Yeyyy! Just came back from San Francisco. Ed had his chemoambolization treatment yesterday and was released to go home today. He is in good spirits. It may be too early to say that the side affects are mild since I suppose that you have to give the chemo time to do its work. He is taking a nap but before that he was asking if I am going to make dinner...so far..sooo good. I'll keep you posted. Please keep praying and we will keep strong and confident.
thank you
STRONG AND CONFIDENT LIVER CANCER SURVIVORS Diagnosed in January 2010 every day after that qualifies us as liver cancer survivors. /good days and not so good days - handling it by being strong and confident!
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Friday, March 18, 2011
Good Nutrition and a Team of Good Doctors
Bilirubin went down again..from 3.7 to 3.1!!!!
UCSF team decided to do chemoambulization and they want to do this quickly so we are going there next week. The Chemo will be sent straight to the tumors and hopefully reduce the tumors in size or get rid of them completely. Ed will be feeling ill for a week or two after that as the tumor shrinks and releases toxins that will have to removed from his body mostly by the liver. So please say a prayer or two for him. Hopefully his liver is able to handle this and it all turns out well.
We are stronger than ever. Can't give up now the best is yet to come.
UCSF team decided to do chemoambulization and they want to do this quickly so we are going there next week. The Chemo will be sent straight to the tumors and hopefully reduce the tumors in size or get rid of them completely. Ed will be feeling ill for a week or two after that as the tumor shrinks and releases toxins that will have to removed from his body mostly by the liver. So please say a prayer or two for him. Hopefully his liver is able to handle this and it all turns out well.
We are stronger than ever. Can't give up now the best is yet to come.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
NEXAVAR BAD SIDE EFFECTS...BE GONE!
Although we are grateful that our oncologist was willing to try the chemo therapy when all the research and other doctors said it wouldn't work, after 3 weeks of treatment the liver was quickly getting worse. The bilirubin went from 4.1 to 5.6 which is very very dangerous. The Chemo was stopped and Ed has been without treatment since the end of January. The tests this past week showed that the bilirubin is now 3.6!!! The liver recuperated from the effects of the chemo and that is such good news. Yes, 3.6 is still not a good number but the fact that the level went down gives us such hope.
We went to see a primary doctor at the VA clinic in Stockton to begin the process of transferring Ed's care there. Dr. Morgan is an interesting person. A mixture of good guy and, excuse my language, bitchy doctor :) but this far I think we will be fine with him.
We received a letter from the San Francisco Doctor that checked Ed. No recommendations yet, except for the fact that he thought that his Ascites needs to be controlled with medications and less or no fluid removals because of the chance of heavy bleeding and infections. A letter is to follow with his recommendations for the care of the liver cancer.
We continue to work with nutrition. no meat and lots of vegetables, grains and fruits. tried the meatless meatballs from Trader Joe's with their organic marinara sauce and it was amazingly yummy!!
We went to see a primary doctor at the VA clinic in Stockton to begin the process of transferring Ed's care there. Dr. Morgan is an interesting person. A mixture of good guy and, excuse my language, bitchy doctor :) but this far I think we will be fine with him.
We received a letter from the San Francisco Doctor that checked Ed. No recommendations yet, except for the fact that he thought that his Ascites needs to be controlled with medications and less or no fluid removals because of the chance of heavy bleeding and infections. A letter is to follow with his recommendations for the care of the liver cancer.
We continue to work with nutrition. no meat and lots of vegetables, grains and fruits. tried the meatless meatballs from Trader Joe's with their organic marinara sauce and it was amazingly yummy!!
Saturday, February 26, 2011
Un Dia Bonito..en San Francisco
February 23rd!!! Hope that you remembered.
Ed and I went to his appt with Dr. Bissell of the UCSF Liver Clinic. We took 2 DVDs of the scans that he had done recently. There was also a very large questionnaire that we completed before getting there.
