Hi everyone!
Just wanted to send a quick note & let you know that Blake got some good news on Monday! His scan showed “no change” in the lungs or liver. Great, huh?? Other then monthly port flushes (they don’t want to remove it just yet) they’ll check his CEA again the 1st week on January – but otherwise, he gets to enjoy the holidays without a worry! YIPPEE!!! The next scan will be the 1st week of March.
Thanks for your love, concern, support, prayers, etc. They have been and are always appreciated.
Thursday, August 7, 2008
Dear Friends & Family,
As many of you know, Blake had a CT scan last week & we received the results this week. There is NO CHANGE to his scan! This means that the lesions (which the Oncologist thinks is just the scaring from the previous surgery on the liver) they have been looking at have not changed at all! In addition, there is nothing new! YEA!!! Blake is starting to get his strength back & we’re very grateful for the good news.
What does this all mean for now? Well, it looks like Blake will be having CT scans every 3 months for the next while. If several scans show up clean – then the Oncologist will begin stretching out the time between scans. Once we’re out 4-5 years…. HE’S CURED!!!
Thanks for your continued prayers & support!!!!
As many of you know, Blake had a CT scan last week & we received the results this week. There is NO CHANGE to his scan! This means that the lesions (which the Oncologist thinks is just the scaring from the previous surgery on the liver) they have been looking at have not changed at all! In addition, there is nothing new! YEA!!! Blake is starting to get his strength back & we’re very grateful for the good news.
What does this all mean for now? Well, it looks like Blake will be having CT scans every 3 months for the next while. If several scans show up clean – then the Oncologist will begin stretching out the time between scans. Once we’re out 4-5 years…. HE’S CURED!!!
Thanks for your continued prayers & support!!!!
Tuesday, May 27, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
Dear Friends & Family,
ONLY 1 MORE CHEMO TO GO!!! YIPPEE!
Blake had the 2nd to last chemo treatment last week. We also received the results from his most recent CT scan. The “lesion” on the left lobe of the liver was again noted but it has decreased in size – it now measures in millimeters rather than centimeters. You’ll remember that this same lesion gave everyone concern last time but the PET scan showed it was “metabolically silent” to cancer. So, what is this? We don’t know. (I think it’s an alien.) What we are concentrating on is that it has DECREASED in size. Wahoo!!!
What happens now? Blake has his LAST chemo the day after Memorial Day, removed 2 days later & then he’s done! He’ll see the Oncologist 4 weeks after the last chemo & have blood work done to make sure all his #’s are in order. Then, he’ll have a repeat CT scan in 8 weeks & we’ll see what the alien looks like. The Onc says that it will be around fall before Blake will regain his strength to pre-chemo days……. But you all know he’s a fighter (and pretty stubborn!) Otherwise, we are going to patiently wait for our new Granddaughter to come in early June (Aspen is going to be a big sister!) and ENJOY SUMMER! WAHOO! YIPPEE!! KIYEA!
ONLY 1 MORE CHEMO TO GO!!! YIPPEE!
Blake had the 2nd to last chemo treatment last week. We also received the results from his most recent CT scan. The “lesion” on the left lobe of the liver was again noted but it has decreased in size – it now measures in millimeters rather than centimeters. You’ll remember that this same lesion gave everyone concern last time but the PET scan showed it was “metabolically silent” to cancer. So, what is this? We don’t know. (I think it’s an alien.) What we are concentrating on is that it has DECREASED in size. Wahoo!!!
What happens now? Blake has his LAST chemo the day after Memorial Day, removed 2 days later & then he’s done! He’ll see the Oncologist 4 weeks after the last chemo & have blood work done to make sure all his #’s are in order. Then, he’ll have a repeat CT scan in 8 weeks & we’ll see what the alien looks like. The Onc says that it will be around fall before Blake will regain his strength to pre-chemo days……. But you all know he’s a fighter (and pretty stubborn!) Otherwise, we are going to patiently wait for our new Granddaughter to come in early June (Aspen is going to be a big sister!) and ENJOY SUMMER! WAHOO! YIPPEE!! KIYEA!
Thursday, April 3, 2008
Silent PET
Dear Friends & Family,
After being told the lesion on the left lobe of the liver was new, and in a totally different spot than the original one (down stream…) our Oncologist wanted Blake to have a PET scan. He wanted to find out how much cancer we were actually looking at. Has it spread? How much? How far? We thought it was probably wasteful because the surgeon wanted another CT in 4 weeks…. The chemo doc said we really needed to do a PET scan because it would enlighten us to whether or not the chemo was working. Well, Blake had a PET scan last Thursday and we got the results on Tuesday – chemo #8 day.
