Cathy's pre-chemo labs came back on November 30th showing her blood too degenerated to allow for chemotherapy. The Dr. and staff didn't seem flustered as a result and suggested the extra week off may do her some good and allow her to gain strength and her blood to rebound sufficiently to receive her scheduled "nab paclitaxel + Avastin". Cathy did show a bit more energy and we fed her a fair amount of beef on Saturday and Sunday to help.
The "pinch hitter" [not our regular oncologist] made a comment to Cathy today to the effect of, "Well this is a happy story" with regards to Cathy's response to her chemo. She DID get her dual chemo today and evidently [we haven't seen them], her abnormally high liver markers are continuing to come down! The "exit strategy" / maintenance regimen has not been discussed with us [perhaps it's just way too premature], but today we are very heartened by Cathy's response and the medical community's view of her progress.
Cathy had declined the steroids administered prior to her chemo the last two treatments but today's nurse wasn't aware of this change. So before Cathy and her sister noticed, she had received nearly 1/2 of the steroid ... Cathy was full of life this evening! Getting sleep as a result is still yet to be determined. Cathy is SUCH A TROOPER. She is fighting so valiantly and we appear to be seeing results as a result of her spirit, the faithful prayer of so many, the Lord's favor and chemo sufficient for the task. Thanks for your loving support and prayers.
Monday, December 7, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Too much fun? Too much to eat?
Perhaps we overdid it taking Cathy to the Rockford area for Thanksgiving to be with her family. The food and warm fellowship were excellent as always and not something Cathy or the rest of our small family could stand to miss. But in light of how comprimised Cathy has felt since returning it sure makes me second guess staying too long or Cathy indulging too much [extra pressure on her liver causing extra pressure on her lungs]?
On Friday we finally reviewed her labs from Monday's chemo. They weren't good: platelets below 100 and other factors above or below norms. It caused me to do some more internet research about Triple Negative and I was smacked into reality at just how pernicious this cancer is. Stories of other triple negative breast cancer patients with similar stories to Cathy's: faithful, young, vibrant, healthy, active women inflicted with this insidious stuff. Please continue to pray for her strength, response to chemo, the doctor's wisdom, timely medical advances and God's overarching grace and mercy.
On Friday we finally reviewed her labs from Monday's chemo. They weren't good: platelets below 100 and other factors above or below norms. It caused me to do some more internet research about Triple Negative and I was smacked into reality at just how pernicious this cancer is. Stories of other triple negative breast cancer patients with similar stories to Cathy's: faithful, young, vibrant, healthy, active women inflicted with this insidious stuff. Please continue to pray for her strength, response to chemo, the doctor's wisdom, timely medical advances and God's overarching grace and mercy.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
WOW!
"WOW!!", Dr. Bayer exclaimed while feeling Cathy's abdomen during last Monday's chemo appointment. He followed that up by facetiously saying, "We don't even need to have a CT scan". Evidently the swelling in Cathy's liver has noticeably receded. Cathy then asked if she could have her chemo [got both the nab-paclitaxel and Avastin this time] sans the steroids. Dr. Bayer, knowing his model patient is tough, in tune with her body and capabilities, and able to take the "risk", agreed.
Since it had been 11 days since Cathy's last chemo and she felt strong, she skipped the steroids feeling they caused side effects worse than any perceived benefit, and she proved quite perceptive - she slept better after the chemo, exhibited none of the "shakes" she had after previous chemos and was unfazed by the chemo's nasty effects until about Wednesday afternoon.
Tonight Cathy felt she may have regressed a little bit but I think it's due to the increased activity she has exhibited over the last 3 days and the protracted time she has avoided the oxygen [generator or mobile backpack unit]. Cathy's voice is stronger, aforementioned energy and activity increased and resolve renewed. She ate quite well today, too!
Tomorrow brings another chemo [nab-paclitaxel only] and we hope the side effects will be minimized so Thanksgiving with family can be maximized, for we have MUCH to thank the Lord for. We wish you dear and faithful "followers" a blessed Thanksgiving as well and thank you for your prayers, cards, letters, phone calls and support in so many ways.
Since it had been 11 days since Cathy's last chemo and she felt strong, she skipped the steroids feeling they caused side effects worse than any perceived benefit, and she proved quite perceptive - she slept better after the chemo, exhibited none of the "shakes" she had after previous chemos and was unfazed by the chemo's nasty effects until about Wednesday afternoon.
Tonight Cathy felt she may have regressed a little bit but I think it's due to the increased activity she has exhibited over the last 3 days and the protracted time she has avoided the oxygen [generator or mobile backpack unit]. Cathy's voice is stronger, aforementioned energy and activity increased and resolve renewed. She ate quite well today, too!
Tomorrow brings another chemo [nab-paclitaxel only] and we hope the side effects will be minimized so Thanksgiving with family can be maximized, for we have MUCH to thank the Lord for. We wish you dear and faithful "followers" a blessed Thanksgiving as well and thank you for your prayers, cards, letters, phone calls and support in so many ways.
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Hark, is that light?
Well, Cathy reacts like anyone/most would when she gets chemo, but as she "digests" the nasty stuff and "emerges from the" she looks and acts much like the Cathy I know and love. Well, that may be stretching it with regards to the "looking" aspect [she still has oxygen support, is VERY thin and has lost her hair] but the sparkle is back in her eyes, her face shows little effects from the crud she's been through over the last few weeks, and her wit, charm and spunk are effervescent as ever. Her voice is much stronger as she's overcome the thrush and perhaps gained lung capacity as [we're hoping & praying] her liver swelling may be receding.
Couple the physical / relational improvement with platelets that continue their ascent to normalcy and liver enzymes that have begun to fall and optimism has returned to our home. It's all anecdotal for now as we'll not know anything conclusive until sometime in early December when Cathy will get another CT scan, but it sure seems we're moving in the right direction.
We praise God for Cathy's apparent improvement and face each day with renewed optimism.
