Yes, it has been over a year since my last post. A lot has changed since my last post. My step dad lost his battle with cholangiocarcinoma (a type of liver cancer). He was doing really well by the end of August of 2006. His cancer had decreased by 30%. We really thought we were going to whip this one too. I'm not sure what really happened. My sister and I were able to go to Germany to see our brother in September of 2006. While I was away Medicare had changed the administration of the chemotherapy. My step dad had been getting his steroid medication along with another med mixed together then infused. I believe it was his anti nausea med and steroid med together, then he would receive the cancer fighter drug. When I returned the Cancer Center, due to Medicare Rules, had changed his treatment. He was now getting the anti nausea med by itself, then his steroid by itself, then the cancer fighting drug by itself. Whatever the deal was, he began to have problems with his blood sugar. His blood sugar began to go low instead of high. He had one episode of extreme low blood sugar, the ambulance was called because my mom wasn't sure what was wrong, but did know that it was serious. The ambulance rushed him to the hospital, his blood sugar was in the 40's (normal is usually around 70 to 110). The hospital gave him some glucose I.V. to raise his blood sugar level, then released him. They should have kept him over night for observation, I think, due to him being a chemotherapy person, a diabetic person, but they didn't. He returned home that morning. We talked to him about keeping candy near by for low blood sugar episodes. We talked to him about needing to eat well, to include protein and carbs together to slow the release of insulin. But when you have a person on chemotherapy, you have to help them with nutrition in every way possible, because a lot of times they do not feel like eating. If you don't eat, you can not keep up your strength, and if your diabetic, that is a double whammy. We had another chemo the following week. I should not have taken him, but he said he was feeling up to it. We went to the chemo treatment and within three days we lost him. He died in his sleep. They didn't do an autopsy or blood draw, but I know it was because his sugar dropped too low (the reason he died in his sleep). We were so heart broken. We were going to speak with the doctor the following week to specifically order the meds the way he was getting them in the first place. If you have the doctor write a specific order for a specific medication, then Medicare will have to pay for it. We told the nurses at the Cancer Care place about the low blood sugar episode, that should have been a red flag for them to contact the doctor, but I should have told them to contact the doctor, or just not have taken him at all that week. If you are ever in this predicament, always err on being too cautious. It may not have changed anything, but I can't help but think if I had been a little more with it I may have helped him to live longer. I do believe that the Lord watches over us, and that we do not leave this Earth until it is our time. My step dad was a really super nice man, never complained, appeared pretty happy most of the time, even with the cancer. He was building him a deer stand, and was planning on hunting in October 2006. He passed in October 2006. I drove him to his cancer treatments every week. My mom was still recovering from her bout with Lung Cancer. This whole episode has really taken a toll on her, and the rest of this family. We have been dealing with cancer now for about 4 years. I am ready for a new chapter in life to begin. After my step dad passed, my mom went into a bit of depression, or should I say she went into deeper depression. Mom became extremely ill in May of 2007. We knew that she
was ill, but didn't really know how ill until she ended up in the hospital. My younger brother had been spending the night with her and she asked him to call the ambulance. The ambulance took her to the hospital and the E.R. people could not find a pulse or blood pressure, I don't know if they could even hear her breathe. My sister called me on the phone and said that the E.R. doctor stated they couldn't find a pulse and asked if mom had any DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) orders. I asked my sister if she knew where mom wanted to go. My sister said what do you mean? I asked her what funeral home did mom want to go too? She said that she didn't know. We didn't speak much more, then we were off the phone. A few minutes later she called and said that our little brother told the doctor that mom was a FIGHTER. So they gave mom some meds to get her blood pressure up, put her on a respirator, stabilized her, then sent her to a bigger hospital capable of treating her more successfully. Mom had allowed her lungs to gunk up really badly, but she didn't know this at the time. When you have emphysema or have had lung cancer (which she had had), any type of respiratory disease, you have to hop on the band wagon as soon as possible to prevent infection or stop infection EARLY. We learned, while mom was hospitalized, and under the care of a GREAT Pulmunologist (lung specialist), that any changes in sputum warrants immediate attention. You don't wait for it to change from clear to yellow, or God forbid GREEN, because by then it could be too late. If the sputum gets thicker, even if it is still clear, you call the doctor, or go see the doctor. It is called PREVENTION people! Also, if you have ever been diagnosed with CHF (Congestive Heart Failure), you need to be under the care of a doctor for prevention in that department also. BUT, you have to be aware of the signs and symptoms to help with the PREVENTION. A couple of things that are usually done for CHF are diuretics, and depending on the type of diuretic, potassium supplements, to restore the potassium that the diuretic can leach out. It is a balancing act that is extremely important, and you working with your doctor can nip this one in the bud. My mom also has the CHF, but was not being treated for it after being cleared up a couple of times from this sneaky critter. Some of the symptoms may feel like pneumonia, because its hard to breath, you are winded when you walk