Thur., June 25: Some smaller

Doctor's report on the scan: there has been shrinkage, but not as much as he espected.  Mike can have up to eight rounds of Treanda -- at the point of the scan, he'd had only three rounds.  Today finishes the fifth.  

The plan, then, is mid-July for number six, early August number seven, late August number eight, another scan probably before Labor Day.  

Tomorrow is Mike's birthday!

Yes is attitude is good.  He's very fortunate not to have side affects from chemo.  We have a caregiver who comes in overnight to help him as needed (five nights a week).

We might even try out the RV Friday to Sunday to get out of the valley heat...  vroom vroom

Tues., June 2: Scan results, yes and no

Yesterday's CT scan (with contrast) went well with, as always, a few hiccups.  At this morning's appointment with the physician's assistant, she had the scan results BUT the radiologist had not compared to the February scan.  She's sending it back to get the interpretation.  

Mike is sleeping through chemo right now.

The new caretaker last night was good last night, but Mike wasn't.  After being up in the living room chair a bit in the middle of the night, he headed back to bed and told Brandon, "I'm fine, you don't need to help me."  In a minute, Brandon heard him fall (large carpeted area, so Mike wasn't hurt).  My advice was, "Don't listen to him.  Tell him you're going to keep an eye on him until you know he's safe."

Sat., May 30, 2015:

Small changes over the last few weeks.

We had an overnight caregiver last week and this week, four nights each week.  She was temporary because we have a young man starting this next week.  Quite a process to get to the right point with all this, but Mike has been quite accepting of the need for me to get some sleep (although he still questions the cost once in a while!). 

Doctor P ordered a scan; round and round we went.  Mike is allergic to IVP contrast solution, but he's been told he can be pre-medicated for it.  Silverton Hospital asked where the allergy is documented (even the doctor's office scheduler got frustrated, "Do you mind if we try here at Salem Hospital?")  Salem said his reaction had been too severe to risk it, even with pre-med.  So switch to MRI -- insurance will have to approve, of course.  Got scheduled for Woodburn, pretty cool.  Well, maybe not. When we got there, check-in said there will have to be another appointment. There are two "studies," and they each take an hour. As they were lining Mike up to go in the tube, "Now put your arms up over your head," I knew we were sunk.  They started sliding him in, and he couldn't breathe. Tried the arms at the side.  He made it through several pictures, but by then had to pee.  And there was NO way he was going back in there.

What's happening on Monday?  Oh, just a CT with contrast and pre-medications. *sigh* At Salem Hospital.

Tuesday and Wednesday will be chemo.  

Happy news is we got a (used) field mower attachment for the tractor!  Thanks to our neighbor John who has been keeping a look out for one.

Gratitude: Mike was feeling well enough today to mow between the garden and berry rows, PLUS both the front and back yards.

Mon., May 11, 2015: fourth round of chemo

Mike still has his persistent cough, so he's really tired.  Doc told us today that last Thursday's CT doesn't show anything (like pleurisy or pneumonia), but because it's been three weeks, he prescribed an antibiotic.  I'm not so crazy about that, because we have so much unnecessary antibiotic use in this country.

Doc mentioned a lymph node near the chest is about 1', but I didn't ask how that compared to two months ago!  Or compared to whatever the normal size is for that node. Argh. 

During today's chemo, daughter Brooke came to sit for an hour, and I got a play date with the granddaughter!  Remember, now, I was told at the last chemo that either I or another caretaker needed to be with Mike, because they weren't staffed to help him to the bathroom.  Hah.  Brooke texted me later, "The nurse is taking him to pee, LOL."  Talk-to-text couldn't quite translate me screaming, "Seriously??"

We are getting closer to getting overnight care here at home. 
I called four possibilities yesterday. Our location was too far for one. One call went to, "Voice mail has not been set up..."  A third hasn't answered my message.  And the fourth we will interview this week, but  he is currently helping his grandmother in California and might not be available until at least three weeks (and maybe not until two months). Mike wanted a male, because of the physical lifting, but I think I will open it up for women.........

Second day of chemo tomorrow will be very short.

