Wednesday, August 31, 2011
surgery scheduled
The surgery in Seattle to reconnect everything and take away the colostomy bag is scheduled for the morning of October 29 (saturday).
Monday, August 22, 2011
It's Official!!!!
Mark is having his last chemo infusion right now. Just called to say he spoke with the oncology Dr. and his CT scan from Friday looks great, no signs of cancer at all. As of right now he's officially considered "in remission" (they don't use the 'cured' word or 'cancer free' until he's been in remission for several years).
In 3 months (so around the end of November) he's scheduled to visit with the oncology dr. again to see how he's feeling, how he's healing/recovering from the chemo, and do some blood work. 6 months from now (end of February) he needs to have another CT scan done, and this time next year he'll have another colonoscopy to confirm no return of cancer.
Now if we could get the surgery scheduled to see if his colon and all the muscles are ready to function normally again.....
We're planning a small family "no more chemo" party for Mark on the 3rd of September. Definately something to celebrate!
In 3 months (so around the end of November) he's scheduled to visit with the oncology dr. again to see how he's feeling, how he's healing/recovering from the chemo, and do some blood work. 6 months from now (end of February) he needs to have another CT scan done, and this time next year he'll have another colonoscopy to confirm no return of cancer.
Now if we could get the surgery scheduled to see if his colon and all the muscles are ready to function normally again.....
We're planning a small family "no more chemo" party for Mark on the 3rd of September. Definately something to celebrate!
Monday, August 8, 2011
T minus 16 days and counting...
...until the end of Mark's chemo therapy!!!!!
Today was Mark's 2nd to last chemo infusion. He goes back on the 10th to get his chemo pump removed. On Friday the 19th he'll get a CT scan of abdomen to check for signs of tumors or cancers. Then on the 22nd it's officially his last chemo infusion. I asked the dr. today how his blood counts were and if he forsaw maybe an issue with them that he would need to suspend his treatment for longer. He said "no, his blood levels are great, everything should go exactly as scheduled". He'll go home that monday with his chemo pump, as usual, and return on the 24th to have it removed.
Other good news: the dr. told him he can also go ahead and schedule the surgery with the University of Washington to reconnect all the 'plumbing' and get him back on that road of recovery. Mark's not too excited about another surgery, but definately excited to be this close to finished with chemo.
Other information we learned: the Dr. recommends that his port (the thing in his chest just below the skin that allows the nurses to 'plug' a special needle into it to infuse the chemo drugs) stay in for probably 12 months. He'll likely need to return reguarly for CT scans of his midsection. Probably every 3 months for a year, and then every 6 months for several years.
Today was Mark's 2nd to last chemo infusion. He goes back on the 10th to get his chemo pump removed. On Friday the 19th he'll get a CT scan of abdomen to check for signs of tumors or cancers. Then on the 22nd it's officially his last chemo infusion. I asked the dr. today how his blood counts were and if he forsaw maybe an issue with them that he would need to suspend his treatment for longer. He said "no, his blood levels are great, everything should go exactly as scheduled". He'll go home that monday with his chemo pump, as usual, and return on the 24th to have it removed.
Other good news: the dr. told him he can also go ahead and schedule the surgery with the University of Washington to reconnect all the 'plumbing' and get him back on that road of recovery. Mark's not too excited about another surgery, but definately excited to be this close to finished with chemo.
Other information we learned: the Dr. recommends that his port (the thing in his chest just below the skin that allows the nurses to 'plug' a special needle into it to infuse the chemo drugs) stay in for probably 12 months. He'll likely need to return reguarly for CT scans of his midsection. Probably every 3 months for a year, and then every 6 months for several years.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)