At this morning's appointment, John's oncologist (Dr. Nestor) talked with us and said, "Well, how about we declare you done with chemo." What relief! They've bombarded John with everything they had and now we'll hope and pray that it was enough. From this point, John will be going back to Virginia Mason for a follow-up endoscopy for Dr. Low, have regular scans to watch for any signs of tumors or growths, and -- of course -- go see his new urologist to see if there are any answers as to what caused his ureter blockage. Dr. Nestor had looked at last week's most recent scans and said that he saw nothing to indicate cancer. So that's very encouraging.
The weight of cancer is still there and will be for a few years. But knowing that John doesn't have to go through another infusion is a huge relief. All of the treatments and surgery have been physically and emotionally challenging, so say the very least. I cannot come close to expressing the gratitude we feel not only to the team of physicians, nurses and staff who have taken care of both of us...But the immense thanks we have for the support of our friends and John's "Haggen family." There are no words...Bless each and every one of you. You are in our hearts forever...We continue on this journey of survivorship thanks to you...Nancy
Friday, October 28, 2011
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Transfusion Day
John's doing much better today. He is, however, receiving a blood transfusion as his platelets were low. This process will take the better part of the day. (As you can probably tell, I'm typing from John's room at the hospital.) He will probably be coming home today but -- because this transfusion is SO slow -- he might not be discharged until late afternoon/early evening.
We'll be following up with Dr. Pettit (urologist) a couple of weeks after John's final chemo infusion (Nov. 1). We'll also be following up with Dr. Low (surgeon) for removal of John's J-tube ("bag-o-meal" tube) and an endoscopy. And so it goes...
Life in Whatcom County, Birch Bay -- So relaxing, peaceful; away from the hustle-bustle of city-life in Seattle...NOT! I think we both are looking forward to returning to the doctor-free idylls of rural life where the biggest excitement is trying to figure out where the skunk, that makes it's olfactory presence known each morning when we go out to get the newspaper, is living. Now THAT'S excitement.
So go give your loved ones a hug and tell them how much they mean to you. You mean so very much to us...Thank you...Nancy
We'll be following up with Dr. Pettit (urologist) a couple of weeks after John's final chemo infusion (Nov. 1). We'll also be following up with Dr. Low (surgeon) for removal of John's J-tube ("bag-o-meal" tube) and an endoscopy. And so it goes...
Life in Whatcom County, Birch Bay -- So relaxing, peaceful; away from the hustle-bustle of city-life in Seattle...NOT! I think we both are looking forward to returning to the doctor-free idylls of rural life where the biggest excitement is trying to figure out where the skunk, that makes it's olfactory presence known each morning when we go out to get the newspaper, is living. Now THAT'S excitement.
So go give your loved ones a hug and tell them how much they mean to you. You mean so very much to us...Thank you...Nancy
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Procedure Done...Dinner Eaten
John now has a urologist, Dr. John Pettit. Dr. Pettit performed John's stent insertion. All went well. He said he is fairly confident that the narrowing in the ureter was due to scarring from surgery. But given John's cancer and treatment, they will be following up with "further testing." So we'll be holding our breath for a while.
John did eat dinner tonight! He has gorgonzola pasta with chicken, green beans, half a peach and a "Nanaimo bar" (of sorts). Sounds good in writing...But it's hospital food. And it's St. Joe's hospital food. Think trans-Atlantic coach flight with food that's 6+ hours in a warming oven. Get it? But it's the first he's eaten since Monday morning's toast.
He's scheduled to come home tomorrow and we'll go from there. Would somebody please turn the power back on so we can see that little light again?
I'm signing off to go cook myself some dinner and entertain the cats who have been sorely neglected for the past couple of days. They are lovely to come to, even though they (especially Token) are somewhat demanding. Who said cats are aloof?
Thank you for sticking with John and I on this seemingly endless trek. I truly mean it...Thank you with all my heart...Nancy
John did eat dinner tonight! He has gorgonzola pasta with chicken, green beans, half a peach and a "Nanaimo bar" (of sorts). Sounds good in writing...But it's hospital food. And it's St. Joe's hospital food. Think trans-Atlantic coach flight with food that's 6+ hours in a warming oven. Get it? But it's the first he's eaten since Monday morning's toast.
