Health
Update
03/05/2015 - 03/06/2015
Guy
Version (short and to the point)
- PET Scan indicated growth of cancer in some areas
- Decided to switch chemo type
- Chemo delayed a week because of platelet count low last week
- So chemo was 03/05/2015
- New chemo is Camptosar. Stopped most other drugs, so chemo shorter by a couple of hours.
- Diarrhea main new projected side effect
- No longer getting chemo that causes cold sensitivity
- Still getting pump for chemo at home for another 46 hrs.
- Got a scooter donated to us (photos and story in blog)
- Support continues to be amazing
The
Gal Version (more details)
I
have been feeling pretty good the last several weeks.
I
was to have chemo on February 27, but postponed until 3/5/15 as my
platelet count was low.
Results
of PET Scan indicated that the present type of chemo was not working
optimally. My CEA count was going up, not down (43). Had been in the
low teens. It showed some cancer in the cecum. That was where the
cancer started, but it had not shown on the previous CT Scan or PET
Scan I did in May. There was also some cancer on my tailbone, but Dr.
Joe Lavelle was not too concerned, as long as it was not painful.
There were some new cancer in the liver.
Joyce
asked , “What is the bottom line at this point?” Dr Joe said “You
are much better off than you were a year ago.”
So
the bottom line is that I am changing chemotherapy medication.
Now going to Camptosar. Dr. Joe was confident that the new med would
manage the problem. Camptosar is made from plants, including vinca,
the ground cover that overruns my front yard.
The
main side effect that will be new is that it causes diarrhea. (My
checking on the internet said that there was early onset and late
onset diarrhea. Early is within the first 24 hours. Late onset is on
day 11. We shall see.) Current note 3/6/2015: After the first 36
hours, diarrhea has not been a problem. A nice side effect to not
have.
Prior
to changing the chemo, my CEA count taken on 2/27 had dropped from 43
to 31.7. So that was good to hear it was in the right direction. (The
goal is to get below 3 or so, but mine had been over 400 when I was
diagnosed.)
Also,
it is strange to not have cold sensitivity. I had forgotten what that
was like. The first day or two after chemo I had been having very
severe cold sensitivity. I can now drink cold water without wincing.
Cousins
on mom's side (Wendell, Mike and Mona) a few weeks ago gave us an
almost unused scooter that their step-mother had used only a few
times.
And then Joyce called on a friend who said to call him if we
ever needed anything. Within an hour after Joyce's call, he was at
our place looking at how to implement our idea. Since his specialty
is welding, he designed and welded a mini slip-in cargo carrier that
attaches to the seat post receiver. Then he mounted a collapsible
plastic crate to it, so can we can go shopping with it. He had it
completed and delivered within the week. (Thanks so much, Russ).
So be careful telling Joyce to call if we need
anything!!!
So
many people been there for us in so many ways. In just the past
week, Janice and Pat donated and delivered 16 cups of Dannon
Activia Greek yogurt. Deb made an emergency run for drinks and orange
sherbet as Joyce was under the weather with an intestinal bug. Paul,
our neighbor, plowed our driveway before plowing his own. Jeff spent
several hours identifying the exact part that needed to be ordered to
repair a broken car door latch. Todd and Shelley included us in their
family meal on short notice.
Others
have called to provide emotional support to us. Joyce's cousin and
sisters provide telephone support from California, Cleveland, South
Carolina and Tennessee. And my brother, Dan, took me to the 2nd
street Market in Dayton for French Crepes, and then to chemo as Joyce
was still recuperating. And that is just part of one week's help! We
are overwhelmed and so appreciative.
John and Joyce