Couple the physical / relational improvement with platelets that continue their ascent to normalcy and liver enzymes that have begun to fall and optimism has returned to our home. It's all anecdotal for now as we'll not know anything conclusive until sometime in early December when Cathy will get another CT scan, but it sure seems we're moving in the right direction.
We praise God for Cathy's apparent improvement and face each day with renewed optimism.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
SO Cool, SO Sweet!
As the flu season gets underway and is heightened with added concerns due to H1N1, Dr. Bayer told us nearly two weeks ago that the swine flu would likely be deadly in Cathy’s immuno-suppressed state. Since Hope daily invades the germ-pool we know as High School and since her oral fixation makes her an even greater candidate to contract the nasty stuff, Cathy and I have debated getting the vaccination for Hope. She has the greatest likelihood in our family of getting the flu and would pose the greatest difficulty to care for and keep Cathy from contracting it
- past vaccinations have been difficult for Hope and other Angelman Syndrome patients. Do we gamble with possible complications from the vaccination or near certain extreme difficulties in the event Hope contracts the H1N1 flu?
- we had not considered getting the vaccination for Cathy as we were under the impression she couldn't get it in her compromised state
Well, on 10/22 it turns out Dr. Bayer informed Cathy that she CAN and should get the vaccine. We also decided Hope would be better served by getting the vaccine than the possible consequences if she didn't.
This is where it gets REAL SWEET AND REAL COOL:
- As difficult as it is to secure the vaccine with demand outstripping supply, Carol Casey requested that Mrs. and Dr. Erickson seek to get two of the shots for my girls
- Dr. Erickson solicited the assistance of a Vice President of our local hospital to assist in the hunt.
- Cathy has a limited window between and before her weekly chemotherapies
- On Tuesday evening, 10/27, thanks to the assistance of these aforementioned saints, Dr. Erickson administered the shots in our home on the last day before Cathy would have to wait for at least 4 more days!
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Good News?
Rather than get chemo on Thursday, 10/15, we met with Dr. Bayer. They took blood and Dr. Bayer advised Cathy to eat a high protein diet. We left the office, Cathy "dined" on 1/2 of a beef sandwich from Panera and we ran a couple errands including a visit to Walmart - Cathy in tow in a wheelchair due to her compromised breathing. Upon returning home, the protein "kicked in" and we heard great news from her labs: overall her blood looked great since the infusion on 10/13 and her platelets were up to 101.
Cathy inadvertently received no additional oxygen from the generator for nearly 24 hours from 10/15 PM until early evening 10/16 [I cross-threaded the threads in the "bubble humidifier" lid and air escaped as a result]. When the cause was discovered on Friday night, Cathy opted to go without the added oxygen and breathe solely on her own and did remarkably well thru Monday, 10/19. Her oxygen saturation during the labs was ~97%, a full 1% higher than her sister's for which Cathy chided Kay! Monday was a good day but Tuesday AM the sharp pain in Cathy's side returned and the need for oxygen was once again self-evident.
Thru this last week leading up to chemo on 10/22, Cathy remarked that since she still felt so bad, she lamented not getting chemo on 10/15. Well, it's still early in the marathon, but between labs on Monday, 10/19, and additional labs pre-chemo on Thursday, it turns out her blood looks great AND it appears her elevated liver enzymes have dropped a bit! Praise God !!
Chemo is nasty and Cathy feels fatigued and nauseous but due to the steroids they give during administration, she has a pretty good 24-30 hour period before the wheels fall off. After dinner on Friday, 10/23, Megan Maertens dropped over bearing home-made scones. Upon handing me the plate of delectable scones, Megan and her boyfriend, Nate, sat on the floor at the foot of the recliner ["Cathy's Throne"] and each massaged a foot of Cathy's for ~2 hours, moved to her hands and Megan finished up with a shoulder and scalp massage. Coupled with the "healing touch" and sweet discourse we enjoyed for nearly four hours, Cathy appeared to grow stronger through the night and remained so until nearly noon on Saturday - a full 16 hours of "health" longer than her past experiences.
Today has been rough, her liver continues to be painful and she produces a fair amount of phlegm [by-product of the chemo?] Although the liver has been bothering her for nearly 10 weeks now, it seems she is more aware of a different pain after chemo - we hope and continue to believe that it is the cleansing effect of the "nan-paclitaxel" destroying the tumor.
I hope to post some pictures on the blog, once again, if I can only figure it out without wasting precious hours. It's been a long weekend and I'm going to join Cathy in slumber now. Thanks for checking in and keeping Cathy in your prayers.
Cathy inadvertently received no additional oxygen from the generator for nearly 24 hours from 10/15 PM until early evening 10/16 [I cross-threaded the threads in the "bubble humidifier" lid and air escaped as a result]. When the cause was discovered on Friday night, Cathy opted to go without the added oxygen and breathe solely on her own and did remarkably well thru Monday, 10/19. Her oxygen saturation during the labs was ~97%, a full 1% higher than her sister's for which Cathy chided Kay! Monday was a good day but Tuesday AM the sharp pain in Cathy's side returned and the need for oxygen was once again self-evident.
Thru this last week leading up to chemo on 10/22, Cathy remarked that since she still felt so bad, she lamented not getting chemo on 10/15. Well, it's still early in the marathon, but between labs on Monday, 10/19, and additional labs pre-chemo on Thursday, it turns out her blood looks great AND it appears her elevated liver enzymes have dropped a bit! Praise God !!
Chemo is nasty and Cathy feels fatigued and nauseous but due to the steroids they give during administration, she has a pretty good 24-30 hour period before the wheels fall off. After dinner on Friday, 10/23, Megan Maertens dropped over bearing home-made scones. Upon handing me the plate of delectable scones, Megan and her boyfriend, Nate, sat on the floor at the foot of the recliner ["Cathy's Throne"] and each massaged a foot of Cathy's for ~2 hours, moved to her hands and Megan finished up with a shoulder and scalp massage. Coupled with the "healing touch" and sweet discourse we enjoyed for nearly four hours, Cathy appeared to grow stronger through the night and remained so until nearly noon on Saturday - a full 16 hours of "health" longer than her past experiences.