We expected Mike to be scheduled for a scan in two weeks, but the doctor said today that with the CT last week, and the chest x-ray the week before, he will wait until after six treatments for a full body scan.  Two weeks after the sixth treatment will put us at July 6/7. 

Friday, May 1: catchup on last treatment and checkups

Mike's last chemo treatments, April 20 and 21, went just fine.  But we were told I (or another caretaker) will need to stay with him because they are not staffed to help him with mobility issues.  In other words, if he needs help getting up to use the restroom, they won't do it.  Ptooey.

His biggest issue right now is a persistent, deep, horrible cough; it's going on 10 days now.  At yesterday's doctor's appointment, he ordered a chest x-ray and the result was 'no problem, no pneumonia or anything else.'  Ptooey.

A prescription for the cough was sent a week ago and not filled until two days ago.  Supply issues and non-communication.  In the end, the med didn't help.  Ptooey.

On the good (or 'non-Ptooey') side, we had lunch with a good friend yesterday.  And y'all know we've been having the best weather. Setting up the garden, having plowed five rows and added compost.  We had 10 yards of bark dust delivered to dress up the landscaping. Bought kiwi, so I need to finish the materials list and get the trellis built.

Daughter Brooke (with Kylea) came Monday to help with outdoor stuff.  We were working and talking in the little side yard, with Kylea making some announcement from out front, until Brooke listened and started laughing.  I looked up and realized it was, "Look out, make way, tree coming through!"  She was carrying a potted plant, an ocean spray, about as big as she is!  So three plants got put in the ground.  And on the back deck, after Grandpa got up and went inside, she slid right into his chair. "Kylea, do you want to go in the garden with Mommy, or on the tractor with Grandma?"  Her reply, "Nah, I'm just hanging out."


Next appointment will be in ten days for chemo.

Gratitude: Sleep.  We get it when we can.

Weds., April 15: no tax comments here!

Blood draw and meeting with the oncologist: Mike's numbers are about the same as last week.  Next Monday and Tuesday will be another round of chemo, then another three weeks will be the fourth round.  His doctor expects he will order a scan in late May to see how things look.

Hey, a couple of people have told me that they aren't able to leave a comment on this blog (Hi Mom, hi Amy).  It used to work, and I've checked all the settings, but I can't see anything wrong.  Feel free to call or send a text or email. 

Today's gratitude: really nice weather today, and for several days coming up!

Weds., April 8: Diagnosis update

First, today's funny.  Thanks to our friend, Lee Erickson, for this outlook when we explained Mike's head is completely buzzed now: "Just put a light bult in his mouth and call him Uncle Fester from the Addam's Family."  Mike giggled so hard he couldn't talk!

(Sorry I didn't post last night, but I was fighting with Turbo Tax.)

After our talk with Lee, Mike said he wanted to know more about the new diagnosis.  He was near the end of the first chemo in the hospital when the doc first explained it.  His question was a good one to ask the doc.

Bottom line, before I go into detail, this is all good news.

The diagnosis by OHSU came back as small B-cell in the bone marrow, and "intermediate" in the stomach biopsy.  Those are non-aggressive cancers, compared to the very aggressive large B-cell the first lab reported (and therefore, the "put you in the hospital right now" action taken by the oncologist).

The less aggressive sub-types are harder to get rid of, but need less harsh treatment and are easier to keep a lid on.  Mike might be put on occasional doses of Rituxan, the anti-body, for maintenance.  And it might be that the type advances into large B-cell in five or seven years.

The more immediate plan is to continue the two-drug regimen, probably every three to four weeks, through at least June or so.  After another two rounds, the oncologist will probably order a scan to see how things look.  But right now his blood counts have improved, and the doc is pleased, "You just look better."

This was our longest talk with the doctor to date.  Of course, it was extended by talking about the ninth round of boards he has taken in his career, and why he is looking at running for Governor.

Mike will have another blood draw in a week, and the doc will decide on the timing for chemo round three.

Today's gratitude: to Lee Erickson, not only for the bit of humor, but for pushing us to push the doctor on confirming the diagnosis.