only 5 to 10 feet or just getting up. This is the congestion of the fluid on the lungs. It happens because the heart is unable to circulate the fluid properly so it backs up into the lungs, when you already have lung problems, you are in deep cow patties. Any how, it all is a little more detailed than what I am saying, and I may be off a bit, but it is somewhat like this. Mom was having problems with her breathing, went to the hospital (at another time and a different hospital than the one in May2007), they were treating her for pneumonia, but she was also having CHF, and they hadn't caught it. Part of the reason was because mom was being a little difficult, and the nurses weren't quit sure what to do with her. The breathing treatments were making her nervous and anxious, so she refused them. After about a day, maybe 2, the doctor released her from the hospital because she was not being very cooperative so I guess they thought she could do just as well at home. While we were at the house we started taking her fluid pills (diuretics) and potassium (because the diuretics she was prescribed needed potassium to be replaced). She started breathing much better, and finished her antibiotics for the pneumonia. Mom did get better, but it doesn't take long, or much to get a respiratory infection, or fluid build up if you don't watch out. I know I am rambling, but am almost done here, please bear with me. After mom was released from the hospital in May 2007 we had learned about the sputum to prevent and/or catch lung infections EARLY. Then the next big break through was the daily weighing. Mom finally understood that once you have CHF, you always have the possibility and/or probability of getting it again (or you may never be rid of it). But you can prevent the fluid build up. Mom was put on a daily diuretic and potassium. The doctor told her to WEIGH herself daily on her home scales. He told her that if her WEIGHT increased by 3 pounds over night that she was to take one and one half water pill plus one and one half potassium. If her WEIGHT increased by 5 pounds over night that she was to take 2 water pills and 2 K+ pills, but if the weight stayed the same then she was to just take her normal daily dose. This would keep the fluid off, and help her with breathing. She also was to watch her salt intake. The sputum was to be checked by herself daily, and if there were any changes, she was to contact the doctor. The usual regime would be antibiotics and steroids until sputum was clear and consistency of sputum returned to what was her normal.I know this is probably more than most of you wanted to know about sputum and fluid build up, but I hope it helps someone. Always contact your doctor when you have concerns about your health, but if you are having to go to your doctor more than normal, or you don't seem to be getting better, GO SEE SOMEONE ELSE! Keep changing until you find someone who seems to know what they are doing, network, ask friends, etc... God bless you and keep you safe, amen. P.S. My younger brother has named our mother (Momma Lazarus)!
Thursday, August 9, 2007
Thursday, March 2, 2006
Cancer
March 2, 2006
Haven't posted in quite some time. You really never know how much you really know, or don't know, about something until it becomes a life and death matter. Take for instance your respiratory system. When you are diagnosed with Lung Cancer, the respiratory system takes on a whole new meaning. Breathing stops being taken for granted, most things small, and usually unnoticed, become extremely large and miraculous. Smells, tastes, sounds, seeing, feeling, touching, thinking, invisioning, most things begin to take on a whole new deminsion. It's kinda sad that it takes such a jolt to start living more REAL, in the present, moment by moment. But then again, I guess this means, that the JOLTS can be considered BLESSINGS. Each system in the body has its own uniqueness, and interdepedency. Don't ever believe that something is over unless you are ready for the end, because if you do, it will be. If you do not give up, and believe that something can be done, it can be. These moments do help those that have not been able to appreciate life, loved ones, strangers, any and everything, a second chance to do so. Those that do appreciate, have faith, and are giving, will not have much anquish about death. It will be the final stage of Earthly life. As you may well be able to tell, I have a tendency to ramble, leaving out specifics, and going on to another topic. Sorry if you can't read my mind. If there is a question about what I am saying, just blog me and I'll see if I can be more clear. The lung cancer was diagnosed in 2004, a close family member had the diagnoses. That family member is now in remission. Now I have another family member with Liver cancer. So now I am learning about the liver. We are trying to figure out the best way to approach treatment. I have done a lot of research on the internet, with different alternatives to the treatment of this Liver Cancer. The biggest thing that has gotten us through the Lung Cancer is our faith in Jesus. Yes we did a lot of internet research also, but with the guidance of the Lord at the helm. That is what we are doing with the Liver Cancer also. The Lung Cancer person had chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. It was a long road, with ups and downs. The chemo seemed to almost take this person away by itself. The white blood cell counts became severely low, like 600, when they should be in the 5,000 to 10,000 range. These white cells are what help to fight off infection. Anyway, they have injections that they can give, ours was called Nupegen (?spelling), it initiates your body to produce more white blood cells. You can have red blood cells given to you per infusion, but the white cells have to be produced by your body. One of these days they may be able to infuse white blood cells, who knows, just about anything is possible anymore. We did have to have some red blood cells transfused, and thank God, the white blood cells did recover. In the mean time, this person that was going through the chemo was in control of when and how she continued treatment. When she wasn't feeling well enough to take the chemo, she waited for the next chemo until she did feel