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Sunday, August 22, 2010
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
CA19-9 Drops Again
Ed met with his Radiation-Oncologist today, 8/18/10(usually every Wed.), and was informed that his CA19-9 tumor marker number has again gone down.... Yeah! It is currently at 4,148 - down from the original number of aprox. 25,300. This is pretty good news seeing that he had 2 weeks off of all treatment since the last blood test. Radiation is continuing every morning. Ed had a horrific week last week, but is feeling back to his old-cherry self this week. I'm only sad that I cannot see his happy face until Sat. night when he will, no doubt, play his little heart out at the Winchester.
Remember - the Winchester in Lakewood this Sat. night - Family Friendly!!!! No Age Limit as long as minors are with a parent/adult!!! Newport will play from 9-10:15 p.m., but Ed would love to see everyone at least an hour before the show to chit-chat!!!! Darlene - Paige has changed her mind again and will be joining us, so don't tell Nat... Ugh, who knows with that one, she may change it again before Sat., one can never tell.... Teenager girls are almost as much of a pain-in-the-a$$ as men (ha) :)
Take Care Everyone and hoping to see some of you on Sat. evening!!!
Love to all - MK & Ed
Remember - the Winchester in Lakewood this Sat. night - Family Friendly!!!! No Age Limit as long as minors are with a parent/adult!!! Newport will play from 9-10:15 p.m., but Ed would love to see everyone at least an hour before the show to chit-chat!!!! Darlene - Paige has changed her mind again and will be joining us, so don't tell Nat... Ugh, who knows with that one, she may change it again before Sat., one can never tell.... Teenager girls are almost as much of a pain-in-the-a$$ as men (ha) :)
Take Care Everyone and hoping to see some of you on Sat. evening!!!
Love to all - MK & Ed
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
8/9/10 - And so, Radiation Begins
Monday 8-9-10; Ed had his first round of radiation along with chemo on Monday... I can already tell that this is going to take a toll.
Tuesday 8-10-10; Not a very good evening after chemo; Poor Ed didn't sleep well at all. His stomach is upset and he is very tired today. I'm sad. He will be receiving chemo on Monday's for the next 5 weeks along with daily radiation. We have been told that in about the 3rd week of radiation he should start feeling the effects pretty harshly.
He has put on some much needed weight and has his buda belly back; unfortunately, this will be needed weight if he cannot eat in the coming weeks. My prayer is that his appetite will hang in there so we can keep that much needed weight on him.
His mother is currently in hospice with terminal cancer; one visit was more than I could handle, to say the least. I feel horrible that I am unable to visit her again, unfortunately, I am not strong enough to walk away and stay positive. This, too, breaks my heart. Please people, if you have any, and I mean any, strange lumps or pain - do not ignore it. Push your physician to investigate if you must... If you do not take matters into your own hands, no one will.
Please continue with your prayers, I believe they help and we appreciate it dearly.
Love to all - MK & Ed
Tuesday 8-10-10; Not a very good evening after chemo; Poor Ed didn't sleep well at all. His stomach is upset and he is very tired today. I'm sad. He will be receiving chemo on Monday's for the next 5 weeks along with daily radiation. We have been told that in about the 3rd week of radiation he should start feeling the effects pretty harshly.
He has put on some much needed weight and has his buda belly back; unfortunately, this will be needed weight if he cannot eat in the coming weeks. My prayer is that his appetite will hang in there so we can keep that much needed weight on him.
His mother is currently in hospice with terminal cancer; one visit was more than I could handle, to say the least. I feel horrible that I am unable to visit her again, unfortunately, I am not strong enough to walk away and stay positive. This, too, breaks my heart. Please people, if you have any, and I mean any, strange lumps or pain - do not ignore it. Push your physician to investigate if you must... If you do not take matters into your own hands, no one will.
Please continue with your prayers, I believe they help and we appreciate it dearly.
Love to all - MK & Ed
Tuesday, August 3, 2010
Radiation to begin...
Well, Ed went and got his first markings on his stomach today to get ready for External Beam Radiation Therapy (EBRT)... Here is the definition of that:
External beam radiation therapy focuses a beam of radiation from outside the body onto the cancerous internal organ and/or tissue within the body. When treating pancreatic cancer, EBRT uses a high-energy X-ray machine called a linear accelerator to direct the radiation beams at the cancerous pancreatic tumor. These radiotherapy treatments generally last a few minutes at a time and are usually administered five days a week, over the course of six to eight weeks.
Specific advantages of external beam radiation therapy include the following:
EBRT is an outpatient procedure. This technique does not carry the standard risks or complications associated with major surgery for pancreatic cancer, which can include surgical bleeding, post-operative pain, or the risk of stroke, heart attack or blood clot.
The procedure itself is painless.
EBRT poses no risk of radioactivity to you or others with whom you have contact. Thus, as you undergo EBRT, you may continue normal activities with family and friends.
He didn't get his permanent circle-tatoo on his stomach yet, that will probably happen Mon. or Tues. of next week. The Radiation Oncologist noted that he will have 28 treatments (Mon-Frid) so about 6 weeks just like in the explanation above. He will have increased nausea, be very tired, change in appetite, will have to start taking digestive enzymes and possibly hormones of some-sort... Basically, same side effects of chemo, which he will also start again on a weekly basis either this week or next. I could not be there with him this morning and I was sad that I couldn't ask my bagillion questions. I have a feeling this will be a tough six weeks to get through... That is why we had the big celebration at the Lagoon this past weekend... We set a record at the bar (9 adults/8 kids on one tab)... It was a GREAT weekend! Be patient with us during this time if we seem to blow you off or not meet expected obligations, it will literally be one-day-at-a-time.
Love to you all...... MK & Ed
External beam radiation therapy focuses a beam of radiation from outside the body onto the cancerous internal organ and/or tissue within the body. When treating pancreatic cancer, EBRT uses a high-energy X-ray machine called a linear accelerator to direct the radiation beams at the cancerous pancreatic tumor. These radiotherapy treatments generally last a few minutes at a time and are usually administered five days a week, over the course of six to eight weeks.
Specific advantages of external beam radiation therapy include the following:
EBRT is an outpatient procedure. This technique does not carry the standard risks or complications associated with major surgery for pancreatic cancer, which can include surgical bleeding, post-operative pain, or the risk of stroke, heart attack or blood clot.
The procedure itself is painless.
EBRT poses no risk of radioactivity to you or others with whom you have contact. Thus, as you undergo EBRT, you may continue normal activities with family and friends.
He didn't get his permanent circle-tatoo on his stomach yet, that will probably happen Mon. or Tues. of next week. The Radiation Oncologist noted that he will have 28 treatments (Mon-Frid) so about 6 weeks just like in the explanation above. He will have increased nausea, be very tired, change in appetite, will have to start taking digestive enzymes and possibly hormones of some-sort... Basically, same side effects of chemo, which he will also start again on a weekly basis either this week or next. I could not be there with him this morning and I was sad that I couldn't ask my bagillion questions. I have a feeling this will be a tough six weeks to get through... That is why we had the big celebration at the Lagoon this past weekend... We set a record at the bar (9 adults/8 kids on one tab)... It was a GREAT weekend! Be patient with us during this time if we seem to blow you off or not meet expected obligations, it will literally be one-day-at-a-time.
Love to you all...... MK & Ed
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