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Bang A Gong, beating cancer with mark, cancer, certificate of completion, chemo, chemotherapy, esophageal cancer, final chemo treatment, final radiation treatment, half-time, huntsman cancer institute, John R. Weis MD, markself.com, oncology, radiation, radiation oncology, radiation therapy, radiation therapy in action, Randa Tao MD
On Monday, December 19, I completed my 28th and Final Radiation Treatment… YAY! I am thankful that this phase is over and that we can relax and enjoy the holidays.
While the radiation treatments were not as debilitating as the chemo, it still wore (and continues to wear) on me physically. I hope the fatigue will start to dissipate and I can get back to an adult bedtime as opposed to the 3rd grader’s bedtime of about 8:30pm.
According to Dr. Tao, my Radiation Oncologist, I was a perfect patient as I was able (with Lee’s persistence) to maintain my weight and keep my skin in good condition. The cancer being radiated can only be reached through the skin. That skin can be very damaged unless you don’t take particular care of it. In using the product Dr. Tao and her staff suggested, my skin looks great and feels pretty good.
Having completed six weeks of treatment, this part of the journey and seems a bit surreal. What started 10 plus weeks ago with a lot of unknowns and questions, and a flurry of treatment activity, now becomes “Half Time” of the process. This is the time I have to relax, decompress and – most importantly – heal.
I asked Dr. Weis why there was a delay between treatment and surgery. He said that the radiation and chemo are rather destructive to the organs in the radiation field. That the tissues in the field would not have the strength to hold up to that much trauma.
I am grateful for the care that I received from both Dr. Tao‘s Radiation Oncology team and Dr. Weis‘s Medical Oncology team. I believe that I feel as well as I do thanks to their diligence in laying out a successful treatment plan.
In mid-January I’ll have another PET Scan followed by a Surgical consult with Dr Glasgow, with my surgery sometime in February.
I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous, but I continue to count my blessings. I truly appreciate all the kind thoughts, prayers, phone calls, cards, emails and messages! They brighten my day, give me strength and help me through this battle. I know that part of my first-half success comes from the love and support of all my friends and family and I will never be able to thank all of you enough.
You’ll see another update in a few weeks once the next steps are scheduled. In the meantime, please have a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a Blessed and Prosperous New Year!
Love,
Mark
PS – the heart in the snow was something somebody did in the courtyard for all the patients to see. Cool, huh?
Big congratulations on making it to halftime … which reminds me of halftime on October 29 … back in East Lansing… 😀😀😀
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Thanks brother! And I’d rather forget most of what happened in East Lansing this past fall!
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Well done my friend. Always in our prayers. Merry Christmas. Cheers.
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Thanks Stewart! Merry Christmas to you as well!
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Mark…we love you. Hang in there! You WILL best this. We think about you and pray for you daily…please know this❣️
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Thanks Rhonda! Your love and prayers continue to give me strength for the battle. Merry Christmas!
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Mark,
You are an amazing individual. I have completed faith you will whip this cancer. I wish you the very best and look forward to telling you’re story of success to others.. Very best wishes
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Thanks John! I appreciate the suppport and look forward finishing the story successfully! Merry Christmas!
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Enjoy the holidays and thanks for sharing the great news!
Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks Dean! Merry Christmas and we look forward to seeing you in a few months.
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