Sunday, October 28, 2007
End of October Cancer Treatment Update
Health Update. On October 3, we met with my oncologist at Grand River Regional Cancer Centre (GRRCC) in Kitchener to finalize the plan for chemo-therapy. On the 11th, a “porta-cath” was inserted in my chest as an outpatient procedure – it has healed well and is ready to go. Treatment was to commence on Monday October 22. The weekend of October 12 to 14, I felt great. However, the next day, I began to run a fever. Tests ruled out a surgical infection or a respiratory illness. It took five days of antibiotics and lots of bed rest to finally turn the corner. As a result, the start of treatment was delayed one week.
Treatment Plan. In a nut shell, here is what the treatment plan looks like:
The regime is “FOLFIRI” – a standard first line of treatment for colon cancer with the addition of “avastin”, a drug which reduces new blood vessel development to keep cancer cells from growing,
The cycle is a 14 day period of therapy and recovery – one half day visit to GRRCC before heading home with a portable pump to finish the drug treatment over the next two days; then 12 days of recovery at home,
The schedule, at present, has treatment visits to GRRCC on Monday October 29, Tuesday November 12, Monday November 26, and Monday December 10 – the total length of treatment is yet to be determined.
How Are We Doing? Thursday October 18 was a low point for us both. Not only was it a day of rain and pain for me, but also was my 55th birthday (now I can get the senior’s discount!). What a blessing, though, to have dinner that evening with our son and his wife and then to web-cam with our daughter and her husband. My family gave me a digital picture frame which brings their (and your) faces before me regularly.
Keep In Touch! We’re happy to hear from you anytime by calling at 519-576-4463 (home) or dropping us an e-mail at ggibson@outreach.ca or diannergibson@msn.com. Or you could leave a comment on his blog entry! GG
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Thinking of you both this week. I hope that today finds you peaceful and able to enjoy the sun pouring in your window.
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