Hello everyone. It's been quite a while since I've posted. Sorry!!!! Mark has been doing so well. He has really had a great 2 weeks this past round and we pray that the current one is as good as the last. We got up and got the kids off to school as usual and went to have breakfast before making our biweekly journey into the infusion center this morning. Mark was nauseated just walking through the doors. It always happens to him. His weight is maintaining which is always a good sign while on chemo.
Dr. Farmer decided to do another CEA marker today even though it was early. His number came back at 16 which is running right on where it has been. It certainly isn't changing much at all and that means stability. We always hope for a fall, but stability is also a huge blessing at this point. Now we have to decide whether or not Mark wants to try the desensitization process with the leukovorin. It is a big decision and we are considering it. Right now Mark gets the Avastin, Oxaliplatin and 5FU as his chemo regimen each 2 weeks.
Mark was a trooper again and went to Calen's basketball game tonight after his infusion. Drake won by 30 points. That was their last regular season game and they have only a tournament left this weekend and basketball will officially be over. Of course, he is already practicing baseball and has been for a while. (Does it ever end????) :)
We met a great couple in the infusion center today. He is going through his second battle with cancer in his lifetime and is on his last round of chemo with only 3 more treatments left. They were thrilled and Mark and I enjoyed visiting with them today. You really do meet some of the most remarkable people during this journey. His name is Joe. Please keep him in your prayers that he stays in remission. They are expecting their first grandchild soon. What a blessing!!!!
Please keep another friend of ours battling metastatic lung cancer in your prayers. He has just started chemo.
As always, remember Mark in your prayers. We have been so blessed with great doctors, infusion nurses, family and friends and that keeps us going. Mark is such a trooper and definitely my hero. He stays so strong and positive and his attitude says it all!!!!! Thanks to all of you who read this and keep up with us and our story. God bless!!!!!
Monday, January 26, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Jan 12-Chemo
Hello to all. Mark had his chemo today as usual. He got good news last Friday about the cancer marker. It was down just a bit to 15. We were glad it wasn't rising at the same rate. Stabilization felt good. It actually fell, but not as much as we'd hoped either. Dr. Farmer wanted to add back the Avastin which is the agent that goes along with the chemo to help stangulate the blood supply to the cancer cells and kill them off. It worked really well for Mark before the surgery last May. We had been holding it in anticipation of Mark's ileostomy reversal surgery. You cannot have surgery while on Avastin and must stop it 6 weeks before any surgical procedure as you are at risk to not heal well due to the lack of blood supply. Anyway, it was decided that we'd postpone the surgery until we had a better grip on Mark's cancer marker and felt it to be more stable. Today was his first day back on the Avastin. He did really well through the treatment.
The other discussion we now have to think about is a desensitization process to the leukovorin. The pharmacist at the hospital did some research for Dr. Farmer and found a few cases of this being done with leukovorin. We have the information on the process and will consider whether or not to try it. It would basically have Mark taking very tiny doses of oral leukovorin every 4 hours until he got up to pretty massive doses and then stay on the oral dose daily to keep his body desensitized to the IV leukovorin that goes along with the chemo every 2 weeks. The risk, of course, is that he has an allergic reaction to the pills and it be something severe. He would be medicated with antihistamine and steroids and would carry an epi pen. The overall feeling is that Mark is allergic to an additive in the leukovorin IV and not the leukovorin itself. They have changed manufacturers and if the theory is right, it should work. The problem is, the only way to test the theory is by giving him the pills and praying for no reaction. It is a little scary to think about.
We will first see how Mark does with his current medications before deciding on the above. We will pray about it and see what happens. We haven't been led down the wrong path yet, so we will trust the Lord on this one.
Thanks to all of you who read this and keep Mark in your daily prayers. We appreciate it so much. We have felt so blessed to have wonderful family and friends supporting us. God bless!!!!
