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Thursday, April 11, 2013

Whirlwind day

Yesterday morning started out with a good report from the radiation oncologist - Walt's radiation burns are subsiding with all the applications of a heavy duty moisturizing lotion and seems to have otherwise tolerated the radiation without any other side effects.  We got a similar report from the hematology oncologist; some of the lab results were a bit low but not enough to delay the 4th round of chemo. 

From watching the weather we knew that there was a risk of severe storms throughout the day and evening.  After chemo we were going to go out for lunch then do some grocery shopping and run some errands.  We took the NOAA mobile radio with us just in case we were where we couldn't hear sirens.  The skies did darken and the radio did go off to alert us of a severe thunderstorm in the area.  Didn't last long and the skies lightened up considerably.  Within half and hour or so the rain started falling in huge drops and lots of it.  And then the radio went off again.  This time it was a tornado warning.  The nurses scrambled to make sure all the window coverings were in place; there are huge windows in the infusion suite.  By the time we left it was literally a monsoon, streets were flooding, and plenty of water on the highways.  We headed straight home for a late lunch.  The NOAA radios (desk top and mobile), as well as our cell phones, were alerted frequently during the rest of the day and night of all the passing storms.  We only have localized flooding - whew!

Walt will have a PET scan before the 5th round of chemo that is scheduled for early May.  This will tell the oncologists if the lung tumors shrunk, disappeared or if the cancer has spread to other parts of his body.  As long as the cancer hasn't spread, Walt will have the 5th and 6th rounds of chemo and then be finished with the proposed treatment plan.

As long as you are keeping us in your thoughts and prayers, would you please extend them to Walt's brother?  He was recently diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  We can't thank you enough for all the support you've given us thus far.  Sometimes it's the smallest things that can mean so much.