First, Janette "has nothing in the brain!" As Aunt Eliska joked. No cancer showed up on the MRI for her brain. This is great news!
Janette has now had 3 radiation sessions, 2 on the low back and 3 on the chest, and one chemotherapy session. All are making her tired, but no nausea and no weight loss. She just finished eating a good sized meal of steak, collards, rice and grilled onions. Four weeks of radiation, four sessions (one/week) of milder chemo and then more weeks with much stronger chemo.
Janette's voice and breathing are also better, but unfortunately, her leg pain is much worse. Each day the pain increases and she can move less. The back radiation is supposed to help this pain, so we have hope. She also has pain killers that she now will start taking regularly rather than occasionally. Hopefully that will also make a difference.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Sunday, April 26, 2009
Finally, Another Blog Entry
OK, OK, I haven’t given y’all an update in a while, but we’ve been very busy: 4 medical offices, two scans, a visit from Aunt Jackie and Uncle Terry, a rest day and yesterday William installed our new water filter and fixed a leaky drain pipe. Aunt Eliska works each time she comes over and we did some extra cleaning and patio work this week as well. Thank you to everyone for your hard work and visits.
Again, we like our doctors, we like the new building and we like their staff. Tuesday we met the radiation therapist, Dr. Tralins, for a consultation. He, the lung doctor and the oncologist decided the best first round of therapy is moderate radiation, 5 times a week, in the center of the chest where many of the effected lymph nodes live, including the one that is pushing on the nerve that goes to the vocal cord. With radiation, Janette will also start a course of milder chemotherapy. We’ll learn more about the chemotherapy plan Wednesday, when we revisit the oncologist. Radiation starts Monday, 8:30 am.
One of the two scans was a CAT scan to pinpoint where to focus the radiation. Now Janette, who refuses to pierce her ears, who thinks tattoos are gross and barbaric, is tattooed herself. “That hurt!” She said. “It’s like someone sticking you with a sewing needle. How can they stand to have that done all over their bodies?!” Three dots, that we can’t even find, on her chest to help the radiation techs line-up their equipment correctly.
The other scan was a MRI to look for cancer growth in the brain. Lung cancers often move easily into the brain and the oncologist wants to have all the data he can. Janette did very well with this scan that everyone seems to hate. I know, I was in the room with her and I needed earplugs the machine was so loud. At the time, she was coughing easily when she lay flat, but she said her prayers, put herself in a trance and lasted the whole 45 minutes without coughing or back pain.
Janette’s coughing and choking while talking and swallowing is better. The swallow study (eating and drinking a bunch of barium laced foods while being X-Ray) gave her a technique for swallowing water and pills. It helps when she remembers to do it, but we think the biggest help for the coughing is the homeopathics she has been using for almost two week.
Coughing is better but now pain is worse, particularly in her back and legs. So Friday, we got our first pain medication, non-narcotic, and Monday afternoon we have our second homeopathic visit where Janette will get some homeopathic meds for pain. We all have good hope for the homeopathics and the pain since we see how well they’ve worked so far.
Next appts: Monday, radiation. Monday, homeopathic. Tuesday, speech therapy. Wednesday, oncologist. And radiation each week day.
Again, we like our doctors, we like the new building and we like their staff. Tuesday we met the radiation therapist, Dr. Tralins, for a consultation. He, the lung doctor and the oncologist decided the best first round of therapy is moderate radiation, 5 times a week, in the center of the chest where many of the effected lymph nodes live, including the one that is pushing on the nerve that goes to the vocal cord. With radiation, Janette will also start a course of milder chemotherapy. We’ll learn more about the chemotherapy plan Wednesday, when we revisit the oncologist. Radiation starts Monday, 8:30 am.
One of the two scans was a CAT scan to pinpoint where to focus the radiation. Now Janette, who refuses to pierce her ears, who thinks tattoos are gross and barbaric, is tattooed herself. “That hurt!” She said. “It’s like someone sticking you with a sewing needle. How can they stand to have that done all over their bodies?!” Three dots, that we can’t even find, on her chest to help the radiation techs line-up their equipment correctly.
The other scan was a MRI to look for cancer growth in the brain. Lung cancers often move easily into the brain and the oncologist wants to have all the data he can. Janette did very well with this scan that everyone seems to hate. I know, I was in the room with her and I needed earplugs the machine was so loud. At the time, she was coughing easily when she lay flat, but she said her prayers, put herself in a trance and lasted the whole 45 minutes without coughing or back pain.
Janette’s coughing and choking while talking and swallowing is better. The swallow study (eating and drinking a bunch of barium laced foods while being X-Ray) gave her a technique for swallowing water and pills. It helps when she remembers to do it, but we think the biggest help for the coughing is the homeopathics she has been using for almost two week.
Coughing is better but now pain is worse, particularly in her back and legs. So Friday, we got our first pain medication, non-narcotic, and Monday afternoon we have our second homeopathic visit where Janette will get some homeopathic meds for pain. We all have good hope for the homeopathics and the pain since we see how well they’ve worked so far.
