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Don't usually do this, but I need some prayers...update 1/15
DH is in the hospital with a fractured vertebrae (sp?) and they also found a growth on his spine.
They are doing a bone scan tomorrow, along with a biopsy.
Please, PLEASE send as many prayers as you can. I can't even believe this is happening.
Thanks
8/20 update:
The bone scan today came back good, which means that if the growth on his spine is in fact cancerous, it has not spread to any other parts of his body, which is great.
They are going to do the biopsy tomorrow, and we are told the results will take at least 24 hours, so please keep those prayers coming.
8/23 update:
Got some not great news yesterday. Looks like bone cancer, but we will know more on Monday. I'm relying on the power of prayer, so PLEASE keep them coming.
8/26 update:
Well, we found out last night that DH definately has Mulitple Myeloma, which is cancer of the plasma cells in the bone marrow. We have not yet spoken with the Oncologist today, but as of right now they are saying that he'll get radiation, possibly chemo pills, and stem cell transplant. It IS treatable, but not cureable.
Of course DH is freaking out about $$, because he will be out of work for awhile...and I am freaking out about him being OK...
Also, the kids have no idea, and we wouldn't say anything to Cass, but we think that maybe Scotty should know...I just break down everytime I think of saying "Daddy has cancer"...3 words I hoped never to speak.
8/26pm update:
DH is going for kyfoplasty (sp?) on Thursday, which is cementing the fractures in his vertebrae and should provide him with some pain relief.
The Oncologist started him on steroids today, which is part of the treatment for the myeloma. He goes Friday to Stony Brook for his radiation consult, which will start next week, and we're going to St. Vincents Hospital in the city on Tuesday to meet with "the guru" of Multiple Myeloma, according to his Oncologist that is seeing him now, for a 2nd opinion.
Keep the prayers coming...
8/28:
Surgery today went very well. In the words of the spine surgeon "it could not have gone any better". DH is feeling some pain relief, and he's coming home tomorrow...then off to Stony Brook for radiation consultation.
Unfortunately he was very depressed and upset today, but I guess those days are to be expected.
9/1 update:
We went for radiation consult on Friday. They want to be extremely aggressive and do both radiation and chemo, without a doubt.
We have appt. tomorrow at St. Vincents, and we'll see what they say there, but DH is on board for getting his "a$$ kicked" so we can get this thing into remission.
Dr. that we saw at Stony Brook said this is a slow growing cancer, which is great, but it also the kind that is very possible to spread to a completely different part of his body, which is why they are insisting on chemo.
9/3 update:
We went to St. Vincents yesterday to meet with one of the top Multiple Myeloma specialists in the country. Although based on DH's past test results the Dr is pretty sure that the cancer has spread, he said that does not change the prognosis. He wants to be very aggressive with treatment, bypass radiation at this time and go straight for very aggressive chemo. DH will go 2x/week for the next 2-3 months for chemo starting this coming Monday. The Dr. is confident that DH will get through this, and should be in remission within a year.
Unfortunately, it is very possible that this cancer will return, so we'll have to keep a very close watch on it, and lots of follow up testing. And although at this time there is no cure for Multiple Myeloma, the Dr is very confident that there will be one within the next 5-7 years...
Thanks for all the prayers and FM's...and please keep those prayers coming
ETA: We also told Scotty last night, and our amazing boy handled it wonderfully. He had some questions, and we were very positive in our talk, and he really feels OK about it.
9/13 update:
So DH had 2 sessions of chemo this week...he'll be going on Mondays and Thursdays. He did really well. No real side effects so far other than tired, so I am soo happy about that because I was imagining him just being terribly sick.
We received the full report from the specialist, very detailed, but I just lost it when I read that DH's life expectancy is 7 years or longer. Maybe I should be happy, I don't know, but just to think 7 years...it's not nearly long enough to be with him, for our children to be with him...
