In Friday's post, I mentioned that the CA 19-9 decreased from 315 to 289. It was actually 615 in November. Not 315. Even better!
Sunday, March 31, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
CCLXXXIX = ?
172 = ?
(8 + 9)^2 = ?
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
Hint: The answer is the same for all three math problems above. Keep trying.......don't give up! You can do it!
Ok, ok.....well, if Roman numerals aren't your strength, or figuring Friedman numbers, hopefully 17 squared (17 x 17) helped? Yep, the answer is 289. Why, may you ask, is a math lesson part of today's blog? It's not the lesson that is important, but rather the answer to each one: 289. That, my friends, is what Dad's CA 19-9 count was on March 15th BEFORE the 2nd round of Folfirinox. CA 19-9 is the tumor marker that shows up in blood work that is used to measure the effectiveness of the current and prior treatments. When we first started this whole venture back in October 2012, the CA 19-9 was almost 1400. The normal range is 0-37. The chemo radiation combo of treatments in the fall helped drop that number quite a bit. On 11/30/2012, the count was 315. The fact that after only one treatment the number dropped to 289 is a good sign that folfirinox is not giving that tumor a chance to grow. We'll take that!
Today Dad and I are sitting in Room 23 of the infusion center here in UMMC Baltimore. The oxaliplatin was just started about 30 minutes ago. Dad's napping. Typically, he starts to feel really icky about 60 minutes into this drug and requires a shot of Zofran. Once he gets that, he's good to go the rest of the day. We have about 4.5 hours more ahead of us just in infusion time, and then we'll head home to WV. Easter Sunday night, Laura will come back and disconnect the chemo, flush the port, and Dad will be able to roam free without being hooked up to anything. Free!
On Tuesday night, Dad plans to head south with a buddy to what he hopes are warmer temperatures. It is time for the annual golf outing, or what I refer to as the "testosterone fest." Sixteen guys with beer coolers and golf clubs. By the end of the trip I think they're all pretty pickled. What happens in MB, stays in MB!
When Dad returns, it will be time to rest up and re-coup for the 4th round of chemo, which begins on April 12th. After that last round, a CT scan will be done to take a look at the tumor and see how it is responding to Folfirinox. Lots of prayers that the tumor is losing not only the battle, but also the war. Lots of prayers that Dad can then get a break from chemo for a bit. Lots of prayers that my parents can enjoy all of the trips they have planned over the next several months. Many thanks to everyone who reads this blog. We truly appreciate your support! Have a wonderful Easter and much love to all......Jen
(8 + 9)^2 = ?
Are you smarter than a 5th grader?
Hint: The answer is the same for all three math problems above. Keep trying.......don't give up! You can do it!
Ok, ok.....well, if Roman numerals aren't your strength, or figuring Friedman numbers, hopefully 17 squared (17 x 17) helped? Yep, the answer is 289. Why, may you ask, is a math lesson part of today's blog? It's not the lesson that is important, but rather the answer to each one: 289. That, my friends, is what Dad's CA 19-9 count was on March 15th BEFORE the 2nd round of Folfirinox. CA 19-9 is the tumor marker that shows up in blood work that is used to measure the effectiveness of the current and prior treatments. When we first started this whole venture back in October 2012, the CA 19-9 was almost 1400. The normal range is 0-37. The chemo radiation combo of treatments in the fall helped drop that number quite a bit. On 11/30/2012, the count was 315. The fact that after only one treatment the number dropped to 289 is a good sign that folfirinox is not giving that tumor a chance to grow. We'll take that!
Today Dad and I are sitting in Room 23 of the infusion center here in UMMC Baltimore. The oxaliplatin was just started about 30 minutes ago. Dad's napping. Typically, he starts to feel really icky about 60 minutes into this drug and requires a shot of Zofran. Once he gets that, he's good to go the rest of the day. We have about 4.5 hours more ahead of us just in infusion time, and then we'll head home to WV. Easter Sunday night, Laura will come back and disconnect the chemo, flush the port, and Dad will be able to roam free without being hooked up to anything. Free!
On Tuesday night, Dad plans to head south with a buddy to what he hopes are warmer temperatures. It is time for the annual golf outing, or what I refer to as the "testosterone fest." Sixteen guys with beer coolers and golf clubs. By the end of the trip I think they're all pretty pickled. What happens in MB, stays in MB!
When Dad returns, it will be time to rest up and re-coup for the 4th round of chemo, which begins on April 12th. After that last round, a CT scan will be done to take a look at the tumor and see how it is responding to Folfirinox. Lots of prayers that the tumor is losing not only the battle, but also the war. Lots of prayers that Dad can then get a break from chemo for a bit. Lots of prayers that my parents can enjoy all of the trips they have planned over the next several months. Many thanks to everyone who reads this blog. We truly appreciate your support! Have a wonderful Easter and much love to all......Jen
Sunday, March 17, 2013
The Neglectful Blogger...
Yeah, yeah, yeah.....I know, I know....it's been way too long since I've kept everyone up to date on the goings on with Dad. My apologies. There's not been much time lately. I've been a neglectful blogger. Anyway, let me bring everyone up to speed.....
Just today, Dad was disconnected earlier this evening from the latest infusion of Folfirinox. This weekend was Round #2. In two weekends, March 29-31, he will undergo Round #3. He will undergo 4 rounds total, and then the team will run some tests and scans to see where things lie.
So on Fridays of these chemo weekends, we pretty much spend the entire day in Baltimore in the infusion center, receiving the most toxic of the drugs first, Oxaliplatin, followed by a combo of others. (If you research this Folfirinox, you'll see it is a combo of several different chemo drugs, which are introduced into the system over a 3 day regimen.) We've typically been finishing up on these Fridays around 5pm or so. By the time we get home, the in-home nurse also gets to the house; she hooks Dad up for another 46 hour infusion of the rest of the ingredients of the recipe that constitutes Folfirinox. Having this in-home treatment has been very convenient.
