What's Been Going On

Hello Dudes and Dudettes! :-)

Well, Bert went for chemo treatment number four yesterday (5fu/leuc/oxal) and so far, so good. He gained three pounds since our last visit (two weeks ago...the doc thinks that's great). He's a little tired on this one and just a tad pale, but very tolerable. All his blood work came back fine today (don't know the CEA and don't want to know). Last time it was still at 5.9 even though PET/CAT combo showed all clear. His blood glucose level was very high though today...over 200!!!!! He is a type 2 diabetic but it has never been that high before. His onc thinks that there is a slight possibility that glucose level can effect CEA, so very close monitoring will continue. And there is also a slight possibility that chemo, in some cases, raises the glucose level. That's new news to me. His red blood count was just a little low...I really do mean just a little, nothing dangerous...like 4.26 with normal range starting at 4.30. Other than that, all was well, including liver function and clear lungs. We asked the doc today if we could go to Europe in May. That's usually when we go to visit Bert's mother and brother, who still live in the "old country." He said that would be no problem and not to do chemo for three weeks instead of two is not a big deal!!! Bert and I kind of looked at each other after he left thinking how much longer will chemo go on? Originally the new onc wanted to do at least an additional two months, but if tolerated well by Bert (which it has been thus far) will shoot for three. Remember, he already had the 5fu/leuc treatment with his old onc starting back in August and he's still be treated for stage III, not IV and not recurrence. Well, three months are up end of March. We will ask him next time we see him. He could have forgotten or maybe is going to give treatment to Bert as long as he can tolerate it. The more, the better or so at least they say.

That's the latest on this end. I continue to keep all of you in my prayers every single day and I just know that with our combined efforts, somebody's got to be listening :-)

Hugs,
Monika