To all blog followers,
Apparently steroids (dexamethasone) + lack of sleep + getting my brain zapped equals an unpleasant personality. So I'm going email silent until the dexamethasone is out of my system. I think I've offended too many people in a very short period of time with my thought filter turned off...
-- Shane
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 ]
Link to 34 surgery June 2010 pictures and some post surgery shots.
» 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
Shane - 2011_11_27, Photo Shoot lighting prep
Friday, September 30, 2011
2011-09-30: CyberKnife done. Feeling fine.
Done my CyberKnife treatment. No side effects so far. Or at least nothing that a strong coffee hasn't cured so far.
My mom and dad were there and I had them take photos this time. I'll update the site a bit later to show them once I have a chance.
Regards,
Shane
My mom and dad were there and I had them take photos this time. I'll update the site a bit later to show them once I have a chance.
Regards,
Shane
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
CyberKnife scheduled...
Date for CyberKnife is Friday Sep 30th at 2:30pm. Let's hope it goes well.
-- Shane
-- Shane
Saturday, September 24, 2011
2011-09-24: Doing fine... just waiting...
Doing strong. Rather, being Mr. Mom for a few weeks is building my endurance and strength. I can do more now than at any time since my July 2010 surgery. So that's good news. Still can't feel any of my tumors, so pain and comfort is managed. Only real pain and discomfort comes from my messed up digestive system. It is more messed up lately since my chemo though. So I've been taking Hydromorphone to help with cramps and abdominal pain and its constipating side-effect helps with the runs from eating foods with sugar, or that my chemo intestines don't like.
Mask fitting and CT scan for CyberKnife planning happened two Thursdays ago. MRI of the brain is scheduled for Sept 27th. That's usually the last step in planning confirmation before CyberKnife is scheduled. But they haven't given me a date for that yet. I'll probably find out near or after the 27th when I'll go under the "Knife".
-- Shane
Mask fitting and CT scan for CyberKnife planning happened two Thursdays ago. MRI of the brain is scheduled for Sept 27th. That's usually the last step in planning confirmation before CyberKnife is scheduled. But they haven't given me a date for that yet. I'll probably find out near or after the 27th when I'll go under the "Knife".
-- Shane
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
2011-09-13: 2nd brain tumor decision
Ok, met with my chemo doctor today and weighed the options between her and my brain doctor(s)...
Decision:
Shane
Decision:
- Continued with chemo today. So I'm going to be not at my best for next couple of days.
- Instead of my next chemo (in 2 weeks) I will instead have CyberKnife done to my 2nd brain tumor.
- CyberKnife requires at least 1 week chemo free before treatment, which is satisfied by this arrangement.
- Next CT of my chest/abdomen is scheduled for Oct 4th. Lab work will be the same day.
- Oct 6th I'll meet with my doctor to review the CT scan and decide if the chemo is working on the liver. (CT results depend on 3 treatments; I will have had 3 treatments, missing my 4th treatment; Therefore the CyberKnife interruption will be minimal). If the chemo is working then we will continue with it the same day (Thu Oct 6th). If it isn't working... not sure, we'll weigh my options if that comes to pass, let's hope this doesn't happen.
Shane
Monday, September 12, 2011
2011-09-12: 2nd brain tumor detected
Blog update - 2011-09-12: 2nd brain tumor detected:
First the good news... I have been feeling great lately.
I've also been eating liver and other healthy alternatives (other than McDonalds) in preparation for my lab work tomorrow (Tue).
Thanks dad for the tremendous help with our two toilets! They needed it!
Now for the bad news... The MRI results show a new growth in my brain that is 5mm in size. That is small compared to the other one that was 2 cm (i.e. 20mm or 4x the size of the new one). The options to remove it are:
So... I'll update again tomorrow after my chemo doctor's appointment.
Knowledge 101 note: Keep in mind I have esophageal cancer that has metastasized (transferred) into my liver, lungs and brain. So I don't have "liver cancer", "brain cancer" or "lung cancer" as those all involve cancer tissue that originated in those organs. I have esophageal cancer residing in my liver, brain and lungs. The treatment is completely different than if the cancer started in those other organs, as the tissue that makes up the cancer is completely different tissue cells. So for those looking up alternative solutions for me on the internet, always look for esophageal solutions. A solution specifically for "liver cancer" doesn't apply to me, as that isn't what I have. Thanks.
FYI: Kaye and I knew this was a possibility and we are not affected by the result (emotionally; at least I'm not), other than disappointment. At this stage in the game it is just a "deal with it and move on" approach for us. Another to-do list item to tackle.
Thanks and regards,
Shane K. Boyce
First the good news... I have been feeling great lately.
- I went to African Lion Safari on the weekend (for 9 hours),
- I walked my children too and from school for their first week of school.
- I even played catch with my son after school for a while.
- Today, I managed to load 3 CRT monitors, 2 computer cases and a heavy toilet into my trunk and hoisted them into the garbage dump's large bins. (No, everyone didn't get a computer upgrade, these are clutter from more than a year ago that I'm finally cleaning out of my storage space.)
I've also been eating liver and other healthy alternatives (other than McDonalds) in preparation for my lab work tomorrow (Tue).
Thanks dad for the tremendous help with our two toilets! They needed it!
Now for the bad news... The MRI results show a new growth in my brain that is 5mm in size. That is small compared to the other one that was 2 cm (i.e. 20mm or 4x the size of the new one). The options to remove it are:
- Full brain radiation for a couple of weeks (daily) with more recovery time required and a larger gap with no chemo (4 to 8 weeks)
- CyberKnife (radiation surgery) to kill it. This may only have a 2 to 4 week delay of chemo, and this time they are going to drastically reduce the amount of dexamethasone so that the secondary infections/side-effects will be minimal. The minimal side-effects will allow for continuation of chemo quickly.
So... I'll update again tomorrow after my chemo doctor's appointment.
Knowledge 101 note: Keep in mind I have esophageal cancer that has metastasized (transferred) into my liver, lungs and brain. So I don't have "liver cancer", "brain cancer" or "lung cancer" as those all involve cancer tissue that originated in those organs. I have esophageal cancer residing in my liver, brain and lungs. The treatment is completely different than if the cancer started in those other organs, as the tissue that makes up the cancer is completely different tissue cells. So for those looking up alternative solutions for me on the internet, always look for esophageal solutions. A solution specifically for "liver cancer" doesn't apply to me, as that isn't what I have. Thanks.
FYI: Kaye and I knew this was a possibility and we are not affected by the result (emotionally; at least I'm not), other than disappointment. At this stage in the game it is just a "deal with it and move on" approach for us. Another to-do list item to tackle.
Thanks and regards,
Shane K. Boyce
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Fri Sep 2: MRI
MRI scan was uneventful on Friday, should find out the results Sep 12th when I see my "head doctor" next. Chemo bottle disconnected just prior to the MRI on the same day.
Saturday, hydration was a no show, so it was a "break" day to just recover. Used the time to set up a BD gathering for Kaye.
Laser Tag didn't happen, but we'll go another time. After the last kids party there, we have 12x 2-for-1 coupons, so we'll be back. :-)
Kids all start school on Tue Sep 6 and Kaye's starting college Wed Sep 7. This will be fun. I'll be Mr. Mom for a while.
Note: I just wanted take the opportunity to publicly wish that a cancer patient friend of mine, David, and his daughter who is in hospital care right now, both get well very soon.
My next JCC cancer visit will be 9am labwork / doctor / chemo on Tue Sep 13th, the day after my 10:40am Sep 12th MRI review appointment.
-- Shane
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