Met with Dr Reddy yesterday. His plan is to do chemo for six months to add a level of assurance that we got all of the beast.
Had barium swallow test today but won't know results 'til I meet with Dr Moore monday. I expect it will be ok and I can eat something finally. I haven't had a meal since the 15th of Oct. Waaaah
Thursday, November 8, 2012
Saturday, November 3, 2012
Successful surgery
I had the surgery on the 16th of October and Dr. Moore tells us that he thinks I am now cancer free. That sure has a nice ring to it.
The surgery: Arrived at Northside Hospital at 5:30 am and was immediately ushered into a prep room in the major surgery area. Nurses everywhere. LARGE
IV installed in my arm. All clothes off. Then wait....... Then wake up in ICU two days later. Feeling ok but must be drugged up pretty good. I had to wear a CPAP mask to maintain the oxygen level needed for healing. Now gone. Room seems to
be full of nurses asking me how I feel and pointing out the pain button I can push if needed. Teri is there lending support and trying to tell me about the last couple of days. Billy and Mari are here helping Teri and lending lots of support, and Arv finds the time to stop by every day. I seem to have survived the ordeal so lets get on with the healing.
I spent 8 days in ICU then 3 more in a regular room then home late on the 25th. Arvis was there to help get me home and run around filling prescriptions that we were given as a parting shot. I have a feeding port called a j-tube in my abdomen which will provide all my nourishment for at least a couple of weeks. I have a barium swallow test scheduled on the 8th to determine the integrity of the splice of the stomach to my throat then a meeting with Dr Moore on the 12th to discuss my ability to move up the food chain and actually eat something. A cheeseburger would easily be worth a $100 right now.
I have been incredibly fortunate during this ordeal, tumor found early, Drs were all great, Dr Moore one of the best in the business, and a lot of good friends and family that had me on their prayer lists.
The surgery: Arrived at Northside Hospital at 5:30 am and was immediately ushered into a prep room in the major surgery area. Nurses everywhere. LARGE
IV installed in my arm. All clothes off. Then wait....... Then wake up in ICU two days later. Feeling ok but must be drugged up pretty good. I had to wear a CPAP mask to maintain the oxygen level needed for healing. Now gone. Room seems to
be full of nurses asking me how I feel and pointing out the pain button I can push if needed. Teri is there lending support and trying to tell me about the last couple of days. Billy and Mari are here helping Teri and lending lots of support, and Arv finds the time to stop by every day. I seem to have survived the ordeal so lets get on with the healing.
I spent 8 days in ICU then 3 more in a regular room then home late on the 25th. Arvis was there to help get me home and run around filling prescriptions that we were given as a parting shot. I have a feeding port called a j-tube in my abdomen which will provide all my nourishment for at least a couple of weeks. I have a barium swallow test scheduled on the 8th to determine the integrity of the splice of the stomach to my throat then a meeting with Dr Moore on the 12th to discuss my ability to move up the food chain and actually eat something. A cheeseburger would easily be worth a $100 right now.
I have been incredibly fortunate during this ordeal, tumor found early, Drs were all great, Dr Moore one of the best in the business, and a lot of good friends and family that had me on their prayer lists.
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
The saga continues
Well, well. Finished with the chemo and radiation and am healing quickly from both, except that my hair is quite thin and maybe will still continue to fall out.
I met with Dr. Reddy last week and he ordered a CT scan to see what the results of their chemo/radiation torture is. Also he made an appointment for me with Dr. Moore, the surgeon, for yesterday. Dr. Moore said that CT scan revealed results that looked like he wished and its time to start planning surgery. He ordered a brain MRI to ensure no migration of cancer to that vital body part had occurred. I had that this morning but no clue as to results except the tech did comment as I was getting up from the table that I do have a brain of some size and shape but wouldn't comment on the usefulness of it. He had to find an xxxl size cage to hold my melon still while the machine clanked and chirped though, so size means something, I guess.
In addition, I will have a Pulmonary Function Test Thursday to see if radiation left some functioning lung tissue, at least enough to allow me to survive surgery. Also I have an appointment next Tuesday with my cardiologist, Dr. Ferguson, to decide if the old ticker is man enough to get me through the surgery. If all checks out ok, surgery will probably be scheduled for week after next.
Dr. Moore said yesterday that the chances of a cure is as much as 90% with the surgery which sounds great to me.
I met with Dr. Reddy last week and he ordered a CT scan to see what the results of their chemo/radiation torture is. Also he made an appointment for me with Dr. Moore, the surgeon, for yesterday. Dr. Moore said that CT scan revealed results that looked like he wished and its time to start planning surgery. He ordered a brain MRI to ensure no migration of cancer to that vital body part had occurred. I had that this morning but no clue as to results except the tech did comment as I was getting up from the table that I do have a brain of some size and shape but wouldn't comment on the usefulness of it. He had to find an xxxl size cage to hold my melon still while the machine clanked and chirped though, so size means something, I guess.
