weeks. On top of our regular events such as bowling, attending Mass, grocery shopping, chemotherapy and doctor's appointments, we have another progressive euchre here this coming Saturday. The next weekend we have the annual "Lighting of the Lights" taking place on our street on the Friday, and then a Christmas party at the home of some friends on the Saturday, and the Sanderson siblings and their spouses are going to meet for a Christmas lunch out on the Sunday. The following weekend we also have two Christmas parties to attend. Myron's brother Junior (from Newfoundland) is planning to visit us this coming week, and his brother Phonsie (from Yellowknife NWT) is hoping to come down for a visit some time in December. And of course, we are hoping to have all our kids and grandkids here for dinner on Christmas day. I think that's about it for now, I'm tired and cannot think straight to write any more. Thanks again for all your support and prayers for us. I'll write again soon - in the near future.

 

love,

Myron & Wendy



Greetings from our home to yours,

I apologise for the delay in sending out this post since the news we received from the doctor last week was not good, but we believe that any news either good or bad must be shared with our children and their families before we talk to anyone else. What with work shifts and all, it took until today until we could talk with them all, and they deserve to hear the news first-hand. We couldn't take a chance that they would hear something passed on inadvertently before they heard it from us.

We were informed last week that Myron's chemotherapy is not working and that his tumors are growing/spreading. Apparently, once a chemotherapy stops working, it becomes useless and will not work again. In the beginning they started with the big guns, giving him the most potent of chemos for pancreatic cancer. It worked for a while and his tumors shrunk somewhat, and then it held its ground for a while maintaining the status quo, but eventually it reached the point where it was no longer helping him. When we returned from Newfoundland Myron was put on the chemo of second choice. After two cycles of treatment with this, it has been determined that unfortunately it was of no benefit to him and his tumors are still growing. The doctor then gave us a choice as to whether or not we want to try the third possible chemotherapy drug. We have decided that we will give it a try, any hope is better than no hope. Myron will commence treatments with this drug within the next couple of weeks. While the picture is nowhere near as rosy as we would like it to be, we're not throwing in the towel. We will continue to battle this dreadful disease as long as we possibly can. Considering the diagnosis we received last January, we have a lot to be thankful for.

Myron continues to suffer a lot of pain, and the doctors are still working to determine the correct dosages and types of drugs to make him feel better and relieve his pain. He has good days and bad days, but unfortunately, lately the bad days seem to outnumber the good ones. But we keep on fighting, praying and hoping for the best. Myron is one incredible man! That is all I can say. We are still trying to live as positively as possible, and to live our lives as normal as we possibly can under the circumstances.

Myron at University Hospital, drinking the vile fluid preparatory to his CTscan

 

At the Cancer Clinic, waiting to be called in to see the doctor

On the home front, our day to day life goes on with as much as Myron can handle on any given day.
Between doctor's appointment and medical tests, we still keep busy whenever Myron is able. Myron spent a couple of good days last week puttering in his beloved garage, and one day we took a load of metal out to the scrapyard. Our granddaughters Rachael and Maggie came over on Saturday of last week and spent the morning decorating Christmas cookies for us.

On Thursday, our granddaughter Sadie came over and cooked dinner for us.

 

And on Friday we went out with some friends to a fish fry at Sacred Heart Church in Delaware (ON).

 

 

On Saturday, my sister Pat and her daughter (and our niece) Vicki came down for a visit.

 

We continue to bowl in our Monday night League, and Myron is greatly anticipating our night in Toronto at the Maple Leaf/Red Wings game this coming Saturday. We are taking the train to Toronto on Saturday morning, going out to dinner with my sister Barbie and her husband Keith, and then to the game. We will overnight at the Royal York, and take the train back to London on Sunday. Our friend Karen has kindly offered to take us to and from the London train station. Please keep Myron's health in your prayers, that he feels well enough that we can participate in our weekend away. As I have mentioned so many times, we are so blessed to have such giving friends as we do. Just this evening, Lise, another neighbour dropped by with a lovely fruit salad and some fresh, hot from the oven, muffins for us. The kindness and spirit of giving amongst our family, friends and neighbours is nothing less than overwhelming. From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you one and all!

 

I guess that's about it for now. I so much wish we had better news to share with you, but we're hanging in there, doing all we can. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers, and remember, Myron still loves to hear from and see you all.

