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.

More good news

This week's liver/spleen/kidney scan was normal!  Hurray!   The next round of chemo is scheduled for April 10th.  We'll see both oncologists that day for follow-up visits.  Presuming the lab results are still good, Walt will have his chemo treatment after the 2nd appointment.  Again, we thank you all so much for your thoughts, concerns and prayers.  Please continue to send them as it will be some time before we know that the treatment plan was successful.

Certification day

It's official!  And we have the certificate to prove it!  Walt has successfully completed 37 radiation treatments.  We will follow up with the radiation oncologist in 2 weeks so he can check Walt's skin, etc.  It seems like this day would never come, and now it has.  The effectiveness of the radiation won't be known for another 6-8 weeks.  Thank you for all your prayers!

You have to be able to laugh to get through all this....While Walt was receiving his last treatment today I stopped in the cancer boutique to pick up some more gel for his back (the burns aren't horrible but itch like crazy and are peeling).  Because it is covered by insurance I had to give his name and date of birth.  I laughingly said I could also provide his clinic number, shoe size, etc.  She said waist measurement would be more interesting.  We just laughed.  Then she asked me to verify the spelling of our last name.  I drew a complete blank and looked at her dumbly when she asked if Kesselman had one L or 2.  Sheesh.  We both started laughing really hard at this point.  Walt and I have been together for 30 years so you'd think this wouldn't stump me!  lol 

There's light at the end of the tunnel!

Only 1 week of radiation left!!!  So far he's only experiencing burns, especially opposite the sites where the radiation enters.  Plenty of prescription gel helps.  Three rounds of chemo behind us.  Not sure how many more are scheduled but we will know more late next week.

Short, sweet and to the point.  Again, thank you for all your prayers!  We're a long way from being out of the woods.

Less than 2 weeks to go

Only 9 more radiation treatments!!!  We won't miss the daily trek to Champaign, that's for sure!  It's not far but the morning is basically shot by the time we get back home.  The radiation oncologist is really, really pleased with the way things are going.  Says Walt is a very fit man.  We just had to laugh when he said this but we knew what he meant.  He really is tolerating the radiation quite well; still no side effects other than the radiation burns which were expected.

Today we saw the hematology oncologist before Monday's chemo appointment.  Some of his lab results are  out of kilter so he'll have an ultrasound of the liver at the end of the month to make sure all is as it should be.  We're hoping and praying that it's the chemo affecting the lab tests and not signs of the cancer spreading.  He still has 1 or 2 more chemo appointments on the schedule.

Thank you for your continued support and prayers.

2/3rds of the way through

radiation!  The radiation oncologist is very pleased with how Walt is looking and the fact that he's still not experiencing side effects other than slight radiation burns.  These are getting treated with a wound care gel designed for this purpose.  Still not getting much read in our books but that's okay.  I am surprised by how tired I am.  Afternoon naps are for caregivers, too!  And the cats seem to think this is a good idea as well.  Thank you for all your support and prayers!

Another weekly update

Walt has now had 2 rounds of chemo and nearly 1/2 of his radiation treatments.  Both the radiation* and hematology oncologists are pleased with the way things are going.  He is showing signs of radiation burns on his back and chest but they are minimal right now.  We'll start applying the gel more frequently to keep this to a minimum.  Because the radiation is accumulative, these spots will probably get larger or redder over the next few weeks.

Our radiation oncologist is stuck in Denver because of all the snow so we saw another *radiation oncologist.  He'd not seen Walt before but said right away that he looked great!  He reviewed his chart, checked him over and said that he was quite happy with the outcome thus far.  Always good to hear another opinion that echoes the others.

And that book thing?  Today we didn't even have time to get it out of the bag!  The tech joked about it, too.  Wonder if she spots us coming in to the building and times her steps into the waiting room?