Just a quick update. Gary had a follow-up visit with Dr Leo today and lost another pound, but he was not too concerned. He said that all of Gary's treatments have been targeting his stomach area, and the small intestine is right in the middle of it, so it has been hit hard. The small intestine is what absorbs the nutrients so it hasn't been able to do its job too well. Dr Leo really thinks that things are ready to turn around as far as weight gain goes.
Gary's nausea is gone... he is eating better.... food tastes better...he is more alert....he doesn't lie in bed all day.... Life is getting better. He even walked around an island in our kitchen and up and down the stairs 5 times today. What a triumph!!!!
He doesn't go back to Dr Leo for two more weeks at which time his tumor count will be rechecked. We are anxious for that day. Then to St Louis for the big test on March 17th!!!.
Jannis
Monday, February 21, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Update on February 14th (Valentine's Day!!)
Gary is finally through with his treatments for several weeks. We had thought he would be having a chemo treatment once a week for three weeks, then off one week; however, Dr Leo told us last Monday that he was going to stop the chemo for now and just keep the radiation going for one more week. So last week Gary just had radiation and no chemo. As a result, his nausea stopped last Wednesday and he hasn't had any since then.
Needless to say, we were anticipating a weight gain this week since he has been eating better and keeping it all down. Not so!! He lost 3 1/3 pounds this week and we don't know why. He also is starting to have anxiety attacks. So we had a long discussion with Dr Leo this morning and got some help in understanding what is going on.
This is what Dr Leo said: The treatments Gary has been getting have been some of the most aggressive they give due to it being Pancreatic Cancer. The combination of constant chemo and radiation is a hugh assault on the body in addition to the cancer itself. The reason they have to give him so much is that Pancreatic Cancer is one of the most deadly cancers and one of the hardest to treat. It is because it is lying in the middle of a lot of other organs and is so vital to the body functions. This assault on his body had taken its toll. Even though the treatments have stopped, the chemicals and radiation are still in his body and affecting how everything is working. This is why he is still losing weight, but that should stop in a couple of weeks.
The anxiety is coming from the chemical imbalance caused by the treatments. Gary said he feels like he is falling, or going over "thrill hill" in a fast car. He also sometimes forgets to breathe and that is making him panic a little. I noticed last Friday night that he kept going into the bedroom and lying down instead of staying in the living room like he had been. When I asked if he felt all right, he said "sort of'". He didn't know how to explain how he was feeling. Dr Leo explained that this is very normal and gave him a prescription to help alleviate the anxiety attacks. This situation should take care of itself as he gets stronger and not having so many treatments.
The week of March 14th, Gary is scheduled to go to Barnes in St Louis for another CT Scan and to Cox in Springfield to have the stint in his bile duct replaced.
Since we found out about Gary's Pancreatic Cancer, he has had many friends come to visit him while in the hospital at Cox and here at home. Each visit is treasured. It means a lot to him to know that people care. I also treasure the concerns that people give to me and the help with food and meals. Some very special people have been helping supply food to our home, which is such a help to me since I still have to go to work every day and sometimes don't get home until 7:00 or 8:00 at night. It took me awhile to accept help from people, but now I do it willingly and am ever so grateful. Thank you all very, very much!!!
Till later. Jannis
Needless to say, we were anticipating a weight gain this week since he has been eating better and keeping it all down. Not so!! He lost 3 1/3 pounds this week and we don't know why. He also is starting to have anxiety attacks. So we had a long discussion with Dr Leo this morning and got some help in understanding what is going on.
This is what Dr Leo said: The treatments Gary has been getting have been some of the most aggressive they give due to it being Pancreatic Cancer. The combination of constant chemo and radiation is a hugh assault on the body in addition to the cancer itself. The reason they have to give him so much is that Pancreatic Cancer is one of the most deadly cancers and one of the hardest to treat. It is because it is lying in the middle of a lot of other organs and is so vital to the body functions. This assault on his body had taken its toll. Even though the treatments have stopped, the chemicals and radiation are still in his body and affecting how everything is working. This is why he is still losing weight, but that should stop in a couple of weeks.
The anxiety is coming from the chemical imbalance caused by the treatments. Gary said he feels like he is falling, or going over "thrill hill" in a fast car. He also sometimes forgets to breathe and that is making him panic a little. I noticed last Friday night that he kept going into the bedroom and lying down instead of staying in the living room like he had been. When I asked if he felt all right, he said "sort of'". He didn't know how to explain how he was feeling. Dr Leo explained that this is very normal and gave him a prescription to help alleviate the anxiety attacks. This situation should take care of itself as he gets stronger and not having so many treatments.
