4 Weeks of 5FU

After 4 weeks, a 15 ml bottle of 5FU chemical treatment, and two boxes of latex gloves for smearing the 5FU all over my arms I have finished this treatment option.  While I thought the Blue-U treatment was going to take care of all of the sun damaged cells....it didn't.  I can only hope the 5FU treatment has done that for me. 

The last week has been a struggle not clawing my skin off!  I finally called the doctor's office and they said it was acceptable to use some Aquaphor to put on them.  If you recall, and if you don't go back to the post with the pictures, my arms were covered in lesions from the 5FU.  Well, those lesions finally started drying out and created huge scabs. Those scabs began cracking...leaving long open cracks in my arm....so I had both dry itchy skin and open oozing wounds.  Using the Aquaphor was a huge win.  It eased the itching and help the skin remoisturize so the open cracks began healing.

As of this writing, my arms are extremely tender and I still have a lot of itching.  It doesn't help that my oldest son, who is taking some classes at home this semester, came home with a gorgeous and extremely energetic Australian Shepherd mix puppy.  She is great to have around except when she wants to play.  She likes to use her paws and claws to attack....and that includes trying to grab my arms.  Needless to say, every once in awhile she is quicker than I am and scrapes my arms with her claws.....OUCH!!!  The other issue I am having is bumping in to EVERYTHING!!!  

I never realized just how tender they were until earlier tonight when I was reaching in the cabinet to pull out a pan for cooking.  I didn't pay attention to how close I was to the edge and scraped my left arm....again.....OUCH!!  I am going to keep using the Aquaphor for a couple of days.  Hopefully, the soreness goes away soon.  I also realize that I have to stay out of the sun for awhile. 

Honored and humbled

Part of dealing with and coping with any hardship in life is having a great support group of family, friends, co-workers, etc.  That could not be more true in getting through a cancer diagnosis and treatment.  I have chronicled how I really didn't feel comfortable with referring to myself as a "survivor" and how the people I was with in Austin, TX in October 2011 especially the CEO Doug Ulman really drove home that a cancer diagnosis regardless of the type makes one a survivor.  I have also written about how I met so many people over the years who have become dear friends.  Today that really hit home!

During my trip to Austin, TX in October 2011 and again in February 2012 I met Jeff Mulder, a dedicated LiveSTRONG Leader, volunteer, and a fundraising machine.  I remember listening to Jeff speak at the opening night event in October while we were sitting in Lance's back yard.  I loved his story on getting to know survivors by asking them about their favorite song and how he loaded those songs in to his iPod.  I loved his dedication to cancer survivorship and that he has involved his entire family and they were with him in Austin!  Let's just say that he is one incredible person!

Earlier today, I opened up Facebook as I do many times a day and I had an alert to review.  The alert was Jeff Mulder had tagged me in a photograph.  Now, it has been nearly a year since I was in the same zip code with Jeff so I wasn't realy sure what to expect when I opened the picture.  Much to my surprise, I was HUMBLED  and HONORED to see this picture

 

I am not sure where he was riding, what city he was in, or what event he was participating in but he had this flag with him.  I didn't know what to say and really still don't know what to say other than THANK YOU!   You see, today has been a really bad day entering the 4th week of the 5FU treatment and my left arm is really starting to dry out, crack open, and some of the places are bleeding.  As my family says, it looks like my arms have been burned.  I can't really grip anything with my left hand because the skin has dried out so much that any tension on my forarm feels like the skin is being pulled away from my arm.  This picture made my day! 

 

I can only hope to be as dedicated as Jeff.  He is an inspiration and a great friend!!

 

 



 

What is Skin Cancer....Part 2

Part 2 of the What is Skin Cancer post....it took a little longer than I intended  but here it is!!

Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC):
SCC is the second most common form of skin cancer and is result of cumulative UV damage over a lifetime.  It is so named because it comes from uncontrolled growth of UV damaged cells in the sqamous cells...the upper layer of the skin commonly referred the epidermis.  SCC usually look like red scaly patches, open sores, elevated growths with a central depression, that may crust or bleed.  Approximately 700k people a year are diagnosed with SCC and it can be extremely disfiguring and sometimes deadly if allowed to grow untreated.  SCC

SCCs may occur on all areas of the body including the mucous membranes and genitals, but are most common in areas frequently exposed to the sun, such as the rim of the ear, lower lip, face, bald scalp, neck, hands, arms and legs. Often the skin in these areas reveals telltale signs of sun damage, such as wrinkling, changes in pigmentation, and loss of elasticity.  SCC's are not to be taken lightly!!!  If you an unusal place anywhere on your body....have your doctor check it out immediately!  There are several viable treatment options including: Mohs Microsurgery, Cryosurgery, Photodynamic Therapy (BLUE-U), and Topical Medications (5FU). 

Melanoma:
The most deadly form of skin cancer is melanoma.  It grows when unrepaired DNA damage to skin cells (most often caused by ultraviolet radiation from sunshine or tanning beds) triggers mutations (genetic defects) that lead the skin cells to multiply rapidly and form malignant tumors. The majority of melanomas are black or brown, but they can also be skin-colored, pink, red, purple, blue or white. Melanoma is caused mainly by intense, occasional UV exposure (frequently leading to sunburn), especially in those who are genetically predisposed to the disease. Melanoma kills an estimated 8,790 people in the US annually.

If melanoma is recognized and treated early, it is almost always curable, but if it is not, the cancer can advance and spread to other parts of the body, where it becomes hard to treat and can be fatal. While it is not the most common of the skin cancers, it causes the most deaths. The American Cancer Society estimates that at present, about 120,000 new cases of melanoma in the US are diagnosed in a year. In 2010, about 68,130 of these were invasive melanomas, with about 38,870 in males and 29,260 in women. Citation:  Melanoma

Warning signe of Melanoma:  Uset the ABCDE;s:
A- Asymmetry:  the moles or lesion is not equally distributed
B- Border:  borders are uneven and may even looked scalloped
C- Color:  a potential melanoma will have multiple colors
D- Diameter:  melanomas are typically larger than 1/4" (size of a pencil eraser) but could be smaller
E- Evolving:  any change in size, shape, color, or bleeding, itchy, or bleeding may be signs of danger.

Treatment options: The first step in treatment is removing the melanoma.  Surgical procedures have improved and Mohs Microsurgery is the best option.  For patients with Stage III or IV melanoma, surgery is usually followed by additional treatments. 






 

Okay, you might not want to look...!

WARNING: this post contains a photograph of my left arm taken a few minutes ago.  If you go back and read the last post you will note what was bugging me so much.  2 weeks in and the red spots are actually starting to rupture and turn in to crusty lesions.

So, just as a refresher....skin cancer is real!  These lesions are sun damaged cells that were "incubating" under my skin.  Two years ago my dermatologist found one basal cell carcinoma spot on my right shoulder; however, my arms were covered in bright red, dry, scaly patches.  At the time, and now, these were identified as actinic keratosis and that left untreated they could potentially develop into full blown skin cancer.  That day, the dermatologist froze off about 12 places on my left arm and 5 on my right arm.  A few months later, I decided to switch doctors and was put on a 3 month regimen of Blue-U treatment....basically....a doctor induced sun burn after having my arms doused in some chemical and placed under a sun lamp.  That treatment appeared to work until.....about 8 weeks later a new spot came on my left arm.

Well, at my check up in January my dermatologist was not pleased that the AK's had reappeared after the Blue-U treatment and said we needed to get aggressive.  That "aggressive" treatment was 5FU.  The link will take you to some information about the way it is used to treat non-melanoma cancers.  It appears to be doing what it is supposed to do...it is just an ugly process.   Basically, it inhibits cell growth in sun damaged cells.  Hopefully, this will destroy all of the bad cells and they will not continue developing in to squamous cell carcinoma.  Needless to say, I will not be wearing short sleeves out in public for some time!!!