On a lighter note, I have to say I am overwhelmed how many wonderful people there are in the world. Not only have I gotten SO many wonderful FM's with offers of help here on LIF, my MIL's boss went out and bought all of Scottys school supplies and gave us Waldbaums gift cards, my sisters friend has a not for profit breast cancer foundation, and reached out to us and gave us supermarket gift cards and gas cards, and DH's work started a collection for him...even some of his customers have gone into the dealership to make contributions! I WILL be "paying it forward" once we are back on our feet. I am just overwhelmed with the generosity of people.
Tonight the kids are all sleeping at my moms, and we are going to attempt a movie. I've never looked forward to one of our "date nights" more
9/29 update:
We got some great news at todays chemo session. DH's IgG levels, which were 3600 when he was in the hospital, is back in normal range at 1200! This is GREAT that it's happened so quickly. He'll get another biopsy done at St. Vincents on 10/29, and they may even move up the stem cell transplant since it seems that things are going so well
Now if only we could get his back pain managed, THAT would be great...he's still out of work and we are BROKE!!!!
BUT, as long as he's getting better
10/28 update:
DH completed 2 rounds of chemo and is on his 3rd. Fortunately, he's handling it really well. Tomorrow he has a big appt. with the specialist at St.Vincents, so please keep those good wishes coming.
I'll try to update tomorrow evening.
10/29 update:
Todays Dr's visit went very well...the bad news, DH has gained 40 lbs in 2 mos from the steroids, and his blood pressure which is normally low...is bordering high. So...they are stopping the steroids immediately.
The good news...he is in what the Dr called "semi-remission" because his counts have come down so much, and the Dr said that after the next 3 rounds of chemo, there will be no signs of cancer in his body!!!
However, this is a cancer that very often returns, so they are still going to do the stem cell transplant in Jan/Feb to hopefully extend the amount of time between occurences. He'll be in St. Vincents in the city for about 15 days when they do the transplant, and I can stay in his room with him while he's there!
All in all...great news!!!
Thank you all so much for your continued support and prayers
12/22/08 update...
It's been awhile and thought I'd post an update.
We went back into the city to see the specialist last week. His numbers are holding steady, which is great. He's lost 31 lbs, mainly becasue the chemo is now really taking a toll on him. He's not able to eat much, and when he does, he feels awful. He's got neuropathy in his hands and feet which at times can be very painful.
He had a port installed a couple of weeks ago, even though he was so against it because he didn't want the kids to see it, but they are adding a new med. to his chemo and he absolutely needed the port for it.
He starts round 5 of chemo tomorrow, 2 weeks on, 2 weeks off..then onto the 6th and final round. He should be going into the city mid Feb. for stem cell harvesting (has to stay in a hotel for 3-4 nights to have that done)...then a week later he goes into St. Vincents Hospital for 2 1/2 weeks for the stem cell transplant.
It's been a long road. He tries to stay positive, sometimes he's SO positive...but he's been having some really rough days. He hasn't really been working much. He went in a day last week and his boss had a driver take him home immediately and he's been home since. I am so grateful for his wonderful employers.
I love my husband so much. Our relationship was always good...had our ups and downs like everyone else, but this has given us a much "deeper" connection, if that makes any sense.
Thank you again to all of you. I cannot tell you how much I appreciate the support we've gotten. You ladies (and men) are truly wonderful!!!
1/8/09 update-
DH has been in the hospital since Tuesday. He received a new kind of chemo on Friday and had a really, really tough time with it. He is feeling a bit better, but has an MRI scheduled for tomorrow, and hopefully he'll be home over the weekend.
What a journey...but I am overwhelmed by my love for this man...
1/15/09 update-
Well, since the chemo kicked dh's a$$ sooo bad, they have decided to not do the 6th (and final) round, and go straight to the stem cell transplant!! Soooo...today he went into the city for his final day of testing, goes for his final visit wiht the specialist before the transplant next Weds, and next Sunday we check into the Hope Lodge for stem cell harvesting and will be there till Friday, come home for the weekend and he gets admitted to St. Vincents 2/2 for the transplant!!!
It's a scary time, because he will be very suseptible (sp?) to infection, but he HAS to have it done, and better sooner than later!!!
Message edited 1/15/2009 9:22:49 PM.
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