Rutherfordectomy results!

[NWBasser]

It turns out that the strongest cocktail for this application can also destroy or damage upper frequency hearing, as well as have a tiny possibility of nerve results in the hands! So they always ask people if they are singers or musicians or others whose hearing is integral to their work, and those people (me!) get a slightly different chemical.

Well Brian, bass isn't such a bad instrument.
You'll be able to hear it and nobody will notice any nerve damage.

I finally got to read all this and I sincerely hope the best for you for a speedy recovery.

[Robert****]

Here's for a quick recovery, Brian!

[Tig***]

So, just call me "chemo boy." Or at least very probably.

Keep the humor and spirits high, and the body will follow.

Oh, and by no means are you allowed to go emo, not that you would.

[Brian Krashpad]

It turns out that the strongest cocktail for this application can also destroy or damage upper frequency hearing, as well as have a tiny possibility of nerve results in the hands! So they always ask people if they are singers or musicians or others whose hearing is integral to their work, and those people (me!) get a slightly different chemical.

Well Brian, bass isn't such a bad instrument.
You'll be able to hear it and nobody will notice any nerve damage.

I finally got to read all this and I sincerely hope the best for you for a speedy recovery.

Hhah, thanks, but I still need to hear that snare to work off the drummer.

[Katastrophe]

Continued wishes for quick recovery, and I hope the chemo doesn't affect you at all.

The upshot is that surgery, radiation and chemo is the MFH to the stuck bathroom door of cancer.

I've got a good friend that at one point had cancer that had metastasized all over her body. She didn't listen to all the negativity, researched the heck out of her condition and kept fighting. Her last two scans have been clear.

[Brian Krashpad]

Here's for a quick recovery, Brian!

Haha, alas, it will be 2011 before ol' Krash will be having so much as a beer. It's been 16 days since I've had anything to drink already.

I found it kind of odd, today Chemo Doc sort of implied that hitting beer is less unhealthy vis-a-vis this condition. After establishing that I didn't really ever smoke cigs, he asked about alcohol. I told him I was no stranger to beer. Before he got into amounts, he said "Just beer? Not liquor?" I said, yeah, almost exclusively, I virtually never drink liquor. He says "no liquor" to himself and writes it down on his chart. It was clear by his expression that that sort of ruled out that as a causative factor. I had always heard "a drink is a drink," meaning that a beer is just as bad for you as a shot or a mixed drink, and vice-versa. But apparently that may not always be the case. Of course, it doesn't really matter here, since I got what I got anyhow, but I found that somewhat strange.

[Brian Krashpad]

Keep the humor and spirits high, and the body will follow.

Oh, and by no means are you allowed to go emo, not that you would.

Haha, I have a song title "Just Say 'No' to Emo!" that I have yet to get around to writing the song for!

And of course, I will have to write something about this. I think it will probably be called "Pain In the Neck," although I'm also toying with "Voila My Scar" (the latter being a reference to the Madeleine children's books). Hers however, was an appendectomy:

[Brian Krashpad]

Been doing a lot of doctor shite over the last week.

Looks like chemo and radiation will start up next week, after I get a couple big tooth fillings taken care of. The radiation is going to feck up my teeth/bone on one side, basically forever. Lovely.

Went to the radiation oncology mad scientist lab yesterday so they could make a plastic mask that will hold me in just exactly the right spot for the ray-gun to shoot me in the neck. The thing is pretty bosstastic looking and I'm hoping I get to keep it when we're done. This isn't mine, but gives you an idea what they look like:



While I was there, the rad-oncologist breezes through and says, "did I mention you could also do TWO sessions a day? But it wouldn't shorten the overall time, there's just a tiny possibility it might help. But your tumor was so small, it's not really necessary. I probably shouldn't have even mentioned it."

ARRRRGH. Feckin' A, doc, if you SHOULDN'T mention it, FECKING DON'T mention it.

I'm already getting chemo and radiation, AND have already had surgery to remove everything in the general vicinity of the damn thing. Under other circumstances I might go for broke. To my surprise, Mrs. K did not insist otherwise. I'm keeping a fairly cool head about this whole deal, I'm younger and fitter than the average patient, and a non-smoker. But I can see that some other patients would totally lose it if he did that.

Btw, here's a photo update. I've often written notes to myself on me (see hand). Now OTHERS are writing notes to THEMSELVES on me (see chest-- radiation reference mark). I think it's just an excuse for those radiation tech ladies to see me without a shirt.

Did I mention my bosstastic scar? (see neck) The super glue is starting to peel off. You can see that the end up closest to my ear has about a half inch where it's just pink. That's the actual scar. The brown color of the rest of it is the super glue that hasn't come off yet.

Beard's going this week-- I'll shave it off since one side'll fall out anyhow.



No docs today! Yay. Probably the last weekday I'll be able to say that until Christmas Eve.

So, there ya go.

[Robert****]

You look awesome Brian. Like an experienced pirate with some scars!

Seriously, I'm hoping this works great and that this issue is DONE for you for good after this treatment!

[Tig***]

Man, that has got to suck. However, it sure beats the alternative!

Keep on rockin' in the free world, and don't let those radiology tech wimmerns have their way with ya'!

[Tig***]

You look awesome Brian. Like an experienced pirate with some scars!

Well, hopefully not like a Keef pirate!

[Katastrophe]

Scar's looking good... Keep up the good fight, man. Prayers for continued recovery still headed your way.

[Brian Krashpad]

Thanks fellers.

As for piratin', instead I say "Stay thirsty, my Friends" a lot:

[piebaldpython***]

If you weren't married.....that scar would be landin' babes for you left and right.

Kind of like you were a "bad boy"....Johnny Depp-ish almost with a nod to Keef.

Seriously.....good luck with all this doctoring and stuff and try to keep your humor intact. That old adage about a laugh a day is true.

[Brian Krashpad]

If you weren't married.....that scar would be landin' babes for you left and right.

Kind of like you were a "bad boy"....Johnny Depp-ish almost with a nod to Keef.

Seriously.....good luck with all this doctoring and stuff and try to keep your humor intact. That old adage about a laugh a day is true.

Thanks, I've been laughing more than ever to be honest. Some somewhat dark humor on occasion, but that just makes it even funnier.

Best so far: my wife teaches adults English as foreign language. She got an e-mail from one of her students intending to comfort her about my situation. The subject line read:






wait for it...





I am sure he will be overcome

[Robert****]

Man, Brian, I'm glad to hear you have such a sense of humor in all this!



That was pretty funny, I have to admit.

[Commodore 64***]

ROFLMAO.

It's just like a gift, Brian. It's the thought that counts.

[Brian Krashpad]

ROFLMAO.

It's just like a gift, Brian. It's the thought that counts.

Her students, by and large, are the sweetest people in the world. Usually, each year we have a winter holiday break party for them, I call it the "United Nations party." I'm not sure if we're doing it this year, haven't heard any dates. My guess is that Mrs. K is skipping it this time.

If so, too bad. The food they bring is GREAT.

[Brian Krashpad]

Here's the last pic of the beard.



"I don't always do chemo, but when I do, I prefer O'Douls to Dos Equis.

(OK, it's not really like I prefer O'Douls, but I'm not allowed Dos Equis. I digress.)

Stay thirsty, my friends."

Here's the drawings they did on me yesterday at the mad scientist lab. All you amateur radiation oncologists can figure out exactly where I'ma be zapped. Note tasteful lack of nipplage.

I gave up trying to finish shaving a neck I still can't feel. A bit scary that. May try to do better tomorrow. Or not. At least most of the Santa beard is gone.



Today: first zappage!