treatment schedule

I will be starting 30 rounds of radiation on Dec. 17th. and will be also taking an oral chemo pill that will help the cancer cells be more receptive to the radiation. This treatment will be done at M.D. Anderson in Houston, TX.

I plan on being home for Christmas but will be in Houston for New Years. My schedule is still somewhat in flux as I am unsure what weekends I will be coming back to KC. I will miss being at home and spending time with my wife and son.

LiveSTRONG,
darin

upcoming trip to Houston

My doctors at M.D. Anderson have all spoken and determined the best treatment path for the affected lymph nodes is to radiate first along with oral chemotherapy. I plan to have appx 28 treatments, adminstered once a day during the weekdays. I would not be getting radiation on weekends or holidays. My appointment with the Radiologist is Wednesday Dec 10th and I could start treatments as soon as Monday the 15th.

Once the radiation is complete I will rest appx 30 days and then they will attempt to surgically remove the affected lymph nodes. I will be back and forth to Houston several times over the coming months as all of my treatment will be at M.D. Anderson, not here in KC.

That's what I know for now.

LiveSTRONG,
jupe

update from trip to Houston

I returned last night to KC after spending two days at M.D. Anderson in Houston. The results of my latest CT showed some activity in the lymph nodes still. This was expected and as of now the plan of action calls for radiation, more chemo, then surgery.

Both Dr. Kopetz and Dr. Feig remain optimistic about my prognosis as the cancer is still localized to one area.

I will post again when I have dates and confirmation of the treatment path.

Cheers,
darin

PET/CT results

I got a call today from KCCC and my PET/CT results came back with good news.  The report reads "presacral region has decreased in activity significantly."  This is good news and I will discuss the results with Dr. Pendergrass on Tuesday.  I am seeing about getting down to MD Anderson in the coming weeks and will have them do a re-assessment.

PET/CT scan

No real news today but I had a PET/CT today in KC and will meet with Dr. Pendergrass at KCCC on Tuesday to review the results.  This will help him determine what the next step(s) will be in my treatment.  Currently I am receiving a chemo infusion every three weeks and take an oral chemo pill for the first two weeks, the third week I have nothing.

 

recent CT scan

I had a CT yesterday and the radioligist said that I have a pocket of air close to the area where the anastomsis is.  He is asking that my surgical oncolgist review the CT and make his recommendation.  I am sending them the CD today and hope to hear something back by early next week.

More to follow.

well, back to KCCC for more chemo today.....they plan on several chemo treatments and then will do some testing to see how the tumor is reacting to the drugs...hopefully my body does not develop a resistance and the drugs do what they are supposed to do.....FIGHT THE FIGHT......Unity is Strength, Knowledge is Power, Attitude is Everything - LIVESTRONG...later, - jupe

The Kanzius Machine: A Cancer Cure?

I got a couple of calls last night about a feature on 60 minutes last night.

here's a link to the story that is 13 minutes or so:

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/10/60minutes/main4006951.shtml

This development is pretty interesting and I am curious to see if they can shorten the timeline for a human trial. 

cheers,
-darin

 

biopsy results

Today I got a call and the results of the biopsy were as expected. The cancer has returned.  The good news is the area is contained and is not in any organs.  I will be meeting with my Dr.'s here in KC on Wednesday and they will collaborate with my team at M.D. Anderson to determine the best path for treatment.  I am hopeful that we can get all of the cancer out this time around with a combination of chemo, radiation, and/or surgery.

This will be another challenge of my strength, stamina, and will to do everything possible to beat this disease. I have so much to live for and will NEVER give up hope that I can win this fight.  Thank you all for your previous support and know that I may be calling upon you again during this journey of mine to lead a cancer free life.

Please pray for me, my wife and our son as I head back into battle.

Unity is Strength, Knowledge is Power, Attitude is Everything,
LiveSTRONG

-jupe

 

 

biposy

I had a biopsy done here in KC at St. Joseph Medical Center on Tuesday, April 8th.  I don't expect to have the results for a few more days.  I am holding a small bit of hope that this is not a recurrence but am prepared to fight again. 

I will post the results when I get them.

Cheers,
darin

PET/CT results

I saw Dr. Pendergrass at KCCC today for the results of the PET/CT.  He let me know the test did show FDG uptake to the area where the "mass" is.  This does not mean anything that is conclusive, only that there is abnormal white blood cell activity there.  I emailed the results to MD Anderson and will wait to hear what they want to do next.  I suspect they will want to biopsy the area to determine what this mass is.  This could possibly be done in KC but more than likely I will go to Houston.  Dr. Pendergrass did say that this "mass" could be an infected area due to surgery but only the biopsy will be able to confirm or deny his suspicion.  He said the timing of this spot appearing after surgery leads him to believe it's surgically related, not a recurrence.  He did emphasize that he could not rule anything out.

More to follow when I hear from MD Anderson.

Unity is Strength, Knowledge is Power, Attitude is Everything
LiveSTRONG

cheers,
-darin

MLH1, MSH2 & MSH6 test

I had some genetic testing done and the rusults were negative for any gene mutations.  What a releif to know that I did not pass this on to Carter. 

On Monday I go for a PET scan to see what the unknow mass is.  More to follow.

