Last week was a busy week for Gramma D.
She was moved to Life Care Center of Kirkland. The address there is:
10101 Northeast 120th Street
Kirkland, WA 98034
They had a little flu outbreak last week there so visitors were limited, but now you can stop in to see her if you would like. She has her cell phone with her so feel free to call her as well. Cards are welcome, but flowers or balloons are not due to her roommate's condition.
She finished her last radiation treatment yesterday. She is having less pain now as a result of the treatments and gets up to walk around several times a day. She says that they take good care of her. We met with her oncologist last Thursday, and found out that the primary cause of the cancer can not be identified. We meet again on Thursday to see how the radiation has improved her pain levels.
She really enjoys the cards and notes and we are thankful for everyone's love and prayers.
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Stronger Everyday!!
The consensus last Friday among her medical team was to indefinitely postpone the spine surgery mentioned last week in the blog. We got within about three hours of the procedure when it became clear there was no urgency any more. The pain had been dramatically reduced by the steroid medicine and the surgery can be done any time. There are risks, too, and not insignificant ones at that. We feel like the team is really working to minimize pain, maximize healing, and use the best possible treatment options in this emerging, evolving situation.
Gramma D is doing much better today on lots of fronts. She is able to eat well and the food here at Evergreen Hospital is really quite good. That is a big step forward and we are all pleased with her progress. She is stronger today than at any other time in the last two or so weeks.
Walking a bit has been a challenge, since there is a lot of pain in the low back, spine, and hips. She is able to walk short distances with a walker and is doing so regularly. Even with compression fractures in two vertebrae, she is determined to walk again and this is the start.
We still don't know what the tumors are but are expecting the biopsy results tomorrow or Thursday. Radiation treatment began yesterday and she is tolerating it pretty well. Some nausea has occurred, and that's not pleasant of course, but she is toughing it out. It seems to go away a few hours later, allowing her to eat.
When we get the biopsy report, we'll know a lot more about the treatment possibilities. The doctors started radiation right away since it could help and is less specific to the type of cancer involved.
Her spirits are really good: lots of hearty laughter now and plenty of good stories. We've had great conversations on every topic you can imagine. Family visitors have kept her company for many, many hours each day. Her outlook for the future is hopeful but circumspect. We all have to go on from this life sometime, she says, and wants to look ahead with excitement and anticipation. She's got a good outlook and is encouraging all of us to have the same.
We are bringing cards, letters, and email printouts for her as we visit. Please feel free to comment here - she loves hearing from all of her friends and family. Please send any cards, letters, flowers, etc. to Arden and Eva’s home and we will be sure to get them to her at the hospital. She is moved around so much it is difficult to send something to the hospital. Arden and Eva’s address is 35702 NE 80th ST Carnation, WA 98014.
Walking a bit has been a challenge, since there is a lot of pain in the low back, spine, and hips. She is able to walk short distances with a walker and is doing so regularly. Even with compression fractures in two vertebrae, she is determined to walk again and this is the start.
We still don't know what the tumors are but are expecting the biopsy results tomorrow or Thursday. Radiation treatment began yesterday and she is tolerating it pretty well. Some nausea has occurred, and that's not pleasant of course, but she is toughing it out. It seems to go away a few hours later, allowing her to eat.
When we get the biopsy report, we'll know a lot more about the treatment possibilities. The doctors started radiation right away since it could help and is less specific to the type of cancer involved.
Her spirits are really good: lots of hearty laughter now and plenty of good stories. We've had great conversations on every topic you can imagine. Family visitors have kept her company for many, many hours each day. Her outlook for the future is hopeful but circumspect. We all have to go on from this life sometime, she says, and wants to look ahead with excitement and anticipation. She's got a good outlook and is encouraging all of us to have the same.
We are bringing cards, letters, and email printouts for her as we visit. Please feel free to comment here - she loves hearing from all of her friends and family. Please send any cards, letters, flowers, etc. to Arden and Eva’s home and we will be sure to get them to her at the hospital. She is moved around so much it is difficult to send something to the hospital. Arden and Eva’s address is 35702 NE 80th ST Carnation, WA 98014.