After being told the lesion on the left lobe of the liver was new, and in a totally different spot than the original one (down stream…) our Oncologist wanted Blake to have a PET scan. He wanted to find out how much cancer we were actually looking at. Has it spread? How much? How far? We thought it was probably wasteful because the surgeon wanted another CT in 4 weeks…. The chemo doc said we really needed to do a PET scan because it would enlighten us to whether or not the chemo was working. Well, Blake had a PET scan last Thursday and we got the results on Tuesday – chemo #8 day.
WE GOT SOME TERRIFIC NEWS! The PET scan showed that the spot is dead! Nothing lit up! Nothing – nada – zilch. (I guess you guys can imagine how I screamed out loud!!) HIGH FIVES WERE FLYING EVERYWHERE!!! YIPPEE! I remember the liver doc telling me after the surgery that because of the technology at the new IMC hospital, he had “zapped some stuff that neither of the scans originally showed!” So, apparently, the spot is an old dead area that nobody knew (or remembered) about or, cancer that had been killed off by the chemo. Whatever it is – the Oncologist says it’s not alive! So for now, we get to jump off the roller coaster & just move on with LIFE!!! well, and chemo….. (Avastin & 5FU – no Oxy because of allergy).
4 out of 12 treatments left!! Is that a light at the end of the tunnel??? You bet!!!
Next CT in May.
Thanks for the well-wishes and prayers!! They worked!!! Keep them coming!!!
All our love to everyone!! Kathy
P.S. Best wishes to our friend Noel …. You know, it’s nice to have that Jeff friend, isn’t it??? (Noel was severely injured last weekend & Jeff truly saved his life!!)
4 out of 12 treatments left!! Is that a light at the end of the tunnel??? You bet!!!
Next CT in May.
Thanks for the well-wishes and prayers!! They worked!!! Keep them coming!!!
All our love to everyone!! Kathy
P.S. Best wishes to our friend Noel …. You know, it’s nice to have that Jeff friend, isn’t it??? (Noel was severely injured last weekend & Jeff truly saved his life!!)
Friday, March 21, 2008
Dear Friends & Family,
It’s been 5 months since we received Blake’s cancer diagnosis, and I thought it might be a good time to give everyone an update on what’s been going on in our lives.
On October 29, 2007, Blake was diagnosed with colon cancer. Because the cancer had spread through the colon and had metastasized into his liver, he was diagnosed as, stage IV. In November, Blake had a liver and colon resection at the new IMC hospital. Dr. Belnap was the liver surgeon. Dr. Eyring performed the colon resection. Since a large portion of the surrounding tissue was suspected to contain lymph nodes that may also be affected by the cancer, the tissue was gathered and sent to pathology. Out of the 13 lymph nodes obtained, only 1 tested positive for cancer. This was really good news as Dr. Eyring felt that all the nodes would test positive.
On December 26th, Blake began chemotherapy. The chemo regimen is called FOLFOX6 with Avastin. It’s a combination of, among other things, 3 cancer fighting drugs. The chemo is given every other week (for a total of 12 treatments) at the Utah Cancer Specialists office in the Huntsman facility at the new IMC campus. Blake has a port in his upper right chest which makes the chemo much easier to receive. One of the drugs Blake gets makes him really susceptible to the cold. It would hurt Blake to touch or drink cold things and he was really miserable in the cold weather. During chemo #6, Blake began feeling itchy & within seconds, turned the color of a tomato and was covered with hives! The chemo nurses (these ladies are great!) went into action putting Blake on oxygen, benedryl, “dex” (a steroid) and within a couple of hours he was back to normal. Dr. Whisenant, the oncologist, told us that Blake could no longer have the Oxyliplatin. The chances of anaphylactic shock are too great and this drug must be eliminated from the regimen. A slight set-back, but now the "cold" problem is gone!
Part of this regimen requires Blake to get hooked up to my new bff… the 46 hour chemo pump. The chemo pump stays with Blake (and sleeps with us) for 2 days, injecting the 5FU into Blake every 30 seconds (trust me, I’ve counted). Blake wears this pump via a very attractive fanny pack! Once the 46 hours are up, the pump is removed and the port is flushed. So far, that has always been on a Thursday. The icky chemo feeling usually hits on the following Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
Last week, Blake had a new CT scan to determine how things were going. When we saw the oncologist for chemo #7, we were advised of a suspicious lesion on the left lobe of the liver. Since it is unsure whether the lesion is old or new, it is necessary to go and see the liver surgeon this weekend. Dr. Belnap is an interesting fellow. He only has office visits during what he calls “Saturday night clinic.” Our appt. is this Saturday at 9:00 PM! He is considered one of the best in his field; otherwise, I don’t think I could get Blake to go see this unique man! Blake had a follow-up appt. with Dr. Eyring (the colon doc) yesterday; he feels the lesion is new….. We’ll see how it goes on Saturday. Either way, Dr. Eyring wants a PET scan soon.
