My apologies for not posting sooner. The past week, or so, we have been focused on watching Georges temp, and recuperating from the first round of the new drugs. The main symptom George experienced from the new drugs was overwhelming fatigue. The first few days it was hard for him to even get out of bed. Mid week he spiked a fever, and it was decided he would start another round of Cipro. He really dislikes the way the Cipro makes him feel, but it has kept him home and out of the hospital so that is good.
We also found out that next Monday, August 1st, the Stent will be replaced. The procedue will be at UCLA done by endoscopy. It's out-patient and he will be the first case that morning.
As I'm typing this, Dr. Wainberg came to say that Georges WBC is too low for him to get both Chemo's today. He is concerned that his counts will go even lower so he will get one Chemo today, and a daily Neupogen injection at home for the next six days.
By the way, next week will be an off week for Chemo due to the Stent replacement on August 1.
~ Donna
Monday, July 25, 2011
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Staying Home
George has been doing better, and his temperature has stayed in a range that the Doctor is comfortable with, so he's letting him continue treatment at home. He will continue taking his antibiotics for the next 10 days, and if all is well he will get Chemo next Monday.
The Stent still needs to be changed, and Dr. Wainberg is working on the details for that endoscopic procedure.
We will keep you posted.
~Donna
The Stent still needs to be changed, and Dr. Wainberg is working on the details for that endoscopic procedure.
We will keep you posted.
~Donna
Monday's Chemo Postponed
Yesterday didn't turn out as planned. We had a busy weekend, and George was tired upon starting the day. At 7:00 am, while getting ready to head out the door, George said he was cold, and started shaking. Not a good sign, so we checked his temp right away and it was 101.8. We decided to go ahead and head down to UCLA as we knew they could access the Port, draw labs and call the Dr for us. The fever continued low grade even after Tylenol, so when the Labs came back with elevated an White Blood Count George's oncologist suspected infection. The most likely cause is the Stent, as George's Liver enzymes were slightly elevated compared to two weeks ago. The goal is to avoid Hospitalization so we spent the rest of the day in the infusion center getting some extra hydration with fluids through the Port. The Dr. also started an oral antibiotic to start working on the infection. Dr. Wainberg decided that if the fevers stopped within the first 24 hours of starting the antibiotics we could continue treatment at home. The plan today is to keep checking his temp, if it goes back over 101 George will be admitted to UCLA for several days for IV antibiotics. At Noon today it went to the lowest point of 98.5 so we shall see.
We will still need to deal with the Stent issue. When the Stent was placed we were told it was temporary with an average length of time to be 3-4 months. It was placed in February so we have gotten 4 months out of it so no surprise it needs to be replaced. After the infection is treated we will get it swapped out as an outpatient procedure. If George does end up inpatient for antibiotics we will do it prior to being discharged.
For all of you here in LA you know that this weekend the 405 is being closed down from Friday night till Monday morning. UCLA sits right in that part of the closure and getting in and out will be a challenge. Our Dr's goal is to get us in and out by Friday afternoon so this will not be a problem. This weekend is also a very busy one for Donna at work, as CHLA is moving into a brand new Hospital Building. All the patients will be moved Sunday to the new units; months have been spent planning out this process. Our prayer is that George will respond to the Oral antibiotics and be able to recover at home. We will be taking it very easy the next few days and through the weekend so George's body has a chance to heal. Dr. Wainberg is still hopeful that George can receive the new Chemo next week if all goes well.
I'll post again later today as to the status of the fevers.
~Donna
We will still need to deal with the Stent issue. When the Stent was placed we were told it was temporary with an average length of time to be 3-4 months. It was placed in February so we have gotten 4 months out of it so no surprise it needs to be replaced. After the infection is treated we will get it swapped out as an outpatient procedure. If George does end up inpatient for antibiotics we will do it prior to being discharged.
For all of you here in LA you know that this weekend the 405 is being closed down from Friday night till Monday morning. UCLA sits right in that part of the closure and getting in and out will be a challenge. Our Dr's goal is to get us in and out by Friday afternoon so this will not be a problem. This weekend is also a very busy one for Donna at work, as CHLA is moving into a brand new Hospital Building. All the patients will be moved Sunday to the new units; months have been spent planning out this process. Our prayer is that George will respond to the Oral antibiotics and be able to recover at home. We will be taking it very easy the next few days and through the weekend so George's body has a chance to heal. Dr. Wainberg is still hopeful that George can receive the new Chemo next week if all goes well.