Doyle wants to thank everyone for their faith, prayers, good wishes, and support. Her fond hope is to spend some more time on this good old earth with all the people she loves and cherishes.
Friday, January 13, 2012
Friday, January 13, 2012
Today Gramma was scheduled for a procedure that will inject a “cement” into the 2 vertebrae that are compromised. We are still working with the staff and doctors to be sure that it happens today so she can start radiation treatment for the pain in her hip and spine on Monday. Please pray that it will happen today so we can help her reduce her pain as quickly as possible.
She has been moved to a room where she can have 24/7 in room supervision by a nurse for her safety. That way someone can be at her bedside in just a couple steps when she tries to get out of her bed or pull out her IV. Her medications have made her confused and agitated. We will pass on your love and comments that you post here, but please only family visitors for a while until we can get her pain better controlled and some of her other levels closer to normal.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
"Everything's Sunshine and Roses"
As we sit to write this, Gramma D is recovering from her biopsy and the grand piano in the foyer in the waiting area is playing "Everything's Sunshine and Roses" We thought it was a good title for this post with some of the encouraging news we have gotten today.
Thursday morning January 12, 2012
This is a quick synopsis of the morning’s happenings with Gramma D. There’s a lot of detail we want to write later, and her biopsy procedure is just finished, so we’ll post more comprehensive results as we get them. The initial biopsy results lead the doctors to believe it is a form of breast cancer that has spread to other parts of her body. That actually has a good news element to it, as the treatment and success rates are higher than other potential types of cancer.
Highlights:
Spinal cord is fine and uncompromised – no paralysis will occur from the cancer. Bladder and bowel control will continue normally since spinal cord is fine.
The brain MRI shows no cancer in her brain. This is huge for longevity, as brain cancer cuts any life expectancy very short. This is a big point of hope for some more time for her with us. =)
There are 2 vertebrae involved with the cancer in her spine that are compromised. Those vertebrae can be supported with a simple procedure to inject a “cement” designed to stabilize the spine in the areas of the compression fracture. This will aid natural healing of the bone in the area, especially now that the cancer will be stopped from advancing through treatment.
Radiation therapy will begin ASAP, possibly today. It will be very localized on her vertebrae and hip and will not be hard on her. It is x-rays focused for only 30 seconds. Mild nausea and some fatigue for the first two days is all that is expected. The radiation therapy will reduce her pain and prevent the cancer from spreading in the vertebrae further. There is an 85 percent success rate for pain reduction to very low levels with this radiation therapy.
Her sodium level is almost to the normal range. Her low was 112, today she is at 126. The range of normal is 138-140. Below 110, seizures and life threatening events occur. She is almost conversational, and is much more lucid in part because of these levels becoming closer to normal. The steroid treatments that were started yesterday have already begun to reduce the swelling in her back around the tumor area and thereby reduce her pain. She is actually moving her legs… Great news! She is receiving insulin to counteract the blood sugar raising effect of the steroid.
She is stabilizing enough that we have been told we may be moving to a new room today. More great news. Thanks for all the prayers and well wishes – we are passing them along to her =)
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
Changes to the schedule (frown)
We had a change in plans... The two departments (MRI & biopsy) didn't communicate so now the biopsy will happen tomorrow instead. We are told it will happen between 2:00 and 3:00 pm. They better be careful.... Grouchy Granny is getting grouchy! They did get the MRI on her head completed and should get to know more from that tomorrow. We have a consultation scheduled with radiation for tomorrow early in the morning and we will keep you updated as results roll in.
She had some calls and visits from Grandkids and Great-Grandkids today and she is feeling loved and cared for. A couple close friends came by and it made her happy even though she could only visit for a few minutes - if you want to visit, call one of us and we can let you know when would be a good time.
Thank you again for all the prayers and help,
Rosie
She had some calls and visits from Grandkids and Great-Grandkids today and she is feeling loved and cared for. A couple close friends came by and it made her happy even though she could only visit for a few minutes - if you want to visit, call one of us and we can let you know when would be a good time.
