Need a favor

ittapp said:

Prayers
I will say a prayer for you guys tonight. GOd Bless, Patti

Buzzard said:

Done.....
on their way...........for all clear scans......

donnare said:

Thanks everyone
So, some good news and not so great news.

Good news:

--Lesions on liver have shrunk some more - MOST IMPORTANT.

--No chemo today, so Brian will be feeling good for his trip this weekend to San Diego to see the Eagles/Chargers game. Twenty guys are going out for four days. It was planned well before his dx, his friends insisted he still go, and were all willing to adjust their plans out there to accomodate him if he was sick. I was worried, and he was bummed, that he would be sick from chemo this week, and be far from home, etc., so no chemo means he will be feel well enough to enjoy the trip and the game (provided the Eagles don't disappoint - HA HA).

--Change in chemo schedule means he won't have chemo the day before Thanksgiving, and two days before Xmas, so he will be able to enjoy the holidays.

--He has an appt. with a naturopathic doctor tomorrow night to support him through treatment and beyond.

--We have contacts at UPenn and MSK if his comfort level with Fox Chase starts to wane.

Not so great news:

--Lesions on liver are all still there - eleven - three largest are still measureable, though smaller, and at this point, he is still not a candidate for any targeted therapies for liver.

--No chemo today because his platelets are down. We both get concerned that missing chemo gives lesions a chance to grow - scary, and he is anxious to get through the twelve.

--Onc's answer to his question "...what happens after the twelth if lesions are still there...?" She told him, "...More chemo, twelve is just a number...we hope that they will continue to shrink and that we will be able to do something, but we don't know at this point. Of course, we want you to live your life .... we understand it is difficult to make long range plans ... we're in this for the long haul...", etc., etc., etc.

--Chemo schedule change wreaks havoc on my work schedule, which is already arranged and covered, meaning I may not be able to go with him to the next few treatments, and I don't want him to be alone for even one minute of this thing.

--No chemo today means he has to postpone dental work he is waiting to have done, and more importantly, have the internal stitch that keeps working its way to the surface, causing him pain, taken care of.

Overall, good news - we are moving in the right direction, and that is most important. I don't want to seem like I am ungrateful, and failing to embrace a blessing - I know how much worse it could be. But, I think he - we - kind of lulled ourselves into thinking the chemo would end at some point in the near future (I think only you guys would understand), and that he could get on with things, especially getting the incision/stitch issue addressed. Hopefully, that will happen.

He has been a little down as the treatments have progressed. He is tired of not feeling well, and being tired; he is frustrated by not being able to do the things around the house he always did (and secretly likes to I think - it took me 23 years and a Stage IV cancer dx to get him to hire someone to cut the grass); he is frustrated by not being able to make plans, and know he will be well enough without worrying about "what if I'm sick, or need surgery, or hooked up to the pump, etc., etc., etc.

Anyway, thank you for your prayers, and for allowing me to vent - sorry this is so long. One day at a time, right ... and some good news is always better than any bad.

I pray for all of you on this board and your loved ones too. I pray that God, as you know him/her will bless and heal you all, that you'll be well and always have peace in your hearts.

Thanks again,
Donna