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On Thursday (3/8) I saw my radiology oncologist and regular oncologist, then went tothe PFT (pulmonary function test) on Friday. Lots of visits with doctors.

As I feared, my oncologist pointed to my weight - just 100 pounds, including theclothing-and told me to maintain at least 100 pounds because I am oneof the most active cancer patients he has ever had. The funny thing is that I donot feel weak with this weight any more. Maybe this is my new weight?

It was interesting to talk to the radiology oncologist. He looked at my face,color, and temples and declared, “ You do not belong here; you're doing fine.” As usual, wealso talked about literature, about Tolstoy and Dickens this time. I told himhow Naomi Rachel Remen's books helped me though my treatment.

According to him, he developed a totally new protocol for my radiation treatment. Using IMRT (Intensity modulated radiation therapy), he treated
even the back of the esophagus while using shields to protect my lungs and other organs; they usually apply the radiation only to the front. Since he is the one who will write a new treatment standard for the American Cancer Society, other doctors have started clinical trials using this new method! I should be honored? Did he choose me to be the first one to go through this protocol because I did not have any other illness? Is it because I was young, or because he was sure that I would come out OK and could do the longitudinal study? No matter what the motivation might have been, he must have paid special attention to my case, which is fine with me.

On Thursday night, I worked for two hours, from 7:00 to 9:00 pm in Boston, helping a lawyer with a teleconference. Even though the work was only for two hours, it took about 5 hours because of the commute and it was quite tiring to work at night.

On Friday, after the Pulmonary Function test at the university hospital, I took a watercolor lesson for two hours. This time we used Indigo Blue, Crimson Rose, and New Gamboge Yellow. With watercolor, the colors react very differently to each other, depending on whether the colors were created from plants, chemicals, or minerals. So it is important to remember which color blue, from which company, you used! (The painting in the photo on 3/11 is naturally created by simply applying the color on the paper.) After seeing how the colors react or repel each other, she taught me the true perspective. The lesson is becoming quite scientific and interesting.

This weekend has been busy because I have to work in Providence, Rhode Island starting Monday, and also because I now have to do all the housework by myself (Mark used to do a lot of errands and laundry.) I was very glad that I could walk with my friend for two miles today in the warm weather, however. To my surprise, two miles is nothing anymore! I must be getting really strong.