July 23 update

Note from Erin: I'm going back and posting from Dad's original emails, so you can catch up. The actual first date of this blog was in January 2015.

John Update 07/23/2014

Guy Version

1. I have been feeling pretty good since out of the hospital on July 1.
2. I have been to work every day, although sometimes shorter days.
3. I am taking a break from chemo as going on vacation.
4. I am typing this on the plane to Denver to see Erin
5. Going to stay near Winter Park in Joyce's cousin's cabin.
6. Will be home on August 2^nd
7. Chemo starts again on August 8^th.
8. I am starting a new medication. Instead of the pump (for 5 FU) for 46 hours after chemo, I am switching to Xeloda which metabolizes to 5FU. I will take it twice a day for 2 weeks,
9. And then off a week. Not sure how the side effects will work.
10. Chemo will be every three weeks.
11. Started wearing thigh-high compression stockings as the leg with the blood clot started swelling more.and then hurting. They actually are a big help and not as uncomfortable as I had imagined.

Gal Version

The last update I was just getting out of the hospital on July 1. The good news is that I have been feeling quite good since then. I was scheduled to have chemo on July 3^rd, but decided to postpone it a week. Then when I went in to see the oncologist on July 11, he decided to wait on chemo, as we were going on vacation on July 23. (I am writing this at the airport at 5:30 am.) The oncologist was concerned that I had been in the hospital a week after hospitalization, and if that happened again, it would be right before our vacation was scheduled. Dr. Lavelle's approach is to balance quality of life with treatment. So now I am scheduled for Chemo after we get back on August 8.

Vacation: We are going to Denver to see our daughter, Erin. Joyce's cousin, Duane, offered us the use of his cabin, “The Treehouse” near Winter Park (Fraser, Co)), right after I was diagnosed with colon cancer. He said when I was able to come out and we could have the use of it. So we will be at the “Treehouse” part of the time and back at Erin's in Aurora part of the time. Erin is busy part of the time, as summer-time is when she is busy at “Central City Opera.” Most of the year she is based out of Denver But in the summer the opera company does many productions up at Central City. So we will catch up with her when she has time off...Saturday.

Erin and Mike got two inflatable Kayaks (each can carry 2), so she wants us to hit the River on Sunday morning. 

She has had such fun with them, esp kayaking with friends on the Platte River that goes through Denver.

We are staying at Mike and Erin (minus Erin) the first night to acclimate to the higher altitude. Then head up to the Treehouse on Thursday.

We are scheduled to meet my cousin, Shari Swank Sirridge, about noon today for lunch. (There seems to be western migration of Swanks, as Shari's brother, Phil, and two daughters are in the Denver area.

So we are looking forward to resting and relaxing for a while, although the schedule keeps filling up. We will be returning home on Saturday, August 2.

So, although it has been a while since I have written, I have been feeling pretty good. The main lingering side effects is neuropathy (Hand and Foot Syndrome). Finger tips are numb, and areas around the toes remain painful. It makes walking long distances challenging. I try to walk when I find it enjoyable. But in the stores I grab an electric cart. Electric carts in stores are fascinating. If you run into somebody, they apologize to you!!!

I have had leg swelling more on the leg with the blood clot. Probably because I am feeling better, I am on my feet more. And then there as pain in that leg again, something I had not had for months. So since I was to get compression stockings for the plane flight, I have started wearing every day. I now have greater appreciation for women who wear thigh high nylons!!

For 3 months I was having a nurse come to the house and hook up my IV pump after chemo and then come back on Sunday to unhook it. They called and said my case was closed as I was not housebound. We discovered that the only way to continue with the pump was to pay $140 per hookup and then $140 to unhook me. Medicare does not cover and there is no place I can go to an office and get it done. So......

We are switching to Xeloda, an oral dosage that I will take for 2 weeks. Some say the side effects are milder, but then perhaps they last longer. We shall see.

The last CEA (tumor marker) was 7.9, Goal is 2 or below, but I started out at 924.9. Dr. Lavelle thinks it will come down more with treatment.

Thanks for your love, caring and support. And especially your support to Joyce.

John E. Swank

Re: how are you?

Note from Erin: I'm going back and posting from Dad's original emails, so you can catch up. The actual first date of the wholer blog was in January 2015. This particular email was sent only to some family on July 3, 2014, following hospitalization over prior weekend

In response to the question, "Hi, how are you feeling? A treatment today? Thinking of you."

I have 40x more energy than when I was in the hospital. Almost hypomanic. Could not sleep last night. Only slept about 2 hours, Still feel good. I slept enough from Sat AM til Tuesday that I should still have some extra sleep credit! Ha!

I was at office yesterday and today.

I forgot until the update went out to say that I have postponed chemo a week. Oncologist let it up to me, and I figured another week to recover wasn't too bad an idea. Also that way I will have chemo on 11th, and  then none before our trip to Colorado. Otherwise would have had chemo a week before left for trip....but 7 days was when I got in trouble this time.

Then will resume Friday after get back, Aug 8. So off chemo almost a month. But not sure it makes that big a difference at this point, as sometimes take 3 month break after 12 visits. (Research I read says you do better if you keep treating, just not so often.)  Will see what Dr. Lavelle's thoughts on it are. Chemo on 11th will be number 10 of 12. Then re-evaluate after 12th.session.

I think my body needs to recover from all the antibiotics that they threw at me while in the hospital. I am still having difficulty with many foods just don't have much taste to me. I have pill form of antibiotic to take for a week after out of hospital. (Ice cream is an exception!!)

I have mostly enjoyed eating smooth things...pudding, cottage cheese, yogurt, jello, fruit, etc.

Mouth sores pretty well healed, so not so difficult to eat or talk on the phone.

Copied in [to other family] as I wanted to send out basically the same information since I had forgotten it.

John E. Swank

July 2 Update

Note from Erin: I'm going back and posting from Dad's original emails, so you can catch up. The actual first date of this blog was in January 2015.

July 2, 2014

Update

I ended up in hospital after going to ER midnight Saturday (June 28). I had been sleepy all day Saturday (unusual for weekend after treatment). I became chilled, and then temperature went above 100 degrees which is considered emergency if on chemo. Checked with doctor on call, and I went to  Kettering hosp.ER  Had two dear friend, Deb and Doug go with us which was a godsend as it was 6am til Joyce got home, and Doug drove.

Was admitted as my white blood count was down and they were concerned about bacterial infection. So stuffed me full of antibiotics and fluid. As it took 48 hours for tests to come back kept me til Tuesday. Tests were negative. So I came home yesterday evening. I slept most of time in hospital, and had little appetite, I think, because of antibiotics. My WBC came up quickly after meds.

Joyce’s sister Becky (former oncology nurse) said it was a good idea I checked it out quickly as things can get critical very fast with a low WBC.

I feel much better this am. Am at work, trying to catch up. Best I have felt since before all this started. Almost, not quite, back to normal.

Another adventure with the cancer treatment.

John E. Swank