Since I have been home for Christmas Jon has not seemed to have changed at all!
Good Sign??
We will see...
Saturday, December 30, 2006
Friday, December 29, 2006
Staying Strong
Dr. Chu telephoned today to tell me he spoke to the UW and they ruled out testicular cancer. We are proceeding with treatment for pancreatic cancer on Wednesday at the Seattle Cancer and Wellness Center. Check out their website: Seattlecancerwellness.com and the story of Aaron Barrett, pancreatic cancer survivor. Jon and I are looking forward to meeting him soon. Jon's next chemo will consist of Gemzar and Taxil. He has already been using the Gemzar which has been somewhat effective, but Dr. Chu is adding the Taxil for optimum results.
With the lower dose, more frequently they expect little or no side effects from the chemo.
We also received the results of Jon's recent liver function tests (alkaline phosphotase) which has been reduced by 22 points since he started chemo. He has 60 points to go until he is in the normal range, but it is a sign that what we are doing is working to some extent.
He is home working out right now as I finish up a day at the office. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers-he is staying strong!
With the lower dose, more frequently they expect little or no side effects from the chemo.
We also received the results of Jon's recent liver function tests (alkaline phosphotase) which has been reduced by 22 points since he started chemo. He has 60 points to go until he is in the normal range, but it is a sign that what we are doing is working to some extent.
He is home working out right now as I finish up a day at the office. Keep him in your thoughts and prayers-he is staying strong!
Thursday, December 28, 2006
A Better Plan
Today we saw Dr. Chu at Seattle Cancer and Wellness Center. Our visit lasted 3 hours, most of which was spent with Dr. Chu diagramming cancer and chemotherapy to the extent you would expect in medical school. He is a remarkable man who is passionate about his medicine. His first objective is to obtain the results of the second opinion biopsy for the University of Washington. He felt that there was a small possibility that the primary cancer could be testicular rather than pancreatic which would be great since testicular's cure rate is 98% and pancreatic's is not. Secondly, he is one of the few oncologists that has actually cured pancreatic cancer. The chemotherapy he uses is all the standard drugs but combined for effectiveness in not only shrinking the cancer but eliminating the blood supply to the cancer cells. His protocols utilize lower doses, more frequently which also minimizes the side effects from chemo. We were impressed with his knowledge, passion, and dedication. He also reiterated that if chemo could shrink the cancer to a manageable number and size Jon could have surgery to remove it completely. He is to call us with all the results and details tomorrow.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
So They Say He's Stable????
Today we saw Dr. Liao (original oncologist). Although the CT scan showed no change since the original one in November he remains optimistic about Jon's current course of treatment. He pointed out that it was nearly one month from the original CT to the first chemo and it is very possible that the tumors had grown in size in that time period. He felt the fact that the cancer had not spread or become larger was positive and in his mind believed that they really had indeed shrunk relative to their original size. We were a bit surprised at his logic but figured we would take any encouragement he wants to offer. Jon's blood work was again excellent. He looks great, has gained 5 pounds since recovering from his last chemo (that still leaves him at a net loss of 10 pounds), and is back to working out every day. He is scheduled for two more chemos in January and another CT at the end of the month. In the meantime, we have a second opinion in Seattle on Thursday and still await the second opinion biopsy from the University of Washington which we expect shortly after New Years. All in all, Dr. Liao proclaimed Jon's condition "stable" at this time. Probably the best prognosis we can currently expect.
Interestingly, Dr. Liao told us today that he had been an Oncologist and Professor at the teaching hospital in Texas where Lance Armstrong had treated for testicular cancer. For some reason we take that as a positive sign!
Tomorrow is Kelsey's birthday. Elizabeth is taking him to spend the day in Seattle (Kelsey's favorite thing to do) as I have to go back to work. We will all celebrate his 15th birthday at Indochine in Tacoma tomorrow night. Jon and I have been shopping for an old Monte Carlo to teach him to drive. It was Staci and Levi's first car and we thought it would be fun to keep it in the family! We found one for $400 at a house in Sumner...just waiting to see if it actually runs :)
Interestingly, Dr. Liao told us today that he had been an Oncologist and Professor at the teaching hospital in Texas where Lance Armstrong had treated for testicular cancer. For some reason we take that as a positive sign!