strong enough to handle the chemo. Now this may sound like common sense to most, but to me, I thought you have only a certain amount of time to get the treatments done to kill out the cancer. I saw this person let the doctor know how these treatments where affecting her, good or bad, and usually it was not very good. She would have the doctor readjust, this was a team effort, the treatments as needed so that she could tolerate the treatments. She had radiation twice daily for the first 2 weeks, before chemo started. The radiation was directed directly at the tumor only. The lung cancer was growing on the outside of the lung wrapping itself around a part of this person's Aorta, your main artery of the heart and lungs. After the first 2 weeks of double radiation, she had to speak to the oncology radiologist about decreasing the times and amount of the Radiation. She was feeling really weak and was getting ready to begin Chemo. Anyway as I said before there were many ups and downs. The last down, I thought that was going to be the END, is when I finally came to the reality of being helpless. This was also a time when I was showing my loss of faith, then it hit me like a ton of bricks, God's will will be done. I was hoping and praying God's will was to heal this person against all Earthly odds, and he DID! She was stage four, was barely 100 pounds, had been in pain for almost 7 years before the cancer was found. The last 2 years before the cancer was found, she barely slept because of the pain. She had test after test after test done without anyone finding a thing. Her blood work would be normal, but she kept having this excrutiating pain behind her left shoulder blade that noone could seem to find its cause. We tried prolotherapy, chiropractic therapy, supplements, etc... We finally took her to the emergency room one day and told them that something was wrong with this person and we are not leaving until someone finds out what it is. They did a CT and found something, then they did an MRI to see things better. They found the tumor! They were missing it because it was hiding behind her lung, it was in between the lung and the spin going around parts of the Aorta. They also found this out when they tried to get a biopsy from within the lung, but the tumor was not in the LUNG, it was behind the LUNG. Another test done was a PET scan. A PET scan will show if there are any cancer cells in the body, and where all of the cancer cells may be. It will show if the cancer has spread, or if it is gone. We have all decided in our family that if we have pain in an area for more than a few weeks to a month, that we are going to request an MRI. If this test shows something, then request a PET scan to see if it is cancer. The main way that they find out what type of cancer it is to biopsy the cells. Each type of cancer cells has its own place of origin. The cells tell you where they came from. The cells they retrieved were of Lung cancer origin, and somehow migrated to the outside of the LUNG. She had non small cell lung carcenoma. This person was scheduled for 4 treatments of Chemo. Each time, it was chemo time, she dreaded the day of feeling sicker than ever, just to get better. The 3rd chemo treatment was when I thought we were going to lose her. I had been positive, as upbeat as I could be for what was going on, but at this jucture I lost it. I did it out of her site, but I totally went through her being gone. After I finished crying uncontrollably, it dawned on me that we have no control over when we die, but we do have control over how we live. Back to the third treatment, after she had recovered from the third treatment she asked the doctor if he would do another PET scan to see if the cancer was gone, because she believed that it was. The doctor was a little hesitant, but did agree to do the test before anymore chemo was given. The results came back with no detectable signs of cancer anywhere! She has been in remission now for just a little over a year. I wish I could say that she has recovered 100 percent, but I can't. This person never completely quit smoking, once she was told that the cancer was gone, she began smoking again, not as much as before, but still. She is now having congestive heart failure. She did quit smoking, because she could not catch her breath. She is recovering from a hospital stay. I am searching for rehabilitative exercises to help strengthen her heart. Her breathing is better, but still labored at times. She has had 2 rounds of antibiotics to get rid of the Pneumonia. I believe that the second round has pretty much taken care of the infection. Now we need to work on strengthening the heart to prevent any further damage. She has been smoke free for about 2 months now. Grouchier than ever, so you know she must be getting some better. Now we have her significant other with Liver Cancer. Back to the research board. The person with the liver cancer, just had gall bladder removed and this was when they spotted the cancer on the liver. This person is also diabetic with high blood pressure. You have to consider everything that could effect outcome. No I am not a doctor, but I hardly doubt that I sound like one. Hope this may have helped some, do your research, be in charge of your care, know your options, get a 2nd opinion or more if necessary, find people who have dealt with your type of problem with a positive outcome and get their medical professionals phone number, check into alternative treatments, PRAY for guideance and wisdom for your situation to have a positive outcome, get your affairs in order (this should be done whether you are ill or not) 1)power of attorney, 2)DNR orders, 3)organ donation, 4)living will, anything that needs to be done in case something were to happen to you in an accident etc.. Because if you do not get the proper papers ready, then someone else will decide for you. Enough said about that. Here's hoping that those of you that read this will be able to find the silver lining in every cloud. One last thing, healing has to involve all 3 parts (mind, body, spirit). Proper Nutrition is a major factor in health and healing, and so is Exercise (Ensure and Walking is one example of nutrition and exercise during cancer care). Search until you find what is right for you.