I'm sure as you're reading this blog, and perhaps also reading up on this chemo and the side effects, your question is, "How's he handling it?" Honestly, he's been a ROCK STAR! I am truly amazed with how well he has tolerated the stuff. The other meds he's been taking during the treatment have really curbed the nausea. He's had very little of that. I know that's always a big concern. He's had a serious case of the hiccups both times. (He's actually hiccuping beside me right now.) Bowel issues have cropped up, but eventually "work out" (literally). His feet have been tingly. Overall, though, he has done very well. There has not been a side effect that he says he cannot handle. But you all know him, he can tolerate a lot. His appetite has been very healthy, so he's been able to continue to enjoy my mother's yummy cooking, which has helped keep his weight up.
Just to share some indicators of truly how well he's tolerated the treatments, everyone should know that he played 8 holes of golf last Sunday. He also worked with Mom to get the yard raked and cleaned up for spring. The warm weather, and being able to be active has encouraged his energy level. He's doing what he wants to do, and for those of you who know him, that's important! In fact, I originally scheduled the treatments to begin the weekend of Feb. 22nd. However, that schedule conflicted with his social calendar. Who knew? Guess I need access his Google Calendar more often. Yeah, he had already made plans with the super-awesome neighborhood folks that ARE my parents' family to attend an all-you-can-eat (and beer to drink) oyster feed on Feb 24th. He didn't want to have to haul around the chemo pump that day, but more importantly, he wanted to be able to partake fully without feel sick. Awesome, isn't it????
Today we had a great visit. It's been several weeks since Sam has been around. They enjoyed a little bit of time with him, to include a heated game of "Go Fish!" Matt set Dad up with a new email address. If you've missed your daily emails from Dad, then please send Dad an email to jhans1941@gmail.com. This will be the email address that he will be using from now on. If everyone sends him a message, it will save him from having to copy his contacts into ....... oh wait, actually it will save ME from having to copy his contacts from his First Action Team address book to the gmail one. Just kidding (sort of)! Seriously, please send a little message to him. I know he'd love to hear from everyone and get connected again.
Please keep those prayers coming. Yes, I believe my dad is an amazingly strong man who can tolerate a lot, but I also believe the power of prayer has also played an important part of each day. We cannot thank everyone enough for your continued support and love.
Time to get out the door back home. Much love to all......Jen
Just today, Dad was disconnected earlier this evening from the latest infusion of Folfirinox. This weekend was Round #2. In two weekends, March 29-31, he will undergo Round #3. He will undergo 4 rounds total, and then the team will run some tests and scans to see where things lie.
So on Fridays of these chemo weekends, we pretty much spend the entire day in Baltimore in the infusion center, receiving the most toxic of the drugs first, Oxaliplatin, followed by a combo of others. (If you research this Folfirinox, you'll see it is a combo of several different chemo drugs, which are introduced into the system over a 3 day regimen.) We've typically been finishing up on these Fridays around 5pm or so. By the time we get home, the in-home nurse also gets to the house; she hooks Dad up for another 46 hour infusion of the rest of the ingredients of the recipe that constitutes Folfirinox. Having this in-home treatment has been very convenient.
I'm sure as you're reading this blog, and perhaps also reading up on this chemo and the side effects, your question is, "How's he handling it?" Honestly, he's been a ROCK STAR! I am truly amazed with how well he has tolerated the stuff. The other meds he's been taking during the treatment have really curbed the nausea. He's had very little of that. I know that's always a big concern. He's had a serious case of the hiccups both times. (He's actually hiccuping beside me right now.) Bowel issues have cropped up, but eventually "work out" (literally). His feet have been tingly. Overall, though, he has done very well. There has not been a side effect that he says he cannot handle. But you all know him, he can tolerate a lot. His appetite has been very healthy, so he's been able to continue to enjoy my mother's yummy cooking, which has helped keep his weight up.
Just to share some indicators of truly how well he's tolerated the treatments, everyone should know that he played 8 holes of golf last Sunday. He also worked with Mom to get the yard raked and cleaned up for spring. The warm weather, and being able to be active has encouraged his energy level. He's doing what he wants to do, and for those of you who know him, that's important! In fact, I originally scheduled the treatments to begin the weekend of Feb. 22nd. However, that schedule conflicted with his social calendar. Who knew? Guess I need access his Google Calendar more often. Yeah, he had already made plans with the super-awesome neighborhood folks that ARE my parents' family to attend an all-you-can-eat (and beer to drink) oyster feed on Feb 24th. He didn't want to have to haul around the chemo pump that day, but more importantly, he wanted to be able to partake fully without feel sick. Awesome, isn't it????
Today we had a great visit. It's been several weeks since Sam has been around. They enjoyed a little bit of time with him, to include a heated game of "Go Fish!" Matt set Dad up with a new email address. If you've missed your daily emails from Dad, then please send Dad an email to jhans1941@gmail.com. This will be the email address that he will be using from now on. If everyone sends him a message, it will save him from having to copy his contacts into ....... oh wait, actually it will save ME from having to copy his contacts from his First Action Team address book to the gmail one. Just kidding (sort of)! Seriously, please send a little message to him. I know he'd love to hear from everyone and get connected again.
Please keep those prayers coming. Yes, I believe my dad is an amazingly strong man who can tolerate a lot, but I also believe the power of prayer has also played an important part of each day. We cannot thank everyone enough for your continued support and love.
Time to get out the door back home. Much love to all......Jen
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