The tumor remains the same size. For cancer, no change is really good news. He's been off chemo now for 2 months and is only on the miracle drug, Avastin. It has no side affects. We're so grateful for modern medicine. Gary continues with physical therapy and improves every month. His left vision will probably never return, but his quality of life remains to be an answer to prayer.
Seems strange to post on Gary's blog. It's as though it's an old fashioned way to communicate now that Facebook has found it's way in to our lives.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Fast Forward, 3 months later
Yesterday's MRI tells us that the tumor hasn't grown. The doctor was excited and we were disappointed. After having chemo and Avastin for 3 months every 3 weeks, we selfishly wanted the tumor to be gone. Alas, we need to be happy that the tumor isn't growing.
In actualality, Gary is doing much better and his quality of life has greatly improved with the wonderful physical therapist and vision therapist who continue to give us the tools to use to help him navigate and manage in the world.
This week will decide if we should continue with the chemo OR use the Avastin alone. Big decision. One thought is that we use all the tools we can while we have health care and the other is to have quality of life by using just the Avastin (vascular restrictor) alone which has very few side affects other than reducing the blood flow to the tumor.
The troubling news about health care has me very worried about what would happen to Gary's care if it passes. We wish we could see through what is truth and what is myth about health care, but it seems as if Senior Care might truly be reduced to an equation of what is one's life expectancy.
Thanks for caring.
In actualality, Gary is doing much better and his quality of life has greatly improved with the wonderful physical therapist and vision therapist who continue to give us the tools to use to help him navigate and manage in the world.
This week will decide if we should continue with the chemo OR use the Avastin alone. Big decision. One thought is that we use all the tools we can while we have health care and the other is to have quality of life by using just the Avastin (vascular restrictor) alone which has very few side affects other than reducing the blood flow to the tumor.
The troubling news about health care has me very worried about what would happen to Gary's care if it passes. We wish we could see through what is truth and what is myth about health care, but it seems as if Senior Care might truly be reduced to an equation of what is one's life expectancy.
Thanks for caring.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Still Shrinking
Just a short update after our trip to Cedars Sinai this Thursday, May 6, 2009. Gary's MRI showed more decrease in tumor and cystic mass. Needless to say, we're thrilled and elated. You know things are getting better when they want to see you 3 months from now, not 6 weeks. So, he will continue with the chemo and the wonder drug, Avastin until October.
Gary's still very tired from the chemo and is doing a good job of rehabilitating. We'll continue with physical therapy in Bend for the next six months and hope to return to our desert home in November as a "new man". He's much like a stroke victim and needs to relearn how do do things, but he's doin' it.....slowly, but surely and sweetly.
Today, was an amazing day. We had the pleasure of sharing an afternoon with some of our former employees, reminiscing about the "good ole Impulse Technology days". What a joy it was to see the wonderful people who were so special in making our company such a great place to work. It's been about 20 years and everyone still has fond memories of our times together. It was a true joy to see them and I think they enjoyed seeing us and wishing Gary well. Wow. I'm still flying high.
I guess you've picked up that we snowbirds are flying north for our beloved Bend, Oregon friends and home.
Thank you for caring.
Gary's still very tired from the chemo and is doing a good job of rehabilitating. We'll continue with physical therapy in Bend for the next six months and hope to return to our desert home in November as a "new man". He's much like a stroke victim and needs to relearn how do do things, but he's doin' it.....slowly, but surely and sweetly.
Today, was an amazing day. We had the pleasure of sharing an afternoon with some of our former employees, reminiscing about the "good ole Impulse Technology days". What a joy it was to see the wonderful people who were so special in making our company such a great place to work. It's been about 20 years and everyone still has fond memories of our times together. It was a true joy to see them and I think they enjoyed seeing us and wishing Gary well. Wow. I'm still flying high.
I guess you've picked up that we snowbirds are flying north for our beloved Bend, Oregon friends and home.
Thank you for caring.
Friday, March 13, 2009
YIPPEE. Great News
Wow. We're soaring high with good news and knew that you devoted friends (bloggers) would like to hear it.
Yesterday's MRI at Cedars Sinai showed that the tumor has reduced in size approximately by 1/2 since the December MRI. Since I'm visual and to put it in to perspective, originally the tumor was the size of a golf ball and now it's the size of a plump, cherry tomato. Needless to say, we are overjoyed and grateful to this treatment plan for brain cancer of Avastin and CPT 11. Gary has had 9 chemo treatments so far.
More good news. The chemo schedule is being rescheduled from 2 weeks to every 3 weeks and the chemo dosage is being reduced by 20%.
More good news. Gary's anti seizure drugs are also being reduced which will help him immensely to have a better quality of life.
More good news. Gary has been blessed with Home Health Care Physical Therapy since we've been in the desert. They said he's doing too well for this to continue and will have to go to outpatient therapy. He's walking much better, but still needs a partner next to his left side. He's going to try driving a golf cart, but have to be very careful of his left vision deficit and peripheral vision. I've enlisted a buddy to help with this driving task.....
Thanks for caring. Thanks for the prayers. They are working.
Yesterday's MRI at Cedars Sinai showed that the tumor has reduced in size approximately by 1/2 since the December MRI. Since I'm visual and to put it in to perspective, originally the tumor was the size of a golf ball and now it's the size of a plump, cherry tomato. Needless to say, we are overjoyed and grateful to this treatment plan for brain cancer of Avastin and CPT 11. Gary has had 9 chemo treatments so far.
More good news. The chemo schedule is being rescheduled from 2 weeks to every 3 weeks and the chemo dosage is being reduced by 20%.
More good news. Gary's anti seizure drugs are also being reduced which will help him immensely to have a better quality of life.
More good news. Gary has been blessed with Home Health Care Physical Therapy since we've been in the desert. They said he's doing too well for this to continue and will have to go to outpatient therapy. He's walking much better, but still needs a partner next to his left side. He's going to try driving a golf cart, but have to be very careful of his left vision deficit and peripheral vision. I've enlisted a buddy to help with this driving task.....
Thanks for caring. Thanks for the prayers. They are working.
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Who's Counting???
Gary is accumulating days in the hospital as fast as frequent flyer miles. This week, he spent 4 nights in Eisenhower Medical Center with pulmonary embolisms, bringing his total to 44 days in less than a year. Apparently, cancer patients have issues with coagulation, which caused the embolism. After lots of consulting with docs, the solution is to thin his blood with daily shots. Works for me.
Nothing else new. He still looks wonderful and is in good spirits. Thanks for caring.
Nothing else new. He still looks wonderful and is in good spirits. Thanks for caring.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Ain't she (and he) Sweet?????
Wanted to share this beautiful photo of Gary and Emma in the golf cart at Tradition just after Christmas. They were going to get a yogurt at the Coyote Cafe (the turn).
I've resisted the temptation to share how cute our grandkids are, but couldn't resist this one. Gary continues with the chemo and is getting increasingly more and more tired, but apparently the results are showing that the tumor is smaller than it was exactly one year ago. So, with your help and that of the meds/docs, we endure. Next MRI is scheduled at Cedars Sinai on 1/27/09.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
