Just wanted to let you know that the port is in and dad is doing fine. The wanted him at the hospital today at 8:00 am and we sat and sat and sat and sat in that beautiful brown room (ha!). Finally, he went back around noon. Stephen and I went to grab a bite to eat and left mom in the beautiful brown room (ha!). Yes, we did bring her back something to eat! They called to say the surgery had started around 1:00 and Dr. Buckner was in the room reporting to us by 2:00. He said he did great and everything went smoothly and as planned. He was dismissed and on his way home by 3:00. It was a LONG day! He can start using the port right away. He is home this afternoon resting off that anesthesia. I am sure he will be up and going bright and early in the morning. Please pray for the start of chemo. He is to report to the CCI at 9:00 on Monday!
Happy Easter!
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Saturday, March 27, 2010
We LOVE our FRIENDS!
Just wanted to let you know that the port will be put in on Wednesday! Finally, moving along!
Thank you Kale and Dr. Buckner family and friends!
Thank you Kale and Dr. Buckner family and friends!
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Finally...an UPDATE!
Well, it has been a LONG two weeks trying to get all the doctors together and get things moving! When we left Birmingham two weeks ago, we were under the impression that Dr. Nabel would call her notes and chemo orders in to the doctor here at CCI. Well, after several days of waiting, we checked with Dr. Holmes and Dr. Hardacre and they hadn't heard anything yet either. Finally, Dad called the CCI office and they told him they had not recieved any orders from Dr. Nabel! Seriously? He made several attempts to call her office in Birmingham only to find out that she was on "spring break". At least that put us at ease knowing there was absolutely nothing we could do until the beginning of this week. So, Monday morning came and the orders were finally called in. They had to get it all cleared through insurance and he now has an appointment with Dr. Buckner on Tuesday, the 30th to consult about getting his port put in for the chemo. HOPEFULLY, we can move quickly and get that put in by the end of next week and get started! Meanwhile, please pray for this upcoming treatment! Pray for the doctors and the orders put in. Pray that this is all what Dad needs to fight this cancer. Pray expectantly for this chemo to work and shrink the nodes! It will be a long couple of months for Dad, but I know he is ready to do what he has to do! He has been feeling great and is his normal laughing, joking, funny self! I will post next week when I have more details about when it is all getting started.
Thank you all for the cards, emails, calls and constant concern for Papa! We are so thankful for each and every one of you!
Thank you all for the cards, emails, calls and constant concern for Papa! We are so thankful for each and every one of you!
Isaiah 40:31
"Those who HOPE in the LORD will renew their strength. They will
soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk
and not be faint."
Saturday, March 13, 2010
New Information
Our visit to Birmingham was exhausting, overwhelming and informative. We saw three doctors (two new ones and a follow up with Dr. Holmes after seeing those two!) and spent 12 hours doing it! Needless to say we were all worn out so I am just now getting around to posting.
Dr. Spencer, the radiologist, went over all the dangers and risks of the re-radiation, but did believe it could be done. During her examination she felt another lump about the size of a dime in Dad's neck and although it couldn't be positively diagnosed as cancer from feeling it, she immediately changed her plan and thought that one or two rounds of chemo first would be a better route to take. She had NOT reviewed the latest PET scan. (hmm????)
So off to Dr. Nabel, the medical oncologist, who deals mostly with chemo treatments. She too had NOT seen the PET scan but only had the written report. She also went over the risks of re-radiation and decided that chemotherapy first to see how the cancer responds is the route he should take.
Next we decided to make a visit to Dr. Holmes to show him the mass that Dr. Spencer felt during her examination. He had only had the written report of the scan as well and had not seen the pictures, but did not seem overly upset about the two spots that "lit up" during this last scan. He thinks that PET scans done too soon after surgery are confusing because surgical spots can also "light up" on the scan if they are done before about 3 months post surgery. Dad's was done 6 weeks to the day after surgery. He was concerned about the new spot found and did do a biopsy. He REALLY wants to take the risk and re-radiate! He said if the other doctors want to do a round or two of chemo first then he was okay with that. It is important to remember that chemotherapy will not cure cancer only SURGERY and RADIATION kill it. Having said that, he stressed that whether or not this spot is cancer or not it WILL NOT CHANGE THE PLAN! We are going to start the chemo and then re-radiate! Please be in prayer for all of this. We (Dad especially) have a rough road ahead, but I have not given up and I have faith that we can fight it. Go Dad!!!! :-)
Thank you for all your prayers and DON'T STOP!
