Today I saw Dr. Chang, my oncologist and we discussed the Chemotherapy option he thinks is best. We will start at 9:00am next Tuesday, Feb 15. The way I understand it is I will get 5 hours of IV Pump Chemo that day with two chemicals and a hint of the third. Leucovorin and Oxaliplatin are given with a flush of the Flourouracil (5FU).
Then, the 5FU is used in a slow push pump which I take home with me for 46 hours and I go back in 2 days to get disconnected.
So basically from 9am Tuesday to 3pm Thursday I will have chemicals going through my body hopefully targeting and destroying any "microscopic baddies" that may still be left over after the surgery...
If you want to read more about chemotherapy, go here Chemocare.com or to find out more about the particular drugs click on the names below:
Leucovorin
Oxaliplatin
Fluorouracil
I will have the second of 12 treatments on Monday, Feb 28. He said the protocol is to do this for 6 months (12 treatments) but if something non-desirable is occurring we can modify or even stop the treatments as needed.
He will prescribe medication to help fight nausea which is a potential side effect. Numbness in the fingers and toes is another potential side effect.
Please pray that I will be able to tolerate the treatments well and that the side effects will be minimal.
Love ya'll!
Victor
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Back to Normal! (For at least a week)
I saw Dr. Lee, my surgeon, today. He says everything looks great and is healed nicely. I have no more drainage issues and he says "eat normal, have normal activity"...keeping in mind I have the stoma.
Next Tuesday, Feb 8, at 3:30pm, I see Dr. Chang. We will discuss Chemotherapy and what that will look like (assuming I choose to do that, which is most likely).
I worked full-time, mostly from the office last week, and Jeanah and I took a long weekend in La Grande with her parents this weekend. I was tired after the work week and the end of my tailbone didn't allow me to drive much on the way there. I'm hoping my body gets more used to sitting up and working!
Thank you all for your continued prayer and kindness!
Next Tuesday, Feb 8, at 3:30pm, I see Dr. Chang. We will discuss Chemotherapy and what that will look like (assuming I choose to do that, which is most likely).
I worked full-time, mostly from the office last week, and Jeanah and I took a long weekend in La Grande with her parents this weekend. I was tired after the work week and the end of my tailbone didn't allow me to drive much on the way there. I'm hoping my body gets more used to sitting up and working!
Thank you all for your continued prayer and kindness!
Sunday, January 16, 2011
Hawaii or Chemo...tough choice!
I'm about 90% certain I will start preventative chemotherapy sessions sometime in February and will do a session about every 2 weeks for 6 months (that's until July). Dr. Chang says he estimates a 40+ % increased chance of cure if we do. That sounds like a winner to me! We had planned on going to Hawaii in May, but are going to change that to most likely a trip to sunny Mexico in October.
On a good note, the drainage I had to endure out my backside has subsided. To me, this means probably no "secondary probing" surgery visit in February. We will know more Feb 1 when I talk to Dr. Lee.
On a good note, the drainage I had to endure out my backside has subsided. To me, this means probably no "secondary probing" surgery visit in February. We will know more Feb 1 when I talk to Dr. Lee.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Clear PET scan
The PET Scan was clear, no hot spots, nothing abnormal. It does show "healing" taking place in the rectal area...I could have told you that....
So what does this mean?
We decided that since there is still some healing and drainage on the backside and I am seeing Dr. Lee on Feb 1 to see what is going on at that point, that we will wait for that. Dr. Chang says he would like to start Chemotherapy no later than end of Feb, but we will see what happens with Dr. Lee on Feb 1.
Dr. Chang says doing Chemo at this point will increase the chances of "a cure" by about 40-50%. That sounds good to me! He said by cure, he means no more cancer for 20-30+ years. With that said, I think I'm probably going to do the Chemo... He thinks we should be able to go to Hawaii in May depending on how I "tolerate" the Chemo.
He said if there had been evidence of spread on the PET scan, the prognosis would be more like "let's keep you alive as long as we can"...probably more like 5-10 years. Ummm...I didn't realize that was what we were looking at, but the 20-30+ year timeframe sounds much better :)
Earlier yesterday I went to the Ostomy nurse. She says everything looks good, and gave me a slightly smaller base to use (this is the base that sticks to my stoma). It didn't work so well and I had to replace it in the afternoon prior to my Oncology appointment. Later, Jeanah was able to get one to stick OK, but I am going to contact her today and let her know it didn't work as well as we'd hoped. This is not an exact science. We just are trying to get the best equipment for my situation so I can have the best results and the easiest time of installation every 3-5 days.