The week of March 14th, Gary is scheduled to go to Barnes in St Louis for another CT Scan and to Cox in Springfield to have the stint in his bile duct replaced.
Since we found out about Gary's Pancreatic Cancer, he has had many friends come to visit him while in the hospital at Cox and here at home. Each visit is treasured. It means a lot to him to know that people care. I also treasure the concerns that people give to me and the help with food and meals. Some very special people have been helping supply food to our home, which is such a help to me since I still have to go to work every day and sometimes don't get home until 7:00 or 8:00 at night. It took me awhile to accept help from people, but now I do it willingly and am ever so grateful. Thank you all very, very much!!!
Till later. Jannis
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Update on February 6th
We had good news on Thursday, February 3rd. Gary's tumor marker has dropped from 693 to 351. We don't really know what that means but we will take it. He has also gained about 5 pounds. We don't understand that either because he still has a lot of nausea and has troubling eating very much. But any good news is good. Starting tomorrow, he will have a chemo treatment on Mondays for 3 weeks then off a week. About the middle of March, they will be taking another CT scan to actually see what the tumor is doing. Also on March 17th, he is scheduled to have the stint in his bile duct replaced by Dr Woodall in Springfield. The one he put in first was plastic and is only supposed to be left in for three months. They will probably later put in a permanent stint.
I thought I would tell you all the medications he is taking and what each one is for so you have an idea of what his daily routine is. Our kitchen counter where I usually prepare food for our meals is now a pharmacy counter. Medications all over the place. Here is Gary's daily routine (without the trips to the bathroom):
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Morning Only
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The pain medication above (Oxycodine) is in addition to a high dosage pain patch that he wears for 3 days before he changes it (Fentanyl). They started the potassium this last week because his potassium levels were so low. They gave him another dose of testosterone and will continue this once a week. They also have given him hydration treatments for the last two weeks because he was so dehydrated.
The prescription that he does not take is the one for depression. It was prescribed when he first started treatment but he has never taken it. I think that speaks loudly about his fighter spirit, his champion attitude, and his spiritual peace. Most people suffer depression when they deal with all the issues he is dealing with, but he keeps a stiff upper lip. He is fighting through this much better than I had expected.
It has amazed me how much a small tumor (and the necessary treatments) can wreck havoc on so much of a person's body. It is like a domino effect. When one organ can't do it's job, it affects another organ, then another, and so on.
Thank you to everyone for your continued expressions of concern and prayers. He reads every comment sent to him. Thank you very much!!!
Till later. Jannis
I thought I would tell you all the medications he is taking and what each one is for so you have an idea of what his daily routine is. Our kitchen counter where I usually prepare food for our meals is now a pharmacy counter. Medications all over the place. Here is Gary's daily routine (without the trips to the bathroom):
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Morning Only
- Test his blood sugar
- Give himself an insulin shot
- Take a dose of appetite stimulus (Megestrol Acetate).
- Take an anti-nausea tablet (Prochlorperazine)
- Take a pain pill (Oxycodine)
- Take an anti-acid stomach pill (Nexium)
- Take another pill that I can't remember what it is for (Famotidine)
- Take a pill to make the stomach digest his food ( Creon)
- Take a dose of potassium (Potassium Chloride) with a full glass of juice.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The pain medication above (Oxycodine) is in addition to a high dosage pain patch that he wears for 3 days before he changes it (Fentanyl). They started the potassium this last week because his potassium levels were so low. They gave him another dose of testosterone and will continue this once a week. They also have given him hydration treatments for the last two weeks because he was so dehydrated.
The prescription that he does not take is the one for depression. It was prescribed when he first started treatment but he has never taken it. I think that speaks loudly about his fighter spirit, his champion attitude, and his spiritual peace. Most people suffer depression when they deal with all the issues he is dealing with, but he keeps a stiff upper lip. He is fighting through this much better than I had expected.
It has amazed me how much a small tumor (and the necessary treatments) can wreck havoc on so much of a person's body. It is like a domino effect. When one organ can't do it's job, it affects another organ, then another, and so on.
Thank you to everyone for your continued expressions of concern and prayers. He reads every comment sent to him. Thank you very much!!!
Till later. Jannis
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