Written by cafealpha 4 comments
More than 11 years ago (from winter 2005 ?), I had a "donate" page stating something like "send your money and I will make cool things for Saturn on my free time".
During there 11 years, I received 15 US dollars.
And within theses 15 US dollars, I declined 10 because they were generously donated in exchange of "future help" in making a game for Saturn.
So that's something like 45 cents per year, which is also around 3.8 cents per month. I didn't checked in details, but that should be something like one Skittles per week. Not one bag of Skittles, but one bloody skittles. Per. Week
Fortunately, this era now ends, because I officially announce that I changed my donation system from "send your money and I will make cool things for Saturn on my free time" to "Send everything except money, and I will make cool things for Saturn on my free time. And even if you don't donate anything, I will make cool things for Saturn on my free time anyway." More details can be found on my donate page
And to make it clear : the motivation to change donation system is not related to money : I just spoke about money received so far in order to write something funny in my blog
I make Saturn things for fun, and not for money. As some examples, I started to design rev2f PCB in hospital room from one week after undergoing cancer surgery, and Virtual Memory Cartridge add-on for Pseudo Saturn Kai was developed and tested during my post surgery chemotherapy. Theses helped a lot to think about something else than medical things during theses times. I don't say that Kicad and gcc are a cure for cancer (), but theses were very good help however.
And to make it clearer : yes, I sell Saturn cartridges, but no I don't make a living from selling theses. I'm not even sure I produce enough carts in order to pay every-day's breakfast from cartridges sales benefits
Written by cafealpha 4 comments
Good news : this month, I took my last chemo pills
Last chemo pills (white & orange capsules), and medicine in order to cover chemo side effects. Yes, I took a picture of my last chemo pills in order to celebrate this event
And even better news, the physician in charge of me told me that it should be OK not to continue chemo treatment
PET/CT results. Basically, it says "both PET and CT didn't shown anything weird". I'm so glad of theses results that I hesitate to frame this test report ^^
Of course, it doesn't means my cancer is completely cured - 5 years without cancer relapse are needed to say everything is OK -, but at least last month's PET/CT scan didn't shown anything, so this is comforting for the next few months ...
Here is a "one page" timeline of the treatment of my cancer (= stage 4 tongue cancer). April 2014 : Small mouth ulcer + pain in left ear : consult Otolaryngologist doctor. On first consultation, I get medical prescription of mouthwash liquid. No improvement after 2~3 weeks of treatment, so I return to Otolaryngologist doctor, and I was told that I should get "a test of my cells" (doctor didn't wanted to say "biopsy" keyword ...), so I receive a "letter of introduction " to a bigger hospital. May 2014 (first half) : Biopsy, one week after, I was told "you got cancer". I ask the stage : "maybe second stage or so". I ask a "letter of introduction " to a even bigger hospital. May 2014 (second half) : First consultation to the "even bigger hospital" + PET, CT, etc tests. Cancer stage was diagnosed to 4a. One week after first consultation, I am hospitalized during 10 days in order to receive intravenous chemo (5FU + Nedaplatin). June 2014 : Commute to hospital (twice a week) in order to follow up chemo side effects. July~August 2014 : Hospitalization for surgery (tongue resection, neck lymph node dissection, tongue reconstruction). Around 9 hours for surgery, 7 weeks for hospitalization, it was really hell ... October 2014 : Start of oral chemo (TS-1). Blood test every 3 weeks. If everything is fine (= blood test don't show bad results), I take this chemo for a year. Winter 2014~2015 : PET scan show abscess in chin ... one week after PET results, it was visually visible. Tried A LOT of antibiotics, none worked, so the physician who operated my tongue and neck manually removed meat around the abscess ... as a result, there is a small cavity on my chin, but at least abscess is cured 2015 (first half) : Blood test every 6 weeks, plus CT scan every 3 months. Basically, everything is fine (I just skipped 2 weeks of TS-1, because of chemo side effect) End of September 2015 : Annual PET scan. Was nervous about results, but everything was fine It's safe to stop TS-1, and next blood test is scheduled 3 months later. It was a long time I go out from hospital without medical prescription sheet ^^; October 2015 : I take some few TS-1 capsules I skipped during 2015 first half. Don't tell this to my doctor Normally I must trash chemo drug I couldn't take during prescription period, but it's really a waste IMHO.
Written by cafealpha 4 comments
I just spent the whole week not (or few) sleeping during night, then sleeping because of fatigue during day I don't know the reason of this, but I suspect bad weather (I rained nearly all week here), and also children sleeping in "kawa no ji" style.
What is "kawa no ji" style ? This is a Japanese expression used to speak about children sleeping in the same room/bed as parent's. While it's not very common in Western countries, I'm personally OK about this, but it would be great if children wouldn't move so much while sleeping ! Example : you fall asleep with son#1 on your right side, and you wake up during night with son#1 near your foot, and son#2 pushing on your back
Another reason may also be chemo I'm currently taking : among the side effects, fatigue or feeling heavy is mentioned.
I'm currently taking "TS-1" chemo drug, which is administered orally as any other "normal" capsule drug. One of the difference with regular drug is that effects (and so side effects) are a little stronger than drugs everybody take when they get a cold
TS-1 and NKS-1 (TS-1 generic) capsules
Until now, I experienced the following side effects : - Diarrhea - Nose bleeding - Mouth ulcer - Fatigue Fortunately, side effects are relatively mild, and also I experienced them one per one
Let's hope this week's fatigue state is temporary If it is due to chemo side effect, then I'm OK with this, because I consider it is part of the price to pay in order to get rid of my cancer
), but theses were very good help however.
