Short Executive Status (Summary) -- Blog is below

Active Tumors:
»
5+ liver tumors -- largest is 7 cm by 5.2 cm (70 x 52 mm), Gold tracers inserted Nov 21 for CyberKnife x-ray 3D movement tracking. Thu Dec 1st,2011, CyberKnife planning. Dec 16th, treatment 1/3 done to whole liver. Dec 19th, treatment 2/3 done to whole liver. Dec 21st, treatment 3 failed, couldn't get tracer alignment. Dec 22nd, treatment 2.5/3 done using 2 of 4 tracers. Final 0.5 treatment was to be done Tue Dec 27th. Cancelled due to complications and hospitalization.

»
12 lung tumors -- largest is 8 mm in size (0.8 cm)

»
1 lymph node tumor -- near left renal vein & artery of left kidney (1.4 cm). Nov 14th: Ultrasound done of both kidneys and bladder area, all 3 areas are cancer free.

» 3rd-8th brain tumors -- 6 new brain tumors. Sizes all less than 5mm(0.5cm). Some as small as 2mm(0.2cm). Full brain radiation or CyberKnife TBD in Jan after 2nd MRI to see speed of growth.

Inactive Tumors:
» 2nd brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife Sep 29/2011, 5 mm in size (0.5 cm).
» 1st brain tumor -- Killed via CyberKnife May/2011, was 20 mm in size (2 cm). Nov 21st, still showing brain tissue swelling, but not active.
» Original Esophogeal Cancer tumor (source of everything) -- Surgically removed June/2010 by 3-field Esophogectomy. Was roughly large egg sized.

[ Note: 2.54 cm = 25.4mm = 1 inch ]

5 pictures included in album


2011_11_16, Shane in BIG CHAIR



Link to 34 surgery June 2010 pictures and some post surgery shots.

Latest Picture

Latest Picture
Shane - 2011_11_27, Photo Shoot lighting prep

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

2nd Chemo treatment - status

Well, yesterday I had my 2nd injection of the chemo drug "PACLITAXEL" aka (brand name=Taxol).

So far, no nausea from either injection. Yay! Symptoms only include (so far) an increase in migraines and possibly some side pain. But the migraines are likely due to overeating or "rough" food eating that both irritate my surgical region between my stomach to esophagus. When this area is irritated, I get radiating pain that overloads my head. Relief of the local throat pain also removes the migraine symptoms, so I know the two are related.

To try to solve the irritation of the throat region by "rough" foods and food getting stuck. I have scheduled a throat stretch for this Friday, March 26th. It is for 7:15 am in the morning, so I'm looking for someone who can get my kids off to school in the morning since we'll have to leave at 6:15am to make the appointment. I'll phone mom and dad to see if they can do it.

The more common symptoms of paclitaxel include:
  • signs of infection / fever, chills, cough --> no symptoms yet
  • Low white blood cell count --> Yes. My blood work yesterday suggested my white blood cell count is low. But was high enough to proceed with a 2nd dose of the drug. So the drug is working in my system, just luckily without the nasty side effects of my last 3 rounds of chemo drugs.
  • Numbness and tingling in hands and feet --> Yes. I have this in my feet, but I've had this since the first round of chemo in the spring of 2010. It has never gone away (permanent nerve damage).
  • Muscle or joint pain --> No. I'm not sure if I have this. If I do, it is in the same area as my rib displacement from July 2010's surgery. As such, it is hard to tell if it is new pain, or old tissue damage complaining.
  • Nausea and vomiting --> not yet.
  • Shortness of breath, flushing of face --> No. I did get short of breath from the excertion of putting out the garbage and recycling last night. But some of those containers weighted > 40 lbs so I think it is to be expected.
  • Hair thinning or hair loss --> not yet.
Hopefully this answers some of the more common questions I've been asked lately.

-- Shane

1 comment:

  1. Dad says he and Mom have Friday morning covered. Thanks. -- Shane

    ReplyDelete