Not as well as last time

His pump was taken off today. Overall I don't think he did as well as the first time. A little more nauseated this time, his "first bite pain" seemed to be more than just the first bite of food, and his sensitivity to cold food just about killed him. He said it was like putting a pack of 9 volt batteries on this tongue and it seemed to last a lot longer this time. He took a nap today and he seems to be having some bio issues today. Seems like it is related to the infusion because it seems to happen within a few hours from being disconnected. 

I am a little worried that the side effects will become more intense as the treatments go on. I just hope he can keep his spirits up and remember that he is doing this to be around for everyone who loves him.

Second Chemo Appointment

Here we sit getting ready for his second chemo treatment. It has been 14 days since we started this. Blood work is still good. We are hoping that his side effects are minimal again. I spoke to a lady at Starbucks over the weekend who had gone through this same treatment for colon cancer. She said that she started off with no side effects but the more she went the worse they got. Really hoping that is not the case here. 

He is eating me out of house and home... literally eating all the time... gained a pound in just a week. He seems to be able to eat anything he wants and not be sick. He is still chilled a lot... He has his office heater turned up and seems to be ok while in there. I am sure that he would like for it to get a little warmer here. 

Currently he is sleeping pretty good. No hand tingling, rashes or mouth sores anymore. Of course that may all change after this treatment.

Just wanted to get you all caught up. Will post more as the day goes on. 

Treatment Day 7

OK. Here we are at day 7.... One week since his treatment started. He had a appointment today to see the doctor and have blood work done. Doc says that blood is great. We asked the doctor if maybe they gave him a sample dose or something because the chemo in the chair only took 2-3 hours and not the 6 that everyone is telling us. Also, the fact that he really didn't have too many major side effects. Doctor says he got a full dose and that not everyone has side effects. We also discussed with him what he thought we could expect with the future doses. He believes that his side effects should not be too different than what he has already experienced. If that is the case then we are going to be rockin.... To sum up his side effects this week... He took two 3-hour naps, felt nauseated 3 times, a couple of mouth sores, and a small heat rash. Maybe this won't be so hard on him as it is on others. Makes us feel almost guilty that he is doing so well while others are having so many issues. Well his next chemo appointment is on Thursday afternoon. Hopefully it will all go just as well. Please keep us in your prayers.

Treatment Day 5

Well this weekend didn't go as expected for Del. He is beginning to think that people are "punking" him about this chemo stuff. The only side effects so far is a couple of 3 hour naps, one day where nothing really sounded good to eat and some mouth sores. He is eating whatever he wants.... even had Burrito Chili and Cheese for dinner. He is wondering if maybe they gave him a starter dose of this stuff to see how he reacts. Sure would like to know if they do that. If they did, it would have been nice to know that.

Been baking all weekend so didn't have time to get on here, but like I said.... very uneventful which is a great thing. 

Treatment Day 3

Yesterday was a good day. Delbert was still on his pump and was up and working. Very, very little nausea so far. He was even eating normally at this point. The doctor decided to prescribe Coumadin for him. He is not happy about it but he is taking it.

Today they disconnected his pump. He had a little bit of pain when they disconnected it from his port but the nurse said that was only because it was new and still sensitive. He still seems to be eating normally. He is tired a lot right now. Took a nap for about 5 hours this afternoon and it has only been 3 hours since he got up and he says he is ready for bed again. 

I have been reading another blog from a lady who has colon cancer and is about 6 weeks ahead of Delbert's treatment. She is a wonderful person and full of faith. Her attitude alone should get her through this. On a lighter note... while he was sleeping, I was able to get out and get a couple of things off the Christmas list. While there, I decided to go down the condom aisle. Since he is in treatment, they say to use them to protect against the poisons. I never knew there were so many kinds. I grabbed a variety box, hid it in the cart and ran away from the aisle. 

We hear that the next couple of days should be rough. I will keep you posted.

