update

I started a new round of Chemotherapy last week. This included the new chemotherapy drugs that they have identified. Side effects so far are nausea, fatigue, (I'll spare you the bowel movement details), and a general feeling of crappiess. I also started physically therapy on my leg last week. Both of these new treatments together make me very tired. The fatigue is expected from the chemotherapy drugs. The physical therapy exercises on the surface appear easy, however it is surprising how little my right leg can do. The leg fatigues extremely quickly and doesn't do much at all. They gave me one or two exercises that I can do at home, scheduled more office visits for additional therapy going forward, and recommended some endurance training on a stationary exercise bike. I now own a recumbent exercise bike at home that I can use to help speed up this process. Well the kids are in bed now, which means it way past my bedtime. Take care, and wish me luck. -Eric

New stuff

I had an appointment with my oncologist today. The biggest thing we learned was that I will be stopping my current chemotherapy drugs and starting a new set of chemotherapy drugs. Given that the cancer has been spreading recently (in my spine, and my liver); the oncologist was not happy with the progress of my current chemotherapy drug (Alimta). The new chemotherapy drugs I will be put on are Gemcitabine and Navelbine. Both of these drugs target lung cancer, and other types of cancers. The side effects of the new drugs are expected to be more harsh than what I am currently experiencing (fatigue, nausea, vomiting, poor appetite, flu-like symptoms, low blood counts, diarrhea, mouth sores, hair loss, shortness of breath etc.) All the usual suspects. I will be starting the new drugs next week. Additionally my oncologist will be sending me to Denver to see if there are any chemotherapy drug trials that may be of benefit in my situation.
I finished the radiation treatments on the Tumor on my spine last week. We won't know how successful it was until I get another MRI in a few weeks. Currently the pain in my back and leg is under control through pain killers. Walking is still very difficult and requires a walker to prevent falls. My legs are still very weak, and my right leg is virtually non functional. I will be starting physical therapy in hopes to get the strength back in my legs and hopefully get back to walking soon. -Eric

Not so good news

The doctor ran a number of tests this past week trying to figure out why I am retaining fluids. My feet and knees are swollen, and my belly is always tight and uncomfortable. The tests did not yield any conclusive results on the fluids, however one new thing was revealed. The cancer has spread to my my Liver. There are a number of tumors in my Liver, the largest, is about 1.5 inches in diameter. I don't know much more than that right now. I have many more questions for the doctor, whom we will see in few days. It's very likely that we will start a different chemotherapy drug and stop taking the one I am taking now. I am still experiencing a lot of pain due to the tumor on my spine. The pain is mostly managed with pain medication. I radiation treatments continue. I have three more doses of radiation to treat the tumor on my spine. I have not noticed any difference yet in my leg strength or ability to walk. I still have to use a walker for stability and safety. Hoping for the best. -Eric

old man

I bought a walker the other day to help me get back and forth from the bed to bathroom, and also to help with any excursions out of the house. It helps a lot, and helps to prevent additional falls. It works quite well. Today we put some safety bars in the bathroom near the toilet and in the shower. I am officially an old man. As much as I don't like this, it's better to be safe than sorry. I had my second dose of radiation this morning. It only takes about 10-15 minutes to administer. The doctor was already asking if I felt any improvements. I guess he is expecting some quick results. Nothing yet. Take care. -Eric

More stuff

I started chemotherapy again this week. My oncologist had put the chemotherapy on hold for a while due to my hospital stay, and making sure the infection was cleared up first. I had forgotten the wonderful side effects of chemotherapy ( Nausea, Fatigue), this morning I was quickly reminded. We visited an orthopedic doctor today (Dr. Grossnickle) to see what more we could do about the back/leg pain, and leg weakness that I have been experiencing. He first took an x-ray and found nothing. A follow up MRI showed more detail. He found that a cancerous tumor in my spine was pushing through the bone from the L3 vertebra to the L4 vertebra and shutting down the function of the nerve that controls by right leg. I essentially have no use of my right leg, which as you can imagine makes it difficult to walk. We took this as good news, and bad news. Good news that we now understand what the real problem is and we can now focus on fixing it the right way. Bad news because this means that the cancer is spreading. There are two options. 1) Radiation treatments on the Tumor in my spine. 2) Surgery to remove the Tumor. This surgery would need to be performed by an orthopedic oncologist specialist in Denver. My oncologist does not like the surgery option due to the overall risk and risk of infection. So we are going with the radiation treatments. We were able to meet with the radiation oncologist today in Greeley . He first performed a CT scan, marked my body with three tattoo marks and set up the radiation simulation. I also received the first radiation treatment today. Tomorrow I will receive the second treatment. I will receive ten treatments total , one each day over the next ten days. The radiation oncologist is optimistic that he stop the growth and relieve the pressure on the nerve. But he cannot promise that the weakness in my leg will be fixed. It all depends on how the nerve heals after the pressure is removed. I will stay on the pain management treatments with the steroid epidurals. Busy day. -Eric

took a dive

I took a dive today. My legs are very week due to the hospital stay, muscle loss, and also due to the drugs they give me for the sciatica. I was heading up the stairs and both legs gave out. I tumbled to the floor 2-3 stairs, hit my head on the wall and I think sprained a couple of toes. I am doing fine, no harm done, except for little loss of pride. It was earlier in the morning when it happened and Monica jumped out of bed very quickly to see what happened. Between Monica and Josh they could not get me up off the floor, so I had to crawl to the couch and I have been here ever since. The doctor says I need to eat lots of protein to get my muscle mass and strength back. Monica made monster cookies. (oatmeal, peanut butter, peanut m&m’s), not only do they have lots of protein, but they taste great. I may be sleeping on the couch tonight If I can’t make it up stairs.

-eric

more stuff

On Monday we noticed some signs of potential infection. (cold sweats, fatigue). We called the doctor just to make sure, and he asked me to come into the office for some blood cultures rigtht away. Given my history, he decided it was prudent to put me on an IV antibiotic, rather that the current pill antibiotic that I was taking. Apparently the IV form is more effective. Problem is they had already removed my PORT last week due to infection so this required them to put in a PIC, which is a cathedar in my arm to allow easy acces for an IV, without reacessing my veins on a daily basis. The good news is that they are letting us administer the IV at home so that we dont have to travel the hospital every day. Monica is becoming quite the nurse. They sent a nurse to our home to train Monica and now we can do this on our own for the next few weeks. A nurse will come by in a week or so to check up, and change the dressing, otherwise we are on our own. They had to do another X-ray of my chest to confirm the installation of the PIC. I can't count how many X-rays, CT-scans and MRI's I have had over the past three years (well actually I can, I am keeping track of all this stuff) but the point is, if I didn't have cancer before, I most likely do now, due to all of the radiation I have been exposed to:) I also just found out that I have Sciatica. This is the most painful thing I have experienced in my life. Basically it's a pain in my lower back that runs along the sciatic nerve down my buttock and right leg. It's not a constant pain but when the pain occurs I am basically immobilized and have to sit it out until it goes away. Ice packs have been the best temporary solution thus far. I went to a pain management doctor yesterday and he gave me steroid epidural treatment in the back that should help. I will need to get 2-3 more of these treatments over the next couple of months to help manage the pain. Appareently they are pretty successful so I have high hopes that these will work. More fun stuff. Take care. -Eric