So, I'm gonna start out with a "cancer update". I am in my 3rd week of the 2nd round of Vitamin C treatment. Everything seems to be going well, and we're going to continue the Vitamin C IV drip therapy 1-2 times/week through the summer. I'm also still doing the Budwig/yogurt and flax oil daily as well as a daily regimen of supplements.
Watching my diet has become more pronounced as we found out that Jeanah has Celiac disease and cannot eat wheat gluten. I'm trying as much as possible to continue to support her on that front.
I turned the big 4-0 on Saturday! I asked for and received an exercise bike to replace the one that had its computer die. I WILL get more exercise (so I can hike better!)
Jeanah and I went to LaGrande this weekend. We and her parents were hiking through the woods near the Camp Vista property along the North Powder River. It was as beautiful a hike as I've been on, although I should hike more so I'm not so winded!
Anyway, on Sunday morning, Jeanah let out a shriek as she was scratching my back. "That mole on your back has legs!!!", she said. It was a tick. We looked up tick removal online and she did a masterful job of removing it with tweezers. All is well. (Is your head tingling?...mine is...every time I think about it)
Later on Sunday afternoon, JEANAH CAUGHT A FISH! This was the first fish she caught in 21 years. We have been joking for years that if she is in the same county, you will not catch a fish. The curse has been broken! (no, she didn't use the tick for bait)
Until next time...
Love ya'll
Monday, May 24, 2010
Thursday, April 8, 2010
Excitement Abounds
At today's appointment with the Oncologist, after waiting and being "patient" for 1.5 hours, I got to see both the Nurse Practitioner and Dr. Chang. I think I was the last patient of the day although I was scheduled at 3:40!
Both of them were more excited about the "Reduced Tumor Load" than I expected them to be. Basically, Dr. Chang said "keep doing what you're doing". He said that sometime in the next 4 months, before I see him again, I should see the Gastroenterologist (sp?) for another "scope" because those are so dang fun.
He said we are outside the window available to do surgery, but he said in light of what's happening, that may be alright. His plan is just to monitor the tumor 4 months from now and if it is still going well, then 6 months after that for several more years. He said the chance of recurrence in this type of thing is still high (he says more in the 40% range than the 90% range, but there aren't too many studies in this type of decision and treatment).
All my blood work looked normal and "perfect".
That's great, because I'm ready to go on vacation!
Love ya'll!
Both of them were more excited about the "Reduced Tumor Load" than I expected them to be. Basically, Dr. Chang said "keep doing what you're doing". He said that sometime in the next 4 months, before I see him again, I should see the Gastroenterologist (sp?) for another "scope" because those are so dang fun.
He said we are outside the window available to do surgery, but he said in light of what's happening, that may be alright. His plan is just to monitor the tumor 4 months from now and if it is still going well, then 6 months after that for several more years. He said the chance of recurrence in this type of thing is still high (he says more in the 40% range than the 90% range, but there aren't too many studies in this type of decision and treatment).
All my blood work looked normal and "perfect".
That's great, because I'm ready to go on vacation!
Love ya'll!
Monday, April 5, 2010
The Incredible Shrinking Tumor
The last Pet scan was in November. The Tumor was 4.6 cm across. It is now 3.9 cm across. That's a 15% reduction. We think that's a good thing!
Also, the SUV number which supposedly measures the activity of the tumor, was 14.1 and is now 10.4. That's a 26% reduction. However, in the previous previous PET scan in mid-2009, it was 9.2, so it's heading back down. We think that's a good thing too!
Also, there is no visible metastasis! No spread is a good thing too!
These readings were from Dr. Dramov, my Naturopath. I go see Dr. Chang, the Oncologist, on Thursday and we will discuss what the next plan of attack will be.
I'm assuming we will have another PET scan in 6 months or so. Our portion of this is $500, so we want to do these as sparingly as possible, but it is good to monitor the tumor area and get some handle on what is going on there.
Will report more after Thursday's appointment...
Love ya'll!
Victor
Also, the SUV number which supposedly measures the activity of the tumor, was 14.1 and is now 10.4. That's a 26% reduction. However, in the previous previous PET scan in mid-2009, it was 9.2, so it's heading back down. We think that's a good thing too!
Also, there is no visible metastasis! No spread is a good thing too!
These readings were from Dr. Dramov, my Naturopath. I go see Dr. Chang, the Oncologist, on Thursday and we will discuss what the next plan of attack will be.