I hope I haven't ruined your dinner, breakfast, or any other meals/snacks you might be eating.  Thanks for reading!

Tonight is not a good night.....!

When I was a kid growing up on the family farm and working outside several hours a day I always wanted to have a good tan.  I mean, I went as far as using a home made tanning concoction of baby oil and iodine.....it did a great job, too!  I can't count the number of times I had my arms, shoulders, and back as red as a boiled lobster knowing that in a few short hours they would be a nice deep brown/tan!!  There was of course, the unsual things that go along with a sun burn: red skin, a few blisters, and the ultimate cracked/peeling skin.  The only saving grace was knowing I would have that nice golden tan.

Well, tonight my arms have that same red, dry cracked skin thing going on but this time it is hopefully to finally get rid of the damage I did all those years with tanning oils.   Tonight, as soon as I applied the 5FU drops the burning began almost immediately especially on the left arm.   Over the past couple of days both arms have really "bloomed" with red spots that are turning in to nasty, dried, crusty lesions (as described by the doctor as well as my Navigate Cancer counselor). Each night, the burning last a little longer because the 5FU has basically stripped off the top layer of skin.  However, if this means that all of the sun damaged cells are being destroyed and we don't have to go to the "next level chemical treatment" the doctor said would not be pleasant I am okay with a little burning.

My next mission, finding SPF cycling sleeves for the upcoming cycling season.  Anyone have any suggestions??  I know I will look absolutely stupid riding around this summer with a long sleeve jersey or wearing sleeves; but, when I get this taken care of this time I am going to take care of my arms!!!  

Two weeks in...

Okay, so I haven't posted in a few days and I need to finish my skin cancer updates.  Let's just say that work has really kept me busy for the past few days.  I am currently in Houston, TX and will be going to Des Moines, IA next week.  Traveling with 5FU is interesting to say the least.

So, here is the latest update on the arms.  As my Navigate Cancer counselor described, my arms now red, inflamed, and covered with little lesions.  Every lesion represents sun damaged cells that have the potential to become squamous cell carcinoma.  My left arm, which is the worst one, now has 15 actual lesions forming and another 8-10 red splotches that will probably develop lesions as well.  The right arm only has 1 lesion as of this writing; however, there are about 7 red splotches on that arm.  Needless to say, I am not going anywhere without long sleeves on for awhile.
 

What is skin cancer?

I thought it important that I use my blog to spread some information about skin cancer, early detection, and treatment options available.  I will start with the obvious, Actinic Keratosis and Basal Cell Carcinoma.

Actinic Keratosis is the most common form of "pre cancer". They appear on sun exposed skin and show up as red spots, rough in texture, show up primarily on the face, bald scalp, lips, and the back of hands.  They will appear elevated and be rough in texture.  Left untreated, AK's can advance to be squamous cell carcinoma.  Most recent estimates have the number of Americans with Actinic Keratosis at 58 million. For more specific information visit this site:  Actinic Keratosis.  

Basal Cell Carcinoma: BCCs are the most common form of skin cancer and can appear as open

sores, red patches, scars, pink growths, or shiny spots.  While not common, in rare instances BCC 

can spread and become life threatening.  There are an estimated 2.8 million people diagnosed

with BCC every year.  More than 1 out of every 3 new cancers is a skin cancer and the vast

majority of those cases are BCC.  Get more information on risk, treatment, and prevention 

at this site:  BCC. 

One of my goals this year is to take my message of skin cancer prevention and awareness to the

high schools in my area.  As a high school kid myself growing up on a farm and marching in band 

I wasted no time every summer getting that "base tan"...which in most cases was a severe burn. 

