Well...this has been an interesting week since we got back from Seattle. I had not really felt very good during the trip and it seemed to get worse as the week went on. I've just be nauseous sort of constantly and it's led to me losing too much weight. I weighed the other night at 158 lbs, which is too puny for my frame. I've been getting radiation but there's nothing about the location of the radiation that should be causing nausea...and I haven't yet resumed chemo, so it's not that. I've also been experiencing some new areas of lung pain. I'd just try to get through it but sometimes the pain is more than I can handle even with my 'breakthrough' pain meds.
So....I saw Dr. Dorn and Dr. Zuckerman this week. We've been trying to radiate these new areas of pain, but the problem with that is that as long as we keep chasing these new pain areas with radiation, the longer we're delaying me getting back on chemo. Clearly the new pain areas indicate the disease is spreading some, so the docs and I agreed we'd wrap up the radiation next week and immediately get going on chemo again. Dr. Zuckerman said normally he'd give a break after radiation before starting chemo, but he feels like I should skip the break and get going immediatley on the chemo. Jen and I completely agree with the more agressive approach. So I'll finish radiation next Friday (the 24th) and then begin a new chemo regimen the following week.
With these doctor visits we decided that perhaps me not feeling good lately is due to dehydration, so we scheduled some fluids. They also took some labs and we discovered that my counts were very very low. Dr. Dan said he was surprised I was still standing looking at my counts! Anyhow, I was immediately scheduled for two days worth of blood transfusions...yesterday and today. The transfusions aren't anythng to worry about...just mostly an annoyance because they take so long! Each blood unit takes around 2 hrs and I'm getting multiple units each day, so it makes for long days. Hopefully getting the transfusions and getting better hydrated will lead to feeling better - I'm confident that it will. I just need to finish out radiation this coming week and then start back up with chemo next week.
We're still in the 'afterglow' of our fun trip to Seattle - it's hard to believe a week has gone by already since we got home. We're still laughing about stories and things that happened while we were there. The kids sure had a good time - we all did.
I'll update again once radiation is wrapping up and chemo is starting. I'll be on Taxotere and Tarceva. I've been on Taxotere before - it's a standard IV administered chemo. The Tarceva is a new one and somewhat still in the experimental stage, but I guess it shows some promise so I'm certainly willing.
As always, thanks to everybody for your love and support in so many different ways. We are so very thankful.
LIVESTRONG!!
Steve
Sunday, July 19, 2009
Monday, July 13, 2009
Family trip update
Seattle was a success! We left Sunday the 5th...which happened to be Braden's 13th birthday...and arrived in Lynnwood that evening by dinner time. The kids enjoyed some pool time right away! Then Monday was Mariner's day!!!! What a great game! They really performed for us. I kind of started feeling sorry for the poor Baltimore Orioles. They didn't let them even get a hit in. But not too sorry, because it was really fun to win!!
Thank you to Coralie and Al for such a memorable night..bus adventure and all!! :-)
Then Tuesday Aunt Laurie got Braden his TRAXX license so he could get some gas powered go-kart action. What fun the kids had there! Erin and Dano beat the socks off the boys! Girl POWER! Steve will add some picts to the blog when he gets a chance.
Wednesday was spent at Nike and Pike's Market...thus allowing Braden to spend that birthday money. Then we made some totally awesome tye-dye shirts with the cousins that evening. And Justin rocked out the coolest stencils for us to add to the t-shirt making frenzy. You will have to ask the kids to show you some the t-shirts they made. They are so terrific! It was such an awesome way to spend time with the family and have some take-home memories. Thanks to the fam for that funtime!!! Thursday we did the Duck Tours ride through Seattle followed by some more Pike's market time. And Finally Friday and Saturday were spent hanging with Aunt Laurie and Uncle Rhett and the cousins....enjoying more of their delish meals, generous hospitality, and greasy gloppy, colorfully fun times! We will cherish every memory.
Thank you to each and every person who directly and indirectly helped make this trip possible...family, friends, and strangers. Thank you to our family for graciously taking us in and letting us bombard your home and feeding us for a week. We know that many have sacrificed much for us. We are grateful beyond words.
