One Day at a Time
“But do not overlook this one fact, beloved,
that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years,
and a thousand years as one day.”
2 Peter 3:8 English Standard Version
Genesis begins with Moses relating to us God’s diary for the first seven days. Hey is that a Bronco Sunrise 
As I mentioned in Part 2 Karen and I were off for my third Chemo infusion later that afternoon – last Monday. Anyway, since I am keeping a ‘diary’ of sorts, I thought I might write from my daily notes.
Probably one of the telling items is that when I met with my doctor the Friday before the third infusion he decided to start me on a low dose of prednisone. After the first two infusions I had several common side effects and they seemed to be getting worse. In particular I had a fever and cold symptoms and had to take an antibiotic. I also started recording my temperature each day.
On Monday, the 21,st we met Jeanna a Chemo nurse who provided my treatment this time. Nora had done the first two. While physically very different, each of these professionals were friendly, competent, and informative. Every medical professional (and I will provide reference information to anyone who asks) we have met is ready to answer any questions and address any concerns.
They provided me with an anti-nausea medication to take, “as needed”. But through the first two rounds, I had some difficulty deciding when to take it. I asked Jeanna for guidelines. She laughed and said that is one question she never gets from a woman who has been pregnant. After some discussion she summarized, take it whenever I feel “Ichy”. Now I know when to take it and have been more comfortable.
On Monday evenings Karen practices for Soli Deo Gloria choir and I attend Bible Study Fellowship (BSF). The day of infusions seem benign so I am hopeful that I can continue regular attendance.
This year in BSF we are studying Revelation with a focus on the Biblical revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. The men’s study will continue until about Memorial Day each Monday evening from 7-9. Students are still being added. There are a bunch of HCLC men participating. Let me know if you would like more info.
Each morning I have felt ‘pretty good’. That is about as good as I will claim. My temperature is staying down. Most days include walking the dogs and an afternoon nap – makes for a better evening. Taste and tongue start to degrade on Wednesday, but not as bad as last round.
My weight since the start (seven weeks ago) is down 8-9 pounds and this week 2.5 pounds. There are two good sides to this – the MILK SHAKE and the MALTED. My personal favorite is a vanilla malted at Carl’s Junior; although, I found the Hot Fudge Milk Shake at Sonic on Thursday – both are available in Falcon.
Reminds me of Deuteronomy 8:3 (ESV), “. . . that man does not live by bread alone . . .” and Psalm 34:8 (ESV), “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good!” But I am enjoying pandering to my sweet tooth and doing a morning and evening devotion and my BSF study.
The biggest new problem I have had is my right heel. On Friday it felt like I had rolled my sock and I had bruised my heel. Since then it is getting sorer and sorer and ice has given no relief. I don’t know whether this is a side effect or something else, but will contact the doctor’s office on Monday. For now I can’t wear anything but sandals and slippers.
On Sunday Jessica and her family came over for the afternoon. Jessica and I made nine pints of salsa. It was fun to ‘can’ something. I have not been doing any canning this summer/fall and knew I would need help. Karen had fun with the Jillian and Jacob. At night we took photos of the large, blood moon eclipse (PD I attached my best – if you have better, please substitute) and watched the Broncos. Was that a Bronco Lunar eclipse?
Karen and I are planning to see the aspens in the mountains tomorrow. Maybe we’ll find a new place for a milk shake.
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Gerald Givens is a retired USAF Lieutenant Colonel (1969-1991) and contract satellite engineer/program manager (1991-2011). He was born on 16 March 1945, and blessed to be baptized in April 1945, and married to his lovely wife, Karen, on 23 December 1967. He has served HCLC as Lay Minister and member of the Board of Directors. For many years he served with Karen and a third grade and kindergarten Sunday School teacher. Recently he has led numerous Financial Peace University classes and co-chaired with Karen the Holy Cross Momentum emphasis,”SOAR” which was intended to bring Biblically based financial management training to the broader Holy Cross community.
Please get off those milkshakes! Sugar FEEDS CANCER! I am dismayed by the many doctors that let their patients do this. It fights against your progress. Minimize all carbs, except vegetables. You must limit protein too because it can be converted to carbs by glucogenesis–but still have about 40-50 gm per day. Best foods– high fat products, especially saturated, but without the carbs. Coconut, natural dairy (raw- not pasteurized), butter, avocados. See Mercola.com for more information. Dr. Mercola has many articles with interviews from other cancer experts.
Note: This comment comes from Gerry. For some reason he was not able to post from his computer – Doug Brauner
Thank you for your comment.
Perhaps I left a mistaken impression that I am eating shakes and malts for three meals a day – that is not the case. I have been instructed and agree that a reasonable and sensible diet is the right way to go. But I have a friend who essentially quit eating because the taste of food became so disgusting during chemo, so I find an occasional treat to be a – ‘treat’.
A quick internet search will find plenty of info on ‘Chemo and Sugar” and on “Dr. Mercola”. One cannot believe everything on the web, but I will cite three items and leave it to others to search and read more as they will.
Cancer Loves Sugar: Myths and Facts – This familiar saying, “cancer loves sugar” has been around since the 1924 publication of Dr. Otto Warburg’s paper, “On metabolism of tumors.” Warburg was a Nobel Prize winning cell biologist who wrote, “Summarized in a few words, the prime cause of cancer is the replacement of the respiration of oxygen in normal body cells by a fermentation of sugar.” Later shown to be incorrect. Many people who referred to his work in later years misquoted Warburg’s statement by saying, “cancer loves sugar.” It’s OK to eat some natural sugars on a daily basis. Sugar in your diet does not cause cancer to develop. Starving all of your cells of sugar won’t kill or prevent cancer, but it will deprive your healthy cells of a necessary source of energy.
The Mayo Clinic – http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cancer/in-depth/cancer-causes/ART-20044714?pg=2
Myth: People with cancer shouldn’t eat sugar, since it can cause cancer to grow faster.
Fact: Sugar doesn’t make cancer grow faster. All cells, including cancer cells, depend on blood sugar (glucose) for energy. But giving more sugar to cancer cells doesn’t speed their growth. Likewise, depriving cancer cells of sugar doesn’t slow their growth.
Wikipedia – https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Mercola
Dr. Joseph M. Mercola (born 1954) is an alternative medicine proponent, osteopathic physician, and web entrepreneur, who markets a variety of controversial dietary supplements and medical devices through his website, mercola.com. On his website mercola.com, Mercola and colleagues advocate a number of unproven alternative health notions including homeopathy, while promoting anti-vaccine positions. Mercola has been criticized by business, regulatory, medical, and scientific communities. A 2006 BusinessWeek editorial stated his marketing practices relied on “slick promotion, clever use of information, and scare tactics.” In 2005, 2006, and 2011, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Mercola and his company to stop making illegal claims regarding his products’ ability to detect, prevent, and treat disease.
I will discuss the assertion you made with the medical professionals who are advising me. In the meantime I will rely upon my personal medical lead, God. The verse that came to mind is, Psalm 18:30 (NIV), “As for God, his way is perfect: The LORD’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
The bolding is mine.