So after being 5 days out from the fires Chemo round, I feel pretty good. I haven't had to battle side effects much. When I got out of the Dr.'s office, I did have a cold tongue, and I was a bit cold and fatigued for the next two days when the 5FU was pumping, but I feel well now.
Jeanah and I are considering keeping our plans to go to HAWAII the first two weeks in May as long as I can tolerate the next couple treatments nearly as well as the first.
One nurse did tell me that sometimes people do experience effects after the 2nd or 3rd treatments they didn't see in the first. Also, (mean) Dr. Chang may boost the quantity of Chemo given if I'm tolerating it.
Anyway, seems encouraging to this point.
Love ya'll
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Drip...drip...drip...
Today was relatively painless. I got there at 9am and they started me on a drip of Calcium and Magnesium which is to lessen the potential side-effects. After this, they gave me a drip of Steroids for the same reason. At that point, they gave the O...and L... and then I waited 15 minutes before they could give the last which was a dosage of the 5FU and then hook up the take-home pump.
I didn't have much of a problem with side effects today. Some fatigue and a funny flushed feeling. I also had some coolness on my tongue, but that is gone now.
We shall see how the 5FU affects me over the next day or two...hoping I will be right as rain (which we have plenty of right now).
The CT scan I had Sunday didn't show anything of concern and Dr. Chang gave the drugs as previously discussed.
I didn't have much of a problem with side effects today. Some fatigue and a funny flushed feeling. I also had some coolness on my tongue, but that is gone now.
We shall see how the 5FU affects me over the next day or two...hoping I will be right as rain (which we have plenty of right now).
The CT scan I had Sunday didn't show anything of concern and Dr. Chang gave the drugs as previously discussed.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Here we go...
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
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 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!
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