Hello to everyone! It has been 3 weeks since I posted so I wanted to give you a quick update. The previous chemo session went as expected..YUCK! He made it through once again and endured the horrible side effects. By the third week he was feeling better, eating more and had more energy just in time to ....you guessed it..start round #6!
He got the pump on Monday and met with the nurse practitioner instead of the doctor. His blood work and blood pressure all looked good. He will wear the pump until Friday and then get the dreaded shot that afternoon. By the middle of next week, we expect him to start to come around again. We then wait for two weeks and then he is to have a CT scan. We don't have the date for that yet, but it will be somewhere around the 11th. He has an appointment with Dr. Bechdach on the 16th. At this appointment I hope to have a plan of action. Hopefully the CT will not show anything we don't already know. The last time we talked to the doctor, he said he would have talked with the radiologists in Birmingham and Dr. Hardacre here by the time we meet again. I pray that is the case. He mentioned there would be a little break between chemo and radiation and I KNOW Dad is glad for that!
So again we thank you for your continued prayer and concern. We sincerely appreciate the kindness you have shown and continue to show to our family. Please pray for this last round to do its job and shrink the cancers that are still there. Pray for the decisions to be made by the radiologist in the coming weeks.
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with THANKSGIVING let your requests be made known to God. ~ Philippians 4:6
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Monday, June 28, 2010
Singing Praises!
THE BONE SCAN CAME BACK CLEAR! The cancer HAS NOT metastasized into the bone! The doctor came in and simply said.."the scans look good"..Mom, Dad and I all replied.."but..." and he said.."no but, they look good". (It was kind of like he was thinking... I just told these people last time that the cancer has metastasized into the bone and that was big trouble. I also told them that he was aspirating food in his lungs and I am wrong!) !
Apparently, in May the PET scan showed suspicious spots in the neck and lung along with the original spots in the neck still active with cancer. He ordered CT/MRI scans and they came back reporting that edema in the vertebrae suggested the cancer had metastasized into the bone and that the spots in lungs were infection due to aspiration. He then ordered a bone scan to confirm and a swallow test to see what the problem was with the swallowing situation causing him to aspirate. Well you can bet that we, along with many of you, have hit are knees hard! Our God is amazing as my faith in him will never waiver! First, the swallow test came back perfectly normal and the bone scan was entirely CLEAR!
The PET scan showed no new growths (Hallelujah!). There are two spots still containing active cancer cells in his neck on the left side and the spot ON the vertebrae still lights up as "suspicious". (Notice I said ON the bone, not IN the bone!) So, here is the plan. Two more rounds of chemo. (Not what Dad wanted to hear, but despite how much he wants to throw that pump in the river he hooked it back on this morning!) This will take 6 weeks starting today. After that, radiation therapy for the spots that are still there. We do not have any other scans scheduled before that as far as I know. The goal is to shrink these existing spots as much as we can and then destroy them with radiation. We have to remember that radiation of his neck is very tricky and risky because he has already had radiation in some of those spots before. However, the farther away we get from the last radiation treatment before starting more is good. So having two more rounds of chemo will also buy some more time in that area.
We do know that two more rounds of this particular regimen of chemo is all that he can have. 6 rounds is the max that has ever been given. So, we cannot waiver, we cannot stop praying. Please thank God for all that He has done. He is compassionate and merciful! Please pray for the next two rounds..it will be tough. Pray that the cancer shrinks and that the radiologists believe they can do what needs to be done to get rid of this cancer.
I am excited and hopeful! I am thankful to my great big God! I am also thankful for all of you and all that you do to help my parents during this storm. The friendships, the cards, the visits, the food, the support and the prayers. It all means so much.