I'll post again later today as to the status of the fevers.
~Donna
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
More Details
The CT scan results were hard to hear. The primary tumor in the Pancreas has only decreased slightly in size, and as Dr. Wainberg put it, "The chemo regiment didn't do the job needed to make surgery an option". The CT scan also showed two new sites in the liver that look concerning. They are too small to confirm as cancer, however, it looks like they are. These areas are not causing any liver issues at this point, but they completely change the goal of our treatment.
The plan now is to start a different Chemo of two new drug's and do another CT scan after a few cycles. Dr. Wainberg was very honest in saying that the very aggressive chemo that George has been taking is not beneficial to continue, and we need to see if the tumor will respond to a different regiment. It will start on July 11 and be each week for two weeks and then one week off.
Dr. Wainberg is also going to look into the option of a Clinical Trial. The goal is to decrease the size of the primary tumor, as well as, slow down or prevent, any further spreading.
Please pray that the new chemo drug will be effective and that we are on the right track. Also, that we will be able to be a part of any Clinical Trial's that would be of benefit. Thank you.
~Donna
The plan now is to start a different Chemo of two new drug's and do another CT scan after a few cycles. Dr. Wainberg was very honest in saying that the very aggressive chemo that George has been taking is not beneficial to continue, and we need to see if the tumor will respond to a different regiment. It will start on July 11 and be each week for two weeks and then one week off.
Dr. Wainberg is also going to look into the option of a Clinical Trial. The goal is to decrease the size of the primary tumor, as well as, slow down or prevent, any further spreading.
Please pray that the new chemo drug will be effective and that we are on the right track. Also, that we will be able to be a part of any Clinical Trial's that would be of benefit. Thank you.
~Donna
Monday, June 27, 2011
Waiting for Results
Just wanted to give a quick update on today's plans. We meet with Dr. Wainberg in the early afternoon down at UCLA to get the CT scan results. My goal is to send out a Tweet when we're done, and have any news to share. So if you're following me on Twitter you will hear then or check the blog later today for a more complete update.
We appreciate all the Prayer's and support during this last week, as the wait has not been easy.
~Donna
We appreciate all the Prayer's and support during this last week, as the wait has not been easy.
~Donna
Monday, June 20, 2011
Good Counts!
Today we had our Chemo appointment a bit later then usual, I guess we're on summer mode. I brought the Laptop with us, so I'm posting now as George is receiving his first of three chemo meds.
The good news to report is that the Neulasta injection really helped after the last cycle. George's Labs came back looking very good! His ANC was 4.1, this means that the Neulasta helped his bone marrow produce healthy white blood cells that fight infection. We also closely watch his Liver Enzymes which help us know if the Stent is still functioning. All his Enzyme levels, including Bilirubin, are well within the normal range and looking good. The news of the good Lab results is very encouraging to us today; now we just need to wait for the CT results.
The good news to report is that the Neulasta injection really helped after the last cycle. George's Labs came back looking very good! His ANC was 4.1, this means that the Neulasta helped his bone marrow produce healthy white blood cells that fight infection. We also closely watch his Liver Enzymes which help us know if the Stent is still functioning. All his Enzyme levels, including Bilirubin, are well within the normal range and looking good. The news of the good Lab results is very encouraging to us today; now we just need to wait for the CT results.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
CT Scan Friday
I know the delay for a CT seems like a long time to wait, but we have been making good use of this time. The goal this past week was "Family Time" and "Eating Well", although the weight is just not coming back.
The CT scan is scheduled for Friday, late afternoon, around 4:15. Due to it being late in the day, we are still scheduled to have cycle # 5 of Chemo this Monday. We already know that Dr. Wainberg is not available on Monday to review the CT result with us, however we're hopeful that we will not have to wait until June 27th (our next appt with Dr. Wainberg), to get the results.
Please keep George in your prayers during this test. It's our prayer that the results will show the tumor is responding to the chemo and decreasing in size and position.
~Donna
The CT scan is scheduled for Friday, late afternoon, around 4:15. Due to it being late in the day, we are still scheduled to have cycle # 5 of Chemo this Monday. We already know that Dr. Wainberg is not available on Monday to review the CT result with us, however we're hopeful that we will not have to wait until June 27th (our next appt with Dr. Wainberg), to get the results.
Please keep George in your prayers during this test. It's our prayer that the results will show the tumor is responding to the chemo and decreasing in size and position.
~Donna
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