We were early to our appointment. When we arrived and were parked at the garage I was worried that the long drive had taken a toll on our van and when I tried to restart it the van would not start. Ed said open up the hood and got it to start for me. This is the first time that he works on a car in more than 4 months.
The doctor actually went through the whole questionnaire with us asking questions and making notations. He noticed that Ed was retaining fluid in his abdomen and legs and mentioned that getting that fluid removed the way that we've been doing is not a good idea because of the high risk of infections. He said that he would prescribe medication and adjust the one he is taking now so that the fluid retention can be controlled this way. He also said "you are on a no salt diet, aren't you?" well, no. Our liver doctor in Sacramento doesn't really care and had not mentioned it. Although I admit it seems only logical..duh why didn't I think about that sooner? but I am not a doctor or a nutritionist.
He examined Ed and then said that he and his team would look at the scans and the information that we provided and that he would make recommendations and send that to Ed's primary doctor and to us. He mentioned that treatment may involve the radiologists and he needs their opinion. Ed mentioned that we may be going to the VA for treatment because insurance is running out. The good doctor said that it was a good plan. The VA is doing some good things and we can take his recommendations with us.
We left satisfied that at least this doctor didn't say go home and die. Ed wanted to walk through the Haight-Ashbury District which is right around the corner from UCSF. We did and enjoyed ourselves.
The next morning Ed woke up and made himself 2 pancakes and 2 eggs for breakfast!! good sign of well being!
Thanks for your support and prayers.
Ed and I went to his appt with Dr. Bissell of the UCSF Liver Clinic. We took 2 DVDs of the scans that he had done recently. There was also a very large questionnaire that we completed before getting there.
We were early to our appointment. When we arrived and were parked at the garage I was worried that the long drive had taken a toll on our van and when I tried to restart it the van would not start. Ed said open up the hood and got it to start for me. This is the first time that he works on a car in more than 4 months.
The doctor actually went through the whole questionnaire with us asking questions and making notations. He noticed that Ed was retaining fluid in his abdomen and legs and mentioned that getting that fluid removed the way that we've been doing is not a good idea because of the high risk of infections. He said that he would prescribe medication and adjust the one he is taking now so that the fluid retention can be controlled this way. He also said "you are on a no salt diet, aren't you?" well, no. Our liver doctor in Sacramento doesn't really care and had not mentioned it. Although I admit it seems only logical..duh why didn't I think about that sooner? but I am not a doctor or a nutritionist.
He examined Ed and then said that he and his team would look at the scans and the information that we provided and that he would make recommendations and send that to Ed's primary doctor and to us. He mentioned that treatment may involve the radiologists and he needs their opinion. Ed mentioned that we may be going to the VA for treatment because insurance is running out. The good doctor said that it was a good plan. The VA is doing some good things and we can take his recommendations with us.
We left satisfied that at least this doctor didn't say go home and die. Ed wanted to walk through the Haight-Ashbury District which is right around the corner from UCSF. We did and enjoyed ourselves.
The next morning Ed woke up and made himself 2 pancakes and 2 eggs for breakfast!! good sign of well being!
Thanks for your support and prayers.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Still Strong and Confident....
Went for a blood test today. Ed's arms are all black and blue from all the needle pokes that he's had from his weekly blood draws. Today they drew blood from his hand. The tech was very efficient and got it on the first try.
Afterwards we went to Denny's for a late breakfast. Ed's appetite is back and he enjoyed his large breakfast of eggs, french toast, a strip of bacon. This is the first time he eats meat in a few weeks now. We walked off the calories at Old Town Sacramento. By the time we got home his legs were very swollen. He is resting now.
I went back to work last week and he has been staying home trying to stay busy. He seems more alert and less jaundiced. It may be that his body is getting rid of the affects of the chemo. I will call for lab results next week. The visit to San Francisco is coming up soon and we can't wait to hear what the doctors there have to say. For now Ed continues to battle the disease with absolutely no treatment except trying to eat healthy and lots of prayers. Yesterday we were visited all day by family members and that picked up his spirits quite a bit. Please continue to pray and send your good vibes our way.
