When Jerry and I retired 5 1/2 years ago and started traveling this wonderful country of ours, I intended to start a blog. My title, Travels with Kirby and Kelsey, is taken from John Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, recounting his travels across America in a small camper with his standard poodle. We travel in a much larger motor home with our two Coton de Tulear. I never got started on this blog until now when I am faced with the scariest journey of my life.
On November 28, 2011 I was diagnosed with anal cancer. This is a somewhat rare but highly curable type of cancer. Only about 6,000 cases per year occur in the US. This is also the same cancer that Farah Fawcett had, although it was liver cancer that eventually killed her. On November 30 I met with my oncologist, Dr. Parmjeet Banghar, who, incidentally,  spent several years at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit where I was born and also my son, Pete. It feels good that we have a connection, however remote. He explained the treatment to me which consists of chemotherapy and radiation. He also ordered a CT scan with contrast to see if the cancer had spread or if any lymph nodes are involved. I am happy to report that none of this has occurred. I also had a port placed in my chest for the chemo treatments. The scan did show one small spot on my left hip and I am having a bone scan on Monday to determine what this is. I am confident it is nothing.
At this time I am still feeling healthy and my treatment doesn't start until the 19th. I have several appointments this coming week and I will post results as I learn them.