As February comes to an End.....

So as February comes to an end it has been an interesting month.

It started off badly, but it has slowly been changing, for the better... I hope
(St. Pattys Days is coming... I need the luck of the Irish)

This month started a bit odd.

The week of Feb 9th was a challenge!
I lost a friend to cancer. It was my friend Carl's mother.
She was the first person I have lost to cancer, since I have been diagnosed.
I do not want to take on the pain of a friends mothers passing, but it did have an impact on my life as the true final result of this disease has played out in front of my face.

Her funeral was beautiful.

Around the same time, I started to spit up blood. I am not sure why, but I was bleeding from my mouth... for no reason. I have been monitoring my bleeding. As of today, it has stopped.


Later that week, I found a lump.
Yes, a lump.
And of course, I freaked out! However, I did not tell anyone.
I feel that I am falling apart.
The lump was located on my scrotum. Left side.
It was not attached to my testicle, but actually on the scrotum.
I waited a week.(i know, not good, but I did not want to sound like a hypochondriac)
I figured it was an ingrown hair or something like that....

Two weeks later, the lump was still there.
To the touch, it has not gotten bigger or smaller... which could be a good thing.
Also, I developed a rash. It was odd. It is perfectly round circle -- bright red -- sore to touch -- It was over my entire body -- my arm, back, feet, legs. This is a picture of what it looked like on my foot (the quarter is to show how big the rash is...)





I decided to call my doctor. I called my oncologist (Dr. Tanaka) and my primary care Dr. Chang.

Dr. Chang saw me immediately.
He told me that I got a staff infection.
I could have picked it up from my many trips to the hospital.
I am currently taking strong steroids to kill off the infection.
Dr. Chang also told me that the lump in my scrotum could also be a result of my staff infection.

However, I am on day 7 of my 10 day medicine routine, and the lump on my scrotum has not gotten any smaller.


As for work, I am currently in the process of looking for a new job.
After 4 years of living in Sacramento in residence halls and 10 total years living in the residence halls since 1999 to 2009, it is time to move out.
I will be going to a job placement conference next weekend (March 4-8th)

Wish me luck

Though things have been bad, they are starting to get better....
Through love and inspiration from others, I will move on.

Thank you all