Wednesday, October 12, 2011
Doctor Visit Update
I saw Dr. Adler today. He wants to do a biopsy of one of the tumors (the easiest one to get to). He is thinking this will be the para-esophageal tumor. I will talk to him tomorrow or Friday. Will probably have the biopsy on Monday or Tuesday of next week. The purpose of this is to find which chemo is best suited for these particular cancer cells. I will update as I know more.
Cyberknife completed
I finished Cyberknife treatments today. All went well and I am thankful I was able to get the treatment. I see Dr. Adler in the morning. We'll talk about which chemo to start. I'll update as I know.
Thank you everyone!
Thank you everyone!
Tuesday, October 4, 2011
A week ago today.....
A week ago today.... (seems much longer than one week)
I went to radiation oncologist on the 27th. She confirmed what I learned during the fiducial placement 2 weeks ago. There are 6-7 new spots in my right lung. She advised me to complete Cyberknife then a week later start systemic chemo.
Had PET Scan for Cyberknife. Then had regular 3 month follow up scans, CT of chest, pelvic and abdomen. Went to eat with Mama then back to work. I was there for almost an hour. Then, all of a sudden, I felt like I was going to pass out. My speech started slurring and was losing feeling in my left leg. Daddy pulled the car to the front, Ginger helped me to the car and we were on the way to Brookwood. At some point, I passed out.
Woke up with the hospital gown on and lights shining in my eyes. I couldn't talk, couldn't move my arms or legs. Mama told me later she had to hold my head up for almost an hour. Tried not to look at my mom or dad's face since I saw them crying. I had no idea what was going on. I have not taken chemo since the beginning of May.
I looked up and saw this sweet smiling face... Sallie Lawrence. All I could do at that point was cry. Talk about a rock, that's Sallie. I love you Sallie!
There was talk of possible stroke, possible seizure, they really didn't know what was going on. Had CT of head. Still couldn't move or feel legs or arms. Left for MRI and during that LOUD hour, I could tell the feeling in my arms were coming back. They rolled me back to the room and then I really almost lost it, emotionally, that is. There are few people I can look at and not have to say a word, b/c I don't have to. He already knows what I would say and I know what he would say. Thank you Dave!
I was admitted to the hospital around 10PM. Before Sallie, Dave and Mr. Gene left, I could feel my right leg. :-) Around 4AM, my left leg started doing what I was telling it to do. Took a few more hours, but I began moving it. The next day the Neurologist told me CT and MRI were normal. They did more tests, lots of blood work, the next 2 days. I came home Thursday night. They are calling it a "spell," for lack of not knowing what happened.
Since then, I've had a few moments where I felt funny. The only way I know to describe it is.... You know when you first get IV sedation, how you just get real woozy feeling and it's an all over body feeling. Well, that's happened to me several times since Friday. I've had some really bad headaches. I've been resting, resting, and resting some more.
Here's a schedule of sorts for this week and next:
I will have 4 treatments of Cyberknife.
10/6 Thursday @ 9:00 am
10/7 Friday @ 9:00 am
10/10 Monday @ 9:00 am
10/11 Tuesday @ 9:00 am
10/12 Wednesday - I will see medical oncologist, Dr. Adler. He will let me know what chemo we're going to do. Will probably start that regimen w/in a week.
10/13 Thursday - appointment with the neurologist, Dr. Kovacik, I saw in the hospital. I'll get results from all the (off the wall) lab work he did. He will give me the okay to drive that day, at least I hope he will.
And that's it, my official update!
I went to radiation oncologist on the 27th. She confirmed what I learned during the fiducial placement 2 weeks ago. There are 6-7 new spots in my right lung. She advised me to complete Cyberknife then a week later start systemic chemo.
Had PET Scan for Cyberknife. Then had regular 3 month follow up scans, CT of chest, pelvic and abdomen. Went to eat with Mama then back to work. I was there for almost an hour. Then, all of a sudden, I felt like I was going to pass out. My speech started slurring and was losing feeling in my left leg. Daddy pulled the car to the front, Ginger helped me to the car and we were on the way to Brookwood. At some point, I passed out.
Woke up with the hospital gown on and lights shining in my eyes. I couldn't talk, couldn't move my arms or legs. Mama told me later she had to hold my head up for almost an hour. Tried not to look at my mom or dad's face since I saw them crying. I had no idea what was going on. I have not taken chemo since the beginning of May.
I looked up and saw this sweet smiling face... Sallie Lawrence. All I could do at that point was cry. Talk about a rock, that's Sallie. I love you Sallie!
There was talk of possible stroke, possible seizure, they really didn't know what was going on. Had CT of head. Still couldn't move or feel legs or arms. Left for MRI and during that LOUD hour, I could tell the feeling in my arms were coming back. They rolled me back to the room and then I really almost lost it, emotionally, that is. There are few people I can look at and not have to say a word, b/c I don't have to. He already knows what I would say and I know what he would say. Thank you Dave!
I was admitted to the hospital around 10PM. Before Sallie, Dave and Mr. Gene left, I could feel my right leg. :-) Around 4AM, my left leg started doing what I was telling it to do. Took a few more hours, but I began moving it. The next day the Neurologist told me CT and MRI were normal. They did more tests, lots of blood work, the next 2 days. I came home Thursday night. They are calling it a "spell," for lack of not knowing what happened.
Since then, I've had a few moments where I felt funny. The only way I know to describe it is.... You know when you first get IV sedation, how you just get real woozy feeling and it's an all over body feeling. Well, that's happened to me several times since Friday. I've had some really bad headaches. I've been resting, resting, and resting some more.
Here's a schedule of sorts for this week and next:
I will have 4 treatments of Cyberknife.
10/6 Thursday @ 9:00 am
10/7 Friday @ 9:00 am
10/10 Monday @ 9:00 am
10/11 Tuesday @ 9:00 am
10/12 Wednesday - I will see medical oncologist, Dr. Adler. He will let me know what chemo we're going to do. Will probably start that regimen w/in a week.
10/13 Thursday - appointment with the neurologist, Dr. Kovacik, I saw in the hospital. I'll get results from all the (off the wall) lab work he did. He will give me the okay to drive that day, at least I hope he will.
And that's it, my official update!
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