CT SCAN RESULTS
Today we had an appointment with Dr. Ahmed and saw the latest CT scan which was taken yesterday. The results were not what we had hoped to see. The lymph node in the collarbone area has increased in size and the three spots on the right lung remained the same. The "not so good" news was that there is a new spot in the right lung which appears to be about one inch in diameter. Dr. Ahmed explained that this means that the cancer cells have most likely mutated and are no longer being affected by the chemotherapy drugs that Randy has been receiving.
This being the case, we have moved on to Plan C. Today, Randy began receiving a new drug, Erbitux. This chemotherapy drug has been shown to be effective in treating squamous cell cancers of the head and neck. While this is not the first or even the second choice for treatment, it can still be an effective treatment for some people. It does not have the same side effects as the Taxotere and Carboplatin. It does not affect the bone marrow or lower the white cell count. This is good news since we will not have to be so concerned with infection and anemia. The downside is that most patients have some form of rash not unlike the rash we encountered with Tarceva. Dr. Ahmed's experience with this drug has been that the rash is not as severe as with Tarceva. But, we will just have to wait and see. Randy will receive Erbitux weekly.
We spent most of Monday at Deaconess Gateway where Randy was given three pints of blood. His hemoglobin on Monday was 6.9 -- way too low. The transfusion has given him more energy. His balance continues to improve. The edema is still somewhat of a problem, but is improving.
While we are unsure of the side effects of the new drug, we are hopeful that Randy will be able to tolerate them. He has been such a trooper through all of this. I have every reason to believe that he will continue to be positive about the outcome.
We had a wonderful Chrismas. The kids all made it home and we were able to be together for Christmas Eve service. What a blessing that was. The party celebrating Pat and Mary's wedding was a great success - good food, good friends, good times. Katie returned to Chicago on Sunday. Pat and Mary will fly from St. Louis to Phoenix tomorrow. Carrie will ring in the new year in Indy. She will be flying back to Atlanta on Jan. 2.
Please continue to pray for us as Randy begins his new course of treatment. We know that we are not walking this road alone. Thanks for all of your hugs, cards, emails, phone calls and expressions of concern. We are so blessed to have such loving support.
Tonight, I meditate on Philippians 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
Peace to you.
Randy & Sue
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Saturday, December 20, 2008
So Far, So Good
I'm still chasing Randy around with the thermometer. He is being a good sport about it. His temperature and blood pressure have been in the normal range. He has really had a pretty good week. His strength and stamina are slow in returning, but we can see some improvement everyday. And we are very thankful for that. He is still having some discomfort in his legs and feet from the edema. Balance problems are still somewhat of an issue, but he just keeps going.
Yesterday was a very busy and good day. Two of Randy's friends and former co-workers at CIPS in Springfield, IL drove four hours to spend time with him and take us out to lunch. The morning started off a little shaky, but improved with Bob and Bruce's visit. It is always good to talk about "the good old days." A big thank you to Bob Patterson and Bruce Garner for their visit. They were there when Randy went through dialysis and the kidney transplant, so they were happy to see him doing so well.
Now we gear up for the arrival of the kids. Everyone will be coming in on Christmas Eve. Pat and Mary will be driving from Mary's parents in Missouri, Katie will be driving from Chicago and Carrie will be flying in from Atlanta. It will be so nice to have the house full of kids again. I'm not sure, but I think it was last Christmas when they were all home together. Pat and Mary didn't come home for Thanksgiving and Katie wasn't home last Easter, so guess it has been a year. We are truly excited about it, can you tell?
Besides Christmas, anticipation is growing for the party celebrating Pat and Mary's wedding. We will be celebrating with our friends and family, some of which were at the wedding, but most were not able to attend. It will be a great time.
Thank you to Carol Stith for the delicious meal that you provided for us this week. I could get used to having someone delivering food to the door. It was so thoughtful of you to think of us. Thanks also for all of the cards, emails and phone calls that we continue to receive. Even during this very busy time, you take time to let us know that you are praying and thinking of us. You are all priceless.
I don't know if I will post before Christmas. If not, our wish for each of you is a Happy and Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year.
Prepare ye the way.
Peace be to you.
Randy & Sue
I'm still chasing Randy around with the thermometer. He is being a good sport about it. His temperature and blood pressure have been in the normal range. He has really had a pretty good week. His strength and stamina are slow in returning, but we can see some improvement everyday. And we are very thankful for that. He is still having some discomfort in his legs and feet from the edema. Balance problems are still somewhat of an issue, but he just keeps going.