Love,
Michelle
Apparently, in May the PET scan showed suspicious spots in the neck and lung along with the original spots in the neck still active with cancer. He ordered CT/MRI scans and they came back reporting that edema in the vertebrae suggested the cancer had metastasized into the bone and that the spots in lungs were infection due to aspiration. He then ordered a bone scan to confirm and a swallow test to see what the problem was with the swallowing situation causing him to aspirate. Well you can bet that we, along with many of you, have hit are knees hard! Our God is amazing as my faith in him will never waiver! First, the swallow test came back perfectly normal and the bone scan was entirely CLEAR!
The PET scan showed no new growths (Hallelujah!). There are two spots still containing active cancer cells in his neck on the left side and the spot ON the vertebrae still lights up as "suspicious". (Notice I said ON the bone, not IN the bone!) So, here is the plan. Two more rounds of chemo. (Not what Dad wanted to hear, but despite how much he wants to throw that pump in the river he hooked it back on this morning!) This will take 6 weeks starting today. After that, radiation therapy for the spots that are still there. We do not have any other scans scheduled before that as far as I know. The goal is to shrink these existing spots as much as we can and then destroy them with radiation. We have to remember that radiation of his neck is very tricky and risky because he has already had radiation in some of those spots before. However, the farther away we get from the last radiation treatment before starting more is good. So having two more rounds of chemo will also buy some more time in that area.
We do know that two more rounds of this particular regimen of chemo is all that he can have. 6 rounds is the max that has ever been given. So, we cannot waiver, we cannot stop praying. Please thank God for all that He has done. He is compassionate and merciful! Please pray for the next two rounds..it will be tough. Pray that the cancer shrinks and that the radiologists believe they can do what needs to be done to get rid of this cancer.
I am excited and hopeful! I am thankful to my great big God! I am also thankful for all of you and all that you do to help my parents during this storm. The friendships, the cards, the visits, the food, the support and the prayers. It all means so much.
Love,
Michelle
Monday, June 7, 2010
Results of MRI/CT
This morning we met with the doctor to discuss the results of the MRI/CT. The good news is that the chemo is working on the cancers that we had originally planned to attack. They are "sick" and responding to the chemo which is good so we are going on with the fourth round. Most of you know that the PET revealed a suspicious spot on the 4th vertebra in his neck and a some suspicious spots in his chest so the CT/MRI tests were ordered. The results today revealed two new hurdles. First, since the first radiation effected his esophagus so much and the fact that he has to swallow soft foods has caused his esophagus to shrink, he is apparently aspirating food. That is what showed up on the PET. This is a huge concern because it will cause infection in the lungs which we DO NOT WANT! So, tomorrow (Tuesday) he has an appointment at Decatur General for a Barrium Swallow test to evaluate exactly what is going on and to "teach" him how to swallow. Hopefully this will work with a little determination or else a feeding tube may be required in order to reach full nutrition and keep infection away.
The second issue is with the suspicious spot on the vertebrae. It appears that the cancer has metastasized into the bone. We are not sure at this point whether or not it was there before we started treatment or has occurred since then. (We should have had CT/MRI scans before this point in order to accurately compare and somehow we didn't) Dr. Becdach sincerely believes it was there when we started treatment and the treatment is apparently working so he didn't change the plan at this point. Keep on as planned with treatment number 4. It is not good news to have it in the bone and it wasn't what we wanted to hear. However, our plan is to attack it with chemo followed by radiation treatment and pray that it doesn't appear anywhere else. This spot can be cured by radiation and he hasn't been radiated there before so that is all good. The BIG PLAN at this point is to treat what is there now and keep it away for a long time! Please be in prayer for this.
As far as the re-radiation of the areas that have had radiation already, that will be up for discussion after the next PET scan that follows this round of treatment. Dr. Becdach will discuss with Dr. Spencer in Birmingham as well as Dr. Hardacre here in Decatur. He started round 4 of chemo today and I will put the schedule below of what we know so far. Thanks for your concern and constant prayer!
"Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, For you are God my saviour, and my HOPE is in you all day long." Psalm 25 4-5
June 8 Barrium Swallow Test at Decatur General
June 7-11 Pump infusion (treatment 4)
June 10 Neulasta shot
June 14 Appointment to review the Swallow Test
Erbitux infusion
June 21 Erbitux infusion
June 23 PET SCAN
June 24 Bone Scan
June 28 Appointment with Dr. Becdach to review scan results and PLAN!!
Please be in prayer for these appointments and SCANS! Thank you!!!!
The second issue is with the suspicious spot on the vertebrae. It appears that the cancer has metastasized into the bone. We are not sure at this point whether or not it was there before we started treatment or has occurred since then. (We should have had CT/MRI scans before this point in order to accurately compare and somehow we didn't) Dr. Becdach sincerely believes it was there when we started treatment and the treatment is apparently working so he didn't change the plan at this point. Keep on as planned with treatment number 4. It is not good news to have it in the bone and it wasn't what we wanted to hear. However, our plan is to attack it with chemo followed by radiation treatment and pray that it doesn't appear anywhere else. This spot can be cured by radiation and he hasn't been radiated there before so that is all good. The BIG PLAN at this point is to treat what is there now and keep it away for a long time! Please be in prayer for this.
As far as the re-radiation of the areas that have had radiation already, that will be up for discussion after the next PET scan that follows this round of treatment. Dr. Becdach will discuss with Dr. Spencer in Birmingham as well as Dr. Hardacre here in Decatur. He started round 4 of chemo today and I will put the schedule below of what we know so far. Thanks for your concern and constant prayer!
"Show me your ways O Lord, teach me your paths; guide me in your truth and teach me, For you are God my saviour, and my HOPE is in you all day long." Psalm 25 4-5
June 8 Barrium Swallow Test at Decatur General
June 7-11 Pump infusion (treatment 4)
June 10 Neulasta shot
June 14 Appointment to review the Swallow Test
Erbitux infusion
June 21 Erbitux infusion
June 23 PET SCAN
June 24 Bone Scan
June 28 Appointment with Dr. Becdach to review scan results and PLAN!!
Please be in prayer for these appointments and SCANS! Thank you!!!!
Wednesday, June 2, 2010
CT/MRI
Hello family and friends! I have had so many calls and questions today wanting to know how the tests went this morning. It is so nice to have so many people really concerned and anxious to hear the results. I apologize for not posting earlier, but we don't have any information. It is common to have to wait several days for the test to be read. Dad has an appointment Monday morning to go over the results and start round 4 of chemo. I will post as soon as I have a chance to get to my computer after that appointment. As far as the actual scans went this morning, they were easy breezy for dad and he was in and out of there by 7:15 and headed to the Cracker Barrel for breakfast! This is usually his "good week" as he starts to heal from the chemo and feel stronger. (Just in time to start all over again on Monday!)
Keep those prayers coming. Pray that the scans show positive information and that the chemo is working.
Keep those prayers coming. Pray that the scans show positive information and that the chemo is working.
Monday, May 17, 2010
PET Results
Good morning! We have just returned from the appointment with Dr. Becdach and for the most part everything is good news! I have been praying so expectantly for God to remove this cancer! It turns out that he only had a PET scan and not a CT scan last week. The results showed that of the 3 cancers that were there when we started, one is inactive, one is gone and one showed "no change"..This is fabulous news because the one that showed NO CHANGE is really inaccurate. The report is referring to the tumor behind his left ear which was not really visible externally at the time of his last PET in January. However, the doctor saw it when we came in to start the chemo with his own two eyes and it was inflamed, red and actually pushing on his surgery scar causing an infection like discharge. It was just awful! This being said, it was obvious that the tumor had grown and gotten worse since the January scan. He did not go in to start the chemo until April 4! So, the comparison from January to now was not accurate. Does that make sense? Since starting the chemo, this particular place has completely healed and is not inflamed or bulging in any way. So we KNOW that the chemo is working! Dr. Becdach just kept saying over and over that dad was definitely responding to the chemo and it is definitely working so we are going to keep going! At least two more rounds, maybe more, with radiation (along with its risks) to come. I can't help but smile while he is telling me how great he is responding because I KNOW it is all God! I sometimes think I can see a little hint of "surprise" in Doctor Becdach's face and I just want to giggle knowing all the time exactly why this is happening! It is my prayer that we all glorify God through every single day in this storm. To God be the glory! We have a major fight to fight!