Blessings,
Jen, Steve, and kids
Thank you to Coralie and Al for such a memorable night..bus adventure and all!! :-)
Then Tuesday Aunt Laurie got Braden his TRAXX license so he could get some gas powered go-kart action. What fun the kids had there! Erin and Dano beat the socks off the boys! Girl POWER! Steve will add some picts to the blog when he gets a chance.
Wednesday was spent at Nike and Pike's Market...thus allowing Braden to spend that birthday money. Then we made some totally awesome tye-dye shirts with the cousins that evening. And Justin rocked out the coolest stencils for us to add to the t-shirt making frenzy. You will have to ask the kids to show you some the t-shirts they made. They are so terrific! It was such an awesome way to spend time with the family and have some take-home memories. Thanks to the fam for that funtime!!! Thursday we did the Duck Tours ride through Seattle followed by some more Pike's market time. And Finally Friday and Saturday were spent hanging with Aunt Laurie and Uncle Rhett and the cousins....enjoying more of their delish meals, generous hospitality, and greasy gloppy, colorfully fun times! We will cherish every memory.
Thank you to each and every person who directly and indirectly helped make this trip possible...family, friends, and strangers. Thank you to our family for graciously taking us in and letting us bombard your home and feeding us for a week. We know that many have sacrificed much for us. We are grateful beyond words.
Blessings,
Jen, Steve, and kids
Thursday, July 2, 2009
Update 7/2/09
Update 7/2/09
This week has included some changes in plans, but that is actually our “normal” now. If things went as planned we would be surprised! What was suppose to be Steve’s last chemo treatment (and a short one) yesterday, ended up being a 6 hour day at MSTI. Because Steve has had some increased pain in the opposite lung that was being treated, Dr. Dorn prepared a new radiation schedule for him and started him on a new increased dose for Wednesday and Thursday to some areas in the pleura of his upper lung area. This new plan is aimed at trying to reduce the pain in those areas. The remainder of that treatment will take place when we return from our Seattle trip the 13th. Then today, we are back at MSTI and 4-South for another double dose of radiation and a transfusion (they found his blood counts to be low yesterday as well).
So as you can see, we are spending some last minute quality time here at St. Lukes before heading out on our wild Seattle adventure. Although it is not how we expected to spend our last couple of days getting ready for the trip, we are thankful that the MSTI staff could get us worked in and Steve taken care of before we leave.
We continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers with great gratitude and thanksgiving. Have a terrific 4th!
Jen, Steve, and the kids
This week has included some changes in plans, but that is actually our “normal” now. If things went as planned we would be surprised! What was suppose to be Steve’s last chemo treatment (and a short one) yesterday, ended up being a 6 hour day at MSTI. Because Steve has had some increased pain in the opposite lung that was being treated, Dr. Dorn prepared a new radiation schedule for him and started him on a new increased dose for Wednesday and Thursday to some areas in the pleura of his upper lung area. This new plan is aimed at trying to reduce the pain in those areas. The remainder of that treatment will take place when we return from our Seattle trip the 13th. Then today, we are back at MSTI and 4-South for another double dose of radiation and a transfusion (they found his blood counts to be low yesterday as well).
So as you can see, we are spending some last minute quality time here at St. Lukes before heading out on our wild Seattle adventure. Although it is not how we expected to spend our last couple of days getting ready for the trip, we are thankful that the MSTI staff could get us worked in and Steve taken care of before we leave.
We continue to keep you all in our thoughts and prayers with great gratitude and thanksgiving. Have a terrific 4th!
Jen, Steve, and the kids
Monday, June 29, 2009
6-29-09
Wow...I'm sorry it's been so long since I've posted - time got away from me!!
Saw Dr. Zuckerman last week. We stopped the radiation to my lower left lung because it was causing me a lot of stomach upset. We were only 4 treatments from being done on that one anyhow so he didn't feel like it was a big deal to stop. They continued to radiate my hip area through Friday. That area seems to be getting better - I'm getting better range of motion in my hip, which pretty certainly means I've had some tumor shrinkage there.
