Today was our last visit to the chemo center at St. Joe's for a final blood draw. And as John's counts all looked great, his picc line was removed. Hooray! He is not slated for any further chemo UNLESS pathology lab results from his upcoming surgery show any sign of live cancer cells. If so, he will have to undergo one or more rounds of chemotherapy after surgery. We are holding great hope that nothing post-surgery will be necessary.
The nurses at the chemo center played Kool and the Gang's "Celebration" and all gathered around John (in his infusion recliner) blowing bubbles ala Lawrence Welk in farewell. Very kool...I mean cool! Both John and I hope to see these fabulous nurses again -- ANYWHERE but the hospital. On a personal level, I continue to be grateful and in awe of the kindness and generosity shown by the many healthcare professionals that have crossed our path. I am humbled by their caring spirit. And I am thankful for you all and your loving support and prayers...Onward...Nancy
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Friday, March 25, 2011
Radiation Therapy Is Finished!
Today was John's last pre-surgery radiation appointment. Yea! But believe it or not, it's somewhat bittersweet. Our daily trips to the cancer center became routine, giving us a sense of stability in all the craziness. And we're sorry to say goodbye to people who have become like members of our family. Although it's not a permanent goodbye...There will be follow up appointments in the coming months!
It appears that I've done a good job in keeping John's weight up. (It's like Baskin-Robbins in our freezer right now.) The only time you'll hear a doctor tell you that it's good to carry extra weight is if you ever have to undergo chemo and/or radiation treatment. As Dr. Taylor (John's radiation doctor) put it, John's body has been "running a marathon." There is a natural tendency for the body to try to continually heal after daily bombardment of radiation. And that burns tons of calories.
So all that's left in this stage of the game is to see John's chemo doc, Dr. Nestor, on Monday. He will hopefully give the go-ahead to have John's picc line removed either Monday or next Wednesday (his regularly scheduled picc line dressing change day) at the latest.
We have been in contact with Sonia Kunz, Virginia Mason's thoracic surgical department coordinator in Dr. Low's (John's surgeon) office. Our next step will be to go to Seattle sometime around April 15 for a second endoscopic ultrasound which will give a true picture on how the tumor responded to chemo/radiation and start the process toward surgery. We'll have to go back sometime around April 20 for a cat scan and any other "medically creative" pre-surgery tests Dr. Low will want to have done. Surgery itself will most likely be the first part of May; but it depends on how fast John heals from the radiation and what VM's tests show.
I know that so many of you have offered help. Well there IS something you can do. Pick up a 500 or 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and donate it to your local cancer treatment center. Those puzzles serve not only as a welcome distraction to patients and family going through cancer treatment, they provide an opportunity for people in waiting rooms to come together, share stories and form a bond of support for each other. Those puzzles got me through the last six weeks and introduced John and I to some great people going through the same thing we are. And it's the people, like you, who are not only helping us make it through this journey, you're helping us to live through it. With love and thanks...Nancy.
It appears that I've done a good job in keeping John's weight up. (It's like Baskin-Robbins in our freezer right now.) The only time you'll hear a doctor tell you that it's good to carry extra weight is if you ever have to undergo chemo and/or radiation treatment. As Dr. Taylor (John's radiation doctor) put it, John's body has been "running a marathon." There is a natural tendency for the body to try to continually heal after daily bombardment of radiation. And that burns tons of calories.
So all that's left in this stage of the game is to see John's chemo doc, Dr. Nestor, on Monday. He will hopefully give the go-ahead to have John's picc line removed either Monday or next Wednesday (his regularly scheduled picc line dressing change day) at the latest.
We have been in contact with Sonia Kunz, Virginia Mason's thoracic surgical department coordinator in Dr. Low's (John's surgeon) office. Our next step will be to go to Seattle sometime around April 15 for a second endoscopic ultrasound which will give a true picture on how the tumor responded to chemo/radiation and start the process toward surgery. We'll have to go back sometime around April 20 for a cat scan and any other "medically creative" pre-surgery tests Dr. Low will want to have done. Surgery itself will most likely be the first part of May; but it depends on how fast John heals from the radiation and what VM's tests show.