So what does this mean?
We decided that since there is still some healing and drainage on the backside and I am seeing Dr. Lee on Feb 1 to see what is going on at that point, that we will wait for that. Dr. Chang says he would like to start Chemotherapy no later than end of Feb, but we will see what happens with Dr. Lee on Feb 1.
Dr. Chang says doing Chemo at this point will increase the chances of "a cure" by about 40-50%. That sounds good to me! He said by cure, he means no more cancer for 20-30+ years. With that said, I think I'm probably going to do the Chemo... He thinks we should be able to go to Hawaii in May depending on how I "tolerate" the Chemo.
He said if there had been evidence of spread on the PET scan, the prognosis would be more like "let's keep you alive as long as we can"...probably more like 5-10 years. Ummm...I didn't realize that was what we were looking at, but the 20-30+ year timeframe sounds much better :)
Earlier yesterday I went to the Ostomy nurse. She says everything looks good, and gave me a slightly smaller base to use (this is the base that sticks to my stoma). It didn't work so well and I had to replace it in the afternoon prior to my Oncology appointment. Later, Jeanah was able to get one to stick OK, but I am going to contact her today and let her know it didn't work as well as we'd hoped. This is not an exact science. We just are trying to get the best equipment for my situation so I can have the best results and the easiest time of installation every 3-5 days.
Sunday, January 2, 2011
Moving Forward and Learning...
As we move into 2011 (YAY!!) we will be continuing to take in data from doctors and learn the result of the PeT scan taken on 12/31/2010.
I meet with Dr. Lee on Tuesday, 1/4, to make sure everything is going well with my incisions.
Still getting stronger week by week, and right now I have almost no pain due to surgery. Still have some numbness in my middle and ring fingers on my right hand, hoping that will continue to heal.
We hope 2011 is a better year than 2010!!
Love you all!
I meet with Dr. Lee on Tuesday, 1/4, to make sure everything is going well with my incisions.
Still getting stronger week by week, and right now I have almost no pain due to surgery. Still have some numbness in my middle and ring fingers on my right hand, hoping that will continue to heal.
We hope 2011 is a better year than 2010!!
Love you all!
Sunday, December 26, 2010
I HATE IT!!!!!
These words were a consistent theme for me while I was in the ICU at St. Vincents' 6 weeks ago. Jeanah knew that I wasn't being hateful, but just expressing how much I disliked being hooked up to all the IV's and being SO tired and WEAK. She also said I sounded like my little niece, May, who has down's syndrome and often says this when she greatly dislikes something.
Well, my sister, Beth, took a turn for the worse last week on Christmas eve she went through three CODE BLUES at Salem Hospital before her frail body finally wasn't able to do what she willed it to do. She went to be with Jesus early Christmas morning. We suppose that Home is a good place to be on Christmas morning.
Mom said one of the last phrases she uttered was "I hate it!" because she was in such pain and annoyed by all the tubes, gizmos and wing dings hooked up to her.
The Memorial Celebration is at 2:00 Thursday December 30 at Salem Heights Church, Salem, Oregon. We expect many people, so come early if you come...
We are encouraged that she is in the BEST place and that we will see her again in the twinkling of an eye! I (still) HATE IT!! There has been much wailing and crying in our household these last few days. Please pray for peace for my mom and dad as they struggle through this intensely difficult pain. Beth's departure leaves a hole that we will not be able to fill. Praise God He has given us the victory over death and its sting! Well done, Beth, good and faithful servant!!
Peace be with you!
Victor
Well, my sister, Beth, took a turn for the worse last week on Christmas eve she went through three CODE BLUES at Salem Hospital before her frail body finally wasn't able to do what she willed it to do. She went to be with Jesus early Christmas morning. We suppose that Home is a good place to be on Christmas morning.
Mom said one of the last phrases she uttered was "I hate it!" because she was in such pain and annoyed by all the tubes, gizmos and wing dings hooked up to her.
