Update from Richard

It has been a long time since the last update. The last series of chemo (3 rounds) regiment was, to put it nicely brutal. During the first series of 3, I was usually ok by about day 14 or earlier of the 21 day round. For the second series, with 2 extra days of 5FU (apply named), I was lucky to be better by the 18th day. For
the second round of the second series, I think I recovered the last day. So, getting only 3 or less days of relatively good health was really tough. I know everyone will laugh at me, but most know that I really love what I do, so my best round was the last round of the second series. I was good enough to go to work on day 15 which coincided with the day silicon came out of FAB and we did power on (only 2 days until we had full functionality and I was able to help debug a few of the issues).As those who know me, I was in the hospital during A0 power on and it was very, very hard. For those who can’t relate, think of having a baby. You toiled for 8 ½ of the 9 months and then were sent away to not be able to be involved at the birth or after.

Anyway, I am now 5 weeks past my last round and feeling very good. Today, I convinced Heather to go to the gym with me and the kids so we could go swimming and use the water slide. Last Monday, they removed my feeding tube which I had not used for 2 week prior to that. I can only tell you that I would not wish a feeding tube or my second round of chemo on anyone (friend or foe). The chemo just because of how hard it is on the body and the feeding tube because it is a constant reminder of things happening and painful in general. I will be getting one back after surgery but 2 weeks without is indescribable and swimming today was the happiest I have been in 3 or more months.

So what has happened over the last several weeks: I had a PET scan last Wednesday and just like the previous it came back clean (so doesn’t mean much); my lab work shows my body has completely recovered from all the chemo of the second round (white and red cells good). I show now visible large masses of tumors (didn’t before because my cancer is more like spurge than dandelions in the lawn).

I am going to U of Az instead of Mayo as it was recommended by several (including my Mayo surgeon) to see if I could get "hot chemo" after the stomach removal. I was accepted into this experimental program (likely the first or low 10s to have this done for stomach cancer). The procedure is radical (stomach removed and anything else they feel could be an issue later, the intestine connected to the esophagus, then pour warm chemo directly into the abdomen and leave it for a few hours so it can attack and kill most things. If it doesn’t kill you, which is can, it has been fairly successful for ovarian and colon cancer.

The surgery is scheduled for 7/30. I have to be in Tucson the night/day before to clear my body of food (ugh) and then up in the AM for what is supposed to be about a 12-16 hour surgery. For those keeping score, you are welcome to pray, hope, etc., that this time I don’t get woken up 2 hours later as this means they didn’t do the surgery because they found things too bad to execute. Basically, they go in like they did last time, there is a 34 point scale where they look at everything from my physical condition (190 lbs which is fantastic) and I actually did a light jog and biked with one of my best friends last Friday, to "is there any other sites in the
body where it has spread". Given the PET, it is all up to what they find once they are in there, just like last time.
My cancer is likely being spread by the peritoneum which is the lining in the abdomen which holds everything in place. That is why hot chemo is hoped to help kill it off (much better than intervenes). If I am 24 or less on the score, they do the surgery, if not…well, let’s hope for this not to be the case as the answer is fatal.

they say I will be in ICU for about 2 weeks (others have said 4) before I can leave. Clearly, I hope for being in ICU at all so who cares how long if I eventually WALK out.

So that’s the status of the last several weeks/months. I am sorry I did not keep this up but until this weekend, I really couldn’t. I am so happy today for going to the gym and doing some little things I have not been able to do in months (I can’t explain how hard it is to not be able to swim with my kids). Today, I am happy, very happy.

For those who are praying or whatever for me, I have the following and please do not be offended or concerned about my mental state. I tell people, "if you are praying for me, that is fine but pray for cancer to be eliminated first". I am only one person and cancer will kill 1 in 4 (or more) each year. If God has a plan, then what happens to me is already decided and that is fine. I do not want to go now as I really want to love my wife and kids for many more years, but if that is what happens, it is what it is. I describe it as everyone will die. This is a clear fact. The difference between someone else and me is simple, I see the bus coming and I don’t know if it will stop in time or not. Everyone else gets to forget
about car accidents, heart attacks, etc. but we will all die eventually. I am not at a place mentally just like everyone else and where I was 9 months ago. I think about what might be occasionally (more than those without a bus in front of them) but less than I did and instead I just speak a little more freely, tell people what I want (just in case) more often (but I’m nicer than I used to be), and love my family and friends every day. I figure this is probably the best anyone can do.

Thank you for all your thoughts, support, etc. and please don’t stop, but also don’t
forget about the people in your lives. Anyone of us could be gone tomorrow.

Sincerely,
Richard Mackey
Cancer Fighter