If I can get just one teen to think about how much time they spend in the sun or a tanning bed it
will be a WIN!!!

Tomorrow, SCC and melanoma information.

Why do I still LiveSTRONG?

I still support the LiveSTRONG Foundation and continue to volunteer my time to this cancer support organization!  I am going to retell a story that I have told many times but it is worth telling.

I lost my Mom to a recurrence of cancer in October 2003.  Between 2003 and 2011 I found cycling through a friend at work who had lost her Father to cancer in 2002 and we both needed something to channel our energy and feelings of loss.  We found 24 Hours of Booty in Charlotte.  Spencer Leuders, a local attorney, had started this event a couple of years prior and it seemd like a natural fit.  24 Hours of Booty had an established relationship with the LiveSTRONG Foundation (then known as the Lance Armstrong Foundation).  I had followed Lance's story and became a fan of cycling and like many of us chose to believe.....NOT in the athlete but in the cancer SURVIVOR.  Over the years between 2004 and 2011 I immersed myself in supporting 24 Hours of Booty, rode a lot of miles (some years) and not a lot of miles most years but most importantly raised a lot of money for cancer support activities for them.

Over the years between 2004 and 2011 I came to know many cancer survivors and unfortunately lost several friends to cancer.  I also got to know the stories of people like the Kiblers from Florida whose wonderful little son Camden only lived 8 months due to cancer, my son's high school baseball coach who was a childhood cancer survivor, and many many others.  I am afraid to mention any because I am obviously forgetting some.  The key is that I learned their stories and became even more dedicated to helping cancer survivors through LiveSTRONG.

Then in April 2011, cancer paid me a personal visit with a diagnosis of skin cancer.  I was diagnosed and treated with the most common and easiest to treat form of skin cancer:  basal cell carcinoma.  I never expected to hear those words myself..."you have cancer" but there they were.  That is when I started learning more about what I had done to myself so many years ago as a teenager/college kid trying to get and maintain a tan.  I also dedicated myself that year to raising more money than I ever had for the cause and was grateful that I had donors to help me reach $15,500 for cancer advocacy and support services through 24 Hours of Booty.  In September of that year I lost my job of 15 years and luckily it took me a little over 90 days to find a new one.  Lucky in that I was invited to Ride for the Roses, the celebration of top fundraisers at the Austin, TX LiveSTRONG Challenge.  It was there that I spent two minutes riding with Lance.  That was an honor; however, it was not the most important thing that happened to me that weekend.

From the time I was diagnosed and treated I never really felt like a "survivor".  My cancer really wasn't life threatening. My cancer didn't require months of horrible chemo and radiation treatments. My cancer was, well according to what a lot of people told me, really wasn't cancer and I was simply over reacting.  Well, the other attendees from the other 24 Hours of Booty rides wouldn't accept that I wasn't a survivor.  The morning of the 5K, as we approached the finish line there was two lines...one for survivors and one for everyone else.  My friends made sure that I went through the survivor finish line (I guess you could say they herded me into that lane).  One of the people I met that weekend was good friends with Doug Ulman, cancer survivor and CEO of the Foundation.  My friend encouraged me to talk to Doug about my feelings about not being a survivor and I did.  On the day of the actual bike ride, I found myself standing Doug at the refreshment tent....so I summoned up my courage and went over and asked him if I could ask him a question.  I told him about my diagnosis and my feelings of not being a survivor.  Doug looked me in the eye, now remember this is a guy who had life threatening cancer, and asked me "has a doctor told you that you have cancer?" to which I had to say yes.  He then said, you are a survivor.  He went on to say that we can't compare treatments or types of cancer.  He went on to say that no two cancers are alike and no two treatment plans are alike and that if I tried to compare my treatment to others I was doing myself a huge disservice.   That 5 minute conversation really drove home the message of survivorship....!

Since that time, I have changed dermatologist and am now on a second "more aggressive" form of treatment for my arms.  The most recent is what prompted me to start blogging again.

