Treatment Update #1
I think, at least for the short-term we have a treatment plan in place. Tomorrow, August 12th, Mom will be going into Elmhurst Memorial Hospital to get a port catheter inserted into her upper chest. This will be used to inject the drugs that she will be taking as part of her chemotherapy regime. She can also use the same port if they need to draw blood or for pretty much any other procedures that they would normally be sticking her skin with a needle. It isn't much, but it's one small thing that can be done to help make things easier.
The port catheter "installation" procedure is a simple out-patient procedure that should only take a couple of hours. Then the real stuff begins. Once the port procedure is done, Mom will receive her first dose of Gemzar and Tarceva, which in layman's terms means that chemo will officially begin tomorrow. Hopefully we will also learn tomorrow what the plan is as far as dosage and frequency for the chemo treatments.
In addition to the chemotherapy, Mom will also start radiation treatment on the big tumor that is attacking her pancreas in the next week or two. We're still waiting for a definitive date on that one. The goal of the radiation treatment is to decrease the size of the tumor in her pancreas which will hopefully help with the pain that she is experiencing. The delay in starting radiation is to let the chemo do some work on the tumors on her liver first. Then we go to work on the pancreas.
Outside of the professionals, mom is getting a steady dose of visitors and well-wishers at the house. Mom still has that glow about her, and you can feel her strength when you are in her presence. She is truly amazing. Her daughters and daughter-in-laws have whipped together a schedule so that one of them is there every morning an hour or two and every night as well. They are helping with whatever they can while they're there, but most importantly just trying to keep the medication straight.
The one challenge that we are continuing to face, is trying to make sure mom is getting enough food and nutrients. She doesn't have much an appetite, and when she eats she starts to feel nauseas, so we don't have that quite worked out yet. If anyone out there has any suggestions, we'd love to hear it. We know that Mom needs to eat to have the strength to fight this.
The port catheter "installation" procedure is a simple out-patient procedure that should only take a couple of hours. Then the real stuff begins. Once the port procedure is done, Mom will receive her first dose of Gemzar and Tarceva, which in layman's terms means that chemo will officially begin tomorrow. Hopefully we will also learn tomorrow what the plan is as far as dosage and frequency for the chemo treatments.
In addition to the chemotherapy, Mom will also start radiation treatment on the big tumor that is attacking her pancreas in the next week or two. We're still waiting for a definitive date on that one. The goal of the radiation treatment is to decrease the size of the tumor in her pancreas which will hopefully help with the pain that she is experiencing. The delay in starting radiation is to let the chemo do some work on the tumors on her liver first. Then we go to work on the pancreas.
Outside of the professionals, mom is getting a steady dose of visitors and well-wishers at the house. Mom still has that glow about her, and you can feel her strength when you are in her presence. She is truly amazing. Her daughters and daughter-in-laws have whipped together a schedule so that one of them is there every morning an hour or two and every night as well. They are helping with whatever they can while they're there, but most importantly just trying to keep the medication straight.
The one challenge that we are continuing to face, is trying to make sure mom is getting enough food and nutrients. She doesn't have much an appetite, and when she eats she starts to feel nauseas, so we don't have that quite worked out yet. If anyone out there has any suggestions, we'd love to hear it. We know that Mom needs to eat to have the strength to fight this.
posted by Greg | 10:16 PM
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