I know it has been a while since the last update, so I will do my best to cover everything in between!
Today was my last day of radiation!! Man, I can't tell you how good it feels to be finished with the first treatment hurdle. It was by far the biggest one. Now, I get to take a month break to let my body recover before going back on chemo. During this recovery time, we are going to take a much needed trip to the Bahamas with my family, which we couldn't be more excited about!
After we get back, I will resume chemo again around the first week of October, but it will be a little bit different. I will take an increased dosage of an oral chemo pill (Temodar) for 5 days straight and then I get 23 days off. I will do this for another 6-12 months, depending on how the scans look.
We go back to Vandy for my first scan on Oct. 6. They say the first scan will not be quite as clear, due to the swelling/irritation caused by the radiation, but Lord willing, I want it to be the best first scan they have ever seen and am doing everything in my power to see that it happens.
So what have you missed since the last update?
I delayed going back on steroids for as long as a could and tried to manage the brain swelling through the use of boswellia extract, exercise and other things. However, despite my best attempts, I had to get back on them two weeks ago. Steroids ARE THE WORST. These are not the type of steroids you hear about on TV that make you looked jacked. The steroids I am on are like having all the negative side effects of taking adderall (restlessness, frustration, mood swings, etc.) with none of the productive upside. Luckily, the new diet I have adopted has really helped to eliminate a lot of the mood swings associated with the steroids, and now that I am done with radiation, I will start tapering down from them next week. Hallelujah!
A lot of people have been asking about my diet, so I will try explain it (with my chemo-brain) as best as I can...
I have adopted the Ketogenic Diet, which is traditionally an 80% fat, 15% protein, and 5% net carbs diet (to get net carbs you take fiber out of the total carbs). The main idea (and I have done tons of research through scholarly articles) behind this diet is that cancer cells cannot convert fat into energy efficiently. Cancer cells (especially in the brain) need glucose to survive, so if they can't get glucose (carbs breakdown into glucose), those cells are left to die. The process of converting fats to energy is called ketosis, which is where the diet gets its name. I have been monitoring blood ketone levels on my own each week to make sure I am in a constant state of ketosis, and I have been! That is the Keto Diet in a big nutshell.
These past couple weeks have actually been some of the best. I have been able to go to work 3-4 half days a week, which is nice to be able to provide some normalcy in all this. Here is a pic of me and my incredible team!
The support I have gotten and, continue to get, from family and friends has been unbelievable -especially from my incredible wife, Elizabeth. She has been a rock through this whole process. Her strength and willingness to help in any way she can is truly amazing. She is an inspiration to me everyday.
The love I have received from everyone is a true representation of God's out pouring love. I know I have said this before, but as terrible as this situation is for my family and me, it is the best thing that could have happened to me. It has lit a fire in my soul to long for and want Jesus... To want Him to be near and present to me. I can honestly say that I am not sure if I would have ever had this craving to get to know God on a personal level if it wasn't for this tumor.
While I am doing everything on my end to try and get better, I realize that, ultimately, my life is in God's hands. I am putting all my trust in him and am patiently waiting in his hedge of protection for him to tell me where to go next. I have a tendency to worry when I can't see over the hedge to "what's next", but I don't need to know what's next! I need to trust He has a perspective that I don't have.
I know He is here with me, my family and you at this very moment. At the end of the day, that is all that matters.
I love you all. Thank you for the continued prayers, love and support. They mean the world. I will leave you with a passage from Streams in the Desert and a few pictures...
August 28, Streams in the Desert:
My son, Jack, taking after his dada:
Radiation Treatment:
Eric Berry joined the fight! Special thanks to the Bailey's and Colquitts for getting this together!
Love,
Nate