Today has been rough, her liver continues to be painful and she produces a fair amount of phlegm [by-product of the chemo?] Although the liver has been bothering her for nearly 10 weeks now, it seems she is more aware of a different pain after chemo - we hope and continue to believe that it is the cleansing effect of the "nan-paclitaxel" destroying the tumor.
I hope to post some pictures on the blog, once again, if I can only figure it out without wasting precious hours. It's been a long weekend and I'm going to join Cathy in slumber now. Thanks for checking in and keeping Cathy in your prayers.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Catching Up
Quick updates since it's been so long since we weighed in:
Saturday, 10/3: turns out Cathy's platelets were at 35 [normal range 160-400] and in pain. Quite a reversal from Friday.
Sunday, 10/4: platelets fell to 21 and she got a platelet infusion late that night
Monday, 10/5: platelets at 58 and Cathy dismissed late afternoon with oxygen support. Also had bladder infection [a first]. Wall unit O generator to arrive 6-7 PM. Portable cylinder ran out of O ~9:00 and plug in unit arrived about 10:00 FINALLY
Tuesday, 10/6: Cathy is thin in hands, arms, shoulders and ribs but abnormally bloated in her abdomen, hips, bottom, legs and feet. In addition to inflamation in her liver, additional inches causing significant discomfort.
Wednesday, 10/7: labs revealed platelets fell to 40 and liver enzymes unchanged [at least no increase]. Decent evening but severe pain late in her left kidney
Thursday, 10/8: Cathy got chemo [nan-paclitaxel] with steroids and came home full of energy.
Friday, 10/9: PM the wheels fell off. Called me at the office to say her liver hurt. Different than general / continued pain? We surmised that perhaps the targeted chemo was taking effect!
Weekend was quiet as Cathy felt awful and throat became sore
Monday, 10/12: labs moved to Monday. No news on liver enzymes but orders for blood transfusion [2 units] for Tuesday.
Tuesday, 10/13: Outpatient infusion took 7 hours for two units of blood - all day! Nurses determined throat / mouth sores as THRUSH - she didn't need that!
Wednesday, 10/14: White blood cell count reported too low that Cathy will NOT get chemo on Thursday. Sweet evening, however, in that a HOST of High School youth group ["HYACKS"] students and adult leaders came to pray collectively outside our home for Cathy and our family. A concert of prayer which we appreciate so.
My prayer request specifically for Cathy's health is divided into short and long term. Long term that the chemo would have full effect and remove the tumors and full remission would result. Short term is for Cathy to avoid infection of any flu or other colds and to be able to bear up with all the pain of cancer and side effects of chemo.
Saturday, 10/3: turns out Cathy's platelets were at 35 [normal range 160-400] and in pain. Quite a reversal from Friday.
Sunday, 10/4: platelets fell to 21 and she got a platelet infusion late that night
Monday, 10/5: platelets at 58 and Cathy dismissed late afternoon with oxygen support. Also had bladder infection [a first]. Wall unit O generator to arrive 6-7 PM. Portable cylinder ran out of O ~9:00 and plug in unit arrived about 10:00 FINALLY
Tuesday, 10/6: Cathy is thin in hands, arms, shoulders and ribs but abnormally bloated in her abdomen, hips, bottom, legs and feet. In addition to inflamation in her liver, additional inches causing significant discomfort.
Wednesday, 10/7: labs revealed platelets fell to 40 and liver enzymes unchanged [at least no increase]. Decent evening but severe pain late in her left kidney
Thursday, 10/8: Cathy got chemo [nan-paclitaxel] with steroids and came home full of energy.
Friday, 10/9: PM the wheels fell off. Called me at the office to say her liver hurt. Different than general / continued pain? We surmised that perhaps the targeted chemo was taking effect!
Weekend was quiet as Cathy felt awful and throat became sore
Monday, 10/12: labs moved to Monday. No news on liver enzymes but orders for blood transfusion [2 units] for Tuesday.
Tuesday, 10/13: Outpatient infusion took 7 hours for two units of blood - all day! Nurses determined throat / mouth sores as THRUSH - she didn't need that!
Wednesday, 10/14: White blood cell count reported too low that Cathy will NOT get chemo on Thursday. Sweet evening, however, in that a HOST of High School youth group ["HYACKS"] students and adult leaders came to pray collectively outside our home for Cathy and our family. A concert of prayer which we appreciate so.
My prayer request specifically for Cathy's health is divided into short and long term. Long term that the chemo would have full effect and remove the tumors and full remission would result. Short term is for Cathy to avoid infection of any flu or other colds and to be able to bear up with all the pain of cancer and side effects of chemo.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Welcome ERABS
Fellow classmates of '79. As Cathy's husband I want to thank you for checking her blog & your concern for her well being. You can bet both she and I would have much rather been catching up with you on this reunion night than where we are now. Cathy is /no, WAS resting comfortably as I write this. I'll not go into much of her current dilemma [you can read about it here] or our last 10 years since the 20th, but I can tell you she is, as she was in High School, well loved, interested in other's well being, energetic, fun and fun-loving. She has grown, however, since High School into a wise, loving and discerning mother, church youth leader, employee, friend and wife [we celebrated our 28th anniversary on August 1st]. Just a little context, as you read: our son Wesley is 22 and attempting to get into the Air Force to pursue special forces in S.E.R.E., our 19 year old daughter, Hope, is handicapped with a genetic defect called Angelman Syndrome and is our constant and sweet companion. Please join our little "community" in praying for Cathy's full recovery and Lisa or Erin can let you know how to get in touch with Cathy during/after her recuperation.
