Nick’s oncologist just called with the results of Nick’s latest CAT scan. Great news!!! No sign of cancer!!!! Continue reading June 2015 →

Nick has had some  appointments with doctors this month that have brought about new developments. Continue reading May 2015 →

Months have passed since my last entry. Nick has been having good check-ups with his oncology doctors. They can’t really see what’s going on inside  his body without tests, so in May he’ll have a test that will check his swallowing reflex, and in June  he will have a CAT scan to check that all signs of cancer are gone. Continue reading April 2015 →

As you know, Nick loves taking pictures. Here is the link to our photos of our trip to Tuscany and the Amalfi Coast in November. http://pisarro.org/TuscanyAmalfi2014/

Continue reading January, 2015—Photos →

Nick continues to have good check-ups with his doctors. This past week he had no medical appointments at all, and this coming week, he has only one. This is quit a change from previous weeks! We anticipate continued good results.

I will post the link to Nick’s photos from Italy as soon as he is done editing them. On this trip, in addition to  still photos he shot a video. Continue reading December →

Our trip to Italy was GREAT! Nick is working on posting his photos and we’re both working on our trip blog.   Before we left for Italy,  however, we were skeptical about many things. Continue reading Returning from Italy →

On Tuesday I accompanied Nick to his appointment with his ENT surgeon, Dr. C.H. Dr. C.H. told us that it had been six months since Nick’s lymph node surgery! How our lives have changed during those six months! In general, Dr. C.H.  said that Nick is recovering very well. Continue reading Recovery, Week 12 →

We’ve been back from Florida for a week. Nick gained two pounds in Florida, but lost a pound since we returned. I’m concerned about his weight because at six feet tall, 136 pounds is a low weight. Eating still presents Nick with many challenges. Continue reading Recovery, week 11 →

Week 9

Weight gain is still not happening for Nick. I have encouraged him to eat more small meals rather than fewer large ones Continue reading Recovery, Weeks 9 and 10 →

Nick and I have a rule that only one of us can be sick at a time. This week that rule was broken. On Tuesday night and all through Wednesday, Nick said his feet ached, his legs ached, his back ached… he ached all over. Continue reading Recovery, Week 8 →

Nick had check-ups with two of his doctors this week. The first was Doctor N, his oncologist. Dr. N. was pleased with Nick’s progress and saw no problems with Nick venturing out into the sun. With that in mind we booked a trip to Sarasota! We have enjoyed the hospitality of my brother and sister-in-law every year since they moved there Continue reading Recovery, Week 7 →

You’d think gaining weight would be easy, wouldn’t you? It’s not easy for Nick. He feels exhausted after eating small portions. This week his weight stayed the same.  I’m not thrilled about  that, but I’m glad that there was no weight loss. Continue reading Recovery, Week Six →

A few weeks ago, I stopped taking Nick’s word about  his weight  and insisted on seeing him on the scale myself. That’s how I knew he had gained one pound after one week and seven more ounces after the second. Weigh-ins are on Sundays. Continue reading Recovery, Week Five: Weight Awhile →

On Wednesday August 13, Nick saw Dr. M, one of his glaucoma doctors. He was concerned that the chemo and radiation might be having an adverse effect on his glaucoma.  Dr. M. did not find that to be so. Continue reading Recovery, Week Four →

On Wednesday August 6, Nick had his first post-radiation appointment with his radiologist. Dr. P.  was very pleased with his progress! Nick’s neck is healing, so much so that there are just three areas that require ointments 2x each day.   Dr. P. expected that in addition to food  and water tasting metallic, Nick would have regained his taste buds for saltiness, which is exactly where Nick is now. Continue reading Recovery, Week Three →

On Wednesday Nick had an appointment with his dentist. His teeth are fine! This was a relief, because we were told originally by Dr. P. that some people lose teeth as a result of the treatments. Continue reading Recovery, Week Two →

Monday July 28: It has been one week since Nick’s final radiation treatment. On July 21,  the day of his last treatment, he was diagnosed with thrush again.  I had it once more on the following day. Thrush causes a sore throat, mouth, and lips, which neither of us needs, especially Nick! Continue reading Recovery, Week One →

I’m skipping 3 and 2. Today was 1,  the final day of radiation. It’s finished, over, done, completed!!!!!