In addition, I will have a Pulmonary Function Test Thursday to see if radiation left some functioning lung tissue, at least enough to allow me to survive surgery. Also I have an appointment next Tuesday with my cardiologist, Dr. Ferguson, to decide if the old ticker is man enough to get me through the surgery. If all checks out ok, surgery will probably be scheduled for week after next.
Dr. Moore said yesterday that the chances of a cure is as much as 90% with the surgery which sounds great to me.
Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Woe is me
I am going to stop talking about my woes until I have something positive to say. I have had six sessions of chemo and 24 radiation sessions. My esophagus feels like it is burned to a crisp and eating is getting problematic at best. When I do eat it feels like it sits right at the junction of my stomach and esophagus and keeps constant pressure on the ulcer. Even drinking a glass of water is no fun.
I have lost about 15 lbs. and about 50% percent of my hair and everyone tells me I will lose the rest of the hair. So be it.
I am scheduled to have two more chemo sessions and four more radiations but Dr. Reddy is hinting that they might do just one more chemo. I have to go in tomorrow for a fluid infusion and another neupogen shot to raise my blood count and maybe I will find out something then.
There is a real positive to report though, Granddaughter Melissa came down Sunday night by train arriving at 7am Monday and as a surprise, brought Grandson Matthew as well. They will stay until Thursday evening then take the train back overnight. It has been a real treat to spend this time with them.
That's all for now until I have finished the treatments and in recovery mode. Then maybe I can talk about the possible surgery that is expected to be needed this fall.
I must comment on one other thing though, Teri has been a real trooper during this whole scenario, keeping me fed and medicated as appropriate.
I have lost about 15 lbs. and about 50% percent of my hair and everyone tells me I will lose the rest of the hair. So be it.
I am scheduled to have two more chemo sessions and four more radiations but Dr. Reddy is hinting that they might do just one more chemo. I have to go in tomorrow for a fluid infusion and another neupogen shot to raise my blood count and maybe I will find out something then.
There is a real positive to report though, Granddaughter Melissa came down Sunday night by train arriving at 7am Monday and as a surprise, brought Grandson Matthew as well. They will stay until Thursday evening then take the train back overnight. It has been a real treat to spend this time with them.
That's all for now until I have finished the treatments and in recovery mode. Then maybe I can talk about the possible surgery that is expected to be needed this fall.
I must comment on one other thing though, Teri has been a real trooper during this whole scenario, keeping me fed and medicated as appropriate.
Sunday, August 12, 2012
I admit it, the chemo is winning.
It has been a long weekend. I played golf on Thursday but couldn't on Friday, just too tired.
Now my hair is falling out and radiation has just about burned up my esophagus, woe is me.
Seriously, this fighting cancer is not for the timid. I am halfway through chemo and have eleven
radiation sessions to go so it might get even more uncomfortable but I will hang in there whatever
comes.
Now my hair is falling out and radiation has just about burned up my esophagus, woe is me.
Seriously, this fighting cancer is not for the timid. I am halfway through chemo and have eleven
radiation sessions to go so it might get even more uncomfortable but I will hang in there whatever
comes.
Wednesday, August 8, 2012
Wednesday musings.
Stomach cramps caused by eating ice cream according to Dr. Reddy. I guess I will have to get more tramadol.
When tested Monday, white cell count is getting quite low so I am taking injections of neupogen for three days which stimulates the bone marrow to increase production of white cells. Approval must be obtained from Medicare before use, so I am having to go to the hospital for the shots.
Things are still going well. It seems that the low point of the week will be Friday and Saturday, but I am past the half way point in my treatments so I can live with it.
I will play golf tomorrow and maybe Friday if I still feel up to it, we'll see.
When tested Monday, white cell count is getting quite low so I am taking injections of neupogen for three days which stimulates the bone marrow to increase production of white cells. Approval must be obtained from Medicare before use, so I am having to go to the hospital for the shots.
Things are still going well. It seems that the low point of the week will be Friday and Saturday, but I am past the half way point in my treatments so I can live with it.
I will play golf tomorrow and maybe Friday if I still feel up to it, we'll see.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
A quick update
Stomach cramps. Started this afternoon and back tonight. Hard and painful. I took a tramadol this
afternoon and the pain eased quickly so when they hit again tonight, I popped another pill. The pain
eased quickly but I can't take a lot of the tramadol so I will have to discuss with Dr. Reddy on
Monday to see if there is something else I can do about this problem.
Teri checked the write-up of the two chemo concoctions that I am taking and it specifically
mentions the abdominal pain possibility and that while it is not considered an emergency, it should be addressed by the Dr. within 24 hours. Carboplatin seems to be the culprit. Taxol doesn't seem to cause the problem. To be continued.....
afternoon and the pain eased quickly so when they hit again tonight, I popped another pill. The pain
eased quickly but I can't take a lot of the tramadol so I will have to discuss with Dr. Reddy on
Monday to see if there is something else I can do about this problem.
Teri checked the write-up of the two chemo concoctions that I am taking and it specifically
mentions the abdominal pain possibility and that while it is not considered an emergency, it should be addressed by the Dr. within 24 hours. Carboplatin seems to be the culprit. Taxol doesn't seem to cause the problem. To be continued.....
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