The Latest
An update from Thursday's last post will, again, be mixed with good and bad. Wesley and Hope accompanied me to visit Cathy on Thursday evening and Leanne joined us a little later. We were all encouraged at Cathy's coherence and improvement resulting from some pain medications and the IVIG drip.
Friday AM I was back at the hospital in the morning for Dr. Bayer's rounds. Cathy had received her chemo overnight and was responding very well. While I was at work she had some visitors and appeared to be unfazed. Friday night upon my return with Hope, we were amazed at what we saw. Leanne had come as well and remarked that Cathy looked about 80% of her normal self and I couldn't disagree. Her pain meds were changed slightly and she received her 2nd dose of IVIG.
Saturday, however, was an awful "relapse" into the pain and weakness we had been seeing prior to arriving at the hospital. Before I made it to the hospital in the morning, Cathy called to inform me of her sleepless and uncomfortable night. Her normally concave abdomen has been slightly distended due to the swelling of her liver from the cancer. Cathy is much too private and proper for me to write this but both chemo and the pain meds are each sufficient alone to cause constipation ... she had BOTH and is quite stopped up as a result, adding insult to injury in her abdomen.
The Dr. had indicated that [especially when the tumor has not been surgically removed prior to?] her chemo would present her with good and bad days. The effects of the meds on the tumor themselves might release toxins[?] and make her sick, too. In her experience, if this is the case, it seems a bit odd since she had such a great day immediately following the chemo and this day we'd all like to forget today!
While I took Hope home in the late afternoon for a change of scenery for her and dinner at home, Leanne remained with Cathy. Leanne called from the hospital and offered to care for Hope at home while I returned to visit Cathy. Upon her arrival, Leanne was visibly shaken and crying profusely by Cathy's condition. It's now 9:30 PM and Cathy is miserable with minuscule relief. Now her third night in the hospital ... we'll need to see remarkable improvement for her to come home sometime on Sunday, but not until we know she is good AND stable.
Friday AM I was back at the hospital in the morning for Dr. Bayer's rounds. Cathy had received her chemo overnight and was responding very well. While I was at work she had some visitors and appeared to be unfazed. Friday night upon my return with Hope, we were amazed at what we saw. Leanne had come as well and remarked that Cathy looked about 80% of her normal self and I couldn't disagree. Her pain meds were changed slightly and she received her 2nd dose of IVIG.
Saturday, however, was an awful "relapse" into the pain and weakness we had been seeing prior to arriving at the hospital. Before I made it to the hospital in the morning, Cathy called to inform me of her sleepless and uncomfortable night. Her normally concave abdomen has been slightly distended due to the swelling of her liver from the cancer. Cathy is much too private and proper for me to write this but both chemo and the pain meds are each sufficient alone to cause constipation ... she had BOTH and is quite stopped up as a result, adding insult to injury in her abdomen.
The Dr. had indicated that [especially when the tumor has not been surgically removed prior to?] her chemo would present her with good and bad days. The effects of the meds on the tumor themselves might release toxins[?] and make her sick, too. In her experience, if this is the case, it seems a bit odd since she had such a great day immediately following the chemo and this day we'd all like to forget today!
While I took Hope home in the late afternoon for a change of scenery for her and dinner at home, Leanne remained with Cathy. Leanne called from the hospital and offered to care for Hope at home while I returned to visit Cathy. Upon her arrival, Leanne was visibly shaken and crying profusely by Cathy's condition. It's now 9:30 PM and Cathy is miserable with minuscule relief. Now her third night in the hospital ... we'll need to see remarkable improvement for her to come home sometime on Sunday, but not until we know she is good AND stable.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Mixed [but mostly good] News
Wow, what a day. It was over 5 hours from entry at Delnor til Cathy finally got in her room ... and another hour before Cathy saw Dr. Bayer. He is a no nonsense, smart and very compassionate [certainly to his model patient, my wife] oncologist. We got some discouraging news but nothing compared to the GREAT news he brought - Cathy's bone marrow is cancer free!! Her marrow showed no pre-leukemia, no damage from last year's chemo and it is producing "boat loads of platelets".
Thus the "bad" news: evidently her liver is "eating up the platelets" and he diagnosed her with ITP [Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. This is an autoimmune disease of unknown? origin and as a result her chemotherapy regimen will unfortunately change. Instead of the Loyola based trial with three chemos, she'll get two of them but with different frequency [more on that later].
We are just jazzed between the results of the bone marrow test and the fact that she's in the hospital, getting pain medication, being monitored AND getting the IVIG [platelet protector] she was supposed to get today AND BETTER YET, getting the chemo when the IVIG is finished dripping.
As for the chemo, she will NOT get Carboplatin but tonight will get Avastin along with the "nan [nano albumin bound] paclitaxel". We have no idea if / when she'll get off the chemo. She will get the nan-paclitaxel weekly and Avastin every three weeks. For at least the near term she will also get the IVIG on roughly a monthly basis.
Tonight she, and we, can all rest comfortably knowing that she is getting the proper care she needs. Tomorrow morning we'll meet with Dr. Bayer again and we are going to lobby for her to stay in the hospital until her pain is conquered and / or we can see some noticeable improvement to her abdominal pain.
Tonight our pleading has changed to praise. Thank you Lord!
Thus the "bad" news: evidently her liver is "eating up the platelets" and he diagnosed her with ITP [Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura]. This is an autoimmune disease of unknown? origin and as a result her chemotherapy regimen will unfortunately change. Instead of the Loyola based trial with three chemos, she'll get two of them but with different frequency [more on that later].
We are just jazzed between the results of the bone marrow test and the fact that she's in the hospital, getting pain medication, being monitored AND getting the IVIG [platelet protector] she was supposed to get today AND BETTER YET, getting the chemo when the IVIG is finished dripping.
As for the chemo, she will NOT get Carboplatin but tonight will get Avastin along with the "nan [nano albumin bound] paclitaxel". We have no idea if / when she'll get off the chemo. She will get the nan-paclitaxel weekly and Avastin every three weeks. For at least the near term she will also get the IVIG on roughly a monthly basis.
