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I had 12 Folfirinox treatments and then 15 r=
adiation treatments with oral chemo twice a day. I started chemo in May and i=
t lasted until mid-October, then October 31st started radiation and was luck=
y enough to stay at the Hope Lodge right in Rocester (a free cancer house) f=
or three weeks while I did radiation. I finish November 18th. I flew to Cali=
fornia to celebrate Thanksgiving and an early Christmas with my son and flew=
back to MN in time to have my surgery with Dr. Truty (Kendall=E2=80=99s par=
tner) on December 6th. I was in the hospital for 8 days with no ICU. I woke w=
ith an epidural and one drain plus a feeding tube which I never needed. I ex=
perienced very little pain and eating, even in the hospital, was no problem.=
Once home it was slow going but the nurse from Truty=E2=80=99s office calle=
d and said I was trying to run a marathon instead of learning to walk. Once I=
understood what she meant, I realized how well I felt each week from the pr=
evious week instead of looking at only day by day. I never used my feeding t=
ube so they took it out on my  week visit. I flew to Florida for the wi=
nter on January 20th after the =E2=80=9Cgo ahead=E2=80=9D by Truty=E2=80=99s=
office. I have not had any problems with eating although I am still 18 poun=
ds lighter, at 5=E2=80=994=E2=80=9D i went from 132 to 114-117. Since then I=
bought new clothes as pants and shorts fell off my hips, but I am loving li=
fe and my last two scans have been NED and my CA19-9 is down to 3. I play pi=
ckleball 5-6 days a week for 2 hours. I am in Vegas with my family and walki=
ng 17,000 to 21,000 steps a day with my Grandsons. They might be killing me b=
ut I love the fact I can do it at 72. Dr. Truty is not trained in robotic as=
is Kendall, so I did not have robotic and I would prefer open anyway. I wok=
e up to a glued incision which looked healed after the first day and never b=
othered me after at all. It is still a bit numb but no problems. I hope all t=
his rambling helps alleviate any fears you might have. I realize we are all d=
ifferent in how we react and heal, but that is my story. Mayo is a miraculou=
s place and Truty and Kendall are amazing surgeons dedicated to PC. I wish y=
ou the best of luck with your journey.=E2=80=9C=
Yesterday is a memory, today is a gift, tomorrow is a dream=E2=80=9D.=E2=80=9CI am not going to die before I am dead=E2=80=9D.=
Sent from Denna=E2=80=99s iPadOn Jul 12, 2023, at 9:54 AM, Mayo Clinic Connect=
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