CT update #2

The CT images have been uploaded to M.D. Anderson's database so Dr. Feig can review them.  He is on vacation today and tomorrow but is supposed to review the images and give me a call.  He has been extremely responsive in the past so I expect to hear from him later today or tomorrow regarding his findings.  More to follow after I hear from Dr. Feig but I suspect they will want me to come visit and do some type of procedure to find out what the mass is.

CT follow up with Dr. Smith

I met with Dr. Smith here in KC to review the CT results.  He let me know there is a new mass (3.4cm X 4.8cm) in the lower abdominal retropertioneum on the right side.  There are not sure what it is so I have sent the CT and the report to Dr. Feig at M.D. Anderson in Houston.  Dr. Feig will review the images and let me know how he wishes to proceed.  At this time it's too early to say what it is.  I will post again when I have more information.

CT today

I had a CT today to investigate some pain I have in the right side of my groin.  My gastroenterologist wants to see me tomorrow morning at 9:15am to review the scan.  I'm not sure what is causing the pain but am curious to see what he has to say.  More to follow.

past weeks activities

Well, sorry for the delay in updates but sometimes that's how it goes.  Here's a summary of what has transpired

2/13/08 - test revealed a small leak still - CRAP...I assumed this means no surgery so I call my wife, sister and a few others to tell them the bad news.  I am supposed to meet with my surgeon at 12:20pm but am thinking why stay in Houston if there was still a leak in my colon?  Well, I get a call from the nurse saying Dr. Feig still wants to see me and there is an outside chance I could still have surgery.  I go to the appointment and the first thing he says when he walks in is "let's do this".  I can't believe what I am hearing.  In my vast medical knowledge I presumed if there was still a leak then I couldn't have surgery...WRONG on my part.  The Dr. said the leak was very small and contained.  He let me know that he had done several surgeries with larger leaks than mine.  All systems go for Friday.  Kevin Wills comes to my hotel later that evening to take me out for something to eat.  I enjoy a couple of cold beers with dinner celebrating my upcoming surgery.

2/14/08 - Ben, my younger brother, invited us down to his place for dinner.  We picked Nicole up at the airport and spend the evening with Ben, Deanna his wife, and their 5 week old daughter - Charlotte, what a cutie!

2/15/08 - check in at 5:30am, UGH!.....they get the IV in and review what I am having done....surgery goes as planned and Dr. Feig reverses the ileostomy and removes my port.  I am in post op recovery for an extended amount of time because they have no rooms available yet.  I spend 7+ hours waiting for a room and finally at 5:something I go up to floor 3.  I am only able to drink water for Friday.

2/16/08 - They move me to floor 4.   Saturday  my bowels start to wake up and I get to have broth and other liquids like Jell-O and applesauce...mmmmm. 

2/17/08 - Sunday was monumental as I had full flow through my colon.  That allowed me to have real food for breakfast - ham & egg omelet with pepper jack cheese, biscuit w/gravy.  The Dr's assistant came and saw me later that AM and let me know they were going to discharge me on Monday morning by 11am.  Kevin Wills and his wife came and visited me and brought food to my wife at the hotelwhere she was staying.  Kevin has been a great friend throughout this time and I really appreciate all he has done for me.

2/18/08 - Monday all was going well.  Dr. Feig came by and said he was letting me go and wanted to see me Wednesday so he could close the hole in my abdomen.  I'm getting around the room pretty well gathering up items when Nicole arrives.  I tell her I'm getting out today and we pack up my stuff.  Well....then I go to the bathroom and come out with uncontrollable shakes.  I'M FREEZING COLD....shivering like its minus 20.  The nurse comes and puts warm blankets on me and takes my vitals, which are normal.  After a couple of hours all was well and they let me go.

2/19/08 - went to lunch with Ben, my younger brother who lives just outside of Houston in Seabrook, TX.  With him was his wife and 5 week old daughter, Charlotte.  After lunch we go back to the hotel and rest.

2/20/08 - Dr. Feig closes the hole in my abdomen during my office visit.  You may ask, why is he closing the hole now?  Well, he removed the 'pouch' and left the hole open to allow the wound to irrigate which lowers the odds of infection.  This was semi-painful but a Vicodin did help take the edge off.  He closed the hole with stitches that he put in place during surgery on Friday.  He simply pinched the flesh together and pulled the ends like a shoe lace.  We left MD Anderson and got to the airport by 1:45pm.  Our flight was supposed to leave at 4:30 but was delayed until 6:50pm.  We finally got back to KC and home to Carter, who we missed dearly.  It's very hard to be away from him for such a long time.

2/21/08 - down in the basement trying to catch up on work....gotta pay the mortgage

Unity is Strength, Knowledge is Power, Attitude is Everything,
LIVESTRONG

-jupe

 

tomorrow's test

Up early tomorrow for an 8am test to see if my colon has healed.  This will be the same test that I did in Kansas City except the table I lay on here at MD tilts from head to toe.  I am expecting to pass this test as I did in KC and have surgery on Friday the 15th.  I will post the results tomorrow and hope to have GREAT news.

peace out,
-dj

upcoming visit to MD

Appears I will be heading to Houston on Feb 12 for testing on Feb 13 -if I pass the test as I did here in KC, I will have surgery on Feb 15 to reverse the ileostomy...expecting appx. 5 days in the hospital and then another 2-3 in Houston before coming home...more to follow as the 15th approaches

test results from 1/31/08

I had a test yesterday to see if my colon had healed and I received great news...This test showed no leakage so I will be headed to Houston for another test and hopefully surgery in mid Feb...more to follow when I have the details