He's scheduled to come home tomorrow and we'll go from there. Would somebody please turn the power back on so we can see that little light again?
I'm signing off to go cook myself some dinner and entertain the cats who have been sorely neglected for the past couple of days. They are lovely to come to, even though they (especially Token) are somewhat demanding. Who said cats are aloof?
Thank you for sticking with John and I on this seemingly endless trek. I truly mean it...Thank you with all my heart...Nancy
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Hospital Stay
Just a quick update 'cause I'm pooped. Went to oncology this a.m. for John's picc dressing change. Because of the pain he was experiencing yesterday -- and continuing today -- Dr. Nestor (oncologist) ordered a CT scan. It could not be scheduled until 2:30 in the afternoon. They pulled John's picc line as it had come out approximately 6 inches. Since he has, supposedly, one more chemo infusion, they decided that it could be done via IV. The picc was becoming, basically, useless and a potential problem. So bye-bye. They kept John's pain under control and continued administering anti-nausea meds steadily.
We went to the CT dept, located across town. Had the scan and waited approximately 1/2 hour for a "wet read" (basically a STAT read). I called Dr. Nestor and he said the scan showed excess water in/around John's right kidney caused by a "stricture" or "blockage" in his ureter. There was NO SIGN OF TUMOR OR MASS which is good. But he said to go to the ER for evaluation and possible hospital admission.
After 5+ hours in the ER and in St. Joe's "new" AAA department (Acute Admissions Area -- another name for Amazingly Slow Unbelievably Pathetic Procedural Nightmare Area), John was admitted for an overnight observation stay. He hasn't been able to eat anything since yesterday morning's toast due to nausea. So they're going to give him one can of "bag-o-meal" for some nutrition. I'll go back early in the a.m. in time to meet with the urologist (YEA! yet another doctor). The tentative plan is to put a stent in (this should make you boys reading this want to cross your legs) to open up whatever is reducing the flow of urine.
That's all I know as of 10:16 p.m. Cats and I are headed to bed...Prayers will be said tonight...Hold good thoughts and prayers, too, please. This can't be another "surprise" when we've come so far together...Thank you...Nancy
We went to the CT dept, located across town. Had the scan and waited approximately 1/2 hour for a "wet read" (basically a STAT read). I called Dr. Nestor and he said the scan showed excess water in/around John's right kidney caused by a "stricture" or "blockage" in his ureter. There was NO SIGN OF TUMOR OR MASS which is good. But he said to go to the ER for evaluation and possible hospital admission.
After 5+ hours in the ER and in St. Joe's "new" AAA department (Acute Admissions Area -- another name for Amazingly Slow Unbelievably Pathetic Procedural Nightmare Area), John was admitted for an overnight observation stay. He hasn't been able to eat anything since yesterday morning's toast due to nausea. So they're going to give him one can of "bag-o-meal" for some nutrition. I'll go back early in the a.m. in time to meet with the urologist (YEA! yet another doctor). The tentative plan is to put a stent in (this should make you boys reading this want to cross your legs) to open up whatever is reducing the flow of urine.
That's all I know as of 10:16 p.m. Cats and I are headed to bed...Prayers will be said tonight...Hold good thoughts and prayers, too, please. This can't be another "surprise" when we've come so far together...Thank you...Nancy
Monday, October 17, 2011
Something ELSE!!!!
Just when you can see a light, the power goes off. Today is day 7 after John's last infusion and those blasted chemo drugs are doing a number. After not needing "bag-o-meal" for a month, he's back on the 'juice.' His nausea is very difficult to control, making it next to impossible for him to eat. Today, he had two pieces of burnt toast and coffee for breakfast. That's it. And to top off the nausea, he's experiencing a new ache/pain in his lower right side. One of the possible side effects of Cisplatin is kidney related. I called his oncologist (Dr. Nestor). They said to keep giving him fluids, maintain a strict regular schedule with his nausea meds, take something for pain and they'll see him in the morning...Unless the pain gets worse; in which case we'll head to the ER.
So I gave John 5 ml. of Oxycodon (left over from surgery) which has alleviated his pain, hooked him up to his dinner, and he's resting comfortably in his recliner at 7:15 p.m. We head to the hospital early tomorrow for his picc dressing change and labs with a urine sample in hand. Please, God, no kidney stones! One more infusion (maybe), but it's all day-to-day...sometimes hour-by-hour.