Dr. Spencer, the radiologist, went over all the dangers and risks of the re-radiation, but did believe it could be done. During her examination she felt another lump about the size of a dime in Dad's neck and although it couldn't be positively diagnosed as cancer from feeling it, she immediately changed her plan and thought that one or two rounds of chemo first would be a better route to take. She had NOT reviewed the latest PET scan. (hmm????)
So off to Dr. Nabel, the medical oncologist, who deals mostly with chemo treatments. She too had NOT seen the PET scan but only had the written report. She also went over the risks of re-radiation and decided that chemotherapy first to see how the cancer responds is the route he should take.
Next we decided to make a visit to Dr. Holmes to show him the mass that Dr. Spencer felt during her examination. He had only had the written report of the scan as well and had not seen the pictures, but did not seem overly upset about the two spots that "lit up" during this last scan. He thinks that PET scans done too soon after surgery are confusing because surgical spots can also "light up" on the scan if they are done before about 3 months post surgery. Dad's was done 6 weeks to the day after surgery. He was concerned about the new spot found and did do a biopsy. He REALLY wants to take the risk and re-radiate! He said if the other doctors want to do a round or two of chemo first then he was okay with that. It is important to remember that chemotherapy will not cure cancer only SURGERY and RADIATION kill it. Having said that, he stressed that whether or not this spot is cancer or not it WILL NOT CHANGE THE PLAN! We are going to start the chemo and then re-radiate! Please be in prayer for all of this. We (Dad especially) have a rough road ahead, but I have not given up and I have faith that we can fight it. Go Dad!!!! :-)
Thank you for all your prayers and DON'T STOP!
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Birmingham Appointments
Just wanted to update you all...We are headed to Birmingham tomorrow for two appointments. We will be seeing Dr. Spencer at 10:00 am who is the Radiology Oncologist and then we will also see Dr. Nabell at 1:00 who is a Medical Oncologist. These two apparently work together. One of them is at the Kirkland Clinic and the other is at UAB so we have a busy day ahead of us. Please be in prayer that together these doctors can make a decision as to what to do next and that it is the best possible treatment for Dad. Thank you!
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Quick Update
Dr. Hardacre has talked to both Dr. Holmes and Dr. Spencer in Birmingham. Dr. Holmes feels very confident that the second "spot" is scar tissue. He HAS NOT seen the PET scan, but based on the information Dr. Hardacre gave him and the fact that he remembers that specific spot on the scar struggling to heal as fast as the rest leads him to think in that direction. LET'S PRAY for that!!
Dr. Spencer wants Dr. Hardacre to fax dad's entire history to her before she makes an appointment for us to see her. Dr. Holmes is also going to call and discuss with her. She wants to know if the two spots are linked together (a new cancer) or if it appears to be scar tissue before she makes a decision. She is leaning toward going ahead and starting the radiation on the jaw spot immediately and having another PET scan in 6 weeks to check the other spot. Of course during radiation the area affected would light up on the scan, but doctors would expect that and just look at the area near the scar to see if it had disappeared. IF we take that route, we hope and pray that the "spot" on the neck is just scar tissue because if it was cancer it would have needed to be radiated at the same time as the jaw spot! Sounds confusing I know!
Bottom line...pray that the spot is just scar tissue still in the healing stages and praise God that we know of this spot left behind from the last surgery and that we can treat it. Thank you LORD!
I will let you all know when the UAB appointment will be. Until then....
Dr. Spencer wants Dr. Hardacre to fax dad's entire history to her before she makes an appointment for us to see her. Dr. Holmes is also going to call and discuss with her. She wants to know if the two spots are linked together (a new cancer) or if it appears to be scar tissue before she makes a decision. She is leaning toward going ahead and starting the radiation on the jaw spot immediately and having another PET scan in 6 weeks to check the other spot. Of course during radiation the area affected would light up on the scan, but doctors would expect that and just look at the area near the scar to see if it had disappeared. IF we take that route, we hope and pray that the "spot" on the neck is just scar tissue because if it was cancer it would have needed to be radiated at the same time as the jaw spot! Sounds confusing I know!
Bottom line...pray that the spot is just scar tissue still in the healing stages and praise God that we know of this spot left behind from the last surgery and that we can treat it. Thank you LORD!
