WOO-HOO! Treatment is over!!!
Saw Dr. Perez-Tamayo on Monday, who gave us a big smile, a congratulations and a book on "living after cancer treatment".
With Dr. Beck on Tuesday, got follow-up planned. Al's scheduled for a CT scan on Wednesday, August 24. This will be followed by another fiber-optic bronchoscopy on Monday, August 29. Dr. Berquist will do that, and take biopsies of his trachea again. Then we meet with Dr. Beck on Thursday, September 1 to get the results and figure out where to go from there.
Al's happy to be finished with treatment, and seems disappointed that he's not feeling really better already. =) Dr. Beck told him he should feel quite a bit better in a couple of weeks, and to keep what he's been doing -- rest when he needs to rest, be more active when he feels up to being more active.
I can tell you he's really looking forward to having some solid foods again. Still into the Boost for most of his nutrition, though we picked up some veggies ("I can steam them into mush to eat!") and fruits -- the peaches are just too beautiful to walk away from. He cuts them into small pieces and sucks on them til they're gone!!!
He's still coughing up a lot of thick mucous -- mostly at night -- which Dr. Beck says is from the radiation. Again with the two week mark. I'm holding out for an actual meal in a RESTAURANT with my husband for our anniversary (August 27), as my birthday will be pushing it!!! =)
After a total meltdown yesterday, I'm much better today. Just fighting fatigue and stress a bit, so I'm getting a lot of sleep!!!
I'm really look
Wednesday, July 27, 2005
Update on Al #28 3/4
Sorry about that -- the CAT stomped my keyboard and the message got sent mid-sentence.
What I was saying is that I'm REALLY looking forward to going to Zach's (Cody's soccer and dinner date buddy) on Saturday.
And going to our hairdresser's baby shower with Shelley on August 6.
It's been SO good to get out to see 'the girls' recently, and I must remember to do that.
Pam, I was wrong -- those papers were HALF off, so I got you the Autumn Stack AND the textured coordinating cardstock. When are you coming up next and we'll settle up?
Mom, hope your gout is clearing up, and you're getting more comfortable.
As always, Carol & Ed, thanks for everything. You are the best neighbors we could have ever lucked into.
Well, I'm off to get comfy and get more sleep!!! Talk to you all soon.
xoxoxo
Sharon
Thursday, July 21, 2005
Update on Al #27
I got a hoot out of my horoscope from this morning:
Your energy and spunk should finally be returning today from a couple days of being slightly down, dear Leo. You should enjoy a good mood all day and your powers of persuasion are quite strong. There is an extra boost of energy behind your emotions and you will find that this might lead to some sort of transformation deep within. Whatever you do today, do it with passion. Let your courageous nature shine through.
Lo and behold, today WAS a better day. 'course, tomorrow IS Friday!!!
We're plugging along, counting down the days til treatment is over. Al is not sleeping much, and not well when he can, so that's very frustrating. He takes on some Ensure or Boost every 2-3 hours to keep something on his stomach, which helps with that nauseous feeling. We're both counting down the hours til he'll feel better -- probably Saturday afternoon or so.
He'll have ONE more radiation treatment on Monday, and presumably see Dr. Perez-Tamayo at that time. Then he's scheduled to see Dr. Beck again on Tuesday, at which time they will have scheduled the follow-up tests Al will need -- CT and/or PET scan and a bronchoscopy, to see whether the cancer is gone.
I'm still trying to take one day at a time, but Al confessed to me last night that he'd thought about what happens if the cancer isn't gone. We talked it over and decided to stop worrying about these things we can't control, and concentrate and focus on what we CAN control. Like solid foods. Eating together in a restaurant again. Having enough energy to do more than fold a basket of towels. Sleeping in our waterbed -- TOGETHER. Cruisin in the Vette to noplace special. NOT going to the Cancer Center every day!!! Gaining strength and muscle mass again. Trying out some of those recipes he's been seeing during the day on the Food Network. Getting OUT to see friends again. Regaining his full speaking voice (I can't WAIT to hear his regular voice again, instead of this 'Slingblade' version!).
