13,025

That's the number of hits to my two blogs, kohnzone.blogspot.com and CancerVivor.blogspot.com since I launched CancerVivor late last year.

Wow.

And to think it happened -- surpassing 13,000 visitors -- on this day, Friday the 13th of June, 2008. Maybe my luck is changing for the better, after all.

CancerVivor was borne to help people avoid the ordeal I went through late in 2007 and early 2008, when I was diagnosed, treated, irradiated, extricated and cleansed of cancer of the esophagus. I hope the blog saves lives by educating people.

Cancer of the esophagus is among the most deadly forms of the disease. It sneaks up on you and by the time you find out it's there it's practically too late.

I was lucky. It was discovered in my lower esophagus before the disease spread to my lymph nodes and the rest of my body. Luckily, I had amazing doctors who recently had taken part in a national study of a new way to treat the cancer. It appears to have worked, thanks to their skills, dedication, hard work and good humor.

Dr. John Pfeiffer in Celebration sent me to the right gastro guy. Dr. Phillip Styne found the tumor and sent me to just the right oncologist. Dr. Lee Zehngebot and radiation oncologist Dr. David Diamond -- both fresh from the study mentioned above -- did a one-two rope-a-dope on the cancer and zapped it from existence and kept it from spreading. Dr. Joseph Boyer then went in and cut the tumor and surrounding tissue out.

There were others, but these are the main players. All to save a life so, hopefully, I could save some more with this blog.

Remember, if you find it difficult to swallow, see a doctor. If you've had heartburn for a long time and it seems to go away without medical help, see a doctor. They're signs of cancer or at least Barrett's Esophagus, a pre-cancer condition. Remember, Tums and Rolaids won't relieve you of cancer, they just ease the symptoms of heartburn.

See a doctor.

I did, and I'm here as a result. Also a result is the reason behind my latest blog, kohnzone.

It was created after my Mom died in early April and I discovered I have three surviving siblings, two sisters and a brother, on my father's side. I went from only child to eldest child overnight.

And in two days, I'll be on their side of the continent ready to meet up.

Catherine and I fly off to Los Angeles on Monday afternoon. We'll be there nearly two weeks and have a lot planned in that time.

But before I leave, tomorrow, just hours away, really, daughter Aimee is getting married. Longtime in discussion but just a week to plan, we're having the ceremony and celebration at our Orlando house. I'll update the blog with photos and, perhaps, video during and after the wedding and reception.

Then Catherine and I will finish packing for the trip.

What a weekend. What a couple of weeks.

But, thankfully, what a life!

Exhale, Waiting to Inhale

Sitting in an uncomfortable swivel chair in something akin to an old-time phone booth, but with suction-and-vacuum-sealed doors, I had to inhale, hold my breath, hold my breath, hold my breath, exhale, then inhale and exhale rapidly as if I were trying to hyperventilate myself.

That was just one of the tests by the respiratory therapist earlier today.

I also had a few X-rays of the lungs, which showed up clean (whew!), and a good chat with the doc.

Dr. Sigfredo Aldarondo said my coughing might be caused by acid reflux. Since my reshaped stomach (now in my chest) is so close to the smaller esophagus and since there's no sphincter to keep stomach fluids from the esophagus, that could be the problem.

He prescribed a new med to replace the Pepcid I've been taking.

We'll see if that helps. I'll keep you posted.

Checking In With The Doc

I'm going to see Dr. Sigfredo Aldarondo (pictured at right, from the Florida Hospital Web site), the ace pulmonologist, for a checkup scheduled months ago.

Dr. Aldarondo first treated me while I was in the step-down unit at Florida Hospital. He was very comforting and assured me that my breathing difficulties post-surgery would wane. He was not wrong.

But it's a good thing we made the appointment soon after I left the hospital because off all my post-surgical issues -- other than the pain -- my biggest problem has been breathing, or, more precisely, coughing.

Dr. Z and Dr. Pfeiffer concur in their opinions that my persistent coughing was caused by the radiation treatments that saved my life.

It will be good to hear what Dr. Aldarondo sees as the proble, and whether it should be treated in any way.

I'll be back with an update this afternoon, after my visit with Dr. Aldarondo.

12,000 and growing

It took a lot to get here. But here we are. Since launching CancerVivor.blogspot.com a lot has changed. Much of it for the worse, but it looks like things are picking up.

I say that because of the reunion via phone last month of the Kohn siblings -- Amy, Dan and myself. Meeting Tracy, my other sister, is yet to come and I look forward to it.

But much has passed since the blog went up. I went through seven weeks of intense chemotherapy, six-plus weeks of radiation at the same time, surgery and the recuperation one needs to get over all that -- if one really gets over it at all in a deeper sense.

Then there were the eight-plus months Mom went through, along with the rest of the family, as she wended her way through horrible medical issues that eventually took her life last month.

Which brings us to here, to now. I've begun to develop a relationship with my new family, and we're all documenting it at kohnzone.blogspot.com.

And in that time, as of this morning, May 7, 2008, 12,004 page hits have been recorded on the two blogs. I'd like to reiterate it's probably the same few dozen people checking out the progress on both fronts, and you're very welcome to continue stopping by.

While you're here, click on an ad or two as you stumble by them. The money raised -- so far about $15 -- will go to the Florida Hospital Cancer Institute, the place that helped save my life.

Whew!

I saw Dr. Z today. He showed me a great Web site, actually a blog on this very service, and during the visit also went over my CT results.

"No news is good news," he said at one point. That's because the scans were fine and he said I'm looking great. That was after my three-month checkup, and I don't need another for four months.

What a relief!

He agreed that if there were a problem he'd have called, thus the "No news" comment.

But there was other news. It seems the good doctor is in the running for Man of the Year by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. You can go to this link and vote for Dr. Z, and by vote I mean donate to the organization to give him points toward the nomination. http://www.active.com/donate/cflmwoy/mwoyDZehnge

I can point to many of his qualities, such as his depth as a doctor, his bedside manner, his good humor and, of course, the fact he helped save my life, as reasons to help him and the society out. Don't hold his affection for all products Mac against him. He also pitched a wonderful blog my way that spoofs his hero, Steve Jobs. So how bad can he be? The site is actually a blog, and it's at http://fakesteve.blogspot.com/.

Again, whew!

A new blog

In light of the startling news I mentioned in the previous post, I've created a new blog, kohnzone.blogspot.com. Please check it out when you get a chance. - Keith