The Memorial Celebration is at 2:00 Thursday December 30 at Salem Heights Church, Salem, Oregon. We expect many people, so come early if you come...
We are encouraged that she is in the BEST place and that we will see her again in the twinkling of an eye! I (still) HATE IT!! There has been much wailing and crying in our household these last few days. Please pray for peace for my mom and dad as they struggle through this intensely difficult pain. Beth's departure leaves a hole that we will not be able to fill. Praise God He has given us the victory over death and its sting! Well done, Beth, good and faithful servant!!
Peace be with you!
Victor
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Fantasy Football
So, six weeks ago one of my first memories after the double-dip surgery was telling my loving wife Jeanah that "I must play Steven Jackson" in Fantasy Football and that there was a special Thursday night game and we need to check if any of my players are playing, etc.
She dutifully got her laptop and brought it to me, but of course through my drugged eyes, I couldn't even tell her how to make the change. I just was able to tell her to "play Steven Jackson" and so she did...I lost anyway...
These days, I'm getting stronger every day it seems and am able to sit up and work from home for up to 2 - 3 hour stints at a time with a nap in between of course. My pain is rarely over a two on a scale of one to ten. I am down to 1-2 pain meds per day with Tylenol as a supplement.
The incision on my lower belly is healing nicely and the three extra belly buttons I had are almost a memory. The only "bad" side effect I still am dealing with is some continued fluid drainage out my backside. Before the surgery, I had wrongly assumed that part of my anatomy would be sown shut. I guess they let it heal from the inside out and this is part of the side effect of that.
The pain meds make me uncontrollably weepy and emotional...and I sometimes wear a feminine pad (?TMI?) to keep my pants clean so Jeanah says I now know how half the world feels a quarter of the time.
The next medical thing for me is on 12/31, a PT scan to confirm there are no hot spots in my body after surgery. After that, we will meet again with Dr. Chang, the oncologist to discuss if we will be doing Chemotherapy or not. Right now it seems to be 60/40, but it's a tough decision. Please pray for wisdom and peace in this decision.
On another note, my lil sis, Beth, just had open heart surgery to replace a very badly calcified heart valve. The surgeon said afterward that he hardly sees how any blood was getting pumped out at all. I've visited her in Salem Hospital several times this week and she is improving with each visit. The bummer is that our family will not be celebrating Christmas all together for the first time in 35 years!
Jeanah and I will be in Salem for Christmas with her family and will spend time in the Hospital with my family as well.
We praise God for the blessing of His Son in this season and for all the blessings He heaps upon us daily!
Merry Christmas!!
She dutifully got her laptop and brought it to me, but of course through my drugged eyes, I couldn't even tell her how to make the change. I just was able to tell her to "play Steven Jackson" and so she did...I lost anyway...
These days, I'm getting stronger every day it seems and am able to sit up and work from home for up to 2 - 3 hour stints at a time with a nap in between of course. My pain is rarely over a two on a scale of one to ten. I am down to 1-2 pain meds per day with Tylenol as a supplement.
The incision on my lower belly is healing nicely and the three extra belly buttons I had are almost a memory. The only "bad" side effect I still am dealing with is some continued fluid drainage out my backside. Before the surgery, I had wrongly assumed that part of my anatomy would be sown shut. I guess they let it heal from the inside out and this is part of the side effect of that.
The pain meds make me uncontrollably weepy and emotional...and I sometimes wear a feminine pad (?TMI?) to keep my pants clean so Jeanah says I now know how half the world feels a quarter of the time.
The next medical thing for me is on 12/31, a PT scan to confirm there are no hot spots in my body after surgery. After that, we will meet again with Dr. Chang, the oncologist to discuss if we will be doing Chemotherapy or not. Right now it seems to be 60/40, but it's a tough decision. Please pray for wisdom and peace in this decision.
On another note, my lil sis, Beth, just had open heart surgery to replace a very badly calcified heart valve. The surgeon said afterward that he hardly sees how any blood was getting pumped out at all. I've visited her in Salem Hospital several times this week and she is improving with each visit. The bummer is that our family will not be celebrating Christmas all together for the first time in 35 years!
Jeanah and I will be in Salem for Christmas with her family and will spend time in the Hospital with my family as well.
We praise God for the blessing of His Son in this season and for all the blessings He heaps upon us daily!
Merry Christmas!!
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