He's even consented to being good and taking another day of chemo as well. (One day doesn't get to him like 3-4 will.)
So, keep Al in your hearts, thoughts and prayers, and take good care of each other, too.
xoxoxo
Sharon
Your energy and spunk should finally be returning today from a couple days of being slightly down, dear Leo. You should enjoy a good mood all day and your powers of persuasion are quite strong. There is an extra boost of energy behind your emotions and you will find that this might lead to some sort of transformation deep within. Whatever you do today, do it with passion. Let your courageous nature shine through.
Lo and behold, today WAS a better day. 'course, tomorrow IS Friday!!!
We're plugging along, counting down the days til treatment is over. Al is not sleeping much, and not well when he can, so that's very frustrating. He takes on some Ensure or Boost every 2-3 hours to keep something on his stomach, which helps with that nauseous feeling. We're both counting down the hours til he'll feel better -- probably Saturday afternoon or so.
He'll have ONE more radiation treatment on Monday, and presumably see Dr. Perez-Tamayo at that time. Then he's scheduled to see Dr. Beck again on Tuesday, at which time they will have scheduled the follow-up tests Al will need -- CT and/or PET scan and a bronchoscopy, to see whether the cancer is gone.
I'm still trying to take one day at a time, but Al confessed to me last night that he'd thought about what happens if the cancer isn't gone. We talked it over and decided to stop worrying about these things we can't control, and concentrate and focus on what we CAN control. Like solid foods. Eating together in a restaurant again. Having enough energy to do more than fold a basket of towels. Sleeping in our waterbed -- TOGETHER. Cruisin in the Vette to noplace special. NOT going to the Cancer Center every day!!! Gaining strength and muscle mass again. Trying out some of those recipes he's been seeing during the day on the Food Network. Getting OUT to see friends again. Regaining his full speaking voice (I can't WAIT to hear his regular voice again, instead of this 'Slingblade' version!).
He's even consented to being good and taking another day of chemo as well. (One day doesn't get to him like 3-4 will.)
So, keep Al in your hearts, thoughts and prayers, and take good care of each other, too.
xoxoxo
Sharon
Tuesday, July 12, 2005
Update on Al #26
Well, things have been looking up. Al felt pretty decent most of the weekend, and we actually slept through the night -- TWICE!!! Then he tells me he was up around 2 am, having a bottle of Boost -- his stomach stays calmer if he can keep SOMETHING on it. But we're both getting some rest, and that's always a good thing.
The oral chemo seems tolerable -- though it does make Al feel sicker to his stomach as the week goes on -- and we're managing decently with a little help from Zofran in the morning and Phenergan in the evening. He's learning what helps and what irritates, so he's managing it pretty well just now. In fact, it's gone well enough that we were able to attend Stacie's going away party -- in a BAR!!! -- and stayed and laughed and hugged for about an hour. (Thanks for including us, guys!) This was followed by a stop at the DQ for a Mr. Misty. Those and ICEEs are Al's new favorite thing!!! These were the first things he'd had by mouth for several days.
Al just popped in and wanted me to tell you all "Weeds are Hell". LOL He's been going out in the yard and pulling weeds in the flower beds for soemthing to do when he feels decent. He seems impervious to the heat these days, and is a real visual treat during these outings -- generic jean shorts with sandals or tennies, tank top coverd with an unbuttoned long-sleeve chambray shirt and wide brim hat. NOTE TO SELF: catch a picture!!!
He's feeling well enough that he even managed some cantaloup, and last night enjoyed eating a peach. I think it took him about an hour and a half, but he really enjoyed it!!! Everything else gets blended and put through the PEG, but he's more interested in soups and FLAVORS than boring plain Ensure. (He's switched to Boost; seems to settle better for him.)
Saw Dr. Perez-Tamayo yesterday which was pretty much a waste of our time. She did give Al an ointment to put on his chin/throat and upper back, and he has some areas that are darkened by radiation. Looks like a 3-day-old sunburn -- which on Al is known as a deep TAN!!! His last radiation should be next Friday, June 22. He's looking forward to that, and we're convinced his voice WILL come back, as it gets stronger over the weekend when he doesn't have treatment.
