On Saturday, May 14, 2011, we went to Barnes Jewish Hospital for a followup check on some things. I learned, among other things, that I had an elevated level of calcium which is not a good thing. After some more discoveries I admitted myself as an emergency patient and stayed in the hospital a couple of days. They allowed me to see my X-rays. There was a tumor on my partially-collapsed right lung and evidence of bone cancer to my right hip.
After a couple of days I came home and returned to BJC (Siteman Cancer Center) for two weeks of radiation therapy for my lung cancer and bone cancer.
Since then I've been at home. I can more or less take care of myself. I can get dressed, feed myself lunch, take the dog out to water the back yard.
Siteman sent me home with a long list of medications. Among other things I am taking morphine for the pain and it's actually working. I've cut back a little on the other medications (you can only take antibiotics for so long without ill effects).
In mid-July I began hospice. It's a great thing. They have taken over monitoring my medications, provided me with oxygen, and given me advice. A hospice worker comes by once a week to see how I am doing.
My status now is that I feel OK. No insurmountable pain. And I invoked my bucket list: I subscribed to the premium TV channels like HBO and Showtime.
Lots more to think about but for now I am going to relax.
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