June 24

To all,


Much has transpired since May 31st, so I better get started.

On June 3rd I was in Montreal to do blood work and meet my oncologist.

I did a test for my tumor marker. The result was 59 and when I started on April 15th, it was 559. A person without cancer would have a result in the 30's. My oncologist was more excited than me as I did not understand the implications.

The conclusion would be that the tumor has shrunken but needed to be confirmed by a CT Scan. So I was able to book a CT Scan at TOH on June 14th with a review of the scan by my surgeon on June 17th.

My Chemo treatment in Montreal on June 4th went well but it was adjusted to last 3 weeks. Also my 46 hour pump was changed to taking Xeloda for 14 days starting on June 6th.

The Xeloda really knocked the crap out of me. No energy at all and by day 8, June 13th I had extreme diarrhea. Given the women in the house who use their fair share of toilet paper, I was up there now as the number 1 user. I stopped the Xeloda on June 13th.


I was so knocked out, I worried if I could get to the CT Scan on June 14th. I did though and the process went very well at TOH Riverside Campus.

The results confirmed what my oncologist thought, that the tumor had shrunken.

Now to hope to get enough strength to get to Montreal on June 17th.

My diarrhea continued badly. So bad that I spent Father's Day, June 16th getting hydrated at TOH Civic Campus.

Liz and I made it to Montreal on June 17th. The surgeon confirmed we are good to go to surgery, so Chemo has stopped, halleluya! Considering how I was feeling though, it was hard to celebrate.


Hopefully surgery will be by July end. I am going to do preopp in Montreal on June 26th.

On June 9th, I spent the morning outside on my hammock doing nothing, looking into the sky and reflecting on life, something I should do more often.


I then remembered  how my Dad enjoyed so much lying by his pool or by the one in Florida or lying on the dock at the country house in the Laurentians and doing nothing. I realized that he was spending the time reflecting on what he had accomplished together with my Mother and what more he wanted to do. Here, 5 years after my Father passed away, I was learning a lesson from him.

Later that day, I went out to the cemetery to thank my Dad for what he had done, together with my Mother, for my wife, my kids and for me.

A truly great man and an unbelievable role model.

By the time Father's Day on June 16th came around, I was totally whipped. I was not able to participate in the Ultimate Run (2km walk) but I was well represented by Liz and the kids. It was a great day to support the Ottawa Regional Cancer Foundation (ORCF) and being part of Team Geggybear. Once Liz got back, we went to TOH for me to get hydrated.

During the last few weeks, I have experienced such wonderful support by so many and in many different ways. It is such a great feeling and so helpful for me.

Though I know ORCF is glad I was able to raise $45,000, what was more meaningful to me was it was from close to 200 people. Thank you so much.

At our Arnon/Ron Engineering corporate golf tournament on June 19th, $36,000 was raised for Pancreatic Cancer Canada. This included a remarkable donation by Telus in the amount of $20,000.

What a wonderful feeling, so many people working together to help 2 great causes.

I have now finished 3 books and woking on my fourth. The problem is I have already received 4 new books, I almost 500 pages and another almost 600 pages. This is a lot of reading for a simple engineer to endure. I am sure I am good until the fall at least.

My wife Liz, my rock, and my kids have been great these past few weeks when I have on occasion not been the nicest of people. We will endure as a family and will be stronger for it.

We are going on our 2 week family trip on June 28th. I will try to use a wheelchair when ever I can to conserve energy. Being  together as a Family will be a meaningful experience.

My life is moving forward. A plan will soon be in place.

With everyone's thoughts and prayers and support, I certainly have so much added strength mentally to do battle.

I will be a Champion of cancer, and you will all be on my Championship Team.

With much love and with much thanks,

Arnie.