Haven't posted in quite some time. You really never know how much you really know, or don't know, about something until it becomes a life and death matter. Take for instance your respiratory system. When you are diagnosed with Lung Cancer, the respiratory system takes on a whole new meaning. Breathing stops being taken for granted, most things small, and usually unnoticed, become extremely large and miraculous. Smells, tastes, sounds, seeing, feeling, touching, thinking, invisioning, most things begin to take on a whole new deminsion. It's kinda sad that it takes such a jolt to start living more REAL, in the present, moment by moment. But then again, I guess this means, that the JOLTS can be considered BLESSINGS. Each system in the body has its own uniqueness, and interdepedency. Don't ever believe that something is over unless you are ready for the end, because if you do, it will be. If you do not give up, and believe that something can be done, it can be. These moments do help those that have not been able to appreciate life, loved ones, strangers, any and everything, a second chance to do so. Those that do appreciate, have faith, and are giving, will not have much anquish about death. It will be the final stage of Earthly life. As you may well be able to tell, I have a tendency to ramble, leaving out specifics, and going on to another topic. Sorry if you can't read my mind. If there is a question about what I am saying, just blog me and I'll see if I can be more clear. The lung cancer was diagnosed in 2004, a close family member had the diagnoses. That family member is now in remission. Now I have another family member with Liver cancer. So now I am learning about the liver. We are trying to figure out the best way to approach treatment. I have done a lot of research on the internet, with different alternatives to the treatment of this Liver Cancer. The biggest thing that has gotten us through the Lung Cancer is our faith in Jesus. Yes we did a lot of internet research also, but with the guidance of the Lord at the helm. That is what we are doing with the Liver Cancer also. The Lung Cancer person had chemotherapy, and radiation treatments. It was a long road, with ups and downs. The chemo seemed to almost take this person away by itself. The white blood cell counts became severely low, like 600, when they should be in the 5,000 to 10,000 range. These white cells are what help to fight off infection. Anyway, they have injections that they can give, ours was called Nupegen (?spelling), it initiates your body to produce more white blood cells. You can have red blood cells given to you per infusion, but the white cells have to be produced by your body. One of these days they may be able to infuse white blood cells, who knows, just about anything is possible anymore. We did have to have some red blood cells transfused, and thank God, the white blood cells did recover. In the mean time, this person that was going through the chemo was in control of when and how she continued treatment. When she wasn't feeling well enough to take the chemo, she waited for the next chemo until she did feel strong enough to handle the chemo. Now this may sound like common sense to most, but to me, I thought you have only a certain amount of time to get the treatments done to kill out the cancer. I saw this person let the doctor know how these treatments where affecting her, good or bad, and usually it was not very good. She would have the doctor readjust, this was a team effort, the treatments as needed so that she could tolerate the treatments. She had radiation twice daily for the first 2 weeks, before chemo started. The radiation was directed directly at the tumor only. The lung cancer was growing on the outside of the lung wrapping itself around a part of this person's Aorta, your main artery of the heart and lungs. After the first 2 weeks of double radiation, she had to speak to the oncology radiologist about decreasing the times and amount of the Radiation. She was feeling really weak and was getting ready to begin Chemo. Anyway as I said before there were many ups and downs. The last down, I thought that was going to be the END, is when I finally came to the reality of being helpless. This was also a time when I was showing my loss of faith, then it hit me like a ton of bricks, God's will will be done. I was hoping and praying God's will was to heal this person against all Earthly odds, and he DID! She was stage four, was barely 100 pounds, had been in pain for almost 7 years before the cancer was found. The last 2 years before the cancer was found, she barely slept because of the pain. She had test after test after test done without anyone finding a thing. Her blood work would be normal, but she kept having this excrutiating pain behind her left shoulder blade that noone could seem to find its cause. We tried prolotherapy, chiropractic therapy, supplements, etc... We finally