While the LiveSTRONG Foundation was started by Lance Armstrong and his cancer survival story is well known...the Foundation is ran by a small but dedicated staff of folks who truly believe in cancer survivorship mission and so do I!  That is why I still LiveSTRONG!!!!

Day 3 of the 5FU treatment & kick off of 2013 24 Hours of Booty planning

Today is the 3rd day of the 5FU treatment and I am afraid to think of what my arms are going to look like at the end of the full 4 weeks.  Let's just say that the drying of the skin is already pretty bad and the "promised" effect of targeting the bad skin cells as my left arm looks horrible.  There are more little red spots on my left arm that I could have ever imagined.  I thought the Blue-U treatment had pulled out all of the bad cells...boy was I was wrong!!

I checked in with my LiveSTRONG Navigate Cancer nurse over the weekend and she gave me a ton of great information about the chemo treatment 5FU, how long it has been around, and really answered all of my questions about any potential side effects for this topical treatment.  Of course, I knew the dry skin, peeling, itching, etc. were going to be side effects; however, I didn't know there was the potential for some of the other side effects.  Just goes to show you that the services LiveSTRONG offer are truly AWESOME!

The day ended with such a rush of excitement!  If you know anything about me you know I am a dedicated volunteer, rider, and fundraiser for 24 Hours of Booty here in Charlotte!  For the past 4 years I have been working on the "Booty Organizing Committee" which is a group of folks who work with the full time staff to make the event happen.  Tonight was the first planning meeting for the newly renamed Logistics Team.  The people on this team are like family to me.  There are cancer survivors, people who have been impacted by cancer, or simply folks who just want to make an impact in the cancer community!  I am excited about another year.  Be looking for my fundraising notes soon!!!

The world is a much better place with family & friends!

I am very grateful for many things in my life.  I have a wonderful wife who is truly my best friend.  We have been married for, what will be, 24 years on February 11th. She is my strength and the LOVE of my life!  I have two fantastic sons.  I could not be more proud of them.  We are like any other family...we have our good days, we have our not so good days but we are a family.....!

I am grateful for the many friends that I have made through my life.  From the boys & girls in high school, the men of the TN Theta chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon at MTSU, the courageous men & women of Echo Battery 8/43 ADA (PATRIOT) I served with from Texas to Germany to Operation Desert Shield/Desert Strom; the many fabulous people I've met and worked with in my career outside the Army....needless to say this list could go on for a long time.

More recently, I am grateful that I met and have been associated with the folks in the cancer community; specifically, 24 Hours of Booty & the LiveSTRONG Foundation.  I have met so many awesome people with these two organizations and now consider these folks family.

Thanks to everyone for being a part of my life!  Thanks to everyone who has reads my blog and sends me words of encouragement!  You guys are awesome!!!

A year later....a new treatment!

So, I haven't posted in some time primarily because there has not been a lot to talk about.  I had been watching a few spots on both arms as well as a place on the back of my neck in the hairline.  I went back to my dermatologist last Friday for my 6 month follow up and here is that update.

If you read some of last year's post I went through complete rounds of Kerastick Blue-U treatment.  Basically, they coated my arms in some chemical and let it soak in for 2 hours, then I sat under a blue  blue UV lamp for 17 minutes.  This was supposed to pull out all of the bad cells.  Well, I guess it didn't do the job.

My doctor was not at all pleased that my left arm was covered in Ak's again and my right arm had one small ak.  So I am now on a 2nd type of chemical treatment.  He put me on a drug called 5-FU.  For the 1st week, I used Tazorac again to soften up the dermas.  Then today, I started with the 5-FU application....twice a day....for 4 weeks.

I've been told it should be a much better job pulling out the remaining "bad" cells.  I will be posting pictures starting tomorrow with before, during, and after the treatment.  I will tell this, my arms are already itching like crazy.