I began having a lot of pain in the left shoulder area over the last few weeks. I asked Dr. Dorn to go back and check my scans and see if there was anything up in that area that would be causing the pain. He did go back and look, and sure enough, he said there are a "bunch" of tumor nodules at the top of my left lung in the pluera. This is right behind the collarbone as he explained it, which is why if feels like my shoulder hurting even though it's actually my lung.
Jen and I are taking the kis up to Seattle this next week for a week long vacation, which should be a blast - it was last year! When we get back from that, Dr. Dorn is going to do 2 weeks of radiation to the tumors in the upper left lung, in hopes of relieving some of that pain.
Once radiation is complete, I will be back on chemo again with Dr. Zuckerman - taking three drugs this time: Zomeda, Taxotere and Tarceva. I've been on Zomeda for a few weeks now without any real trouble. I've had Taxotere before (it was part of the 'TPF' chemo formula I was on some time back)...but I've not yet had Tarceva, which is a new drug designed to be a growth inhibitor for cancers in the lung.
Dr. Zuckerman feels like this regimen won't be as toxic for me as the previous chemo regimen was. He said the fatigue and weakness will be about the same but the nausea should not be as bad......If that's the case I'll gladly take it!!! It seems like everything they do to treat cancer (at least the kind I have) involves making you sick to your stomach!! It's nice to get a break from that once in a while.
That's all I know for now. We probably won't be updating again until we get back from Seattle at the end of next week. We're so excited about our trip!!
As always, thanks for all the prayer and support that has come to us in so many different forms. Thank you!!
Love,
Steve
Saw Dr. Zuckerman last week. We stopped the radiation to my lower left lung because it was causing me a lot of stomach upset. We were only 4 treatments from being done on that one anyhow so he didn't feel like it was a big deal to stop. They continued to radiate my hip area through Friday. That area seems to be getting better - I'm getting better range of motion in my hip, which pretty certainly means I've had some tumor shrinkage there.
I began having a lot of pain in the left shoulder area over the last few weeks. I asked Dr. Dorn to go back and check my scans and see if there was anything up in that area that would be causing the pain. He did go back and look, and sure enough, he said there are a "bunch" of tumor nodules at the top of my left lung in the pluera. This is right behind the collarbone as he explained it, which is why if feels like my shoulder hurting even though it's actually my lung.
Jen and I are taking the kis up to Seattle this next week for a week long vacation, which should be a blast - it was last year! When we get back from that, Dr. Dorn is going to do 2 weeks of radiation to the tumors in the upper left lung, in hopes of relieving some of that pain.
Once radiation is complete, I will be back on chemo again with Dr. Zuckerman - taking three drugs this time: Zomeda, Taxotere and Tarceva. I've been on Zomeda for a few weeks now without any real trouble. I've had Taxotere before (it was part of the 'TPF' chemo formula I was on some time back)...but I've not yet had Tarceva, which is a new drug designed to be a growth inhibitor for cancers in the lung.
Dr. Zuckerman feels like this regimen won't be as toxic for me as the previous chemo regimen was. He said the fatigue and weakness will be about the same but the nausea should not be as bad......If that's the case I'll gladly take it!!! It seems like everything they do to treat cancer (at least the kind I have) involves making you sick to your stomach!! It's nice to get a break from that once in a while.
That's all I know for now. We probably won't be updating again until we get back from Seattle at the end of next week. We're so excited about our trip!!
As always, thanks for all the prayer and support that has come to us in so many different forms. Thank you!!
Love,
Steve
Friday, June 12, 2009
6/12/09 Thanks!
