Update on Treatment Jan 12, 2011

Gary seems to be reacting better to his treatments of chemo and radiation this week.   He is not as nauseous and has a better appetite.  It is a good thing, because he lost an additional 5 lbs last week. 

On Monday this week after he got home from getting his chemo started again for another week, he received a call from the dietician at Barnes in St Louis really concerned about his additional weight loss (he has now lost approximately 70 lbs.)   Apparently the information from Dr Leo in Bolivar is being sent to Dr. Anderson at Barnes.  The dietician told him it was imperative that he get more nourishment and recommended mixing Ensure with ice cream.  Our hardest task so far has been figuring out how to get nourisment (that he likes) in him without throwing it up.   We also have to watch the sugar (due to his diabetes) and spicy food (due to the chemo that attacks the fast growing cells in the body which is in the mouth).

So far we have found that he likes (not a complete list):

• scrambled eggs with onions and green peppers, ham, and hash browns
• Carnation Instant Breakfast with banana and ice cream (blended)
• beef fajitas
• potato soup
• chili
• burritoes
• steak
• chicken noodle soup

We continue to think positive.  Unless we are told otherwise, we plan on a complete recovery. 
Hopefully that won't change when he gets another CT Scan.  Thank you again for all your cards, phone calls, offers of help, and prayers.

Jannis