Next appts: Monday, radiation. Monday, homeopathic. Tuesday, speech therapy. Wednesday, oncologist. And radiation each week day.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Visit to the Oncologist
Yesterday, Janette, Aunt Eliska and I visited the oncologist. Doesn’t that sound like the opening line for a joke? The joke is each of us came out of there with a slightly different story of what was said and what is going to happen. Fortunately, the doctor knows what he is going to do and doesn’t need our consensus.
First, we liked Dr. Alemar very much. He was straightforward, kind, listened well and seemed very knowledgeable and up-to-date on the latest research. He talked about overall health and quality of life, gave no prognosis on life expectancy but let us know the possibility is strong for years as opposed to months. We all felt positive and relieved after our visit.
His first priority is the vocal cord paralysis and maybe radiation therapy for some of the bone cancer to relieve the pain that just may be starting. With one vocal cord paralyzed, there’s a fair risk of Janette developing aspirant pneumonia. Chemotherapy greatly stresses (represses?) the immune system and Dr. Alemar is worried about the pneumonia risk. He wants to do all he can to fix or lessen that problem. We have a swallow study scheduled for Tuesday and when the ENT doctor gets the oncology consultation report, he will likely schedule other studies.
Dr. Alemar is also ordering a study of various chemo treatments on the biopsied lymph node cells from two weeks ago. He has a couple of combinations in mind, based on his conversation with Janette about her symptoms, and will see what is effective in those cells. This oncology group has a brand new office building 4 blocks from Aunt Eliska’s house and about 1 mile from Janette’s. The office is new, the equipment is new and the chemo room is supposed to be very comfortable with a beautiful view of trees and plants. We were comforted by this image and by the new radiation technology and equipment.
Cathy
Next appointments: 4-21, swallow study and radiation therapist consultation.
First, we liked Dr. Alemar very much. He was straightforward, kind, listened well and seemed very knowledgeable and up-to-date on the latest research. He talked about overall health and quality of life, gave no prognosis on life expectancy but let us know the possibility is strong for years as opposed to months. We all felt positive and relieved after our visit.
His first priority is the vocal cord paralysis and maybe radiation therapy for some of the bone cancer to relieve the pain that just may be starting. With one vocal cord paralyzed, there’s a fair risk of Janette developing aspirant pneumonia. Chemotherapy greatly stresses (represses?) the immune system and Dr. Alemar is worried about the pneumonia risk. He wants to do all he can to fix or lessen that problem. We have a swallow study scheduled for Tuesday and when the ENT doctor gets the oncology consultation report, he will likely schedule other studies.
Dr. Alemar is also ordering a study of various chemo treatments on the biopsied lymph node cells from two weeks ago. He has a couple of combinations in mind, based on his conversation with Janette about her symptoms, and will see what is effective in those cells. This oncology group has a brand new office building 4 blocks from Aunt Eliska’s house and about 1 mile from Janette’s. The office is new, the equipment is new and the chemo room is supposed to be very comfortable with a beautiful view of trees and plants. We were comforted by this image and by the new radiation technology and equipment.
Cathy
Next appointments: 4-21, swallow study and radiation therapist consultation.
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
Doctors appointments
We finally got appointments to see the oncologist (4-17) and radiation therapist (4-21). Cathy had to make several calls to get an appointment for this week. She is a great help to me, relieving me of the tension of going through doctors, driving me places, cooking, running errands, etc. Of course, Eliska is right beside her making sure my time and energy is concentrated only on getting better. After the initial shock of the diagnosis, I'm getting better at dealing with it.
Of course, all your prayers and concerns have helped. Thank you all so very much.
Janette
Of course, all your prayers and concerns have helped. Thank you all so very much.
Janette
Sunday, April 12, 2009
Welcome
Welcome to our blog on Janette's health. We hope this site will make communicating easier with everyone. Check here for upcoming appointments, diagnosis, condition and the latest news.
Many people have asked what they can do to help. Here's a simple, very supportive thing you can do: When sending email or calling Janette, talk about everyday life things and not about her health or your regret for her illness. The cancer and the potential negative consequences become more real to her when we talk or write to her about the cancer. She does want to be in contact with all of you, though she may not have the energy to reply. So, please write when you feel like it and we'll help her maintain the positive bubble she's creating around herself.
Next scheduled appointment: April 21, swallow study.
Many people have asked what they can do to help. Here's a simple, very supportive thing you can do: When sending email or calling Janette, talk about everyday life things and not about her health or your regret for her illness. The cancer and the potential negative consequences become more real to her when we talk or write to her about the cancer. She does want to be in contact with all of you, though she may not have the energy to reply. So, please write when you feel like it and we'll help her maintain the positive bubble she's creating around herself.
Next scheduled appointment: April 21, swallow study.
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