First Chemo Appointment

Today was Del's first day of Chemo. We had to go early for "Chemo class". This is a time to watch a video about all of the possible side effects; nausea, lack of appetite, hair loss, etc. There was also a Q&A session. So much unknown because everyone is different and such a helpless feeling. After the chemo class, he had his doctor's appointment and then it was time to start, what he likes to call, his drano. It is really a cocktail of Oxaliplatin and Leucovorin. 

First they use Saline to make sure his port is open and clean. Then they put in Magnesium and something else that I can't remember. After that, they start the cocktail and that will drip in for about 2 hours. Once all of that is done, he got unhooked from the cocktail drip and then hooked up to a pump for the final part of his 2 day regiment. The Fluorouracil is given to him via a pump over the next 46 hours. So far, he is doing well with it.... no side effects but they say that it takes a few days for them to come along. He was even able to eat meatloaf... LOL

The chemo class talked a lot about nutrition and how to keep/get nutrients if you are not feeling like eating. They recommend making everything count. High calorie, high protein food. Also, Boost, Ensure, those types of drinks. They also say to eat a lot of small meals instead of 3 regular size meals. We are still waiting to see how this will effect his appetite. They already called in a prescription for nausea medication just in case.

The only complaint he has right now is that the tubing from the pump to the port has a couple of plastic clips on it and they scratch him. We solved that by wrapping it in some gauze and taping it to his chest. I pray that this is his only issue.

Ports In

One of the things that we found out is that they put a port into his chest, just below the collar bone that has a line into the jugular. They use this to put the chemo in and to draw blood from. The port was put in earlier this week and he goes back to have it checked on Tuesday. We start the chemo on Wednesday. We are being told that the first day we have to go to a chemo class, along with the lab, dr appt and the actual chemo and to plan for the whole day. They say that he will have chemo on Wednesdays and be sent home with a pump that will continue to pump medicine in him until Friday, when the pump is removed. This is going to happen every other week for 6 months.

There are just so many things that are unknown. You can research and find out about the process, but everyone is different and what may effect one person may not effect someone else. If I could tell anyone anything it would be to be prepared for a lot of doctor visits for a variety of things. Also, prepare yourself for the emotional roller coaster. I am a very rational, business like person and I just treat this as a process, but every so often I start to thing the "what if". Try not to go there... you need to be strong for the other person who is already thinking "what if". Talk to your friends, write a blog... even if no one sees it, it helps to get it out of your head. It's kinda like that movie "I don't know how she does it" with Sarah Jessica Parker. She makes lists while she is suppose to be sleeping... lists of things that she needs to do or take care of. Ours is have the port checked on Tuesday, take the dog to day camp so we can go to the oncologist on Wednesday all day, back on Friday to have the pump removed, this project needs this done at work, the other one needs that... it seems like it is never-ending, but you get through it, one day at a time.

To hear those words

This isn't the first time that I have heard these words. I first heard them when my sister called me about 25 years ago and told me she had.... Cancer. She has had it all over her body and been diagnosed terminal like 3 times. The last time she was told that, her "expiration" date was December 2011. It is now December 2012 and she is still here and hopefully not going anywhere for a very long time. More recently, a friend had breast cancer. After a double mastectomy and a few more years of battling, she passed away in June 2012. I know that cancer can take a life or just be a bump in the road of life, but it doesn't hit home as much as when it is your very own spouse. 

My husband had a doctor's appointment the end of September for what he thought was a hemorrhoid. It only turned out to be a fissure but while in his office, the doctor saw something, took a biopsy and asked to see both of us in his office. It was at that time that he said that based on all of his years of experience, that it looked like cancer. After blood tests, scans, and a colonoscopy they did surgery to remove 10" of colon and the lymph nodes around it. Two weeks later we get the news.... Stage 3 colon cancer... technically T3N1. Yep it got into one of the lymph nodes. He is going to start chemo the beginning of December. The oncologist says Folfox. My husband has been doing alot of research about the treatment and we have been preparing for the unknown.

Now the real adventure begins.... You see, we had been on the road traveling in a travel trailer full time for the last 18 months. We were in Orange, CA when he was diagnosed. We decided to move back home to Las Vegas (actually Henderson), NV and rent an apartment to have a little more room. Got all moved in and are ready to start our new life.