Update - FINALLY

Hi Everyone,

It's been a very trying 10 days because it's hard to send news when there isn't any - except Leenie's arm & shoulder are very uncomfortable and we're waiting for test & treatment appointments.scheduling

Well, MUCH to Dr. Cross' distress, his person screwed up - twice. He ordered an appt. with the Cyber Knife doc to get rid of the pain. They saw "radiation/oncology" & made an appt. with the doc who did her initial radiology. Then, he ordered the critical CT & PET scan last week so he could see whether the cancer is shrinking on this regimen or Leenie needs different chemo. Of course Cyber Doc can't just aim & fire so a CT showing where the mass tissue is pressing on C5 & causing the pain would have dramatically improved his marksmanship.

Well yesterday his nurse practitioner got in touch with Cyber Doc's nurse who, knowing there had been a delay & protracted pain, fit Leenie in Friday, the 26th. (Of course Friday is the 27th but we'll get that straight in the morning). Then Phil took a call from the PET scan folks and she has an appt. for that on March 9.

That leaves the CT which would be so helpful. We are hoping that will be done tomorrow.

It's also possible that since her only pain is from the compressed nerve, her wt. is stable, she has no new complaints and wants to "get on with it", he'll keep her Monday morning chemo appt and proceed with the same regimen. We'll HAVE to have input on that tomorrow or we'll not know where to go Monday & for what. Sooo, I see a page to Dr. Cross in the cards tomorrow if we don't get updated re: CT &/or Monday's plans. Hope you all had a great Fat Tuesday. Leenie put away a peppered strip steak (med-rare) potatoes & cheesecake with chocolate syrup. Loved it. Will let you know what the next 2 days bring. . . .

Lorane

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Answer to Marge

Hi y'all,







Marge asked about the "mass pushing on C5" b/c she understood that there were no new masses found. That's true. Believe it or not, it's what's left of old Henry. As Dr. Cross explained, there have been many physical/location changes during the Cycle. Leenie is not as active as she had been so there is muscle atrophy on the chest wall and arms. (Although as you see in the picture, she's still leading Patrick with her right arm this past Saturday.) The neck vertebrae have not been rotating/flexing as often/far as before b/c she spends a lot of time reading in bed or napping so her head /neck are usually flexed forward, thus decreasing the intervertebral spaces for extended periods of time. All of these factors "place" things where they "were not located" before. To wit, Henry's outer edge, having shrunken down from the right shoulder, is now abutting the cervical vertebrae, C5 in particular. Dr. Williams will use the cyber knife to remove that tissue & the pressure it is causing. There was also brachial plexus damage during radiation but it will be reversable. So this "surgical modality" is being employed to correct the results of a "furniture re-arrangement in the right claviclular sitting room." We haven't heard from radiology re: CT/PET appts but are hoping they are early next week b/c her next chemo Cycle starts March 2nd. Love to all,
Lorane
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The LAST day of chemo. . .

Hi!

Been meaning to do an update (I can hear the comments, groans & pejorative mumblings Tim, Brian, Brennan, Phil et al - actually al, I'm sure you are not of the same acrid mind set, & I appreciate that.) But, as you can see, we've been busy. (Phil says the white follow-spot-looking image is his halo which was dragging due to the hour.)

First, I must thank Paul for the Valentine rose. Saturday, the 14th, Tim, was a "rose day". We say a novena to St. Thresa & on the 9th day, if you see a rose unexpectedly, your prayers are granted. We were at Philip & Robyn's house Saturday and it seemed that we were showered with unexpected roses.

Today we rode out to Virginia Oncology in silence. Leenie was hav ing some pain & had NOT brought her pain patch (which was due to be changed @ 3:30) & of course I went off on how foolish it was to presume that both treatment & her visit w/ Dr. Cross would be finished (having begun @ 1:00 but late) by 3:00 so she would be home in time to change the patch. ("NEVER leave home without your pain meds!. . . "HOW could you just assume everything would be on schedule!" and other soothing, helpful comments in that vein)

But. We visited w/Dr. Cross who was pleased w/ her blood work, wt, pain control (up to that point but not to worry, "I'll have the nurse give you some IV Dilaudid during chemo. Is this man heaven-sent or what?), overall tolerance of the effects of Chemo Cycle I and looking forward to doing CT & PET scans NEXT WK - after today's treatment has time to take effect - to determine whether the disease has progressed (new regimen) OR responded nicely w/ shrunken nodes (another cycle w/ same meds). And she will be seen by Dr. Scott Williams, the radiation specialist who performs non-invasive surgery w/ radiation to remove the piece of mass that is pushing on C5 and causing her arm pain. THIS SURGERY HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CANCER IN THAT IT IS NOT A TREATMENT FOR IT. RATHER, IT IS TREATMENT OF A SYMPTOM WHICH HAS CROPPED UP FROM THE ORIGINAL RADIATION & INVOLVES THE NERVES INNERVATING THE ARM & SHOULDER.