I will let you all know when the UAB appointment will be. Until then....
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
PET Scan Results
Dad has his PET scan yesterday, March 1. We met with Dr. Hardacre today to read the results. It did show a spot of cancer left over from this past surgical removal as it was feared. The surgeons and pathologists has expressed sincere concern that some of the cancer could have been left behind after the surgery because the tumor was so aggressive and was attacking the tissue around it. This was the reason they had suggested that he possibly re-radiate. So, that being said, though more cancer did show up around the upper jaw on the same side as this most recently removed tumor, Dr. Hardacre was pleased with the location. That sounds weird, but if you were going to have this cancer return, this is the best place it could be as far as radiation is concerned. Should be easily pinpointed and treated in about 30 Monday thru Friday sessions. Dr. Hardacre relayed all of this as "the good news"... (the good news being that the cancer is still in the head and neck area and completly treatable!!!)
The bad news is that a small suspicious spot showed up underneath his chin right on the incision spot from the last surgery. Now, it is VERY common for scar tissue this soon after surgery to show up on a PET scan as suspicious. However, given Dad's past history, he couldn't help but be concerned until we know for sure what that is. I TRULY BELIEVE it is scar tissue because it is SOOOO small on the scan and neither Dad nor Dr. Hardacre could feel anything. Also, it is in the EXACT spot as the scar and it happens to be in the spot that has taken the longest to heal. I just know that is what it is and I think the doctors do to, they just can't help to but to bring it up based on Dad's past record. So, the bad news is there is no way to test it for sure at this point. It is too small to biopsy because you can't see it or feel it and to go in with a needle would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. That being said, we would ideally want another PET scan in a few weeks to check and see if it is better or worse and we would have an answer. The only problem with that is that we would have to postpone starting the radiation on the spot that we KNOW is there in order to wait for an accurate PET scan. We would have to put off treating what we know is there so that he could wait for the other spot to either show up or heal. Ugh! Perfect scenario is that the second little spot is scar tissue still healing and we begin radiation on the spot near his jaw. I guess if they decide to do this it would be about 6 weeks from now for the scan and/or the start of radiation. I hate that he would have to have radiation again but if that is what has to be done then so be it.
We left it there as Dr. Hardacre has a call in to Dr. Holmes to discuss with him and a call in to Dr. Spencer to see if we can get to UAB pretty quickly to meet with her and get her opinion on what to do.
So continue to pray hard. We know that this is not what we wanted to hear yet again,but we also know that God is in control and THAT THIS CAN STILL BE CURED and that is exactly what we plan to do!
Love,
M
The bad news is that a small suspicious spot showed up underneath his chin right on the incision spot from the last surgery. Now, it is VERY common for scar tissue this soon after surgery to show up on a PET scan as suspicious. However, given Dad's past history, he couldn't help but be concerned until we know for sure what that is. I TRULY BELIEVE it is scar tissue because it is SOOOO small on the scan and neither Dad nor Dr. Hardacre could feel anything. Also, it is in the EXACT spot as the scar and it happens to be in the spot that has taken the longest to heal. I just know that is what it is and I think the doctors do to, they just can't help to but to bring it up based on Dad's past record. So, the bad news is there is no way to test it for sure at this point. It is too small to biopsy because you can't see it or feel it and to go in with a needle would be like looking for a needle in a haystack. That being said, we would ideally want another PET scan in a few weeks to check and see if it is better or worse and we would have an answer. The only problem with that is that we would have to postpone starting the radiation on the spot that we KNOW is there in order to wait for an accurate PET scan. We would have to put off treating what we know is there so that he could wait for the other spot to either show up or heal. Ugh! Perfect scenario is that the second little spot is scar tissue still healing and we begin radiation on the spot near his jaw. I guess if they decide to do this it would be about 6 weeks from now for the scan and/or the start of radiation. I hate that he would have to have radiation again but if that is what has to be done then so be it.
We left it there as Dr. Hardacre has a call in to Dr. Holmes to discuss with him and a call in to Dr. Spencer to see if we can get to UAB pretty quickly to meet with her and get her opinion on what to do.
So continue to pray hard. We know that this is not what we wanted to hear yet again,but we also know that God is in control and THAT THIS CAN STILL BE CURED and that is exactly what we plan to do!
Love,
M
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