A New Member

As my treatment was winding down my Radiation Oncologist had two former patients get in touch with me.  Both were men in their 50's who had similar treatment but different cancers.  The point of the conversations were to get across how difficult recovery would be.  They both did a very good job.  Both were nearing their 5 year cancer free mark and everyday still struggling with the side-effects of their treatment.  I am happy to say that I fared a bit better than both.  This however is not the point so let me get on with it...

At the beginning of one conversation one of the men said "Welcome to the club it's one I wouldn't invite anyone I know to join."  Of course he was talking the cancer club.  At that point it wasn't even the survivor club as I hadn't finished treatment.  This however stuck with me more than most of the conversation.

Unfortunately the club has initiated the newest member Grandpa Chang.  As of September he will go through the hazing known as radiation.  Grandpa was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer at the end of last year.  At that time he and his doctor made the decision to do active observation.  This spring the game changed when his PSA numbers went up.  He did A LOT of research and decided to investigate whether or not he was a candidate for Proton Therapy (a form of radiation with notably less side effects).  Happily MD Andersen has taken his case and his insurance has agreed to pay for the treatment.  Beginning in September he will have 40 days of treatment and luckily no chemo.

Thru the grace of Our Favorite Brits my parents will be able to stay comfortably in Houston while he goes through treatment.  Baby Chang and I won't know what to do having them five minutes away for three months (the one positive of the whole situation).

So once again I ask that you keep my family in your thoughts and if it is something you believe in, your prayers.

Finding A New Way

So as I mentioned I've struggled trying to decide what to do with this blog.  Though I feel that my journey as a cancer survivor may still lead to posts I don't think it will make for regular writing (which is what I'd like to move to).

I could become a mommy blogger but I feel there are a lot of great writers out there already.  Plus I'm probably too overly cautious about what I want to write about Baby Chang.  To this day I still haven't put her picture on Facebook.

I've thought about fitness blogging but I've been trying to run a marathon for nearly two years, but life continually gets in the way.  To be a fitness blogger I think perhaps fitness should take a priority in your life.  Right now that's not possible.

I love to cook but I cook other people's recipes so I think that's out.

I'm no fashion maven.

I only recently started gardening.

I work in the world of classical music but I don't want to write about it.

Ending it entirely doesn't sit well with me either.

So in trying to define what Call Me Mr. Chang should now be about I've decided to think of it as a Soap Box Diary Blog.  From time to time I will leap up onto my soap box but for the most part it will be musings on my life.  It will probably encompass my latest attempt at running a 1/2 marathon, cooking, gardening, work, politics so limiting the focus seems futile.

Hopefully you'll join me on this ride.  Plus the garden story is not to be missed!