Jim Seaman – web log

I bought a Canon 20D DSLR back in the spring of 2005. Since then I’ve been looking at each new Canon camera as they have been announced – the 30D – the 40D – the 50D – and now … I’ve been tempted with a totally new model, the 7D.

Each camera up to now has been an incremental improvement over the previous camera in the series. The 7D however is a jump in several directions at once – a new type of image sensor, HD video, a new focus system, as well as several other new features. Compared to my current 20D it is very, very impressive.

I can only be tempted so much … today I ordered one.
Check out the specs of the Canon 7D here.

Two days ago my hair started falling out – that’s three weeks after my chemo treatment and on the day I was supposed to have my second treatment. I don’t think I’ll lose all of it but there is a bunch in the shower – on my towel – on the pillow – and running my fingers through my hair leaves them full of it. It seems to be falling out mostly from the back of my head.

As a result of the chemo, all food tastes different – most of it tastes somewhat bad – none of it really tastes good. Pepsi and Coke taste awful. I sure hope this aspect of it improves soon, I miss a good meal.

Well after only a week (and two meetings with the radiation oncologist) we have made the decision to discontinue my chemo and radiation therapy. A lot of stuff went into the mix to make this big decision, it certainly was not made lightly and the doctor didn’t fight me on it.

Basically it was decided that the odds of the cancer being eliminated by the current treatment are only 10-20% better than simply doing nothing. Also, restarting my treatment at a later date (if necessary) is always an option and should be about as effective as doing it now as long as they get an early start on any growth, which will require that I have regular checks by an ENT and occasional PT scans.

The side effects (both temporary and permanent) of this particular cancer treatment are significant and were a major part of this decision. It would never have been a situation of “the cancer is beaten and life is back to normal”.