We saw Carol (the PA in Dr. Beck's office) today. She's very encouraged with his labs, but we're now watching his hemoglobin. They don't want him to get too anemic because of his past heart history, so if next week's labs show too low, they're going to give him some blood to build it back up. She told us they'd stop his chemo when the radiation is over, so Al's REALLY counting down now!!!
I asked her what happens after treatment. She said 4-6 weeks after treatment is through, they'll do a CT and/or PET scan and another bronchoscopy. He'll have quite a bit of follow-up, and of course we all hope and expect he'll come up clean. So then I got brave and asked her what happens if there's still cancer left. She brought the chemo book in the room and showed us all the various 'recipes' for chemotherapy for this type of cancer treatment, and assured us there is still more to do. The hard part to that will be working around Al's allergies, but "we're not gonna just leave you hanging".
She did advise that Al get his business in order, as this IS the second 'elephant in the living room' he's managed to shoot down (she's an optimist; I like that in a doctor). But it was more of a 'you never know' kind of suggestion than anything.
My sister Vicki came up Sunday afternoon to take me out for a 'coke'. After regaling Al and me with stories of Nate's adventures all over Europe, we went to the mall and enjoyed a pretzel and a Diet Pepsi, and a bunch of girl talk. Thanks, Ick, it was a great break.
Looking forward to Pam's visit Saturday -- more 'girls day out', with a trip to Scrapbook Chic on the agenda. Might even catch a movie.
I enjoyed the earlier afternoon on Sunday with my Stampin' Up! 'gals', learning a new technique. It was fun to just be among friends having a good time again for a change!!!
Must get going now -- I'm out of milk (and those of you who KNOW me know that's not an option come morning!), and Al's craving a shake or something.
Thanks for your notes and calls and the beautiful cards, and for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts. I dunno about Al, but it makes ME feel better!!! (And yes, I sounded a bit pathetic last time, but my optimism has returned, and life seems almost normal!)
xoxoxo
Sharon
The oral chemo seems tolerable -- though it does make Al feel sicker to his stomach as the week goes on -- and we're managing decently with a little help from Zofran in the morning and Phenergan in the evening. He's learning what helps and what irritates, so he's managing it pretty well just now. In fact, it's gone well enough that we were able to attend Stacie's going away party -- in a BAR!!! -- and stayed and laughed and hugged for about an hour. (Thanks for including us, guys!) This was followed by a stop at the DQ for a Mr. Misty. Those and ICEEs are Al's new favorite thing!!! These were the first things he'd had by mouth for several days.
Al just popped in and wanted me to tell you all "Weeds are Hell". LOL He's been going out in the yard and pulling weeds in the flower beds for soemthing to do when he feels decent. He seems impervious to the heat these days, and is a real visual treat during these outings -- generic jean shorts with sandals or tennies, tank top coverd with an unbuttoned long-sleeve chambray shirt and wide brim hat. NOTE TO SELF: catch a picture!!!
He's feeling well enough that he even managed some cantaloup, and last night enjoyed eating a peach. I think it took him about an hour and a half, but he really enjoyed it!!! Everything else gets blended and put through the PEG, but he's more interested in soups and FLAVORS than boring plain Ensure. (He's switched to Boost; seems to settle better for him.)
Saw Dr. Perez-Tamayo yesterday which was pretty much a waste of our time. She did give Al an ointment to put on his chin/throat and upper back, and he has some areas that are darkened by radiation. Looks like a 3-day-old sunburn -- which on Al is known as a deep TAN!!! His last radiation should be next Friday, June 22. He's looking forward to that, and we're convinced his voice WILL come back, as it gets stronger over the weekend when he doesn't have treatment.
We saw Carol (the PA in Dr. Beck's office) today. She's very encouraged with his labs, but we're now watching his hemoglobin. They don't want him to get too anemic because of his past heart history, so if next week's labs show too low, they're going to give him some blood to build it back up. She told us they'd stop his chemo when the radiation is over, so Al's REALLY counting down now!!!