Thank you again for all the prayers and help,
Rosie
One of my favorites...
Karen
Meeting with Dr Golden Jan 11 at 12:15 pm
We met with the oncology doctor, Jane Golden, earlier today. She is part of the team working in conjunction with Dr. Mena.
She says yesterday's critical low sodium issue was probably caused by the cancer tumors, and is quite common in this type of situation. There is visible cancer in some of the bones of the spine.
She told us the biopsy, scheduled for 4 p.m. today, of the liver is the safest and most complete way to get the type of cancer identified. It is the least invasive though it is a surgical procedure. We'll get some preliminary results tomorrow, like the proteins present, which will give them some idea what type of cancer it is and its origin. They'll be able to tell if it is hormonally based like breast cancer or something else for instance. (The doctor did a breast exam and did not find lumps, etc., but did say that it can hide and she might not feel it. It can take up to a week to get the final results and complete analysis.
To reduce pain, Doyle will be getting steroid drugs to shrink the swelling around the tumor on her spine. She is also now getting hourly pain medication injections intravenously instead of every four hours to make her more comfortable. Oral meds are not an option right now as she is not keeping anything down. (so if you want to send treats, they are for us!)
Each type of cancer calls for specific treatment methods: chemo, radiation, pills, and surgery. Surgery is not possible as the cancer is found in several locations and cannot be completely removed. Chemo could indicated, along with radiation depending on weighing risks and benefits. The radiation path is available right now, and the radiation oncologist will come meet with us later today. Radiation treatment could start as early as tomorrow. The radiation treatment right now would reduce the size of the tumor in her spine and thereby reduce the pain she is experiencing. Again, we will help her make those decisions by listening to the counsel of the professionals and weighing benefits/side affects/risks.
Drs. Golden and Mena think that we'll have a conference the first of next week to discuss a comprehensive treatment plan, using all of the test results to put that puzzle together. At that point, we will have all the results from the biopsy.
We'll let you know if we have any further info from the brain MRI. She is just leaving the room for the procedure now and will be gone less than an hour.
Thanks for all your wonderful prayers and support. Please pass the address for this blog along to anyone you think would be interested in her updates or would like to send her well wishes. People can subscribe with their email address and will automatically be sent updates whenever we post.
Rosie and Arden
She says yesterday's critical low sodium issue was probably caused by the cancer tumors, and is quite common in this type of situation. There is visible cancer in some of the bones of the spine.
She told us the biopsy, scheduled for 4 p.m. today, of the liver is the safest and most complete way to get the type of cancer identified. It is the least invasive though it is a surgical procedure. We'll get some preliminary results tomorrow, like the proteins present, which will give them some idea what type of cancer it is and its origin. They'll be able to tell if it is hormonally based like breast cancer or something else for instance. (The doctor did a breast exam and did not find lumps, etc., but did say that it can hide and she might not feel it. It can take up to a week to get the final results and complete analysis.
To reduce pain, Doyle will be getting steroid drugs to shrink the swelling around the tumor on her spine. She is also now getting hourly pain medication injections intravenously instead of every four hours to make her more comfortable. Oral meds are not an option right now as she is not keeping anything down. (so if you want to send treats, they are for us!)
Each type of cancer calls for specific treatment methods: chemo, radiation, pills, and surgery. Surgery is not possible as the cancer is found in several locations and cannot be completely removed. Chemo could indicated, along with radiation depending on weighing risks and benefits. The radiation path is available right now, and the radiation oncologist will come meet with us later today. Radiation treatment could start as early as tomorrow. The radiation treatment right now would reduce the size of the tumor in her spine and thereby reduce the pain she is experiencing. Again, we will help her make those decisions by listening to the counsel of the professionals and weighing benefits/side affects/risks.
Drs. Golden and Mena think that we'll have a conference the first of next week to discuss a comprehensive treatment plan, using all of the test results to put that puzzle together. At that point, we will have all the results from the biopsy.
