Author Archives: Rich

Discoordinated care

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Rich

Let me just get it out of the way right now. I’m not happy with my care team today. In addition to having melanoma, and diabetes, and lately colitis, I’ve started having another issue. As you might recall from my … Continue reading →

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That sinking feeling

Posted on April 7, 2019 by Rich

As expected, it looks like I do have colitis and I am getting kicked off of Nivolumab treatment. The image on the left here represents my somewhat mixed thoughts. On the one hand, I feel like I have had my … Continue reading →

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Prednisolone, diabetes, and more crap

Posted on April 3, 2019 by Rich

Well, I got the test results back from last weekend’s fecal adventures. Turns out that it’s not bacterial and its not a parasite, but I am positive for leukocytes. Without a CT scan or colonoscopy, it’s not 100% positive, but … Continue reading →

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A shitty week

Posted on March 31, 2019 by Rich

Warning: the following post contains references to poop, poop, and more poop. That’s just the kind of week that it was. I usually try to keep my posts here on the lighter side because I try to stay positive, and […] Continue reading →

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Birds of a feather

Posted on March 24, 2019 by Rich

When life hands you melanoma, add chickens. Well, at least that’s we did this week. We’ve talked about “homesteading” for a while. For us city slickers, homesteading has mostly meant shopping the organic food aisle in the supermarket and going … Continue reading →

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A profile of courage

Posted on March 16, 2019 by Rich

Cowardly Lion:Courage. What makes a King out of a slave? Courage.What makes the flag on the mast to wave? Courage.What makes the elephant charge his tusk in the misty mist or the dusky dusk?What makes the muskrat guard his musk? … Continue reading →

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The cost of living

Posted on March 9, 2019 by Rich

What you see here is an itemized description of charges for my previous (7th) infusion of Opdivo and the associated labs, etc. Obviously, the big ticket item is the Opdivo itself. It is expensive stuff. Without the insurance adjustment, it … Continue reading →

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Just ask

Posted on February 25, 2019 by Rich

I was talking with Lynn this morning about how fortunate I felt. I know I have melanoma, and now diabetes, but the melanoma isn’t affecting my daily life at this point. I can do the things I could before and … Continue reading →

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Aging gratefully

Posted on February 14, 2019 by Rich

There’s an old saying that goes “growing old isn’t so bad once you consider the alternative.” While I’ve always understood and agreed intellectually, the truth of this adage has really struck home with my diagnosis. In addition to the cancer, […] Continue reading →

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Learning to accept good news

Posted on February 8, 2019 by Rich

Bewildered, Bewildered,You have no complaintYou are what your are and you ain’t what you ain’tSo listen up Buster, and listen up goodStop wishing for bad luck and knocking on wood John Prine, “Dear Abby” OK, as much as I love […] Continue reading →

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