Tomorrow is Kelsey's birthday. Elizabeth is taking him to spend the day in Seattle (Kelsey's favorite thing to do) as I have to go back to work. We will all celebrate his 15th birthday at Indochine in Tacoma tomorrow night. Jon and I have been shopping for an old Monte Carlo to teach him to drive. It was Staci and Levi's first car and we thought it would be fun to keep it in the family! We found one for $400 at a house in Sumner...just waiting to see if it actually runs :)
Sunday, December 24, 2006
A Merry Christmas Eve
It is Christmas Eve afternoon. Elizabeth and I are wrapping the last of the stocking stuffers while Jon, Levi, and Kelsey are at the Black Diamond Range trying out Jon's new shotgun. We are planning on church at St. James Cathedral and dinner at Toulios in Seattle tonight. A little different than our usual Christmas Eve but we are open to trying all kinds of new things this year. Staci is back in California...we already miss her and are planning her next trip to Washington in January.
Jon looks and feels the best he has in months. He hiked Mt. Peak yesterday and had his first work-out with weights today. Although he is not up to his standard performance I am pleased to see him back in the gym and building his strength. We discovered this past week that he is severely deficient in Vitamin D and just added a liquid supplement to his regime. He has very little nausea, his energy is increasing, and the swelling and pain around his liver has diminished.
We want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas surrounded by the friends and family that you love. Be sure to take the time to appreciate every moment with them!
Jon looks and feels the best he has in months. He hiked Mt. Peak yesterday and had his first work-out with weights today. Although he is not up to his standard performance I am pleased to see him back in the gym and building his strength. We discovered this past week that he is severely deficient in Vitamin D and just added a liquid supplement to his regime. He has very little nausea, his energy is increasing, and the swelling and pain around his liver has diminished.
We want to wish all of you a Merry Christmas surrounded by the friends and family that you love. Be sure to take the time to appreciate every moment with them!
Friday, December 22, 2006
Laughing, Loving, & Living
This is Staci (signing off...I fly home in a few hours). I've had a great visit & am really sad to go. Here are some highlights.
1. I have a pretty bad cold. Kelsey had it but seems to be better now. Lorri is starting to get it. But whose immune system is so stellar that he doesn't even have a sniffle? You guessed it - Big Jon.
2. We have started calling Dad's foods that contain anticarcinogenic gravel, twigs, & moss "cancer" foods. Such as, yesterday Lorri made Dad "cancer cookies" (they had kamut flour & applesauce - they looked the same when they came out of the oven as when they went in.) We've also had "cancer pancakes" several times.
3. Kelsey & I went to downtown Seattle the other day & spotted a t-shirt at Pike Place Market that said, "THE LIVER IS EVIL. IT MUST BE DESTROYED." Of course, we had to buy it...if only for the sheer random-ness of it. We're not sure what it means, but as I told Dad, "The shirt came in your size - Cancer Small."
4. Speaking of that, Dad has lost 15 pounds so far :-( but today was the first day he has put a pound back on! YEA!
So to all of you who can't be here with my Dad while he weathers this storm (like myself), who rely on the blog and phone calls to stay informed - I want to tell you they are doing OK here. They are talking about EVERYTHING (from remarrying to funeral preparation to poop that looks like peanut butter). They are laughing, loving, & living.
1. I have a pretty bad cold. Kelsey had it but seems to be better now. Lorri is starting to get it. But whose immune system is so stellar that he doesn't even have a sniffle? You guessed it - Big Jon.
2. We have started calling Dad's foods that contain anticarcinogenic gravel, twigs, & moss "cancer" foods. Such as, yesterday Lorri made Dad "cancer cookies" (they had kamut flour & applesauce - they looked the same when they came out of the oven as when they went in.) We've also had "cancer pancakes" several times.
3. Kelsey & I went to downtown Seattle the other day & spotted a t-shirt at Pike Place Market that said, "THE LIVER IS EVIL. IT MUST BE DESTROYED." Of course, we had to buy it...if only for the sheer random-ness of it. We're not sure what it means, but as I told Dad, "The shirt came in your size - Cancer Small."
4. Speaking of that, Dad has lost 15 pounds so far :-( but today was the first day he has put a pound back on! YEA!
So to all of you who can't be here with my Dad while he weathers this storm (like myself), who rely on the blog and phone calls to stay informed - I want to tell you they are doing OK here. They are talking about EVERYTHING (from remarrying to funeral preparation to poop that looks like peanut butter). They are laughing, loving, & living.
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