I asked her what happens after treatment. She said 4-6 weeks after treatment is through, they'll do a CT and/or PET scan and another bronchoscopy. He'll have quite a bit of follow-up, and of course we all hope and expect he'll come up clean. So then I got brave and asked her what happens if there's still cancer left. She brought the chemo book in the room and showed us all the various 'recipes' for chemotherapy for this type of cancer treatment, and assured us there is still more to do. The hard part to that will be working around Al's allergies, but "we're not gonna just leave you hanging".
She did advise that Al get his business in order, as this IS the second 'elephant in the living room' he's managed to shoot down (she's an optimist; I like that in a doctor). But it was more of a 'you never know' kind of suggestion than anything.
My sister Vicki came up Sunday afternoon to take me out for a 'coke'. After regaling Al and me with stories of Nate's adventures all over Europe, we went to the mall and enjoyed a pretzel and a Diet Pepsi, and a bunch of girl talk. Thanks, Ick, it was a great break.
Looking forward to Pam's visit Saturday -- more 'girls day out', with a trip to Scrapbook Chic on the agenda. Might even catch a movie.
I enjoyed the earlier afternoon on Sunday with my Stampin' Up! 'gals', learning a new technique. It was fun to just be among friends having a good time again for a change!!!
Must get going now -- I'm out of milk (and those of you who KNOW me know that's not an option come morning!), and Al's craving a shake or something.
Thanks for your notes and calls and the beautiful cards, and for keeping us in your prayers and thoughts. I dunno about Al, but it makes ME feel better!!! (And yes, I sounded a bit pathetic last time, but my optimism has returned, and life seems almost normal!)
xoxoxo
Sharon
Wednesday, July 06, 2005
Update on Al #25
Sorry it's been such a long stretch between updates. As the week progressed, Al got more and more down emotionally as well as physically. His throat got REALLY sore from all the nausea, which is really more coughing up mucous than anything else. But as a result, he didn't want to eat, so we had a VERY challenging weekend. He's down to putting pretty much everything through his PEG tube -- including the last servings of the homemade soups he's enjoyed so much. Cleo, that little Braum hand mixer was an EXCELLENT investment!!! We picked up a really tasty cantaloupe, and he's been working on that all week, about 1/2 cup at a time. Takes him about 2 hours to eat that much, but it's tasty. We've laid in puddings, etc. and he's 'drinking' 4-5 bottles of high protein Boost/Ensure each day -- now that he's realized that's the only way he's going to get through this. It was a tough weekend for both of us.
He refused to take his chemo drugs on Friday night, and I finally called Dr. Beck on Saturday morning. He decided to give Al the weekend 'off' from the chemo. After learning this, Al basically went to sleep and missed Saturday. On Sunday, he got up feeling SO much better than he had been, and we planned to go to Hoisington for Mooney's 3rd of July party. But the weather got a bit nasty, and we punked out. It's a good thing, too, as Al was pretty sick that evening.
Monday he felt a little better and got up and around to do a few things, puttering around in the garage, and we went grocery shopping. We started his chemo again Monday evening, with a dosage of Zofran (anti-nausea) half an hour before. Seemed to help a bit. Meanwhile, he's not sleeping really well or regularly, which makes us BOTH cranky!!! I've put up blackout fabric in 'his' room to try to help him get some sleep.
Saw Dr. Beck on Tuesday, and Al explained how this coughing up mucous is what makes him crazy, that he feels it's coming more from his lungs than his stomach. So they ordered a nebulizer to have breathing treatments as needed. It was delivered this afternoon, and he seems more comfortable tonight. He also prescribed a morphine solution for pain as needed.
We saw Dr. Perez-Tamayo this morning, who reminded us that he now has only 12 more radiation treatments to go. They've been varying the radiation a bit, so he's had a number (sorry, don't remember!) of wider-area treatments (picture the size of a business check). The next 6 treatments will be about 2/3 that range, then the last 7 treatments will be about 1/3 that size. So they're focusing in a bit. Dr. Beck warned these last treatments would be the painful ones; hence the morphine.