Soooo, she had a yummy sub & tea during chemo (after the IV dilaudid) and seems physically comfortable, glad to be finished with chemo and emotionally trepidatious - understandably - but plans to take her anti-anxiety med as prescribed until she has some info next week. (Now, we just take it when we're going to have an MRI or have to think about bills, forms - anything except napping or reading.)

And that's the truth. Lorane

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Happy Valentine's Day!

Good Morning Eileen! All of us here in Connecticut want to wish you a Happy Valentine's Day and send along this rose to brighten your day! The updates on the Blog certainly testify to your ever present strength and courage. We all love you and have you in our prayers every day. Paul Andrew, Doris, & Nyero

p.s. I know you are not particularly fond of the Yankees; howver, Mom just finished Joe Torre's book and claims it was riveting and revealing regarding behind the scenes in major league baseball. She recommends it highly!

Down to the wire minus one

We just returned from chemo day 2 of 3 in the last round of Cycle I. Leenie received Gemsar yesterday, Platinum today & will have IV fluids tomorrow b/c the Platinum really depletes fluids. Her blood work is good so far with adequate white cells and a slightly low red blood cell count. This no doubt contributes to her fatigue. As to the white cells, they are reproducing but the fighting foot soldierws were too depleted for her to attend Mia's baptism in Richmond Sunday. No one there was sick but Patrick had been quarantined @ home w/ a whopping 105 "Leavy" temp, and a molar forcing through on the same side as a nasty ear infection.
So Robyn stayed home w/ him & Daddy Phil brought Declan & Molly AND was selected to do the reading for all 7 candidates. Emma was snatched away in time before diving into the font (swims @ the Y) & Poppy Phil was in charge of the video so Leenie may never see the show.
Margie & Eizabeth arrive SOMETIME Friday for a 3 day visit. We're looking forward to finding out the particulars tonight. As with Kath & the twins, we'll just avoid schedules & focus on quiet, happy chats. (But I know Leenie would enjoy at least ONE disagreement between her 2 older, more mature sibs, yes?)
Then Monday, she'll get her last chemo treatment, see Dr. Cross & meet the radiologist who does that exacting radiographic non-interventional surgery in the event the chemotherapy has not been effectively eradicating the cancer.
So. Here's to a CT that just screams, "GOTCHA!!!",
Lorane
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Optical Delusion?

And the winners are. . .

Hi!

For a minute there, even Leenie looked uncertain. BUT. As you can see in her opening victory dance (NB Bling) there was never any need for concern. It was such a warm, fun, face-stuffing, primal screaming, thirst-quenching night! (And even though Tim said if the Steelers were playing the Taliban, he'd root for the Taliban Sunday morning, he finally pledged to pull for the Steelers - just this once, for Leenie - before hanging up. And Mom said, "It's been a long 24 yrs, Tim, but it was worth the wait!"

And today, we had our appointment with Dr. Cross (schooled @ Ohio State). Thursday's MRI told him that there was not a new mass pushing on the C-5 nerve exit causing Leenie's pain - just pushy old Henry. Sooo, Monday she will start round 3 of Cycle 1 of chemo - Gemsar day 1, Platinum day 2, IV fluids day 3, Gemsar the following Monday (16th) day 4 and that's it. They will take repeat CT's during that week so we can see what the chemo has been doing. If all of the swollen nodes are down, it's Cycle II. If size is questionable, he'll order a PET scan - which shows FUNCTION within the cells - so he'll know if he's looking at mostly fibrous & necrotic matter or active Ca cells. If the latter, we go to a new regimen .

As for Leenie, she feels that the masses will have shrunk. Her weight is good @ 92, her pain is controlled, she's feisty and sleeping less during the day (most days) and she's actually taking her medicine as instructed.

So then, yesterday the Steelers, today the MRI results - both winners and both starring our favorite (at times loudest) Leading Lady. Cheers!

Lorane

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I would like to draw attention to the State Bird of Ohio....









HAPPY SUPER SUNDAY!!