Well, was suppose to start chemo and radiation today. The chemo has been pushed back until tomorrow. Seems the Chemo MD needs a certain xray that Dr. Sullivan's office has. Her office has been trying to get it from him, but Dr. Sullivan's nurse has quit, evidentally throwing his office into chaos. So I will begin the chemo tomorrow.
They went ahead and started the radiation treatments today though. Was completely painless, and took less then 10 minutes. Just layed face down on the table while they got me lined up with the all the lasers, and then turned the machine on. I could hear it buzz and feel a cool air blowing on me like someone blowing thru a straw, then it was over!
The only problem I am having is pain thru all my joints being inflammed. My MD explained that my auto immune sysytem is low from trying to fight the cancer, and therefore my joints are flaring up. I feel like a 100 year old with arthritis. My hands, knees, neck, shoulders, and feet hurt so bad. The hydrocodone only knocks out about 50% of the pain. I will be glad when this part is over!!
Well, will try again tomorrow to get this whole show on the road!!
Monday, April 19, 2010
Saturday, April 17, 2010
April 16, 2010
Had to go back to the Radiation department yesterday so they could do a "dry run" of the radiation treatments that begin Monday. They put me back on the table I have to lay face down on that has a form on it to lay on. It has a cut out to put your face in and a cut out for your stomach. At the head of the bed is a huge, round machine that looks like a catscan machine, but the bed is stationary. It does not slide into the machine (I think). You lay there face down, with your arms above your head.
They adjust the table back and forth to get it lined up with all these lasers that are coming out of the top of the machine showing down onto my butt. There are also lasers coming out the sides of the wall of the room too. Anyways, they have to get all these lasers exact every time so they are radiating the exact same spot that needs it.
I bet I was face down for 45 minutes while they adjusted stuff, and drew on my butt with sharpies again! Lol! I got 5 more blue freckle tattoos too to help mark the exact spot they have to be. There was 1 guy Tech (senior radiation tech), and 2 women. They were really nice.
There was a little area in there when you first walk that hs 2 chairs and a coffee table with magazines. I asked if that meant Bill come in with me when I do treatments, and they he couldn't 'cos of the radiation, but that they would be glad to show him what the machine looks like when it is off. Still wonder what that little waiting area was for...lol! I know when they turn the machine on, the techs go behind a wall that has a big, glass window. It has shades you can open and close.
They adjust the table back and forth to get it lined up with all these lasers that are coming out of the top of the machine showing down onto my butt. There are also lasers coming out the sides of the wall of the room too. Anyways, they have to get all these lasers exact every time so they are radiating the exact same spot that needs it.
I bet I was face down for 45 minutes while they adjusted stuff, and drew on my butt with sharpies again! Lol! I got 5 more blue freckle tattoos too to help mark the exact spot they have to be. There was 1 guy Tech (senior radiation tech), and 2 women. They were really nice.
There was a little area in there when you first walk that hs 2 chairs and a coffee table with magazines. I asked if that meant Bill come in with me when I do treatments, and they he couldn't 'cos of the radiation, but that they would be glad to show him what the machine looks like when it is off. Still wonder what that little waiting area was for...lol! I know when they turn the machine on, the techs go behind a wall that has a big, glass window. It has shades you can open and close.
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
April 14, 2010
Met with the radiation MD today. They put me in the catscanner thingy with red laser lights, and made marks on my backside to get mapped out the exact position they need so they give the radiation treatments in the exact same spots everytime. Once they got everything marked with a Sharpie, they marked 3 of the spots with a little blue tattoo spot (like a blue freckle).
I begin chemo and radiation next Monday. MD said I will have to have 28 radiation treatments at a rate of 5 per week. So I guess the treatments will be over by end of May. Then 8 more weeks after that I will have the surgery! Hey, that is right around my birthday! My butt hurts thinking about it!
I begin chemo and radiation next Monday. MD said I will have to have 28 radiation treatments at a rate of 5 per week. So I guess the treatments will be over by end of May. Then 8 more weeks after that I will have the surgery! Hey, that is right around my birthday! My butt hurts thinking about it!
Thursday, April 8, 2010
April 8, 2010
Sorry! haven't been on for a week or so! Met with the chemo MD this past Monday. The chemo they are going to use will not make my hair fall out. She said it might thin it a little, but I can deal with that.
I am going to have to wear this casette thingy that has the chemo in it. The chemo will feed into the MedPort 24/7. I have to go back every Monday to get the casette refilled and have them do a white blood cell count.