We'll let you know if we have any further info from the brain MRI. She is just leaving the room for the procedure now and will be gone less than an hour.
Thanks for all your wonderful prayers and support. Please pass the address for this blog along to anyone you think would be interested in her updates or would like to send her well wishes. People can subscribe with their email address and will automatically be sent updates whenever we post.
Rosie and Arden
meeting with Dr Mena on Jan 11 at 10:15 am
Here is what Arden and Rosie sent out in email. Since email threads can get confusing, here is the info and a place to comment for everyone =)
Hi everyone:
Dr. Mena is coordinating care for Doyle and came in to meet with Rosie and me a little while ago.
The news is not what we hoped for, but we don't know the full story yet. A lot will depend on tests yet to be done. There is no prognosis because we don't know what we're up against yet.
From the MRI and Ct and X-ray images, "abnormalities" that are tumors are visible. There are tumors on her spine and in her liver, but none in her lungs. Her lungs are OK. (There is some smoking-related emphysema, but it is not a big problem.)
There are two fractures in her vertebrae that are causing much of the pain. The spine tumor "ate" the bone making it susceptible to breaking.
We are waiting for a meeting with the assigned oncologist (cancer specialist) today. A treatment plan is being formulated and a tumor biopsy is scheduled for 4 pm. It will take 2 to 3 days to get the results of the biopsy and then the results will guide what can be done for Doyle.
Right now, we don't know the origin or type of tumor. The liver, at this point, looks like the primary source. There is a high probability of malignancy, since there are tumors in multiple locations. An MRI of her brain has been scheduled for today to look more carefully for tumors there. Just another diagnostic step, according to Dr. Mena.
Dr. Mena says some tumors respond to chemotherapy quite well and of course others do not. We will pursue treatment based on the best possible outcomes.
Sorry this sounds so clinical. We all can pray for the best. She is as comfortable as possible and slept well last night.
We know you are sending prayers. Be sure and take care of yourself and take the time to emotionally process this. Talk with each other. Rosie is planning to start a blog today where we can all share about Gramma and record our memories and stories.
Hi everyone:
Dr. Mena is coordinating care for Doyle and came in to meet with Rosie and me a little while ago.
The news is not what we hoped for, but we don't know the full story yet. A lot will depend on tests yet to be done. There is no prognosis because we don't know what we're up against yet.
From the MRI and Ct and X-ray images, "abnormalities" that are tumors are visible. There are tumors on her spine and in her liver, but none in her lungs. Her lungs are OK. (There is some smoking-related emphysema, but it is not a big problem.)
There are two fractures in her vertebrae that are causing much of the pain. The spine tumor "ate" the bone making it susceptible to breaking.
We are waiting for a meeting with the assigned oncologist (cancer specialist) today. A treatment plan is being formulated and a tumor biopsy is scheduled for 4 pm. It will take 2 to 3 days to get the results of the biopsy and then the results will guide what can be done for Doyle.
Right now, we don't know the origin or type of tumor. The liver, at this point, looks like the primary source. There is a high probability of malignancy, since there are tumors in multiple locations. An MRI of her brain has been scheduled for today to look more carefully for tumors there. Just another diagnostic step, according to Dr. Mena.
Dr. Mena says some tumors respond to chemotherapy quite well and of course others do not. We will pursue treatment based on the best possible outcomes.
Sorry this sounds so clinical. We all can pray for the best. She is as comfortable as possible and slept well last night.
We know you are sending prayers. Be sure and take care of yourself and take the time to emotionally process this. Talk with each other. Rosie is planning to start a blog today where we can all share about Gramma and record our memories and stories.
Pink Hummingbirds? Seriously?!?
Gramma helped pick this template... could you tell? It is even pink (much to my chagrin) but she loves it. This blog is a safe place for us to share. If you want a picture, story or message shared with Gramma, let it be known and it will be passed along. =) It is my hope that we can begin to collect stories and pictures here and we can all feel connected. Karen Linn will also help with posting and MAYBE Tiffany Gremmert =)
Rosie
Rosie
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