We thank each of you for your prayers, your encouragement, and your good wishes Continue reading 3-2-1 →

Monday, July 14: You are probably familiar with the movie “Groundhog Day,” in which the main character hopes the following day will be different, but  instead it’s a repetition of the previous one. For us, the date of Nick’s final radiation treatment is “tomorrow,” Continue reading Groundhog Day →

On Thursday July 10, Nick had his final chemo treatment, a huge milestone!!! He has had his last after-chemo sleepless night and his last after-chemo inability to swallow anything but Boost. Continue reading 6-5 →

In the home stretch: Each day this week  Nick has  had to cope with  a different side effect. On one day he had no voice above a whisper. On another, the nausea bothered him so much that he requested a different prescription.  His throat feels very “tight.” He was not able to consume anything other than Boost on some days. On the positive side, he had enough energy to go for a walk around the block  with me on two evenings. Continue reading 10-9-8-7-6 →

When I was a child in Queens, New York, the final day of the school year was June 30th. I know that’s hard to believe, but it’s true. Can you imagine how much I hoped for June 30th to arrive each year of my childhood? But it’s not even close to how much I have wished for the end of June this year. Continue reading June 30 →

Several friends and family members have written to tell me that as a care giver, I must remember to take care of myself.  Of course they are right, and I thought I was doing well at that.  I’ve been  eating properly, and I’ve been walking. I’ve been sleeping better. Writing this blog is a release for me. But yesterday I developed an awful sore throat, and my lips and tongue  are covered with white, painful bumps. Continue reading The Care Giver →

Week #4 is done. That means  Nick has had 20 of 35 radiation treatments and 5 of 8 chemo treatments. We’re very excited that each day brings us closer to completion of these treatments so that we can get  our lives back. Nick is deeply touched by all the warm, heartfelt  messages from friends and family. Continue reading Week #4 →

Nick began a new consulting job at the same time that he started his cancer treatments.  I  am grateful to his employer for allowing him to take a leave of absence until he is able to work again. I applaud Shelly’s employer for doing that as well. But there are  many of us who don’t or can’t take time off from our jobs, for a variety of reasons. Continue reading “Managing cancer is a full time job.” →

If you know Nick, you know he loves food. Often we marvel that he can consume the quantities of food he does without gaining weight. When you have cancer, though,  that’s not  a positive thing. Continue reading Food, Glorious Food →

Knowing what was ahead, we tried to add fun things to  our calendar whenever we could. They included:

• A road trip to North Carolina during Spring Break in April. We enjoyed a visit with my cousin Janet in Raleigh, and a visit with Nick’s cousin Nick in Winston-Salem. Lots of details and photos are at pisarro.org. Continue reading Fun →

Back in December, Nick discovered a lump in his neck while he was shaving. He pointed it out to his internist at his next check-up. Doctor H.  was not alarmed. He suggested that it might be  just an infection reaction.

However, come February, the lump remained.  Doctor H. said it was good that Nick returned to him to have  it rechecked.  He arranged for Nick to have an ultrasound of his neck area. The results were that the lump  was either a swollen  lymph node caused by either infection,  or lymphoma, or squamous cell carcinoma. Infection, please let it be you! Continue reading How It Began →

Dear Friends and Family,

We began our blog in 2014 to keep our friends and family informed of our health issues. Since then, it has become a journal of our travel adventures.

Happy travels!

Thursday, June 5, 2014. On Thursdays Nick gets both chemo and radiation. He had his 8th dose of radiation out of 35, and his 3rd of chemo out of 8.  He explained his  various discomforts  to his oncologist,  who  readjusted the meds. That worked out well, because Nick woke up this morning after a good night’s sleep with  more energy and fewer skin problems. Continue reading Friday, June 6, 2014 →