Tonight she, and we, can all rest comfortably knowing that she is getting the proper care she needs. Tomorrow morning we'll meet with Dr. Bayer again and we are going to lobby for her to stay in the hospital until her pain is conquered and / or we can see some noticeable improvement to her abdominal pain.
Tonight our pleading has changed to praise. Thank you Lord!
Where do I begin?
As I post, we are attempting to get Cathy admitted to the hospital [Delnor]. Here for almost 2.5 hours and she's just beginning to get labs in the ER. Cathy has been in significant discomfort and distress with inability to breathe, coughing and abdominal and chest pain due the cancer on her liver. Evenings of late have been very difficult as she tries to get to sleep but finally this morning [to the relief of many, especially me] thru consultation with Dr. Bayer, he thought it best to admit her. Now let me back up.
Monday 9/28 Cathy made her way back to LaGrange Oncology [in Geneva @ Delnor] to have her platelet levels checked and review the PET scan results from Saturday. After taking Dexamethasone [steroid] to help restore her platelets, they actually FELL from 70 on Friday to 58 on Monday. As a result, Dr. Bayer took bone marrow from her hip - OUCH! The full body PET scan showed no advance of the cancer to anywhere else in her body, praise God.
Tuesday saw Cathy at Central DuPage Hospital to get the mediport installed. Between the sedation, pain medication and oxygen, Cathy reports she felt GREAT. But from Tuesday night til now, all of her distress got worse.
Based upon Cathy's weakness and my observation of her Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I called her from my office to inform her I was calling Dr. Bayer to see if they could observe her or admit her to the hospital after chemo on Thursday. Although Cathy told me "NO", against her wishes I called. The nurse said chemo is really only on an outpatient basis [as we knew from her earlier chemo] and informed me she had no chemo scheduled! An appointment was scheduled for 2:00 but Cathy declined when I informed her of it. She called the Drs. office, cancelled the appointment, took a Tylenol and enjoyed a brief sunbath which seemed to help. Evidently Dr. Bayer is awaiting the results of the bone marrow test and will not give her chemo until her platelets are increased ... they scheduled an infusion of some super dooper platelet producing drug for today, 10/1 at 11:00.
Monday 9/28 Cathy made her way back to LaGrange Oncology [in Geneva @ Delnor] to have her platelet levels checked and review the PET scan results from Saturday. After taking Dexamethasone [steroid] to help restore her platelets, they actually FELL from 70 on Friday to 58 on Monday. As a result, Dr. Bayer took bone marrow from her hip - OUCH! The full body PET scan showed no advance of the cancer to anywhere else in her body, praise God.
Tuesday saw Cathy at Central DuPage Hospital to get the mediport installed. Between the sedation, pain medication and oxygen, Cathy reports she felt GREAT. But from Tuesday night til now, all of her distress got worse.
Based upon Cathy's weakness and my observation of her Tuesday night and Wednesday morning I called her from my office to inform her I was calling Dr. Bayer to see if they could observe her or admit her to the hospital after chemo on Thursday. Although Cathy told me "NO", against her wishes I called. The nurse said chemo is really only on an outpatient basis [as we knew from her earlier chemo] and informed me she had no chemo scheduled! An appointment was scheduled for 2:00 but Cathy declined when I informed her of it. She called the Drs. office, cancelled the appointment, took a Tylenol and enjoyed a brief sunbath which seemed to help. Evidently Dr. Bayer is awaiting the results of the bone marrow test and will not give her chemo until her platelets are increased ... they scheduled an infusion of some super dooper platelet producing drug for today, 10/1 at 11:00.
Cathy looked no better [worse?] this morning when I left for work but I figured she'd see the Dr. @ 11:00 and they could go from there. Instead, based upon Cathy's own discomfort and Leanne Maerten's urging, Cathy called Dr. Bayer and they decided she should be admitted.
That's the good, bad & ugly [mostly bad & ugly] of our situation. Cathy has now had some pain meds delivered and is resting a bit more comfortably now. More to come as we get more care but for now, please continue to plead to the Lord that we'll get some answers, action and healing.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
It's Official :(
Cathy and I had a long day at Delnor Hospital on Friday. Arriving at 10:00 AM, we eventually met with Dr. Bayer [onoclogist]. He confirmed Cathy's Triple Negative cancer has returned ... this time as a "nodule" in her right lung and on her liver. We saw the CT scans and biopsy reports and it appears the cancer on her liver is larger and producing the most discomfort.
Surgery is out of the question. While there are two other regimens Cathy could pursue, we opted for the trial Dr. Bayer offered us as he confirmed it was the route he'd suggest if it was his wife he was treating. This chemotherapy features the use of nanoparticles to focus the killing effects of the chemo directly to the cancer. This will feature a nine week course of a 3 drug chemo administered at the beginning of week 1, 4 and 7 followed by a scan at the end of week 9. Additional meds will be administered on the other weeks as well. When that's done, she'll start the process over again. We're not sure when she'll be weaned off the stuff, though.
In addition to the meeting with our Dr., we also made calls to providers and our health insurance company for additional tests. Blood was drawn, X-Rays were taken and an EKG was performed. Due to abnormally low platelets, Cathy also began taking an oral steroid.
A P.E.T. scan was performed today. Cathy will return to the Dr.'s office on Monday to review the PET scan and check her platelet levels. If OK, she'll get another "mediport" installed in her shoulder so that the chemo can begin next Thursday.
That's it for now ... thank you for your interest in and prayers on behalf of Cathy.
Surgery is out of the question. While there are two other regimens Cathy could pursue, we opted for the trial Dr. Bayer offered us as he confirmed it was the route he'd suggest if it was his wife he was treating. This chemotherapy features the use of nanoparticles to focus the killing effects of the chemo directly to the cancer. This will feature a nine week course of a 3 drug chemo administered at the beginning of week 1, 4 and 7 followed by a scan at the end of week 9. Additional meds will be administered on the other weeks as well. When that's done, she'll start the process over again. We're not sure when she'll be weaned off the stuff, though.