Afterwards we went to Denny's for a late breakfast. Ed's appetite is back and he enjoyed his large breakfast of eggs, french toast, a strip of bacon. This is the first time he eats meat in a few weeks now. We walked off the calories at Old Town Sacramento. By the time we got home his legs were very swollen. He is resting now.
I went back to work last week and he has been staying home trying to stay busy. He seems more alert and less jaundiced. It may be that his body is getting rid of the affects of the chemo. I will call for lab results next week. The visit to San Francisco is coming up soon and we can't wait to hear what the doctors there have to say. For now Ed continues to battle the disease with absolutely no treatment except trying to eat healthy and lots of prayers. Yesterday we were visited all day by family members and that picked up his spirits quite a bit. Please continue to pray and send your good vibes our way.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
sick of being sick
Well, it is more than a cold, it turned out to be pneumonia and believe me I've had enough of it. breathing hurts, head hurts, it is just miserable. I'm hoping that the antibiotic does its work and I will be feeling better tomorrow. I've never been so sick!!!
Ed had good news and not so good news. his last labs show that blood counts and all those important things are good, but his liver function is suffering. His bilirubin went up considerably, which is what the onconlogist was worried may happen if he was given Nexavar (chemo). He was told to stop the Nexavar and the doctor will continue looking for treatments for him. So he is now fighting the disease on his own with your prayers. Hopefully UCSF has some other ideas,,,
A note about prayer, last night feeling sick and over whelmed I asked for help and help just showered on me this morning!!!!
Ed had good news and not so good news. his last labs show that blood counts and all those important things are good, but his liver function is suffering. His bilirubin went up considerably, which is what the onconlogist was worried may happen if he was given Nexavar (chemo). He was told to stop the Nexavar and the doctor will continue looking for treatments for him. So he is now fighting the disease on his own with your prayers. Hopefully UCSF has some other ideas,,,
A note about prayer, last night feeling sick and over whelmed I asked for help and help just showered on me this morning!!!!
Friday, January 28, 2011
The Healing Touch
Uggh! Uggh! I'm sick with a chest cold that is kicking my butt and I'm trying to stay away from Ed so he doesn't catch it. It's a double edge sword. On one hand, he is having to do things for himself which is good because I will be going back to work soon. On the other hand, I can't sit next to him, give him a hug, etc. When Ed is feeling bad he lowers his head on to his left hand and stretches out his other hand so that I can hold it. He calls this "the healing touch." no healing touches today.
You may think that my blogs are too optimistic considering the situation. Yes, I know that Ed's disease is serious. but I rather spend my time helping him feel optimistic because I've learned that the emotional state of the person really matters in recovery. Ed is looking a bit more jaundiced, has a lot of belly fluid, his legs are swollen and he started doing the gagging action that he did before. I hope that this gets better when I get better. His anxiety level will improve and his physical systems will improve.
Have you seen the tv show the biggest looser? Every week the participants weigh themselves and who ever stays above the line gets to stay another week. The people above the line are still overweight but they managed to do what it takes to stay for another week. Thanks for checking out my blog ... stay strong and confident and above the line.
You may think that my blogs are too optimistic considering the situation. Yes, I know that Ed's disease is serious. but I rather spend my time helping him feel optimistic because I've learned that the emotional state of the person really matters in recovery. Ed is looking a bit more jaundiced, has a lot of belly fluid, his legs are swollen and he started doing the gagging action that he did before. I hope that this gets better when I get better. His anxiety level will improve and his physical systems will improve.
Have you seen the tv show the biggest looser? Every week the participants weigh themselves and who ever stays above the line gets to stay another week. The people above the line are still overweight but they managed to do what it takes to stay for another week. Thanks for checking out my blog ... stay strong and confident and above the line.
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