Yesterday was a very busy and good day. Two of Randy's friends and former co-workers at CIPS in Springfield, IL drove four hours to spend time with him and take us out to lunch. The morning started off a little shaky, but improved with Bob and Bruce's visit. It is always good to talk about "the good old days." A big thank you to Bob Patterson and Bruce Garner for their visit. They were there when Randy went through dialysis and the kidney transplant, so they were happy to see him doing so well.
Now we gear up for the arrival of the kids. Everyone will be coming in on Christmas Eve. Pat and Mary will be driving from Mary's parents in Missouri, Katie will be driving from Chicago and Carrie will be flying in from Atlanta. It will be so nice to have the house full of kids again. I'm not sure, but I think it was last Christmas when they were all home together. Pat and Mary didn't come home for Thanksgiving and Katie wasn't home last Easter, so guess it has been a year. We are truly excited about it, can you tell?
Besides Christmas, anticipation is growing for the party celebrating Pat and Mary's wedding. We will be celebrating with our friends and family, some of which were at the wedding, but most were not able to attend. It will be a great time.
Thank you to Carol Stith for the delicious meal that you provided for us this week. I could get used to having someone delivering food to the door. It was so thoughtful of you to think of us. Thanks also for all of the cards, emails and phone calls that we continue to receive. Even during this very busy time, you take time to let us know that you are praying and thinking of us. You are all priceless.
I don't know if I will post before Christmas. If not, our wish for each of you is a Happy and Blessed Christmas and a Joyous New Year.
Prepare ye the way.
Peace be to you.
Randy & Sue
Friday, December 12, 2008
DAY THREE - POST CHEMO
Randy had another treatment on Tuesday. He has been dealing with the edema from the fluids that he received during his last hospital stay. Dr. Ahmed increased the diuretic for three days and it seems to be helping. Since he usually deals with dehydration after chemo, maybe it will not be a problem this time around.
He has been feeling pretty good the last few days. He felt well enough to get out of the house on Wednesday. We had two holiday functions to attend and he was able to make both of them. We were even out until 10:30PM. Wow, we are living on the edge.
Fatigue is setting in today. So, Randy will get some "couch time." He tries not to nap too much during the day because it really messes with his nighttime sleep schedule. But, when he needs to rest, he usually gives in. I will begin monitoring his temperature today. We need to be very aware of elevated temps after the last time. He really gets tired of me following him around with a thermometer. I know that he feels like he can't open his mouth with my sticking the thermometer in. Oh well, that's my job -- Nurse Ratchett.
We made it to church last Sunday. It was great to see everyone and be able to thank people for all of their concern. Our St. Mark's family is our lifeline. We couldn't make it without each of you.
Please continue to pray for us as we watch for signs of infection. God continues to bath us in his peace that passes all understanding. Thanks be to God.
Peace be to you.
Randy & Sue
Randy had another treatment on Tuesday. He has been dealing with the edema from the fluids that he received during his last hospital stay. Dr. Ahmed increased the diuretic for three days and it seems to be helping. Since he usually deals with dehydration after chemo, maybe it will not be a problem this time around.
He has been feeling pretty good the last few days. He felt well enough to get out of the house on Wednesday. We had two holiday functions to attend and he was able to make both of them. We were even out until 10:30PM. Wow, we are living on the edge.
Fatigue is setting in today. So, Randy will get some "couch time." He tries not to nap too much during the day because it really messes with his nighttime sleep schedule. But, when he needs to rest, he usually gives in. I will begin monitoring his temperature today. We need to be very aware of elevated temps after the last time. He really gets tired of me following him around with a thermometer. I know that he feels like he can't open his mouth with my sticking the thermometer in. Oh well, that's my job -- Nurse Ratchett.
We made it to church last Sunday. It was great to see everyone and be able to thank people for all of their concern. Our St. Mark's family is our lifeline. We couldn't make it without each of you.
Please continue to pray for us as we watch for signs of infection. God continues to bath us in his peace that passes all understanding. Thanks be to God.
Peace be to you.
Randy & Sue
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Home At Last
Since my last post, several things have happened. When I returned to the hospital on Sunday night after the last post, things went downhill. While Randy was receiving the first unit of blood, his IV site went bad. While waiting for a technician to start a new site, his blood pressure dropped to 50/33 and he passed out. Unlike the previous hospital visit, he was flat on his back and not standing in the bathroom. So, at least there were no injuries. Dr. Ahmed came to the hospital at 11:30 Sunday night to evaluate him. It was determined that since his blood pressure could not be maintained at an acceptable level, he needed to receive a dopamine drip. That could only be administered in ICU. Soooooo, Randy was transferred to ICU and remained there until this morning when he was discharged.