In addition to the meeting with our Dr., we also made calls to providers and our health insurance company for additional tests. Blood was drawn, X-Rays were taken and an EKG was performed. Due to abnormally low platelets, Cathy also began taking an oral steroid.
A P.E.T. scan was performed today. Cathy will return to the Dr.'s office on Monday to review the PET scan and check her platelet levels. If OK, she'll get another "mediport" installed in her shoulder so that the chemo can begin next Thursday.
That's it for now ... thank you for your interest in and prayers on behalf of Cathy.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
AARRRRGGGGGGGHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!
Well, first my apology for those of you who checked in to Cathy's blog since April 1st, but things kinda wound down quietly last spring. Cathy completed her radiation on 4/15 and Dr. Bayer [oncologist] declared her in remission in early June. Cathy and I enjoyed a four day "break" over Memorial Day [thanks to Karen Carr's sacrifice of service in caring for Hope] while we enjoyed the marriage ceremony of Mark and Emily DeLew. And before we knew it, we were in the full throes of an enjoyable summer!
For those of you who haven't heard yet, however, things took a nasty turn in late August. Cathy [and I] came down with a cold that she could not shake. After experiencing a rash travelling around her torso for a few days, Cathy and I visited our dear friend and accomplished dermatologist, Carol [Tharpe] Almy at her home. Since her office is many miles away [Wilmette], she did not do the skin biopsy she felt was appropriate but suggested Cathy get it done the following day nearer our home. Wouldn't you know it, the rash was not there when visiting our local dermatologist so a biopsy was not done then, either.
One week later, 9/14, as a result of her constant cough, a positive X-Ray and other factors, Cathy was diagnosed with pneumonia and blood was drawn for additional tests. On Wednesday, 9/16, the results came back with elevated liver enzymes and other irregularities. Consultation between our family doctor and Dr. Bayer resulted in a CT scan Cathy did that evening [no Obamacare here ... yet]. On Thursday afternoon we learned that a nodule was in Cathy's lung and a spot appeared on her liver ... thus a biopsy was ordered for today, 9/22 with concerns of metastasized cancer.
Over the weekend as a result of my prayer request in Sunday School, Carol Almy [also in my class] suggested after class that Cathy could have a fungus in her lung due to her compromised immune system and potential inhalation of spores from mold, gardening "dust" with bird or bat droppings or time around the lake. Fungi such as Aspergillus, Blastomycosis or Histoplasmosis. Although these can be deadly if not caught in time, this gave us hope for something less than cancer. [BTW, we do have a parakeet and Cathy cleaned her cage a number of times over the summer]
WELLLLL, today was the biopsy. Cathy continues her chronic cough and her lethargy is so un-Cathy-like! The medical staff at the hospital didn't seem to encourage us with the thought of fungi but we are now bracing, once again, for the probability of cancer. Cathy was a model patient but it was a long day due to the need for proper recovery time and an emotional one to boot.
God is God and we continue to believe in His sovereignty for our lives. We are praying for fungi [caught before it's too progressed] but, not knowing the will of our Heavenly Father, are preparing for the "C" word. Dr. Bayer suggested a new drug that may be more helpful for her triple negative breast cancer [likely that is what's gone elsewhere in her body]. So now we covet your prayers once again ...
For those of you who haven't heard yet, however, things took a nasty turn in late August. Cathy [and I] came down with a cold that she could not shake. After experiencing a rash travelling around her torso for a few days, Cathy and I visited our dear friend and accomplished dermatologist, Carol [Tharpe] Almy at her home. Since her office is many miles away [Wilmette], she did not do the skin biopsy she felt was appropriate but suggested Cathy get it done the following day nearer our home. Wouldn't you know it, the rash was not there when visiting our local dermatologist so a biopsy was not done then, either.
One week later, 9/14, as a result of her constant cough, a positive X-Ray and other factors, Cathy was diagnosed with pneumonia and blood was drawn for additional tests. On Wednesday, 9/16, the results came back with elevated liver enzymes and other irregularities. Consultation between our family doctor and Dr. Bayer resulted in a CT scan Cathy did that evening [no Obamacare here ... yet]. On Thursday afternoon we learned that a nodule was in Cathy's lung and a spot appeared on her liver ... thus a biopsy was ordered for today, 9/22 with concerns of metastasized cancer.
Over the weekend as a result of my prayer request in Sunday School, Carol Almy [also in my class] suggested after class that Cathy could have a fungus in her lung due to her compromised immune system and potential inhalation of spores from mold, gardening "dust" with bird or bat droppings or time around the lake. Fungi such as Aspergillus, Blastomycosis or Histoplasmosis. Although these can be deadly if not caught in time, this gave us hope for something less than cancer. [BTW, we do have a parakeet and Cathy cleaned her cage a number of times over the summer]
WELLLLL, today was the biopsy. Cathy continues her chronic cough and her lethargy is so un-Cathy-like! The medical staff at the hospital didn't seem to encourage us with the thought of fungi but we are now bracing, once again, for the probability of cancer. Cathy was a model patient but it was a long day due to the need for proper recovery time and an emotional one to boot.
God is God and we continue to believe in His sovereignty for our lives. We are praying for fungi [caught before it's too progressed] but, not knowing the will of our Heavenly Father, are preparing for the "C" word. Dr. Bayer suggested a new drug that may be more helpful for her triple negative breast cancer [likely that is what's gone elsewhere in her body]. So now we covet your prayers once again ...
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
18 down, 10 to go
She's experiencing some discomfort and discoloration, but Cathy remains the resilient, energetic and determined model of a patient. As of today Cathy has accomplished the first 3.5 weeks of radiation and has only 2 weeks left.
