Kowabunga! 2 rounds complete!

I wanted to give everybody an update on how I am doing, and what has been going on the first 2 rounds of chemotherapy. I feel like I have been to the hospital more in the last 30 days then anybody would go in their whole lifetime, but I cannot complain the experience has been super so far at MD Anderson. I kind of liken it to picking the "big college" over the small college to attend. You get all the perks of a big place: technology, special programs, etc. You just have to get past the fact that there are so many people everywhere, and you can easily get lost in the large buildings and parking lots. Treatment and tests can be in different buildings or labs on different days, just depending on space. I have to say it is very nice to be able to do outpatient treatment, and get to go "home" every night after you complete your session. This helps you regroup, and get ready for the next day, and its great to eat your own food!I feel like I have handled the physical part of the treatment ok so far. The only real thing that bothers me is some abdomin pain for which I have pain meds for. The drugs have had some small side effects (constipation, mouth sores, hair loss) but for the most part I cannot complain at all, I have stayed fairly healthy and have maintained my weight(well I have lost weight in my butt and legs which isnt good for those pairs of seven jeans!) The mental part of the chemo is defenitely the hardest part for me. When you spend every single day talking about, and doing something related to cancer, it can creep into your head and make you think about alot of different things. Also when you walk thru the halls of MD Anderson, everybody there has cancer, and you see people at all stages and levels of energy. I decided very early on, that I could do one of two things: 1)Let it get me down and wonder what is going to happen to me, and all of them or 2)Smile and be positive every single day, with every single person that I come into contact with at the hospital and hopefully thats the one encounter that that they had during the day that lifted them up, even if its just a little bit. Sure I have my days of thinking in my head whats going on with my body? I wonder if this pain means this, or that. Is this chemo working? All of those things I think about, but I know one thing, I can change my own life, and other peoples with my attitude. The next step for me is on March 9th. I will be doing a full body scan. This is the first time we are going to measure if the current chemo plan is making a dent, what the tumors are doing (size, place in body,etc) and if we need to make any changes to the chemo drugs we are using. I meet with my doctor the next day to discuss the results and talk about the progress of the first two rounds. I want to thank every single person who is out there praying for me. I can feel the power of prayer lifting me up during this time. For those of you who have sent me hand written notes, cards, letters, and even some great pictures that have been drawn for me from caring children who just want to help out-I cannot tell you how much it means to me to open up a card on a daily basis from a friend, or family member. Thank you to those of you who have sent books, itunes cards, and those great musical friends of mine who have made me countless cd's to listen to. I cannot thank my family and very close friends enough for all the help with cooking, cleaning, organizing places to stay, flights and all the things that go into traveling to do treatments in another city. I feel like the luckiest guy in the world when it comes to a support group. Iknow in my heart that I am going to make it thru this, and I am so grateful to all of you for your enthusiastic, powerful support. Talk to everybody very soon!