1st day at Sarah Cannon Cancer Center, Nashivelle TN

Yesterday I arrived at Sarah Cannon Cancer Center where I will begin my treatment for my stage IV Melanoma.

Once I arrived I was received by the research nurse who gave me a summary of all my medications, treatment protocol, side effects and my rights as a patient in a clinical trial. I was imressed by the professionalism, the compassion and the politeness of the team at the center. They made feel comfortable and at ease immediately, reassuring me that I have made the right decission.

Oncce I got all the preliminary information I started a chain of test involving blood work, X-ray, EKG, and Echocardiogram.

Once completed with all the test I met with Dr. Jeffrey Infante, the Study Oncologist and the doctor who will be monitoring my progress.

He proceeded to tell me more in details about the drugs I will be taking and the possible side effects from them. The first drug is called GSK2118436 which is a BRAF viagra cialis online pharmacy pharmacy and the MEK inhibitor GSK1120212.

This trial combining these two drugs is fairly new trial in PHASE I but the drugs have been around for some time and the team at the Research Center has had experience with the dosage levels for each drug. The BRAF inhibitor has been around for 2 years while the MEK inhibitor for about 18 months.

Both drugs are taken orally in a form of pills and treat the cancer at the nuclear level, stopping the way the cells mutate to grow thus causing the tumors to shrink. No data is available as far as a complete remission but in Cancer, there is never talk about full recovery but survival rate. Of course there are those cases of full remmission but doctors do not really focus on that during studies and treatment so therefore, it was not much help for me in that sense. It is all up to me to believe that I will make a full recovery and live to tell many of you suffering from this disesase that there is always HOPE as long as you put your thought into it.

Anyway, talking about the drugs I will be taking, as I said they are taken orally. Three pills per day, two in the morning and one in the afternoon. The pills are taken with 2 hours fasting before and two hours fasting after, so I will have to work my schedule to accomodate my eating schedule without interruting the treatment. I kind of have the idea of waking up at 6am, take the pills, wait until 8am to eat and then repeating again by having lunch, taking the pill at 2pm and eating at 4pm.

Both drugs have side effects and they all depend on each individual person but I will give you the most common effects the doctor shared with me:

The side effects may include, nausea, dizziness, fatigue, skin rash, skin carcinoma which can be remove, blurry vision, abdominal pain, headaches but no long term effects have been reported...oooff, that makes me feel better!...NOT!

I guess my treatment may cure my cancer but cause me to not see very well, diarrhea, sterility, being tired all the time...etc I do not what is worse! the disease or the treatment, hum! just kidding aside, it is amazing how the drug companies poison your body to get rid off bad cells but in the mean time affect the others.

One of the things I have to counter the effects is Nutrition, which Doctors so not seem to believe in but I do, so I have started a strong regimen of Green Juices full of vitamins, micronutrients, minerals, chlorophyll, oxygen, phytochemicals that fight disease.

During the visit to Whole Foods in Nashville, I met Joe. He works in the produce department and his job is to make sure all the vegetables and produce look the best! I tell you, I have never seen a section like this before. I called it "The Wall of Life". It was the most beautiful sight of vegetables, fruits, and produce that I have ever seen. Joe, took pride on his work and was pleased with my reaction. We shared a conversation for about 30 minutes and he told me his story about his life and how he ended doing what he is doing now. Amazing guy and amazing story...he gave me words of encouragement and told me I will be OK. It is so good to meet great people and specially in places that you could not seem to imagine.

Joe was an alcoholic and a band member in the past. He also had a heart problem requiring surgery last year and being on strong medication. One day, he turned his life around through Faith and immediately, he quit his band, his body stooped from wanting alcohol and his surgery went well, but what it was most amazing is that he is off medication. He loves his life now, and he he is a happy individual with the love for life, people, and of course...his produce department!

I guess the lesson I learned is that LIFE is great! if you find something you love, no matter what it is, how much it pays, and how simple it may be. Love what you do, live life to the fullest, enjoy every minute, every hour, every day, every month and every year that you are lucky to have. Be humbled and you shall meet wonderful people full of joy, compassion, and with their own inspiring life stories.

I am so lucky to have met Joe and now I feel grateful to have more and more people giving their words of support.

What a great day! 		Other posts:

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