My Naturopath, Dr. Rob Dramov has a prayer request. He and I have been praying that he would be able to easily insert the catheter into the vein in my right arm. Because he wants me to have good mobility for the 2 hours each Monday and Thursday I am in his office, he has been using a very small caliber flexible catheter rather than the metal and rigid type used in the hospital. This is because I have to regularly (every 20 - 30 min) get up to use the bathroom, and because the smaller, more flexible catheter has less potential to cause scaring on my vein.
We want to continue to be able to use the big vein in my right arm. I have big veins and they are easy to find, but everybody has trouble getting the needle in them! He has had good success with one particular vein. Evidently I have thick skin!
In any case, we continue to do the IV Vitamin C treatment 1 to 2 times weekly in hope that it will continue to shrink the "tumor load". We will know more about the effectiveness after my next PET/CT sometime in August.
Monday, June 28, 2010
Monday, May 24, 2010
Ticked Off, Jeanah Catches a Fish!
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
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
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.
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