Round 5 Chemotherapy for Stage 4 Lung Cancer

Went for a sunset walk with my daughter today in 62°F (16.6°)C fall temperatures.

Yeah it was only a quarter mile contrasted to 5K over a year ago … then again my DX in August '12 was Stage 1 Lung Cancer and I was still getting NED (no evidence of active disease) scans …

Today I began "Round 5" of Chemotherapy (carboplatin + Altima) for Stage 4 Lung Cancer with brain mets.

Each round of chemotherapy is brutal and bittersweet, especially today as I tried to balance excitement over my soaring blood counts and learning that two of the 11 “survivors” I met at the Harrisburg Free to Breathe Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk on August 24th, died over the past 4 weeks. … Stage 4 is a vulnerable existence.

I grab at little things like being handed a 60 tablet RX … or a pulse oximeter reading of 100% for lungs with a wedge out of one lung and three tumors in the other lung ... what makes us smile is likely very different than others.

-- 
Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

Stage 4 Lung Cancer Pratfalls

I was sooo excited Monday morning that the admission clerk at plasma facility used my middle name I dropped down on my knees like Wayne and Garth chanting, “I’m not worthy! … oh sheet! … I can’t get back up!" … with me stuck kneeling at the counter my daughter and staff dissolve into laughter as I begin my 130th day of chemotherapy (carboplatin + alitma).

Considering I was in for a plasma transfer for anemia the absolute weakest physical moment would be immediately prior to plasma drip … what possessed me to kneel down? … I just cannot resist showboating. 

Also it was first plasma transfer with new injection port … it’s kind of cool though certainly funky as I could not shower that area for a week … at least for me use of the port made the blood plasma less icy. 

Later ‘feeling’ super charged after two bags of plasma I drove to a local convenience store for soda and to practice some independence. Proudly cradling my 2 liter Pepsi while keeping my balance …(I had left my cane in the car and was using display cases for balance) … that is until I went to hand the Pepsi to the clerk…

Like a football field fumble chaos breaks loose …. Bottle spins on counter … spilling carbonation accelerating spin … bottle slides bottom first to floor shooting back a geyser of carbonation … I kneel down to pick up the bottle … WAIT! Did I just do this again?  

… Two young clerks are staring at this all in disbelief as I am down on the floor sheepishly holding up a still dripping 2 liter Pepsi trying to explain that I cannot get up … actually one was about to burst holding back her laughter  while the other shifted her urgency when I played the “c” word and blamed chemotherapy … 

… any way they get me up … as I retell the story at home I find my daughter laughing hysterically for the second time this day  and complaining that why when out with her I don’t do more stupidly entertaining antics. 

… trying to outlive Stage 4 Lung Cancer involves everything from exhaustion to fear to depression to joy and yes sometimes even comic relief ... 

Two weeks ago I DJ’d/MC’d 4th Annual Free To Breathe Lung Cancer 5K RUN/WALK … 3.5 months since DX of Stage 4 Lung Cancer with brain mets … receiving this thank you card was humbling …  

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

2013 Free To Breathe 5K Harrisburg

A Stage 4 Lung Cancer with brain mets DX is the great white shark of medical diagnoses … its one single minded objective is to kill me.

Hope and awareness rumbled by my DJ/MC tent Saturday morning as nearly 500 runners and walkers participated in Pennsylvania Lung Cancer Partnership’s 2013 Free ToBreathe 5K on City Island … stretching a 3 mile living ribbon of lung cancer awareness across the Susquehanna River into Harrisburg and back … empowering!

Most important last year 7 survivors were in attendance … this year, 11 were registered though only 8 are pictured. … More, more, and more … inspirational!

Since last summer I searched for ‘survivors’ and finally this past Spring connected by an oncology nurse, while I was still Stage 1,  the woman to the far right shared she was told she had 4 months to live 4 years ago DX’d with Stage 4 … her advice to me was “take control” of your treatment … surrounding her in the chemo lounge were three more 4 yr+ survivors and a 10 yr lung cancer survivor all of whom shared similar original prognoses. 

… WE are not statistics ... WE are people fighting to outlive lung cancer

The young woman to my left was DX’d at age 19! … young women are the fastest growing subgroup … it’s an increasingly toxic world out there from radon to diesel to pollution … if you have lungs you can get lung cancer … KNOW your body

I had an opportunity to hug Dr. Troy Moritz, my thoracic surgeon who cut the primary tumor out of me in March 2012. Knowing the importance of spouse caregiving to me I was out of the hospital on the third morning and just 6 weeks later pushing my wife’s wheelchair around City Island.