I know that so many of you have offered help. Well there IS something you can do. Pick up a 500 or 1000 piece jigsaw puzzle and donate it to your local cancer treatment center. Those puzzles serve not only as a welcome distraction to patients and family going through cancer treatment, they provide an opportunity for people in waiting rooms to come together, share stories and form a bond of support for each other. Those puzzles got me through the last six weeks and introduced John and I to some great people going through the same thing we are. And it's the people, like you, who are not only helping us make it through this journey, you're helping us to live through it. With love and thanks...Nancy.
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Some Good News and Some So-So News
We had some good news at today's daily radiation appointment. Dr. Taylor said that John would be done with radiation March 25. Yippee! We thought he would have to go through to the 30th. And double-good news is that films confirmed that the tumor has shrunk. We suspected as much because John's swallowing has improved. (Tonight's dinner was gratins of prawns with carrots/leeks and a side of broccoli.)
The so-so news was John's blood counts. Every Wednesday we have to go to the chemo department at St. Joe's Hospital to have the dressing changed on his picc line. They draw blood at the same time and check white cell count, nutrophil count, red cell count, platelets, etc., etc., etc. Today's results showed that his white and nutrophil counts were very, very low and he was advised to "avoid public places for the next couple of days." The wine department at Haggen's is about as public as you can get. So John's home today and tomorrow. Which is good. The shot that he received last Friday to stimulate his bone marrow to generate white cells is kicking in -- despite of having a low reading today -- causing him some severe aching in his legs and back. As of this writing he is firmly ensconced on the couch with a quilt and kitty nearby, watching Mariner spring training.
I say this in nearly every posting, but "Thank You." Thank you for for sticking with us during this whole process. Thank you for your positive well wishes and prayers. And thank you for caring. I'll stay in touch...Nancy.
The so-so news was John's blood counts. Every Wednesday we have to go to the chemo department at St. Joe's Hospital to have the dressing changed on his picc line. They draw blood at the same time and check white cell count, nutrophil count, red cell count, platelets, etc., etc., etc. Today's results showed that his white and nutrophil counts were very, very low and he was advised to "avoid public places for the next couple of days." The wine department at Haggen's is about as public as you can get. So John's home today and tomorrow. Which is good. The shot that he received last Friday to stimulate his bone marrow to generate white cells is kicking in -- despite of having a low reading today -- causing him some severe aching in his legs and back. As of this writing he is firmly ensconced on the couch with a quilt and kitty nearby, watching Mariner spring training.
I say this in nearly every posting, but "Thank You." Thank you for for sticking with us during this whole process. Thank you for your positive well wishes and prayers. And thank you for caring. I'll stay in touch...Nancy.
Wednesday, March 9, 2011
Second (and hopefully final) Round of Chemo
I'm typing this from the infusion room at St. Joe's Hospital. John's having his second -- and we hope last -- infusion of both Taxol and Carboplatin. We started our day at 7:30 a.m. at the Bellingham Cancer Center for John's daily dose of radiation. The treatment seems to be having a positive effect as his swallowing has vastly improved. This means that the tumor is shrinking which is the goal. And in spite of 16 radiation treatments, his esophagus is not terribly sensitive. Dr. Taylor recommended Maalox in the morning to grease the skids, so to speak, and prevent soreness when eating.
We had been hoping that John could avoid hair loss that's common with chemo. However when a small, black, hairy animal took up residence in our shower every morning after John's "toilette," it was time to lose the Robert-DeNiro-in-Kenneth-Brannagh's-movie-"Frankenstein"-look. Too bad it's not Halloween; John would make a great Uncle Fester Addams.