The scan results also showed two questionable areas. One lymph node in the chest area and one tiny spot on the 3rd vertebrae in the neck. Both of these could be a number of things and did not seem to worry Dr. Becdach very much. He said that because he was responding so well to the treatments that these spots didn't overly concern him. The one in the chest has lit up before and it turned out that dad had a case of pneumonia. It is very possible that this is the same type thing. The one in the neck is small and could be a result of scar tissue from the radiation. That is why they don't bank on the results of PETs very much. They can be very inaccurate. He wants to schedule an MRI and a CT in 3 weeks to further evaluate these and give him some measurements on the places that we know are there. Technically, this should have really been done before we started the chemo so that there would be a more accurate way to measure the progress. These two things do sound scary, but if you were in the room you could feel that Dr. Becdach was focused more on the great progress he was making and he was ready to "march on"!
So, please be in prayer specifically for the next round and all the side effects that Dad endures and the MRI/CT to be done in a couple of weeks. (They have not given us the date/time yet, but I will let you know)
He did loose a little weight since the last round and we can't let that happen. It isn't like he doesn't try, it is just so hard to eat. He sure does want to though! He has been instructed to eat 3 to 4 meals a day and drink Boost in between. No matter what! So pray that eating will be easier and more desirable during this round..We've got to fatten him up a bit.
Michelle
The scan results also showed two questionable areas. One lymph node in the chest area and one tiny spot on the 3rd vertebrae in the neck. Both of these could be a number of things and did not seem to worry Dr. Becdach very much. He said that because he was responding so well to the treatments that these spots didn't overly concern him. The one in the chest has lit up before and it turned out that dad had a case of pneumonia. It is very possible that this is the same type thing. The one in the neck is small and could be a result of scar tissue from the radiation. That is why they don't bank on the results of PETs very much. They can be very inaccurate. He wants to schedule an MRI and a CT in 3 weeks to further evaluate these and give him some measurements on the places that we know are there. Technically, this should have really been done before we started the chemo so that there would be a more accurate way to measure the progress. These two things do sound scary, but if you were in the room you could feel that Dr. Becdach was focused more on the great progress he was making and he was ready to "march on"!
So, please be in prayer specifically for the next round and all the side effects that Dad endures and the MRI/CT to be done in a couple of weeks. (They have not given us the date/time yet, but I will let you know)
He did loose a little weight since the last round and we can't let that happen. It isn't like he doesn't try, it is just so hard to eat. He sure does want to though! He has been instructed to eat 3 to 4 meals a day and drink Boost in between. No matter what! So pray that eating will be easier and more desirable during this round..We've got to fatten him up a bit.
Michelle
Monday, May 10, 2010
Week 3 and Scans!
Hello friends and family. Papa made it through round 2 of chemo. The first week was mild and brought on tiredness. Week 2 was icky as expected accompanied by a bad rash on his face! Week 3 is here and it is expected to bring on good feelings. Last time week 3 was filled with energy, healing and an appetite! Today he is at the CCI getting Erbitux and tomorrow is scan day. PLEASE pray for this. He is getting a PET and a CT scan to compare with the last one done in January. From talking with the doctor last time, I believe the scans will be used to sort of mark where we are and if he is still responding to the chemo as expected he will do 2 more rounds before radiation plans will be made. Please be in prayer for this all week! We will meet with the doctor NEXT Monday to go over the results. I will let you all know.