I'm assuming we will have another PET scan in 6 months or so. Our portion of this is $500, so we want to do these as sparingly as possible, but it is good to monitor the tumor area and get some handle on what is going on there.
Will report more after Thursday's appointment...
Love ya'll!
Victor
Thursday, April 1, 2010
28 Minute Cat (Pet) Nap
The PET/CT scan today went well. No surprises at the actual scan. As always, after the 28 minutes of lying perfectly still, the technician told me I could put my arms down from above my head...I needed help.
The chair in the staging room at EPIC imaging is almost worth the $500/hour I have to pay to sit in it...
We will know the results Monday and/or Thursday as I have two doctor appointments next week with separate doctors.
The chair in the staging room at EPIC imaging is almost worth the $500/hour I have to pay to sit in it...
We will know the results Monday and/or Thursday as I have two doctor appointments next week with separate doctors.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Flucation 2010
So Jeanah and I tried to get away for a 4-day weekend and it turned into a 5-day because we both went to Klamath Falls and had the flu all weekend long. The Running Y Ranch seems to be a beautiful place, much like Eagle Crest in Redmond. We would have loved to report better on it, but we were horizontal most of the time.
On the cancer front, I continue to visit Dr. Dramov 2x/week to get Vitamin C drips and will have the next PET/CT the last week of March (no firm date yet). Will visit with Dr. Chang after that for the results. Hoping the tumor area is shrinking with the Vit C treatments.
We plan to go on vacation in Mid-April to sunny California for 16 days of fun in the sun.
On the cancer front, I continue to visit Dr. Dramov 2x/week to get Vitamin C drips and will have the next PET/CT the last week of March (no firm date yet). Will visit with Dr. Chang after that for the results. Hoping the tumor area is shrinking with the Vit C treatments.
We plan to go on vacation in Mid-April to sunny California for 16 days of fun in the sun.
Monday, February 1, 2010
Be sure to take your Vitamin C!
So today I will start an 8-week, twice per week, Vitamin C IV regimen. I go to my Naturopath, Dr. Dramov, from 1:45 till about 3:45 on Mondays and Thursdays and he will put a large dosage of Vitamin C in my with an IV. I did this once back in October, but because it is $100 per visit and I didn't have the money, we tried to get the insurance company to pay it.
Recently, Dr. Dramov called and said somebody wishes to take care of the cost of this. I do not know who, or even if I know them personally, but we're going forward with it. Jeanah and I have discussed it and prayed about it and we think we would be crazy not to do it and see if it has any effect on the tumor.
Since the tumor has not grown or shrunken in the last two PET scans, it will be interesting to see if doing the Vitamin C IV does anything. I will be doing going in for another PET scan on April 5, so we shall see if it does anything.
Dr. Dramov is confident that this is enough time to see an improvement if one is going to occur from the Vitamin C IV. Our goal is to be able to use the Vitamin C to "shrink the tumor out of existence" or at least "make the SUV number go to below 2.5" which is in the "normal" range.
Both Dr. Chang and Dr. Dramov say that the SUV number being higher than 2.5 on the last 2 PET scans could mean that there is either still cancerous cells having activity and/or healing taking place in that region. Since the tumor has not gotten larger, there is a good chance it is just healing, but it's "tough to tell because of the mass of scar tissue in the area due to the radiation therapy".
All for now...
Recently, Dr. Dramov called and said somebody wishes to take care of the cost of this. I do not know who, or even if I know them personally, but we're going forward with it. Jeanah and I have discussed it and prayed about it and we think we would be crazy not to do it and see if it has any effect on the tumor.
Since the tumor has not grown or shrunken in the last two PET scans, it will be interesting to see if doing the Vitamin C IV does anything. I will be doing going in for another PET scan on April 5, so we shall see if it does anything.
Dr. Dramov is confident that this is enough time to see an improvement if one is going to occur from the Vitamin C IV. Our goal is to be able to use the Vitamin C to "shrink the tumor out of existence" or at least "make the SUV number go to below 2.5" which is in the "normal" range.
Both Dr. Chang and Dr. Dramov say that the SUV number being higher than 2.5 on the last 2 PET scans could mean that there is either still cancerous cells having activity and/or healing taking place in that region. Since the tumor has not gotten larger, there is a good chance it is just healing, but it's "tough to tell because of the mass of scar tissue in the area due to the radiation therapy".
All for now...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