Both doctors say he'll have a CT scan or two a couple weeks after treatment is completed, then probably another bronchoscopy with biopsies within a month of the end of treatment, and THAT's when we'll know if the tumor is gone. At least that's how WE understood them. Maybe it's just what we want to hear.
Meanwhile, I've just turned into a big puddle maker!!! For some reason, Monday and Tuesday I was incredibly emotional, and all the Ativan in the world wouldn't make a difference (I tried!). A big part of it is watching the love of my life go through this misery, and not being able to do a damn thing about it to help. Part of it is fear as I start to think about what's next, since treatment is nearly finished. I suppose part is just getting worn down from 10 weeks of doctors and treatment. And a piece or two is from total lack of a routine. Or maybe it's just the fact that we missed Mooney's party (hope you guys didn't blow away)!!!
Sorry to be such a downer this evening, but it's as honest as I can be. My puddles have finally lessened, and I'm hoping Al can get a better night's sleep since he's coughing less. I'm going to sign off to get his drugs set for the morning, and get to bed early.
Thanks for your notes, cards and calls. It really DOES help to know we're in your hearts and prayers.
xoxoxo
Sharon
He refused to take his chemo drugs on Friday night, and I finally called Dr. Beck on Saturday morning. He decided to give Al the weekend 'off' from the chemo. After learning this, Al basically went to sleep and missed Saturday. On Sunday, he got up feeling SO much better than he had been, and we planned to go to Hoisington for Mooney's 3rd of July party. But the weather got a bit nasty, and we punked out. It's a good thing, too, as Al was pretty sick that evening.
Monday he felt a little better and got up and around to do a few things, puttering around in the garage, and we went grocery shopping. We started his chemo again Monday evening, with a dosage of Zofran (anti-nausea) half an hour before. Seemed to help a bit. Meanwhile, he's not sleeping really well or regularly, which makes us BOTH cranky!!! I've put up blackout fabric in 'his' room to try to help him get some sleep.
Saw Dr. Beck on Tuesday, and Al explained how this coughing up mucous is what makes him crazy, that he feels it's coming more from his lungs than his stomach. So they ordered a nebulizer to have breathing treatments as needed. It was delivered this afternoon, and he seems more comfortable tonight. He also prescribed a morphine solution for pain as needed.
We saw Dr. Perez-Tamayo this morning, who reminded us that he now has only 12 more radiation treatments to go. They've been varying the radiation a bit, so he's had a number (sorry, don't remember!) of wider-area treatments (picture the size of a business check). The next 6 treatments will be about 2/3 that range, then the last 7 treatments will be about 1/3 that size. So they're focusing in a bit. Dr. Beck warned these last treatments would be the painful ones; hence the morphine.
Both doctors say he'll have a CT scan or two a couple weeks after treatment is completed, then probably another bronchoscopy with biopsies within a month of the end of treatment, and THAT's when we'll know if the tumor is gone. At least that's how WE understood them. Maybe it's just what we want to hear.
Meanwhile, I've just turned into a big puddle maker!!! For some reason, Monday and Tuesday I was incredibly emotional, and all the Ativan in the world wouldn't make a difference (I tried!). A big part of it is watching the love of my life go through this misery, and not being able to do a damn thing about it to help. Part of it is fear as I start to think about what's next, since treatment is nearly finished. I suppose part is just getting worn down from 10 weeks of doctors and treatment. And a piece or two is from total lack of a routine. Or maybe it's just the fact that we missed Mooney's party (hope you guys didn't blow away)!!!
Sorry to be such a downer this evening, but it's as honest as I can be. My puddles have finally lessened, and I'm hoping Al can get a better night's sleep since he's coughing less. I'm going to sign off to get his drugs set for the morning, and get to bed early.
Thanks for your notes, cards and calls. It really DOES help to know we're in your hearts and prayers.
xoxoxo
Sharon
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