Medication Woes
Randy began taking the Tarceva last Friday. By Saturday evening, he was beginning to get a rash. It has gotten more extensive nearly everyday. Dr. Ahmed told us that his experience has been that the worse the rash, the more effective the treatment. Hope he is right. If he his, the Tarceva must be eating cancer cells right and left. Randy is really being trooper. He never complains and continues to keep up with his schedule. He tires more easily, but so do I. I really think it is the "age thing", not the medication thing totally.
We are heading to Chicago for a few days. The national card show is at Rosemont and he has been looking forward to going for months. He will be able to catch up with all of his card collecting buddies. They have been very concerned with his health. Many have been calling regularly to chat and check up on the latest news. Thanks to all of you guys.
In addition to the card show, we will be celebrating with Katie as she finishes taking the bar exam tomorrow. Thursday evening we will be celebrating her accomplishment, as well as our 37th wedding anniversary. We will be staying with Randy's cousin Paul and his wife Diana. It is always great to get together with family.
That's about it for now. I'll catch you up when we return from our great adventure.
Keep us in your prayers.
Love to you all,
Randy & Sue
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
WE ARE COMING HOME!!!!!! We saw Dr. Kies this morning. We were very impressed with him. We first were interviewed by his assistant who is a fellow in cancer care. She was very thorough in her examination and attentive to our needs. She briefed the doctor and when he came into the exam room, he had a plan.
He told us again that this is a very rare cancer that cannot be cured. He has experience with this cancer in transplant patients. He is suggesting an oral chemotherapy to be taken daily. While it can have some nasty side effects, he feels that they can be controlled. He indicated to us that his patients have had good results with this drug. Randy can receive his care and monitoring in Evansville and the oncologist there will conference with Dr. Kies on continuing care. The goal is to stop the spread and hopefully shrink the sites that are present at this time. We are again buying time. But that is a realistic goal. We had a conversation with Dr. Kies concerning quality of life issues on this treatment and he assured us that his experience has been a positive one.
Dr. Kies will view Randy's scans and conference with the other doctors in his group before treatment is begun. He will call us on Sunday and Monday to discuss the outcome of the meeting. Barring any complications with the scan results, Randy can begin treatment next week.
We feel so blessed to have been able to come here and receive a second opinion. We are confident that this was the right decision.
Continue to pray for us, the doctors and the other patients being treated at MD Anderson. There are many very ill people here. The saddest are the children. While we were waiting for the hotel shuttle after our visit, a young girl around 12 or 13 was waiting with her mother and sister for the Ronald McDonald House shuttle. She was so thin, having lost her hair and needed her mother's help to walk from the curb to the shuttle. I can't get her off of my mind. Pray for her. I don't know her name, but rest assured that the Lord knows.
Thank you all for your support during our time down here. It is still a long battle, but one that we are willing to wage. Hang in there with us and pray that this treatment will be successful with few side effects.
See you all soon.
Randy & Sue
He told us again that this is a very rare cancer that cannot be cured. He has experience with this cancer in transplant patients. He is suggesting an oral chemotherapy to be taken daily. While it can have some nasty side effects, he feels that they can be controlled. He indicated to us that his patients have had good results with this drug. Randy can receive his care and monitoring in Evansville and the oncologist there will conference with Dr. Kies on continuing care. The goal is to stop the spread and hopefully shrink the sites that are present at this time. We are again buying time. But that is a realistic goal. We had a conversation with Dr. Kies concerning quality of life issues on this treatment and he assured us that his experience has been a positive one.
Dr. Kies will view Randy's scans and conference with the other doctors in his group before treatment is begun. He will call us on Sunday and Monday to discuss the outcome of the meeting. Barring any complications with the scan results, Randy can begin treatment next week.
We feel so blessed to have been able to come here and receive a second opinion. We are confident that this was the right decision.
Continue to pray for us, the doctors and the other patients being treated at MD Anderson. There are many very ill people here. The saddest are the children. While we were waiting for the hotel shuttle after our visit, a young girl around 12 or 13 was waiting with her mother and sister for the Ronald McDonald House shuttle. She was so thin, having lost her hair and needed her mother's help to walk from the curb to the shuttle. I can't get her off of my mind. Pray for her. I don't know her name, but rest assured that the Lord knows.
Thank you all for your support during our time down here. It is still a long battle, but one that we are willing to wage. Hang in there with us and pray that this treatment will be successful with few side effects.
See you all soon.
Randy & Sue
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
We are at the end of our first day. The registration process was painless. It took less time than the wait for the shuttle to get back to the hotel. MD Anderson is a huge facility. We saw people from all walks of life, in various stages of treatment. Made us feel lucky in alot of ways. Everyone has been very kind and helpful. I'm glad that we are being shuttled, not trying to drive in this traffic. We think that the Lloyd Expressway is bad. Looks pretty tame to me now.
We have been taking it easy today. Hopefully, tomorrow will give us a few answers. We have only heard positive comments about Dr. Kies. Katie will appreciate the fact that he graduated from Loyola University Chicago medical school. He recently received an award for patient care.
Not much news to report. I'll keep everyone updated as we go along.
Keep a good thought. We will do the same. May it be according to His will.
Randy & Sue
We have been taking it easy today. Hopefully, tomorrow will give us a few answers. We have only heard positive comments about Dr. Kies. Katie will appreciate the fact that he graduated from Loyola University Chicago medical school. He recently received an award for patient care.
Not much news to report. I'll keep everyone updated as we go along.
Keep a good thought. We will do the same. May it be according to His will.
Randy & Sue
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
We made it. We left Evansville at 8:15 and 43 minutes we were in Houston. The flight was smooth, taxi driver was friendly and our room was ready at 11:00. So far, things are going very well. We will catch the shuttle and head over to our registration appointment at 1:00.
I'll post later and let you know what's what.
Keep a good thought.
Randy & Sue
We made it. We left Evansville at 8:15 and 43 minutes we were in Houston. The flight was smooth, taxi driver was friendly and our room was ready at 11:00. So far, things are going very well. We will catch the shuttle and head over to our registration appointment at 1:00.
I'll post later and let you know what's what.
Keep a good thought.
Randy & Sue
Monday, July 14, 2008
Monday, July 14, 2008
Well, I think that we are nearly ready. Randy has been whining about filling out patient information sheets. But, I think he has completed them. Now he is fussing about picking out his clothes. He likes to travel, but doesn't like the preparations. Oh well, after 37 years, I guess I should be used to that. We are going prepared to stay 5 days, but hoping to be able to come home on Friday.
We leave at 8:00 AM tomorrow. Registration will be around 1:00 PM. We don't have anything planned after that until our appointment with Dr. Kies at 8:00 AM Wednesday.
We really don't know what to expect, so I guess we will just take whatever comes along.
Randy and I want to thank all of you for your concern, love and support during this difficult time. I'll have more to report tomorrow. Wish us well on our journey.
Randy & Sue
Well, I think that we are nearly ready. Randy has been whining about filling out patient information sheets. But, I think he has completed them. Now he is fussing about picking out his clothes. He likes to travel, but doesn't like the preparations. Oh well, after 37 years, I guess I should be used to that. We are going prepared to stay 5 days, but hoping to be able to come home on Friday.
We leave at 8:00 AM tomorrow. Registration will be around 1:00 PM. We don't have anything planned after that until our appointment with Dr. Kies at 8:00 AM Wednesday.
We really don't know what to expect, so I guess we will just take whatever comes along.
Randy and I want to thank all of you for your concern, love and support during this difficult time. I'll have more to report tomorrow. Wish us well on our journey.
Randy & Sue
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