Hello and Happy Summer! This is Jen. Boy, am I grateful for some time to catch up at home...finally! But I am writing on the blog because I wanted a place to share my never ending gratitude to all those who have been so generous to us. As many of you know, we are planning a special family trip to Seattle in a few weeks. Radiation is scheduled to end just in time for us to leave, and Steve won't begin the new Chemo plan until we return. So we are expecting a wonderful week of family fun and memorable times. It will be even the more special because our loving friends and family have gone WAY above and beyond to make sure that we have the funds to make this event possible. We absolutely would not have been able to go without your sacrifices, generous donations, and loving support. We are eternally grateful for all that you have done and continue to do to. Thank you for walking with us through this journey. Your compassion and humanity never ceases to amaze me and uplift me.
Blessings,
Jen
p.s. A special shout out to the 'Cron group and our Ten Mile family!! You're all like the energizer bunny....you just keep going and going. You'd think that you'd be sick of us by now! ha ha....love you guys!
Blessings,
Jen
p.s. A special shout out to the 'Cron group and our Ten Mile family!! You're all like the energizer bunny....you just keep going and going. You'd think that you'd be sick of us by now! ha ha....love you guys!
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Update June 4, 2009
We met with Dr. Dan this morning to talk about the results of my CT scan on Monday. While the cancer did not spread significantly in the lungs, there was indication of metastasis to the bone. Specifically the cancer is in my lumbar vertebrae and hip bones (not in the spinal cord). Those of you who have seen me walking at all in the last few months may have noticed that I've had a limp for some time now, with a lot of pain in the right hip. The scan finally explains that.
Since the results indicate that this harsh treatment I've been on is becoming less effective, we will be switching to a new treatment plan. There are a few specific things they're targeting with the new treatment plan. The first element will be a drug to control the bone metastasis, which will be given via IV weekly. The second element will be a new systemic drug regime for my body and the cancer in my lungs. Finally, I will be doing about 2.5 weeks of radiation to both the left lung (the affected pleural areas) and the hip. These palliative radiation treatments will be daily for the two and a half weeks, starting this coming Monday the 8th . The radiation is aimed to reduce pain in both of these areas.
So that's what we know right now. As always, things are subject to change. Thanks to all of you for your patience - especially those of you who's schedules are impacted by these changes. And as always we thank all of you for your prayer and support. The outpouring of generosity in so many different forms has been amazing and humbling.
We will do our best to keep you posted.
Love,
Steve and Jen
Since the results indicate that this harsh treatment I've been on is becoming less effective, we will be switching to a new treatment plan. There are a few specific things they're targeting with the new treatment plan. The first element will be a drug to control the bone metastasis, which will be given via IV weekly. The second element will be a new systemic drug regime for my body and the cancer in my lungs. Finally, I will be doing about 2.5 weeks of radiation to both the left lung (the affected pleural areas) and the hip. These palliative radiation treatments will be daily for the two and a half weeks, starting this coming Monday the 8th . The radiation is aimed to reduce pain in both of these areas.
So that's what we know right now. As always, things are subject to change. Thanks to all of you for your patience - especially those of you who's schedules are impacted by these changes. And as always we thank all of you for your prayer and support. The outpouring of generosity in so many different forms has been amazing and humbling.
We will do our best to keep you posted.
Love,
Steve and Jen
Monday, June 1, 2009
Update 6/1/09
Wow, June already!! I had a CT scan down at St. Lukes today. Dr. Zuckerman ordered it to see how we're doing with the current treatment. If it looks like this treatment is still holding things at bay, we'll stick with what I've been doing. If it looks like the cancer is beginning to develop resistance to the chemo regimen I'm on, we'll switch to a different chemo. Dr. Z has some other regimens in mind already, because it's not uncommon when you've been on a certain chemo regimen for a long time, that it can begin to lose its effectiveness. I've been on this triple chemo (except for a break earlier this year) since November of last year....that's a long time.
Anyhow...welcome to those of you who are new to this blog - and again I apologize for not advertising it better when I created it. I'll post again once we know the results of the scan and we've been able to discuss it with the doctor.
More soon......Steve
Anyhow...welcome to those of you who are new to this blog - and again I apologize for not advertising it better when I created it. I'll post again once we know the results of the scan and we've been able to discuss it with the doctor.
More soon......Steve
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