Once the docs (we have a great team of specialists) determine “old or new” our direction will be determined. If it’s new, Blake will have surgery and the chemo will be re-evaluated because it may not be working. If it’s old we continue on the current regimen.
As you can imagine, the last 5 months have been interesting although we’re all trying to stay with whatever our “normal” is. The person who is doing this the best is Blake! I have determined that I am married to Superman! No matter what odds he is facing, he only believes in a cure. And, so far, the docs said this CAN be cured! Blake refuses to believe anything else. And, he is right! Why can’t we be on the positive side of the odds?!!!
This is where all of you come in! Please continue to throw a few prayers our way. Thank you to everyone who has been and will continue to be there for us. We truly appreciate your love and support.
Kathy (& Blake too!)
It’s been 5 months since we received Blake’s cancer diagnosis, and I thought it might be a good time to give everyone an update on what’s been going on in our lives.
On October 29, 2007, Blake was diagnosed with colon cancer. Because the cancer had spread through the colon and had metastasized into his liver, he was diagnosed as, stage IV. In November, Blake had a liver and colon resection at the new IMC hospital. Dr. Belnap was the liver surgeon. Dr. Eyring performed the colon resection. Since a large portion of the surrounding tissue was suspected to contain lymph nodes that may also be affected by the cancer, the tissue was gathered and sent to pathology. Out of the 13 lymph nodes obtained, only 1 tested positive for cancer. This was really good news as Dr. Eyring felt that all the nodes would test positive.
On December 26th, Blake began chemotherapy. The chemo regimen is called FOLFOX6 with Avastin. It’s a combination of, among other things, 3 cancer fighting drugs. The chemo is given every other week (for a total of 12 treatments) at the Utah Cancer Specialists office in the Huntsman facility at the new IMC campus. Blake has a port in his upper right chest which makes the chemo much easier to receive. One of the drugs Blake gets makes him really susceptible to the cold. It would hurt Blake to touch or drink cold things and he was really miserable in the cold weather. During chemo #6, Blake began feeling itchy & within seconds, turned the color of a tomato and was covered with hives! The chemo nurses (these ladies are great!) went into action putting Blake on oxygen, benedryl, “dex” (a steroid) and within a couple of hours he was back to normal. Dr. Whisenant, the oncologist, told us that Blake could no longer have the Oxyliplatin. The chances of anaphylactic shock are too great and this drug must be eliminated from the regimen. A slight set-back, but now the "cold" problem is gone!
Part of this regimen requires Blake to get hooked up to my new bff… the 46 hour chemo pump. The chemo pump stays with Blake (and sleeps with us) for 2 days, injecting the 5FU into Blake every 30 seconds (trust me, I’ve counted). Blake wears this pump via a very attractive fanny pack! Once the 46 hours are up, the pump is removed and the port is flushed. So far, that has always been on a Thursday. The icky chemo feeling usually hits on the following Friday, Saturday & Sunday.
Last week, Blake had a new CT scan to determine how things were going. When we saw the oncologist for chemo #7, we were advised of a suspicious lesion on the left lobe of the liver. Since it is unsure whether the lesion is old or new, it is necessary to go and see the liver surgeon this weekend. Dr. Belnap is an interesting fellow. He only has office visits during what he calls “Saturday night clinic.” Our appt. is this Saturday at 9:00 PM! He is considered one of the best in his field; otherwise, I don’t think I could get Blake to go see this unique man! Blake had a follow-up appt. with Dr. Eyring (the colon doc) yesterday; he feels the lesion is new….. We’ll see how it goes on Saturday. Either way, Dr. Eyring wants a PET scan soon.
Once the docs (we have a great team of specialists) determine “old or new” our direction will be determined. If it’s new, Blake will have surgery and the chemo will be re-evaluated because it may not be working. If it’s old we continue on the current regimen.
As you can imagine, the last 5 months have been interesting although we’re all trying to stay with whatever our “normal” is. The person who is doing this the best is Blake! I have determined that I am married to Superman! No matter what odds he is facing, he only believes in a cure. And, so far, the docs said this CAN be cured! Blake refuses to believe anything else. And, he is right! Why can’t we be on the positive side of the odds?!!!
This is where all of you come in! Please continue to throw a few prayers our way. Thank you to everyone who has been and will continue to be there for us. We truly appreciate your love and support.
Kathy (& Blake too!)
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