I meet with the radiation MD next Wednesday. He was on vacation this week. Chemo MD said he will probably want to do radiation 5 days a week for 7 weeks. I'll know more about that next week.
Started feeling like I was getting an infection last night from the MedPort. Just started feeling really crappy. The area was getting really hot, and it hurt all the way up into my neck and jaw. You know how you feel when an infection is starting.
It was late (after 8pm), but I called Dr. Sullivan's office and left a message for him to please call me. Just thought he would call in antibiotic for me. He called me right back, but said from what I was saying he thought it was strep throat. I had 2 doses of Cipro squirreled away in case of an emergeny. i took one of them and went to bed. I felt alot better when I got up this morning. Took the 2nd dose later at work.
This morning Dr. Sullivan's nurse called me to check on me and to get the number for my PCP. Wasn't long after that Dr. Dennis' office called me saying Dr. Sullivan wanted her to check out the MedPort site and make sure it wasn't an infection.
Dr. Dennis couldn't find evidence of any strep throat, but wants me to continue on the Cipro for another week since it helped me overnight. I still think an infection was starting and the Cipro got it.
I am going to have to wear this casette thingy that has the chemo in it. The chemo will feed into the MedPort 24/7. I have to go back every Monday to get the casette refilled and have them do a white blood cell count.
I meet with the radiation MD next Wednesday. He was on vacation this week. Chemo MD said he will probably want to do radiation 5 days a week for 7 weeks. I'll know more about that next week.
Started feeling like I was getting an infection last night from the MedPort. Just started feeling really crappy. The area was getting really hot, and it hurt all the way up into my neck and jaw. You know how you feel when an infection is starting.
It was late (after 8pm), but I called Dr. Sullivan's office and left a message for him to please call me. Just thought he would call in antibiotic for me. He called me right back, but said from what I was saying he thought it was strep throat. I had 2 doses of Cipro squirreled away in case of an emergeny. i took one of them and went to bed. I felt alot better when I got up this morning. Took the 2nd dose later at work.
This morning Dr. Sullivan's nurse called me to check on me and to get the number for my PCP. Wasn't long after that Dr. Dennis' office called me saying Dr. Sullivan wanted her to check out the MedPort site and make sure it wasn't an infection.
Dr. Dennis couldn't find evidence of any strep throat, but wants me to continue on the Cipro for another week since it helped me overnight. I still think an infection was starting and the Cipro got it.
Friday, April 2, 2010
April 2, 2010
Well, had the MedPort put in yesterday in my chest so they can use that to administer the chemo thru. They say if they try to administer thru your veins, it will burns them up and you won't have any veins left in your arms...don't want that! So anyways, they put this port in right below my left clavical bone. It doesn't hurt as much as it is really sore.
Saw the surgeon this morning. Dr. Litchliter (hope I am spelling it right). His plan is 4 weeks of chemo and radiation, and then surgey 8 weeks after that. I asked why do they wait 2 months after the chemo and radiation to do surgery. He says once the radiation treatments stop, the radiation keeps working for awhile and will continue to shrink the cancer. He says there is a better success rate too rather than going in 3 or 4 weeks right after those treatments.
Told me I can't be eating steak, cheese, bread, anything starchy 'cos it could stop me up then I would have to have a colostemy bag. I can barely poop now cos the tumor is in the way, so I have to have food that is easy to go thru (sorry, this is the only way I know to word it).
Bill has been great thru all of this. Sitting in all of the MD office's with me, waiting rooms when having day surgery, driving to Dallas to meet the surgeon. He hasn't complained one bit. Thru sickness and in health...lol!
Meeting with the Oncology MD next Tuesday to get this chemo and radiation show on the road! The sooner the better!
Saw the surgeon this morning. Dr. Litchliter (hope I am spelling it right). His plan is 4 weeks of chemo and radiation, and then surgey 8 weeks after that. I asked why do they wait 2 months after the chemo and radiation to do surgery. He says once the radiation treatments stop, the radiation keeps working for awhile and will continue to shrink the cancer. He says there is a better success rate too rather than going in 3 or 4 weeks right after those treatments.
Told me I can't be eating steak, cheese, bread, anything starchy 'cos it could stop me up then I would have to have a colostemy bag. I can barely poop now cos the tumor is in the way, so I have to have food that is easy to go thru (sorry, this is the only way I know to word it).
Bill has been great thru all of this. Sitting in all of the MD office's with me, waiting rooms when having day surgery, driving to Dallas to meet the surgeon. He hasn't complained one bit. Thru sickness and in health...lol!
Meeting with the Oncology MD next Tuesday to get this chemo and radiation show on the road! The sooner the better!
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