took her to the emergency room one day and told them that something was wrong with this person and we are not leaving until someone finds out what it is. They did a CT and found something, then they did an MRI to see things better. They found the tumor! They were missing it because it was hiding behind her lung, it was in between the lung and the spin going around parts of the Aorta. They also found this out when they tried to get a biopsy from within the lung, but the tumor was not in the LUNG, it was behind the LUNG. Another test done was a PET scan. A PET scan will show if there are any cancer cells in the body, and where all of the cancer cells may be. It will show if the cancer has spread, or if it is gone. We have all decided in our family that if we have pain in an area for more than a few weeks to a month, that we are going to request an MRI. If this test shows something, then request a PET scan to see if it is cancer. The main way that they find out what type of cancer it is to biopsy the cells. Each type of cancer cells has its own place of origin. The cells tell you where they came from. The cells they retrieved were of Lung cancer origin, and somehow migrated to the outside of the LUNG. She had non small cell lung carcenoma. This person was scheduled for 4 treatments of Chemo. Each time, it was chemo time, she dreaded the day of feeling sicker than ever, just to get better. The 3rd chemo treatment was when I thought we were going to lose her. I had been positive, as upbeat as I could be for what was going on, but at this jucture I lost it. I did it out of her site, but I totally went through her being gone. After I finished crying uncontrollably, it dawned on me that we have no control over when we die, but we do have control over how we live. Back to the third treatment, after she had recovered from the third treatment she asked the doctor if he would do another PET scan to see if the cancer was gone, because she believed that it was. The doctor was a little hesitant, but did agree to do the test before anymore chemo was given. The results came back with no detectable signs of cancer anywhere! She has been in remission now for just a little over a year. I wish I could say that she has recovered 100 percent, but I can't. This person never completely quit smoking, once she was told that the cancer was gone, she began smoking again, not as much as before, but still. She is now having congestive heart failure. She did quit smoking, because she could not catch her breath. She is recovering from a hospital stay. I am searching for rehabilitative exercises to help strengthen her heart. Her breathing is better, but still labored at times. She has had 2 rounds of antibiotics to get rid of the Pneumonia. I believe that the second round has pretty much taken care of the infection. Now we need to work on strengthening the heart to prevent any further damage. She has been smoke free for about 2 months now. Grouchier than ever, so you know she must be getting some better. Now we have her significant other with Liver Cancer. Back to the research board. The person with the liver cancer, just had gall bladder removed and this was when they spotted the cancer on the liver. This person is also diabetic with high blood pressure. You have to consider everything that could effect outcome. No I am not a doctor, but I hardly doubt that I sound like one. Hope this may have helped some, do your research, be in charge of your care, know your options, get a 2nd opinion or more if necessary, find people who have dealt with your type of problem with a positive outcome and get their medical professionals phone number, check into alternative treatments, PRAY for guideance and wisdom for your situation to have a positive outcome, get your affairs in order (this should be done whether you are ill or not) 1)power of attorney, 2)DNR orders, 3)organ donation, 4)living will, anything that needs to be done in case something were to happen to you in an accident etc.. Because if you do not get the proper papers ready, then someone else will decide for you. Enough said about that. Here's hoping that those of you that read this will be able to find the silver lining in every cloud. One last thing, healing has to involve all 3 parts (mind, body, spirit). Proper Nutrition is a major factor in health and healing, and so is Exercise (Ensure and Walking is one example of nutrition and exercise during cancer care). Search until you find what is right for you.
Wednesday, August 17, 2005
I can see clearly now that the rain is gone.
We have recently received a little over 3 1/2 inches of rain, that we have desperately needed. Now the temperature is back up into the lower 90's. We are in the middle of the month of August, and I am definitely ready for FALL. I'm sure that a lot of people are. Hope all of you are staying cool in every way possible.
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