Okay so last week I finished my chemotherapy treatments and came down with a cough. Went to the doctors and he said it seemed like a bronchitis issue and put me on levaquin for 10 days. Went back to see him on Monday of this week and had a chest xray and come to find out I have the start of pneumonia so he put me on a steroid pack for the week and changed the antibiotic to augmentin which I start tomorrow. The chemo side effects are so confused with all the other things going on so my body doesn't know what to do.
Next week is March 1, 2012 and my training will start with the goal to become stronger and better than I was before I was diagnosed with cancer. There will be many ups and downs but I am going to be trying to gain the strength and speed to win my age group in every event. We all know how big the 50-54 age group is so I have a lot of work ahead of me, I know that I can count on my friends for support. The current goal is to get off the percocet so that I can start to drive again.
The bike is in the trainer and the treadmill has been cleaned and maintenance has been completed so everything is ready. It will be about a month before I attempt to get in the pool but I really do miss it and can't wait till I can become a fish. The first race I have is March 17 the St. Patty's Day 5 K in Ocean City on the boardwalk. Now I am sure that this won't be a winning race but the goal is to finish it. Simple as that right? We all need to have goals to reach and that is what important.
Along with my training program I will be tracking my diet and all of the vitamins and supplements that I will be using. There will be reviews for you to read and maybe help you decide if something will work for you. One of the first things I plan to review is the Garmin 910XT. The next thing I will be reviewing are the vitamins that I will be using to help rid my body of the poison that the chemo has put in to me. These vitamins have been approved by my doctor for use starting March 1.
BCA! - Brian Comes Alive! 2012 is my year to prove that you can come back from cancer with the support and caring of those around you.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Monday, February 20, 2012
FCA & BCA Frampton & Brian Comes Alive
Last night my wife and I went to see Frampton Comes Alive 35 years. She gave me the tickets for my birthday in December with four chemotherapy treatments left. During this time I was not doing well and she thought that giving me something that I could celebrate my final treatment would get me through the tough road ahead. Well I made it through all of my treatments and I couldn't have had a better celebration. Three hours of great music in a wonderful theatre in Washington, DC.
While I am completed with the treatments the side effects are hanging on but not for long if I can help it. You see my half marathon training program starts this week and my full triathlon and strength training programs start next week. My first 5K race is St Patty's Day in Ocean City MD and my goal is to finish it running and hope to run the whole distance. No worries no chemo so I will have a beer at the end maybe two. If you're not busy come on down and run the boardwalk with me and help cheer me on the road to recovery.
My current status as it relates to cancer is I AM A SURVIVOR and plan to come back stronger and better than I was before. Colon Cancer is a difficult cancer to deal with as it comes to the side effects from the surgery through the chemo treatments. What most do not understand is that they remove you whole colon and in my case more. Then you have to try to regain control of your bowls in six weeks because that is when the chemotherapy starts. The side effects from chemo are many but one is diarrhea and this is the most embarrassing. There were times when you got to go and don't make to the facility in time. To gain control of this I wound up taking 5 imodium tablets every 4 hours throughout treatments. The other side effects are not as embarrassing but do to the pain I started to take pain medication and could not drive. Well I could but I don't want to get a DUI or worse yet kill someone because I was to proud. So I turned the keys over to the wife and she has been driving me around for the past 3 months.
Don't ever be to proud to ask for help there are so many people out there willing to help you just need to ask. So as I come off the medications and get my life back together I am a SURVIVOR.
While I am completed with the treatments the side effects are hanging on but not for long if I can help it. You see my half marathon training program starts this week and my full triathlon and strength training programs start next week. My first 5K race is St Patty's Day in Ocean City MD and my goal is to finish it running and hope to run the whole distance. No worries no chemo so I will have a beer at the end maybe two. If you're not busy come on down and run the boardwalk with me and help cheer me on the road to recovery.
My current status as it relates to cancer is I AM A SURVIVOR and plan to come back stronger and better than I was before. Colon Cancer is a difficult cancer to deal with as it comes to the side effects from the surgery through the chemo treatments. What most do not understand is that they remove you whole colon and in my case more. Then you have to try to regain control of your bowls in six weeks because that is when the chemotherapy starts. The side effects from chemo are many but one is diarrhea and this is the most embarrassing. There were times when you got to go and don't make to the facility in time. To gain control of this I wound up taking 5 imodium tablets every 4 hours throughout treatments. The other side effects are not as embarrassing but do to the pain I started to take pain medication and could not drive. Well I could but I don't want to get a DUI or worse yet kill someone because I was to proud. So I turned the keys over to the wife and she has been driving me around for the past 3 months.
Don't ever be to proud to ask for help there are so many people out there willing to help you just need to ask. So as I come off the medications and get my life back together I am a SURVIVOR.