I'm sorry to be so "bitchy" with this posting, but this totally sucks. Your support and prayers, good thoughts and positive ju-ju are truly keeping us going. I'll let you know what we find out tomorrow, if anything. Thank you so much for caring...Nancy
So I gave John 5 ml. of Oxycodon (left over from surgery) which has alleviated his pain, hooked him up to his dinner, and he's resting comfortably in his recliner at 7:15 p.m. We head to the hospital early tomorrow for his picc dressing change and labs with a urine sample in hand. Please, God, no kidney stones! One more infusion (maybe), but it's all day-to-day...sometimes hour-by-hour.
I'm sorry to be so "bitchy" with this posting, but this totally sucks. Your support and prayers, good thoughts and positive ju-ju are truly keeping us going. I'll let you know what we find out tomorrow, if anything. Thank you so much for caring...Nancy
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Third Round...Second Infusion
I looked at the date of my previous posting which was September 22. Sorry to have been so lax in getting any news out. But that just means there hasn't been any news until today. Today is John's second-to-last chemo infusion. The past three weeks have been a bit of a challenge for him with regards to keeping nausea at bay. But like the good pharmacist's son that he is, he is subscribing to the philosophy of "drugs -- they're a good thing."
As I type, we're 3-1/2 hours into this infusion session with about 2-1/2 to go. I don't know if I explained the process for this particular "chemo recipe." John receives a combination of cisplatin and epirubicin. Because one of these drugs is hard on the kidneys, he has to receive a lengthy infusion of saline to flush his kidneys and get them revved up before receiving the actual chemo. After the chemo, he has another lengthy saline flush to keep his kidneys busy. (Right now HE busy in the "lav" flushing his personal pipes.)
He has not needed any overnight "bag-o-meal" feedings since September 13 and is maintaining his weight right around 218 which is pretty close to ideal for him. (If I ever have to deal with this cancer crap, you won't see ANY postings about MY weight!) His appetite is good although he doesn't ever experience "hunger." We're still experimenting with food, i.e. what digests, what sits in his gut, etc. Salmon, pork, steak, rice are things we've found he needs to avoid. (Who'd think salmon would be a problem?) But salads, pasta, dark chicken meat, ground beef, vegetables, most fruit (except for a taste aversion to bananas) all seem to be good. Oh, and of course, wine is GREAT. Amazingly enough, John's sense of taste hasn't been affected very much at all.
You always hear stories about the problems people face when undergoing chemotherapy. Fortunately, John's doing better than most. We keep hoping that he can continue avoid another hospital stay, continue to work and, well, just continue. And that's due in no small part to all of you. Thank you for your friendship, your love and support. You mean the world to us both...As always, I sign off with gratitude...Nancy
As I type, we're 3-1/2 hours into this infusion session with about 2-1/2 to go. I don't know if I explained the process for this particular "chemo recipe." John receives a combination of cisplatin and epirubicin. Because one of these drugs is hard on the kidneys, he has to receive a lengthy infusion of saline to flush his kidneys and get them revved up before receiving the actual chemo. After the chemo, he has another lengthy saline flush to keep his kidneys busy. (Right now HE busy in the "lav" flushing his personal pipes.)
He has not needed any overnight "bag-o-meal" feedings since September 13 and is maintaining his weight right around 218 which is pretty close to ideal for him. (If I ever have to deal with this cancer crap, you won't see ANY postings about MY weight!) His appetite is good although he doesn't ever experience "hunger." We're still experimenting with food, i.e. what digests, what sits in his gut, etc. Salmon, pork, steak, rice are things we've found he needs to avoid. (Who'd think salmon would be a problem?) But salads, pasta, dark chicken meat, ground beef, vegetables, most fruit (except for a taste aversion to bananas) all seem to be good. Oh, and of course, wine is GREAT. Amazingly enough, John's sense of taste hasn't been affected very much at all.
You always hear stories about the problems people face when undergoing chemotherapy. Fortunately, John's doing better than most. We keep hoping that he can continue avoid another hospital stay, continue to work and, well, just continue. And that's due in no small part to all of you. Thank you for your friendship, your love and support. You mean the world to us both...As always, I sign off with gratitude...Nancy
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)