Those were the Stage 1 days and my world turned upside down 4 months ago when my DX jumped to Stage 4 Lung Cancer with brain metastasis. …

10 whole brain radiation treatments and 12 weeks of aggressive chemotherapy I returned to DJ … with the help of my daughter … I danced and pranced, DJ’d and MC’d, hula hoop contests … and oh yeah Stage 4 DJing needed to sit down a couple breaks to finish smashing some stigmas. 

PS Thank You! Tom Wingert of Lucky Shot photography

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

Making a Difference … One BREATH at a time

Updated: Monday, August 19 2013, 09:22 AM CDT Written by: Sherry Christian Contributor: Rachel Snody (RSnody@SBGTV.com)

“Patrick Leer and Ann Parfitt, two Central PA survivors could be spending their days enjoying their families, friends and life. But they're making a difference by educating others on this often mis-labeled cancer. …”

“…Making a Difference …One BREATH at a time…”

 (click either pic or blue hyperlink to open 3 minute interview)

"...You'll also find 62-year-old Patrick Leer at the event, he's the DJ, despite battling stage 4 lung cancer himself. Along with his music, his message is never give up. He's targeting the younger generation, made up of people like his 25-year-old daughter Megan, who is also his ‘cancer coach’.

It's amazing to see Patrick walking, let alone participating in events considering the cancer spread to his brain. But he's more worried about Megan's peer group, who may not get regular exams because they think because of their age, they're immune.

But with 160,000 American's losing their battle each year, well that's just not settling well with Patrick.  "160,000 a year can't keep dying, that's, that's terrorism."

 "Free to Breathe" is this Saturday, August 24th on City Island. forecast "mostly sunny and a delightful 77˚F (25˚C)." The welcome rally starts at 9 a.m. Be sure to stop by and see Ann and I ... and so many more!!!

-- 

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

a hunk, a hunk of burning knees

Stage 4 Lung Cancer mornings though I am grateful for each and every one … can be one surprise after another.

Youch! This morning I slid out of bed onto (to paraphrase Elvis) a pair of ‘a hunk, a hunk of burning knees’.

Swallowing two ibuprofen put the fire out ... while my ‘cancer coach’ consulted the Internet and concluded it was a ‘side effect’ of Decadron. As a corticosteroid Decadron can reduce inflammation around joints.

Whatever …blessed by a personal cancer coach keeping me 'focused' and two ibuprofen a most important morning began.

Sherry Christian of CBS 21 News Harrisburg was interviewing me 

on City Island to promote lung cancer awareness and the Pennsylvania  Free To Breathe Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk … along with two other Free To Breathe lung cancer activists later in the day.

I need to ‘shout out’ CBS 21 News, and Sherry Christian in particular …. Until our stories get out of social media and into mainstream media 160,000 people a year may keep dying of lung cancer

Breast Cancer kills 40,000 women a year yet Lung Cancer will kill 70,000 women this year ... this under funding and stigmas of lung cancer has got to stop ... thank you for reaching out from the bigger screen.

(I understand the piece should run Monday, Aug 19^th on CBS 21 Morning News between 6:30 AM- 7:00 AM then again on CBS 21 evening news.)

 

Pennsylvania Lung Cancer Partnership

Free to Breathe® Harrisburg

4th Annual Lung Cancer 5K Run/Walk 

& 1-Mile Walk

August 24, 2013

www.freetobreathe.org/harrisburg.

PS … special thanks to Johanna Kilbride of Jubelirer Strategies, Philadelphia, PA for your tireless behind the scenes campaigning to promote lung cancer awareness … somewhere in all this … WE will ALL give people a fighting chance to outlive lung cancer.

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

BREATHE: if you have lungs you can get lung cancer

The Patriot-News is central Pennsylvania’s award-winning top daily local news source, serving Pennsylvania for 150 storied years.

Dr. Linda Rhodes, Patriot-News Columnist is a former Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging and author of The Essential Guide to Caring for Aging Parents (Penguin 2012).

I am humbled that My Lung Cancer Odyssey continues to raise awareness of lung cancer, specifically the stigmas. … 

... “If you have lungs, you can get lung cancer.”

NON-SMOKERS ARE NOT IMMUNE TO LUNG CANCER

Remember these symptoms …

          BREATHE

Blood in cough

Recurring respiratory infections

Enduring cough that is new or different

Ache or pain in shoulder, back, or chest

Trouble breathing

Hoarseness or wheezing

Exhaustion or weakness

If any of these symptoms are troubling you see a doctor. 

Patrick Leer

Health Activist:

My Lung Cancer Odyssey @ http://lung-cancer-survivor.blogspot.com/

Caregivingly Yours, MS Caregiver @ http://caregivinglyyours.blogspot.com/

MultipleSclerosis.Net @ http://multiplesclerosis.net/