While in ICU, he received two more units of blood, IV fluids and IV antibiotics. The good news is that his temperature returned to normal fairly quickly and remains there at this time. He is still taking oral antibiotics. The nature of the infection is still undetermined. There were some issues with kidney function because of dehydration and the extremely low blood pressures, but that is resolving itself. We are very thankful for that. The hemoglobin is still a problem and may remain so during chemotherapy.
Dr. Ahmed called for a consult with Dr. Wepsic who is Randy's cardiologist and had prescribed some of the medications that affect blood pressure. Dr. Wepsic suggested that he not take any medications that lower blood pressure or act as a diuretic. We are hoping that coming off of those meds will give us good results following his next chemo treatment which is scheduled for December 9. We are learning as we go concerning dealing with side effects. After the first treatment, we learned how to best control the nausea and diarrhea. Now we move on to dehydration and low blood pressure.
Randy is glad to be home and is trying to catch up on his missed sleep. ICU is definitely not the place to be when you need to sleep. There are alarms going off, nurses dealing with life and death situations every minute. As when we were at MD Anderson Cancer Center, we looked around and saw how fortunate we are at this point in Randy's disease. His time there has given us a new list of people to lift up in prayer, both patients and care givers.
On a positive note, we had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. The girls made it home and back safely and we ate way too much food. Thanks to the Myricks for including us as family once again. You are precious to us. Thanks also to everyone who has been calling to check on Randy and me during this time. I also want to give a big thank you to Burke and Carol, Mark, Steve Gibson and Isaac for their help with the Christmas decorations. Things were beginning to run together for me at this holiday time. But with your help, everything is coming together.
Please continue to pray for us. We have again been blessed by the Master's healing touch. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Believe it -- it is true.
Peace be to you.
Randy & Sue
Since my last post, several things have happened. When I returned to the hospital on Sunday night after the last post, things went downhill. While Randy was receiving the first unit of blood, his IV site went bad. While waiting for a technician to start a new site, his blood pressure dropped to 50/33 and he passed out. Unlike the previous hospital visit, he was flat on his back and not standing in the bathroom. So, at least there were no injuries. Dr. Ahmed came to the hospital at 11:30 Sunday night to evaluate him. It was determined that since his blood pressure could not be maintained at an acceptable level, he needed to receive a dopamine drip. That could only be administered in ICU. Soooooo, Randy was transferred to ICU and remained there until this morning when he was discharged.
While in ICU, he received two more units of blood, IV fluids and IV antibiotics. The good news is that his temperature returned to normal fairly quickly and remains there at this time. He is still taking oral antibiotics. The nature of the infection is still undetermined. There were some issues with kidney function because of dehydration and the extremely low blood pressures, but that is resolving itself. We are very thankful for that. The hemoglobin is still a problem and may remain so during chemotherapy.
Dr. Ahmed called for a consult with Dr. Wepsic who is Randy's cardiologist and had prescribed some of the medications that affect blood pressure. Dr. Wepsic suggested that he not take any medications that lower blood pressure or act as a diuretic. We are hoping that coming off of those meds will give us good results following his next chemo treatment which is scheduled for December 9. We are learning as we go concerning dealing with side effects. After the first treatment, we learned how to best control the nausea and diarrhea. Now we move on to dehydration and low blood pressure.
Randy is glad to be home and is trying to catch up on his missed sleep. ICU is definitely not the place to be when you need to sleep. There are alarms going off, nurses dealing with life and death situations every minute. As when we were at MD Anderson Cancer Center, we looked around and saw how fortunate we are at this point in Randy's disease. His time there has given us a new list of people to lift up in prayer, both patients and care givers.
On a positive note, we had a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. The girls made it home and back safely and we ate way too much food. Thanks to the Myricks for including us as family once again. You are precious to us. Thanks also to everyone who has been calling to check on Randy and me during this time. I also want to give a big thank you to Burke and Carol, Mark, Steve Gibson and Isaac for their help with the Christmas decorations. Things were beginning to run together for me at this holiday time. But with your help, everything is coming together.
Please continue to pray for us. We have again been blessed by the Master's healing touch. God is good all the time, all the time God is good. Believe it -- it is true.
Peace be to you.
Randy & Sue
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