Cancer Count Down

Dad had a good appointment today. His blood pressure was almost perfect, his temp was normal and he maintained his weight. His red blood count was a bit low but not too low that they couldn't give him the chemo treatment. They gave him intravenous medication with his chemo to help bring those numbers back up. The doctor said that dad's body is responding very well to this chemo treatment, that his cancer count is down and he believes dad is going to be around for awhile. He said that dad will continue to have good and bad days. Mom mentioned that since dad is responding so well to this new treatment they will probably make it a weekly treatment and not do the 3 weeks on, 1 week off.

I just talked to dad and he said he is a bit nauseated and didn't eat much dinner. He is really tired because he hasn't slept much the last 2 nights. I pray that he will have a really good night of sleep tonight, and if he needs, tomorrow as well.

We'll keep you posted.

Hairy Mom, Hairless Dad

Now that is a headline! Dad did have chemo last week. Mom took dad because Chuck and Aunt Charlene weren't able to. Mom and dad both appreciate everything they do for them but mom was glad to be with dad and hear the doctor's report first hand. He had gained a few pounds but not all that he had lost the week before. His blood pressure was better and obviously his blood count was up since he received the chemo. Because he was so sick and dehydrated last week, they cut the strength of the chemo in half. They also told him that he was not to let himself get like that again. If he has those same issues, he is to call them immediately so they can address it right away.

His port is still not normal so he has been getting all of his blood work and chemo through his arms. He has an appointment on Monday with the surgeon that put the port in to see what is wrong and what needs to be done to fix it. With his treatments continuing, this is very important to get resolved. It is getting harder for the nurses to find his veins so he is getting poked and prodded more than he would like.

Now to explain the headline. Aunt Charlene bought mom a wig. For those who know mom, her hair has gotten very thin in the last year or so (dad says it is sympathy hair loss). Mom likes it and says it makes her feel better. Dad, on the other hand, has lost almost all of his hair. He says that he brushes it in the morning and the brush is full of hair. Yesterday he took off his hat and his hair was still in it. He says he only has a few strands left and is sure they will be gone this week. He has had nausea and is tired but not as bad as the previous treatment.

Mom says that dad is getting pretty lonely. He is so use to being out and about doing his plumbing or taking pictures and now he is home all day long without much human contact. He did get to to go to the Halloween party that mom's company had on Friday. He even got to take pictures of all the kids in their costumes. Several of mom's co-workers visited with him and that was good for his spirits. He did get pretty tired after just a few hours. Once again, thanks to mom's awesome employer for being so supportive of everything mom and dad are going through.

He has treatment again this week and then he will get a week off. We are hoping and praying that he is well enough to go to Kaity's volleyball game in Milwaukie at LaSalle High School on Saturday night. This is a playoff game with the winner going to the state playoffs the following weekend in Eugene. The game is at 7:00 pm which is usually when dad is in bed. I'm hoping maybe he could have a late afternoon nap and then maybe come to a game or two.

Pray, pray, pray.

Thanks for all your prayers and words of encouragement.

No Chemo Today

Aunt Charlene called me this morning to give me details about dad. He couldn't have chemo today because his blood count is too high. He has lost all the weight he gained and then some, oxygen last week was 98% and this week it is 86%, blood pressure last week was 102/90 this week it is 98/62 and his temp is 97.8. The doctor said he is dehydrated and so he is given dad liquids intravenously for 2 hours for today, tomorrow and Friday at the office – hoping to avoid a hospital stay. They are doing it through his arm and not his port because it appears his port may be infected so they are checking that out as well.

I talked to dad tonight and he did sound a bit better. He says he is doing is oxygen (which mom said he hasn't been doing like he is supposed to) but still is having the same issues even though the doctor gave him a prescription. I think after the 3 intravenous hydration appts he should start feeling better. Just maybe, mom and dad could have a good weekend!

Very Sick

Dad has been quite ill since Saturday. Mom says he hasn't eaten anything since Saturday that hasn't come back up. He has a very bad case of diarrhea, so bad that they doctor has prescribed medication to hopefully stop it. I have talked to dad every night and he is very honest in saying he doesn't feel good at all; he doesn't even try to hide it like he has in the past. He has told mom that he is about ready to give in. He told me that he emotionally feels bad that he can't really function and be with people like when Sarah was there this past weekend. When I talked to him tonight, he talked maybe 1 or 2 minutes and was very winded and said he couldn't talk any more.