We are officially half-way through pre-surgery treatment. After tomorrow's radiation treatment, John will have a CAT scan to reevaluate the positioning of the radiation beams to ensure that the tumor is still in the bullseye. Time is moving ever so slowly, though, as John keeps asking, "Is it July yet?" Hopefully by that time all of this will be behind, except for the expected follow-up monitoring.
So, whew! The treadmill continues. Your thoughts, prayers, friendship and love are carrying us through. Thank you...Nancy
We had been hoping that John could avoid hair loss that's common with chemo. However when a small, black, hairy animal took up residence in our shower every morning after John's "toilette," it was time to lose the Robert-DeNiro-in-Kenneth-Brannagh's-movie-"Frankenstein"-look. Too bad it's not Halloween; John would make a great Uncle Fester Addams.
We are officially half-way through pre-surgery treatment. After tomorrow's radiation treatment, John will have a CAT scan to reevaluate the positioning of the radiation beams to ensure that the tumor is still in the bullseye. Time is moving ever so slowly, though, as John keeps asking, "Is it July yet?" Hopefully by that time all of this will be behind, except for the expected follow-up monitoring.
So, whew! The treadmill continues. Your thoughts, prayers, friendship and love are carrying us through. Thank you...Nancy
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Spring is Here...And So Is Shedding Season...
Our weather seems to be turning towards spring. And spring has always meant shedding season for our cats. Well, John has joined their company. I guess he is not going to be immune to the hair loss that is common with chemo therapy. So I'll get him a supply of cherry suckers and a hat, ala "Kojak." When his hair grows back perhaps his little bald spot at the top of his head will fill in? We're almost at the halfway point for his pre-surgery regimen. You are all so important to us on this journey. As always, with love...Nancy
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Back Home
John was "sprung" from his isolation room at St. Joe's and is now back home. His white cell count and nutrophil count (kind of like "baby white cells") are, while still low, acceptable. He should be back at work on Friday. Apparently this kind of a reaction, including his rash due to 5FU, is not uncommon. It would have been nice to have been given a heads up that this COULD happen.
While in hospital, John was transported each day for his radiation treatments. I started my day meeting him at the cancer center then went over to the hospital to spend the day. I took responsibility in supplementing his meals with oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies from the cafeteria. Which was a good thing. The old joke that hospital food will kill you is really not a joke at St. Joe's; it's reality. The hospital cafeteria received a facelift and food overhaul about a year ago. But the overhaul has not extended to patients' food yet. Meals, usually with some kind of mystery gravy and obligatory vegetable of peas, beans or carrots (I would not survive!) also came topped with a fossilized-thinly-sliced-red-beet garnish and a sprinkling of diced dried chives. Thank God he's home. Tonight's dinner will be twice-baked stuffed potatoes with bacon and sauteed mushrooms...
Next on the agenda will be his Taxol and Carboplatin infusion next Wednesday. Your prayers, wishes, and friendship are carrying us through. Until later, we send you loving thanks....Nancy
While in hospital, John was transported each day for his radiation treatments. I started my day meeting him at the cancer center then went over to the hospital to spend the day. I took responsibility in supplementing his meals with oatmeal raisin and chocolate chip cookies from the cafeteria. Which was a good thing. The old joke that hospital food will kill you is really not a joke at St. Joe's; it's reality. The hospital cafeteria received a facelift and food overhaul about a year ago. But the overhaul has not extended to patients' food yet. Meals, usually with some kind of mystery gravy and obligatory vegetable of peas, beans or carrots (I would not survive!) also came topped with a fossilized-thinly-sliced-red-beet garnish and a sprinkling of diced dried chives. Thank God he's home. Tonight's dinner will be twice-baked stuffed potatoes with bacon and sauteed mushrooms...
Next on the agenda will be his Taxol and Carboplatin infusion next Wednesday. Your prayers, wishes, and friendship are carrying us through. Until later, we send you loving thanks....Nancy
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