A couple more picts have been added of Cathy with her sisters from this past weekend. We enjoy the benefit of loving and supportive family, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank y'all !!
A couple more picts have been added of Cathy with her sisters from this past weekend. We enjoy the benefit of loving and supportive family, friends and brothers and sisters in Christ. Thank y'all !!
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
She's GLOWING!
Cathy has resumed her standard "perky mode" now that she is 4 weeks removed from her final chemo, so she is back to her "old" glowing personality.
However, I'm referring to the fact that she has now completed her 3rd [of 28] day of daily radiation therapy so I'm thinking somewhere along the line she'll be able to light up a room literally!
Yesterday, 3/10, was another one of those busy multi-tasking medical days. Cathy left home at 7:00 AM for an 8:30 surgery appointment including general anesthesia to remove her "medi-port", was home by late AM and made it for her 1:30 PM radiation. After dinner she walked [in a rather yucky mid-western late winter rain] for nearly an hour!
Today Cathy spoke to her small group at Women's Bible Study about her experience and growth through this "journey", put in an hour or two at work and then returned home to take Hope off the bus and get her situated after school. When I got home after work I found her working on orthodontic "models" before leaving to have dinner at Gino's East [pizza] with her High School youth group girls ... right now she's back to a [nascent] red-headed whirling dervish!
And speaking of red head, her "chrome dome" is now getting fuzzy and there are distinctly pigmented areas in her scalp. THIS IS GONNA BE FUN seeing her hair grow back!
By the way, the four of us were able to get away for a 4+ day extended weekend in the sun at the end of February. It was great to have some sun, sand, warm weather and rich family time together. THIS was a few days after Cathy, against my prior stated wishes, pulled off a completely surprise party for her husband's monumental birthday [one with a "0" after it]. While languishing thru her chemotherapies over the prior 2.5 months, she had been planning for what turned out to be an outstanding evening for me ... that feat alone was overwhelming.
Thanks for your on-going concern, reading these posts and praying for Cathy's restoration.
However, I'm referring to the fact that she has now completed her 3rd [of 28] day of daily radiation therapy so I'm thinking somewhere along the line she'll be able to light up a room literally!
Yesterday, 3/10, was another one of those busy multi-tasking medical days. Cathy left home at 7:00 AM for an 8:30 surgery appointment including general anesthesia to remove her "medi-port", was home by late AM and made it for her 1:30 PM radiation. After dinner she walked [in a rather yucky mid-western late winter rain] for nearly an hour!
Today Cathy spoke to her small group at Women's Bible Study about her experience and growth through this "journey", put in an hour or two at work and then returned home to take Hope off the bus and get her situated after school. When I got home after work I found her working on orthodontic "models" before leaving to have dinner at Gino's East [pizza] with her High School youth group girls ... right now she's back to a [nascent] red-headed whirling dervish!
And speaking of red head, her "chrome dome" is now getting fuzzy and there are distinctly pigmented areas in her scalp. THIS IS GONNA BE FUN seeing her hair grow back!
By the way, the four of us were able to get away for a 4+ day extended weekend in the sun at the end of February. It was great to have some sun, sand, warm weather and rich family time together. THIS was a few days after Cathy, against my prior stated wishes, pulled off a completely surprise party for her husband's monumental birthday [one with a "0" after it]. While languishing thru her chemotherapies over the prior 2.5 months, she had been planning for what turned out to be an outstanding evening for me ... that feat alone was overwhelming.
Thanks for your on-going concern, reading these posts and praying for Cathy's restoration.
Tuesday, February 10, 2009
YEE HAH!!
Well, the "fireworks" are still to come, but Cathy received her final chemo today and it does have that feeling of completing your FINAL final exam. If the last two treatments of Taxol are a reliable guide, we can expect 2-3 brutal days with some relief coming by late Saturday or mid-day Sunday and feeling pretty spunky by Tuesday ... THEN we can say the chemo is "a wrap"!
We found out last Friday that Cathy will begin radiation oncology sometime after her "scheduling meeting" on March 3rd. What we know for sure is that she will incur 25-28 treatments, 1/day over the course of 5 - 5 1/2 weeks. Fatigue will evidently set in ~ week three. The GREAT news about it is it'll take place across the street from CDH and easily en route home from her work in Wheaton. We've been told the whole process from entrance to exit can take place in approximately 15 minutes.
We have been reminded how volatile / unpredictable Triple Negative breast cancer can be, often coming back in different parts of the body as a different type of cancer. As Dr. Bayer has stated, however, "we're going for the cure, not just buying you time", thus the aggressive chemo AND radiation regimen. It is not living in denial, it is not looking at the world through rose colored glasses, but we will remain upbeat, positive and most importantly relying on God's sovereignty for Cathy's future. His providence through all of this seems to indicate more years to enjoy Cathy's company. Please join us in prayer to that end. God's richest blessings to you for your love, care and prayers through this long [and continuing] journey.
We found out last Friday that Cathy will begin radiation oncology sometime after her "scheduling meeting" on March 3rd. What we know for sure is that she will incur 25-28 treatments, 1/day over the course of 5 - 5 1/2 weeks. Fatigue will evidently set in ~ week three. The GREAT news about it is it'll take place across the street from CDH and easily en route home from her work in Wheaton. We've been told the whole process from entrance to exit can take place in approximately 15 minutes.
We have been reminded how volatile / unpredictable Triple Negative breast cancer can be, often coming back in different parts of the body as a different type of cancer. As Dr. Bayer has stated, however, "we're going for the cure, not just buying you time", thus the aggressive chemo AND radiation regimen. It is not living in denial, it is not looking at the world through rose colored glasses, but we will remain upbeat, positive and most importantly relying on God's sovereignty for Cathy's future. His providence through all of this seems to indicate more years to enjoy Cathy's company. Please join us in prayer to that end. God's richest blessings to you for your love, care and prayers through this long [and continuing] journey.
