Hidradenitis
It all started like any other day.
Colin woke up, ate, went to work.
He was pain free.
Then he had an itch in his right arm pit.
When he scratched it,
suddenly there was a sharp pain shooting through his arm.
He came home for lunch and I took a look.
It looked like his lymph node was swollen.
The size of a walnut.
Okay. Not the two big ones.
The small one.
Hard to find pics sometimes.
Lymph nodes filter the blood and produce antibodies.
Anyways, we had to make an emergency trip to the doc.
I had to drive.
This day, and for a few days after,
Colin couldn’t steer his car.
He thought it was an ingrown hair that became infected,
like a giant zit,
which could also cause the lymph node to swell.
He was prescribed antibiotics and told if it wasn’t better in a few days
it would have to be drained.
What happened next to Colin’s armpit…
well it hard to describe.
It wasn’t ONE hair follicle.
It was hundreds.
They were raising, popping, and draining.
His armpit had acne.
By the time we got to the surgeon,
the area was still red like a rash,
but had stopped draining.
The surgeon knew exactly what this was.
A condition called Hidradenitis.
An infection of the sweat glands.
Though Colin’s immune system is under stress from the chemo,
the doctor said even normal healthy folks get this.
Though, it still had to be reported as an “adverse” effect
in Colin’s chemotherapy trail. Everything does.
In the future, Afinitor’s possible side effects might read:
Pit Zits
The Spotted Odor
The surgeon’s recommendation:
Cut out the infected tissue.
As much as possible to prevent it from further spreading.
The wound would have to stay open.
It would fill itself back in like a pot hole.
The doctor would call us to set up the appointment.
This is the part that makes you shake your head.
A week and a half later,
Colin arrived for his surgery at the outpatient center.
They canceled the appointment.
The outpatient center didn’t read his chart.
Outpatient Center: Oh. You have cancer.
Colin: [sarcastically thinking] Really? How long have I got, doc? Idiots.
They also didn’t notice that he was referred by
The Virginia CANCER Institute.
The didn’t notice that he had a BRAIN TUMOR.
Which meant,
due to the combination of anesthetic and the tumor,
he is prone to having a seizure.
So surgery has to be done at the main hospital.
So, no surgery that day.
That was Tuesday, March 2nd.
It was rescheduled for today,
Friday, March 5th.
But, there was no surgery today, either.
There isn’t going to be a surgery.
We got more good news.
Stay Tuned.
Awareness Bracelet: "Save Colin – Terminate the Tumor!"
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
Hey Chris and Eric,
Loving the blog. I admire Chris’s commitment to his health and guts (takes a lot to get up in front of a group of people and tell it how it is) and Eric’s commitment to keeping Chris upbeat and making things happen- such as the Lost set! I was just diagnosed with a glioma in my right thalamus. Would be awesome to symptoms exchange diets/experiences/ positive vibes. I got my biopsy coming up, should be interesting. My email is javigm123@gmail.com hit me up
Do the work and Stay positive!
Also, what’s the good news!? I want the scoop.
Hey Chris and Eric,
Loving the blog. I admire Chris’s commitment to his health and guts (takes a lot to get up in front of a group of people and tell it how it is) and Eric’s commitment to keeping Chris upbeat and making things happen- such as the Lost set! I was just diagnosed with a glioma in my right thalamus. Would be awesome to symptoms exchange diets/experiences/ positive vibes. I got my biopsy coming up, should be interesting. My email is javigm123@gmail.com hit me up
Do the work and Stay positive!
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
Also, what’s the good news!? I want the scoop.
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
Hey Chris and Eric,
Loving the blog. I admire Chris’s commitment to his health and guts (takes a lot to get up in front of a group of people and tell it how it is) and Eric’s commitment to keeping Chris upbeat and making things happen- such as the Lost set! I was just diagnosed with a glioma in my right thalamus. Would be awesome to symptoms exchange diets/experiences/ positive vibes. I got my biopsy coming up, should be interesting. My email is javigm123@gmail.com hit me up
Do the work and Stay positive!
Also, what’s the good news!? I want the scoop.
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
Also, what’s the good news!? I want the scoop.
Hey Chris and Eric,
Loving the blog. I admire Chris’s commitment to his health and guts (takes a lot to get up in front of a group of people and tell it how it is) and Eric’s commitment to keeping Chris upbeat and making things happen- such as the Lost set! I was just diagnosed with a glioma in my right thalamus. Would be awesome to symptoms exchange diets/experiences/ positive vibes. I got my biopsy coming up, should be interesting. My email is javigm123@gmail.com hit me up
Do the work and Stay positive!
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
Also, what’s the good news!? I want the scoop.
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis
Also, what’s the good news!? I want the scoop.
I have been following your story since inception. My “common law” husband has GBM, inoperable also. The suspense of “stay tuned” is killing me! Please cheat and shoot me an email to let me have advance information! I am praying for Colin’s healing as inoperables need testimony. My husband is 63 years old, but very optimistic. He had his MRI after radiation and temador this past Friday. They said the tumor had shrunk but could not say by how much due to there still being swelling. Really does not make sense. Anyway, blessings are being sent your way. Sincerely, Fran Lewis