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.
Saturday, September 26, 2009
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 ...
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