We have reminded him that we will support whatever choice he makes as far as continuing treatment or not. We know what we want but he is the one who has to suffer the effects of the chemo and he has been told that it won't be easy. We don't know if his current health situation will stop his treatment tomorrow. I will let you know what happens.

We appreciate your thoughts and prayers.

Great Dr Appt

Dad had chemo again on Wednesday. The doctors were actually amazed at how well he was doing. His blood pressure was a bit low 102 over something. He had actually gained 6 pounds in a week and all of his blood work was really good. Aunt Charlene took him to his appt and wrote down everything the doctor told her. She said dad was better than she had seen him in quite awhile and he was very chatty. Aunt Charlene and Chuck had mom and dad over for dinner but dad didn't have much of an appetite and actually feel asleep during dinner so the evening was cut a bit short.

Friday dad felt so good he did a lot more than he should have. He drove (which he isn't supposed to do) and took back some stuff he had bought to fix his van and didn't need. He also sold some items he hadn't used for a long time which enabled him to buy a few items he and mom have wanted. Sarah, our oldest daughter, drove over from college to spend the weekend with mom and dad. I don't think she had seen dad since Emily's graduation in early June. Dad had done so much on Friday that he over exhausted himself (just like the weekend Uncle Rick and Paula visited). He hasn't eaten or drunk much of anything most of the weekend. They had a few plans of things to do with Sarah while she was there but dad couldn't do anything so mom and Sarah watched movies while dad slept. Sarah enjoyed just spending time with them.

Mom called tonight concerned about dad because he hasn't had much in the way of food and drink and is certain he is dehydrated. He also hasn't used his oxygen like he has been doing. She said that he is mumbling a bit and just wanted her to leave him alone and let him sleep. I told her we would give him the night before we made any decisions about calling the doctor. She did finally get him to come to bed and drink a bit of Gatorade.

Chemo is scheduled again for Wednesday if all of his test are good and then he will get a week off. I'll keep you posted.

One Down

So dad had his first chemo treatment last Thursday. He said he was a little nauseated but not as bad as he thought. Once again, Chuck and Aunt Charlene have been tremendously helpful in getting dad to and from his appointments. We stopped in to see him on our way to a volleyball tournament and he looked much better than last weekend. We took him some of his favorite coffee (that we have forgotten 2 other times). Then we stopped by on our way home again. Steve hadn't seen dad in awhile and he thought he looked really good.

There are several things dad is trying to get done so mom will not have to deal with them. One is getting his van running so he can sell it. Chuck has been running dad to get parts and helping him work on it. Dad is also trying to get as much of the house unpacked and in order as possible. It's really start looking like their home again.

Talked to mom tonight and she told me that dad had a physical therapist stop by today. This was ordered from the doctor when he was in the hospital last time but they have just gotten around to seeing him. Mom wasn't sure why they came but they gave dad some exercises that dad said are "boring". I am assuming it is to perhaps build up his strength but not sure. Hopefully he will do them because they can't hurt him.

Dad has chemo on Wednesday and you can all guess who is taking him. I am sure as he gets more of these chemicals in him the sicker he will be but I pray that God will spare him from that side effect, well not having any of the side effects would be nice but I can't be greedy so I'm asking for this one.

That's the latest. I'll let you know how things go later in the week.
Thanks for your prayers.

Melody

Not the News We Wanted

Well, there is good news and some not so good news. Good news is that the cancer has not spread to dad's brain. Now for all the other news. Chemo is not working. The CAT scan showed that there has been no change in the cancer in dad's liver and spleen. It also showed that the cancer in his lungs has actually grown quite a bit despite the chemo treatments. Mom and dad were given two options:

Option 1: Stop all treatment and start utilizing Hospice and dad's life expectancy is 3 - 6 months.
Option 2: Change treatment which is 3 weeks on, 1 week off. This will make dad extremely ill and very weak. Traveling for short periods of times (like for the weekend) will not be possible. Dad's life expectancy would be maybe 1 year.

Dad has chosen option 2. When I talked to him this afternoon it was the first time I have heard him cry since he was diagnosed in January. I told him to not give up and he said he wouldn't. This is all a bit hard to hear and accept. Please keep our family in your prayers. I can't write anymore, too many tears.

Melody