Read John Chapter 9 when you have a moment. Reading it today, I was reminded of the story of Christ healing the blind man. One of the disciples asked "who sinned, this man or his parents that he should be born blind?" The answer...."Neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him" (v.3)
To God be the glory for all that He has done! Thank you all for your prayers.. They are so important to us!
Michelle
Read John Chapter 9 when you have a moment. Reading it today, I was reminded of the story of Christ healing the blind man. One of the disciples asked "who sinned, this man or his parents that he should be born blind?" The answer...."Neither this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him" (v.3)
To God be the glory for all that He has done! Thank you all for your prayers.. They are so important to us!
Michelle
Monday, April 26, 2010
PRAISE!!!
Great news!!! We had a scheduled appointment with Dr. Becdach this morning to evaluate the first round of chemotherapy. He had nothing but good things to say! Dad had maintained his weight which is so important and all his blood work tests came back perfectly normal! He and dad discussed the side effects that he had and all the complications that came along with "week 2". They were all normal and expected. He told Dad he could expect the same thing again with this round. It is amazing to me how quickly he heals. If you saw him last week and then saw him today, it is like you are looking at two different people! I am so happy that he has "week 3" to look forward to! (If there is such a thing as "looking forward" to week 3 of a treatment round..ha!) Seriously, he has felt great this past week! Praise be to God who is the great healer!!!!
The best part is when he examined Dad and felt the cancer spots that were clearly visible on his neck. The big one has substantially gotten smaller and the smaller one near his collar bone is significantly smaller as well!! Dr. Becdach was happy that he was able to "move it around" whatever that means! He said that he is definitely responding to the treatment! How GREAT is our GOD!!!
With things going as hoped, they went ahead with a plan. He started round 2 today with the pump infusion chemotherapy which he will wear through Thursday. He will have the "shot" on Friday which causes the aching bones but he managed to work through it in a day or so last time so we pray for that again.
Next Monday (the 3rd) he will go in for Erbitux infusion
The following Monday (the 10th) he will go for Erbitux infusion
On Tuesday, May 11 he will go to Huntsville for a PET/CT scan! This will give them something to compare with the PET scan from January. If things are still going as expected, they will start two more rounds of chemo. That was new information to us, but if that is what it takes then that is what we will do! Dr. Becdach mentioned that he would then send him back to Birmingham for evaluation at that point. We do have an opinion about that, (for those of you who remember we were not really fond of the oncologist we saw down there) but we will cross that bridge when we get there!
So first and foremost praise God for what he has done! Amazing! Please continue to pray for the side effects and the effectiveness of this second round and start praying for the scans on May 11.
Love and blessings to you all!
The best part is when he examined Dad and felt the cancer spots that were clearly visible on his neck. The big one has substantially gotten smaller and the smaller one near his collar bone is significantly smaller as well!! Dr. Becdach was happy that he was able to "move it around" whatever that means! He said that he is definitely responding to the treatment! How GREAT is our GOD!!!
With things going as hoped, they went ahead with a plan. He started round 2 today with the pump infusion chemotherapy which he will wear through Thursday. He will have the "shot" on Friday which causes the aching bones but he managed to work through it in a day or so last time so we pray for that again.
Next Monday (the 3rd) he will go in for Erbitux infusion
The following Monday (the 10th) he will go for Erbitux infusion
On Tuesday, May 11 he will go to Huntsville for a PET/CT scan! This will give them something to compare with the PET scan from January. If things are still going as expected, they will start two more rounds of chemo. That was new information to us, but if that is what it takes then that is what we will do! Dr. Becdach mentioned that he would then send him back to Birmingham for evaluation at that point. We do have an opinion about that, (for those of you who remember we were not really fond of the oncologist we saw down there) but we will cross that bridge when we get there!
So first and foremost praise God for what he has done! Amazing! Please continue to pray for the side effects and the effectiveness of this second round and start praying for the scans on May 11.
Love and blessings to you all!
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