Sunday, February 1, 2009
1 To Go!
Last Tuesday saw Cathy receive chemo #7. While the side effects of Taxol are intense, it seems they may be shorter lived than Adriamycin/Cytoxan. Saturday afternoon found us in the Ogden 6 theater enjoying "Australia". Due to the rather regular "irregularity" that has happened with each chemo, she was unable to attend church today. Eyelashes are beginning to fall out and Cathy's fingernails appear to be dying. But Cathy's energy seems to be getting stronger earlier in the Taxol cycles.
Nine days from now Cathy will brace herself for her 8th and final chemo and we are anticipating this phase to be completed.
We found out last week that, due to her impending radiation therapy, Cathy's final surgery will be postponed until sometime in the fall. Just maybe we'll be able to enjoy a respite this summer!
Thanks for following Cathy's Journey.
Nine days from now Cathy will brace herself for her 8th and final chemo and we are anticipating this phase to be completed.
We found out last week that, due to her impending radiation therapy, Cathy's final surgery will be postponed until sometime in the fall. Just maybe we'll be able to enjoy a respite this summer!
Thanks for following Cathy's Journey.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
A quick note ...
At this time of [a work] night, it'll have to be a quick update. Thankfully it is a good one.
Although she is far from feeling good, Cathy is much better at this point in cycle #6 than she was in cycle #5. Sunday afternoon found us [Cathy, Hope and I] having a late lunch in Woodstock followed by a matinee of "Marley & Me" [a very good show], and running some errands [she even was jealous that I was having all the fun ... so she joined me for some snow shoveling in the evening!] Monday was down time and visiting. Today Cathy had her "extra" blood test; hemoglobin was acceptable and white blood cell count was excellent considering the previous 6 chemo cycles she has endured.
We continue to marvel at the love, prayers and care we have received. This will be, indeed, a long journey as chemo will end mid-February, radiation will likely not start until mid-March and probably not end until the end of April. And sometime shortly afterwards, one last surgery and six more weeks of convalescence. Cathy has already endured 3.5 months of absolute yuck and yet we've been tenderly loved and cared for. God's richest blessings to all you dear folks.
Although she is far from feeling good, Cathy is much better at this point in cycle #6 than she was in cycle #5. Sunday afternoon found us [Cathy, Hope and I] having a late lunch in Woodstock followed by a matinee of "Marley & Me" [a very good show], and running some errands [she even was jealous that I was having all the fun ... so she joined me for some snow shoveling in the evening!] Monday was down time and visiting. Today Cathy had her "extra" blood test; hemoglobin was acceptable and white blood cell count was excellent considering the previous 6 chemo cycles she has endured.
We continue to marvel at the love, prayers and care we have received. This will be, indeed, a long journey as chemo will end mid-February, radiation will likely not start until mid-March and probably not end until the end of April. And sometime shortly afterwards, one last surgery and six more weeks of convalescence. Cathy has already endured 3.5 months of absolute yuck and yet we've been tenderly loved and cared for. God's richest blessings to all you dear folks.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Silly me ... er, us
Well, we thought since she was done with Adriamycin [and Cytoxan] AND her 2nd regimen of chemo consisted only of Taxol, that the last four treatments would be more tolerable - WRONG. Cathy had lots of pain [some coming/going, others chronic and staying put in the same places]. Additionally she had g.i. "issues" which didn't seem to resolve themselves until late Friday, 1/9. Taxol is known for this, but she might have had a bug, since I had some of it, too.
We did have a delightful, and almost normal, weekend spent with dear friends and shared over food, games and "24" [not to minimize those other dear friends we weren't with!]
Today saw Cathy receive round #6 [of 8] and she is now 1/2 way done with Taxol [but not 'til all the "fun" is over as a result]. We are thrilled with the care she is receiving from her oncologist and we can trace all of Cathy's excellent care to the initial referral from her OB-GYN and fellow College Church member, Susan Acuna!
Due to Cathy's evident peeling skin on her hands and the other symptoms she expressed, Dr. Bayer is considering reducing the amount of chemo that is administered to her [evidently Cathy is so sensitive that the dose she is receiving might be superfluous]. As I write, she is tired but still awake at this late hour and "relatively" symptom free ... until the steroids and Emend [three very expensive daily anti-nausea pills she take] wear off.
We are so grateful for your interest, care, encouragement and prayers. G'nite!
We did have a delightful, and almost normal, weekend spent with dear friends and shared over food, games and "24" [not to minimize those other dear friends we weren't with!]
Today saw Cathy receive round #6 [of 8] and she is now 1/2 way done with Taxol [but not 'til all the "fun" is over as a result]. We are thrilled with the care she is receiving from her oncologist and we can trace all of Cathy's excellent care to the initial referral from her OB-GYN and fellow College Church member, Susan Acuna!
Due to Cathy's evident peeling skin on her hands and the other symptoms she expressed, Dr. Bayer is considering reducing the amount of chemo that is administered to her [evidently Cathy is so sensitive that the dose she is receiving might be superfluous]. As I write, she is tired but still awake at this late hour and "relatively" symptom free ... until the steroids and Emend [three very expensive daily anti-nausea pills she take] wear off.
We are so grateful for your interest, care, encouragement and prayers. G'nite!
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Hopes not reality
Well, based on the energy Cathy appeared to exhibit Friday evening, I had hoped this chemo would, indeed, be easier on her and she could make WEEKLY attendance at church starting this Sunday. Saturday put those hopes to rest. Taxol, evidently, is also very TaxING. While Cathy has had an appetite and "satisfied" it, shortly thereafter the nausea has returned. Additionally she is more fatigued and is experiencing body pain like she didn't during rounds 1-4. The pain will make it's frenetic rounds at various locations in her body right down to her ankles and toes. The neuropathy appears to be ending up in her hands again, in addition to the aches and pains she has felt elsewhere. Another College Church Sunday with only my Hopester in tow [well, it appears Wesley will be more frequent again, too, but in his own time!]
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