The other discussion we now have to think about is a desensitization process to the leukovorin. The pharmacist at the hospital did some research for Dr. Farmer and found a few cases of this being done with leukovorin. We have the information on the process and will consider whether or not to try it. It would basically have Mark taking very tiny doses of oral leukovorin every 4 hours until he got up to pretty massive doses and then stay on the oral dose daily to keep his body desensitized to the IV leukovorin that goes along with the chemo every 2 weeks. The risk, of course, is that he has an allergic reaction to the pills and it be something severe. He would be medicated with antihistamine and steroids and would carry an epi pen. The overall feeling is that Mark is allergic to an additive in the leukovorin IV and not the leukovorin itself. They have changed manufacturers and if the theory is right, it should work. The problem is, the only way to test the theory is by giving him the pills and praying for no reaction. It is a little scary to think about.
We will first see how Mark does with his current medications before deciding on the above. We will pray about it and see what happens. We haven't been led down the wrong path yet, so we will trust the Lord on this one.
Thanks to all of you who read this and keep Mark in your daily prayers. We appreciate it so much. We have felt so blessed to have wonderful family and friends supporting us. God bless!!!!
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
January 6
Hello and Happy New Year to everyone. We pray that this year will be a better one for us. We've certainly had our share of ups and downs.
Mark had his test last Friday to see if the rectal fistula had healed and we were jumping for joy to hear that it has finally healed. Now we wait to see what the Pittsburgh doctors think. The catch to all of this now will be what is happening with his chemo and the cancer marker. The original plan was to stop chemo for 4 weeks if the fistula was healed, go to Pittsburgh for the ileostomy reversal surgery, off chemo another 4 weeks for healing and then resume the chemo regimen. Now we are not sure that we can stop chemo yet. We are praying hard that Thursday's blood work is good news and that the last CEA test was only a fluke. We will see. There is so much anxiety that goes into all of this waiting. I can't even begin to tell you. It consumes every thought of every day.
Mark is hanging in there and staying tough. He gets tired a lot and requires a lot more rest than he used to. He managed a round of golf this morning before going in to the office for work. He is gearing up to start the new semester at Auburn. He really looks good. He loses weight his chemo week, but has always managed to put it back on in his off week and that is a great sign.
The boys started school today and were excited to be going back. Emily had her 4th birthday party last weekend. She had a blast and is getting so big and just seems so grown up these days.
I just found out today that one of my favorite patients in my clinic was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. He is the sweetest guy and his beautiful, sweet wife is always by his side. They are seeing Dr. Farmer, so I know they are getting the best care. Please remember him in your prayers. Please continue to keep Mark in your prayers as always. We really need them this week. God bless!!!
Mark had his test last Friday to see if the rectal fistula had healed and we were jumping for joy to hear that it has finally healed. Now we wait to see what the Pittsburgh doctors think. The catch to all of this now will be what is happening with his chemo and the cancer marker. The original plan was to stop chemo for 4 weeks if the fistula was healed, go to Pittsburgh for the ileostomy reversal surgery, off chemo another 4 weeks for healing and then resume the chemo regimen. Now we are not sure that we can stop chemo yet. We are praying hard that Thursday's blood work is good news and that the last CEA test was only a fluke. We will see. There is so much anxiety that goes into all of this waiting. I can't even begin to tell you. It consumes every thought of every day.
Mark is hanging in there and staying tough. He gets tired a lot and requires a lot more rest than he used to. He managed a round of golf this morning before going in to the office for work. He is gearing up to start the new semester at Auburn. He really looks good. He loses weight his chemo week, but has always managed to put it back on in his off week and that is a great sign.
The boys started school today and were excited to be going back. Emily had her 4th birthday party last weekend. She had a blast and is getting so big and just seems so grown up these days.
I just found out today that one of my favorite patients in my clinic was diagnosed with metastatic lung cancer. He is the sweetest guy and his beautiful, sweet wife is always by his side. They are seeing Dr. Farmer, so I know they are getting the best care. Please remember him in your prayers. Please continue to keep Mark in your prayers as always. We really need them this week. God bless!!!
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