 

love, Myron & Wendy

 

 

Hello again to all our family and friends,

The last couple of weeks have been difficult for Myron. All of his pains (abdominal, back, and chest)continue at varying times throughout the day, but there is rarely a time when he isn't in some kind of pain. While he does his best to hide it, it is starting to wear on him. He is on pain medication, and we return to see the doctor at the pain clinic tomorrow. We are hoping that the doctor will up the dosage of his pain meds, to make his life more comfortable for him. I am fairly certain that the back pain is caused by the cancer, the abdominal pain is probably caused by a combination of the cancer and his bowel issues, and the chest pain, we are still unsure about. I tend to think that the stent they inserted into his bile duct last February is becoming blocked again (as Myron says the pain is identical to the pain he had at that time), but the doctors remain uncertain of that since he isn't jaundiced. Just as an FYI, he was not jaundiced last January or February either, just in great pain. In the past couple of weeks Myron has made a couple visits in Emergency, first with the bladder infection (which we think is now cleared up), and secondly with chest pains. They check him out and send him home, but we still don't know the cause of the pain. All we do know for sure is that it is not caused by his heart - his heart is healthy. Myron continues to be very tired, both physically fatigued and sleepy, and all told he is probably only awake about 6 hours out of each 24 hour day. This total exhaustion is caused by a combination of both the cancer and side effects to his chemo. He completed his second round of his new chemo on Tuesday of this week. The chemo nurses are very good, and they listen and respond well when we tell them how Myron is feeling and notify his oncologist accordingly. He has had 2 x-rays in the last couple weeks and we are awaiting a phone call to let us know when he is to go in for another CTscan. The hope is that this scan will help to determine the cause of his chest pains. His appetite continues to be poor, but he is still eating the meals I prepare for him, so that is good. I am currently cooking a roast of beef for him as that is what he wants to eat today. Even though it feels wrong on a Thursday as we have traditionally had our roasts on Sunday, I will do whatever is necessary to tempt his appetite and keep him eating. Unfortunately, he is eating much less than he used to eat, so he is losing weight. This weight loss is most noticeable in his arms, legs, and face. We have an appointment with his haematologist on the 14th, and we are hoping that he will decrease the dosage of Myron's blood thinners since he is bleeding so easily these days. We are thinking perhaps the dosage is too much for him now that he has lost weight, and his blood clots are under control (at least we think they are).

Left to Right: Myron at chemo, Sitting in the family room watching the hockey game with the heating pad on his aching back, Out grocery shopping.

 

Because of both the mega doses of blood thinners Myron is on, and the side effects of his chemotherapy, Myron is frequently cold and shivering. As a result, the quilt his sister Betty made for him is frequently put to use, and Myron cuddles beneath it while watching television. Thanks so much Betty, you have no idea how much this quilt is both used and appreciated. Unfortunately, he also turns the furnace up high (78-79 degrees F) to get warmer and I am in dire danger of melting away like the Wicked Witch of the West. A small price to pay if it keeps Myron feeling better, but I honestly feel like I am living in a sauna.



Myron cuddling in his quilt while visiting with our friend and neighbour, Derrick.

On the home front, we still try to keep as busy as possible when Myron feels up to it. We are still going to our bowling league, running errands to pick up things we need, groceries, and Myron's never-ending medications. We still welcome people to come and visit, Myron does enjoy the conversations and it distracts him somewhat from his problems. Our niece Joy was by for a visit yesterday evening, Sadie and Maggie came over for a visit and dinner yesterday after school. We also played a few games of Sequence with them. Lissy stopped by with her Dad (Chris) one night this week to pick up their November cookies. The entire family (minus Sadie who couldn't make it) gathered on Sunday and we went to Mitches Park to get family photos taken. Our friend Heather drove down from Goderich to take the pictures for us. Thanks so much, Heather. We have had many other visitors too, and Myron enjoys the company of each and every one of them.

 This is my favourite of all the photos so far, our two kids with their Dad!

 The Whole Lot of Us (less Sadie)

Sadie with her Grandpa (taken yesterday in our yard)

While I spend most of my time with Myron, I do try to get out once in a while to give myself a bit of a break, to renew my energy so I can continue to care for my darling Myron. Naturally I go to the library every few weeks to get my books to read (I somehow cannot imagine life without books and reading). I went out for breakfast on Monday this week with my friends Karen and Dianne. I am hoping to go out to dinner to celebrate another friend Diane's birthday on Tuesday of next week, and my friend Sue is coming down to London to join me for lunch in the next week or so too. I think that is about all the news for now. Please keep in touch, give Myron a call or stop in for a visit. You'll make his day! Thanks again for all your love, support, and prayers. We'll keep in touch.

 

love, Myron and Wendy