Friday, February 17, 2012
Last chemo treatment
My last treatment ended on Wednesday, February 15, 2012 and I am now feeling the full effects of the treatment. During my treatment I was able to stay healthy and bang the last one I get a cough. The doc says it is not in my lungs but I am on some antibiotics to keep it from getting worse. Today I ordered my vitamins that I will start taking March 1, 2012 when I start to detox myself and rid my body of the poison that has been pumped in to me over the past 6 months. The hot showers with Sea Salt scrub will be done 4-5 times per week. The hot tub will get filled and started up and I will be looking at aromatherapy to help while in the there. Just need to find the proper oils to use and mix the up I should have what I need. My strength training and running will start March 1, 2012 with some cycling using the indoor trainer. Will be going to the Y to get some spin classes and maybe some yoga to help get the balance back. There is so much to be done and documentation will be the key to make adjustments when things aren't working. Getting off the pain medication will be a primary goal but I know cold turkey will not be the correct path to follow.
Looking forward to becoming a strong triathlete that can compete and place in my age group.
Looking forward to becoming a strong triathlete that can compete and place in my age group.
Sunday, February 12, 2012
Valentines Day 5K
February 11, 2012 was the first 5K of the Annapolis Striders Championship Series. The weather was snow & rain mix and the temperature was around 30 degrees. This excluded me from even attempting to run/walk the course. This being said we picked up our granddaughter Alaina on the way and her and I cheered on my wife Marion who is running the series for the first time. We saw her of at the start and went to the van and played for a bit and then went to the finish line. When Marion came in to view I told Alaina there is Mom mom and she started cheering her in to the finish line. We met up with her and Alaina ran up to her and said you did it. Marion said that made her day.
This role of the support person is not one that I am used to being in but it is satisfying when the ones you love and train cross the finish line. We spent the rest of the day having lunch at Applebee's and then bought our little one some new sneakers and then went to Build A Bear. This was a great day and one I needed as I prepare for my last chemo treatment on Monday. With Valentines Day on Tuesday make sure you take time to tell the ones you love how much you love them. We will be celebrating today so that we can enjoy a nice dinner of lobster and steak. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to everyone and thank you for your support.
This role of the support person is not one that I am used to being in but it is satisfying when the ones you love and train cross the finish line. We spent the rest of the day having lunch at Applebee's and then bought our little one some new sneakers and then went to Build A Bear. This was a great day and one I needed as I prepare for my last chemo treatment on Monday. With Valentines Day on Tuesday make sure you take time to tell the ones you love how much you love them. We will be celebrating today so that we can enjoy a nice dinner of lobster and steak. HAPPY VALENTINES DAY to everyone and thank you for your support.
Friday, February 10, 2012
Finial Chemo Treatment
Monday starts chemo treatment 12 - which is my last one YAHOO!!!! This has been the longest 6 months of my life. The education of cancer and what stage means was an eye opener. When I was first diagnosed the PET/CT scan should no lymph nodes affected. Within 7 days when they were tattooing the tumor they realized that it had already spread to the lymph nodes. WOW, 7 days and I went from stage 1 to 3 and my world was turned upside down. The chemo treatments have been an experience that I could have lived without and one that I will never forget.
March 1, 2012 my doctor has given me the go ahead to begin taking my vitamins to clear the free radicals and begin the detox phase. The sooner I can get this crap out of my body the sooner I can get back on track.The products from Max International will help me with the free radicals. There will also be some soaking in my spa some special spa mixes to open the pours and release some toxins from the skin. There will be a gradual reduction from the pain medications so I can get my faculties back under control.
The training program will start gradual and focus on building strength and the long and slow process of building miles in my running and cycling. The strength training will be based in the Visual Impact Muscle Building. This is the same training used by, Taylor Lautner, Cam Gigandet, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Dwayne Johnson (now he has slimmed down), Hugh Jackman, etc...While there are many different training programs I have chosen to give this one a chance and will stick with it in hopes to get myself in tip top shape. Should anyone want to help me get back to race shape I am looking for training partners and I need some coaching to increase my speed with my runs.
March 1, 2012 my doctor has given me the go ahead to begin taking my vitamins to clear the free radicals and begin the detox phase. The sooner I can get this crap out of my body the sooner I can get back on track.The products from Max International will help me with the free radicals. There will also be some soaking in my spa some special spa mixes to open the pours and release some toxins from the skin. There will be a gradual reduction from the pain medications so I can get my faculties back under control.
The training program will start gradual and focus on building strength and the long and slow process of building miles in my running and cycling. The strength training will be based in the Visual Impact Muscle Building. This is the same training used by, Taylor Lautner, Cam Gigandet, Brad Pitt, Will Smith, Dwayne Johnson (now he has slimmed down), Hugh Jackman, etc...While there are many different training programs I have chosen to give this one a chance and will stick with it in hopes to get myself in tip top shape. Should anyone want to help me get back to race shape I am looking for training partners and I need some coaching to increase my speed with my runs.
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