Overall he is tired but in good spirits.
Now for the GREAT news. The latest sample of spinal fluid shows "a single cancer cell". The initial sample showed 300+ cells. Woohoo!!
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Update and Great News
Jay is continuing to improve each day. He is primarily using a walker to get around. He is sleeping well at night. He has some esophagus burn from the radiation and is having trouble swallowing. He has lost about 30 lbs. We hope he can increase his food intake over the weekend. His blood counts are staying low. H&H low, platelets low (17) and white counts low. He is getting platelets and blood today, platelets tomorrow followed by chemo. He has a head cold and will start on at home antibiotics.
Thursday, December 22, 2016
Another awesome day!
Jay had chemo today. So far not having any side effects or adverse reactions. He is feeling great. We had a fun family night visiting his tree and a meal not served at home. Kids also come up with a solution to staying warm when they didn't bring a jacket.
Monday, December 19, 2016
Doing Great
Friday's procedure went great. Jay stayed over night for monitoring and was home Saturday morning. He is feeling good. Moving better and is 90% of the time only using a walker, no wheel chair since Saturday morning. He is not having any pain. His speech has cleared up significantly. Overall he is doing extremely well.
Last 2 radiation treatments this week. Chemo Thursday and then family and fun for Christmas. Keep those prayers coming!! Lots of love from us to you.
Wednesday, December 14, 2016
Making Progress
Each day Jay is getting stronger. He is still very weak and struggles to walk with a walker. The hope is his strength and mobility will start to return when they finish his radiation. He has also been on high dose steroids that are now being tapered which will help his leg strength to return. He is having the ommaya reservoir place in his head this Friday. Chemo will then be administered through the ommaya instead of with a spinal tap. His spinal pain has been greatly reduced with the chemo and radiation.
He is fatigued from the treatments but is fighting and moving forward. He will start physical therapy after Christmas to help him regain mobility and strength. He is eating great and sleeping really well at night!
We are looking forward to Christmas with our babies! A big thank you to everyone for all of the prayers. Keep them coming.
Friday, December 9, 2016
Meds and Prayers are Working
Jay had a really rough week. Extreme weakness, slurred speech, and fatigue. Yesterday it was thought that the chemo and radiation were not working. We were presented with stopping treatment if he didn't have a noticeable improvement by today or Monday at the latest.
The prayers and meds are working!!!! Jay had a huge turn around last night. And this morning a noticeable improvement all due to the chemo he had yesterday. The doctor said to "forget" everything he told me yesterday and Jay will have treatment Monday. Once he finishes his radiation (12 more) the doctor will contact neuron to put the reservoir in Jays head to continue to administer the chemo. Also the fluids specimen they got from the spinal tap yesterday shows a 2/3 reduction in the cells. 300+ to 107.
PLEASE PLEASE keep praying.
Saturday, December 3, 2016
Update
Jay had a pretty rough week. Lots of nausea, pain and weakness. He is on at home fluids and steroids. His speech and balance are improving daily. His pain is managed and he is thinking more clearly. He still has difficulty sitting up due to pain in his low back. He walks slowly with the help of a walker but his legs are getting stronger. He was able to eat last night and this morning. We have dedicated a tree to him at the tinsel train downtown. Please check it out and find Jay or me on facebook!
The steroids cause elevation in his blood sugar...but I snuck in a little treat last night since he was able to eat. This road to recovery may be paved with donuts! But whatever it takes!!
Tuesday, November 29, 2016
continue to pray
The Spinal MRI shows cancer. Jay had a spinal tap yesterday to inject chemo into his spine as well as radiation to the head tumor. He is experiencing weakness in his arms and legs. He is also fatigued from the radiation. He is having a difficult time sleeping because he lower back hurts. He can sit up only for a few minutes without the pain being too much.
He will continue to receive radiation to his head for the next 8 days. They may also add radiation to his spine once they determine if the chemo is of any benefit. They don't want to radiate the spine while he is receiving the weekly chemo injection.
We ask for continued prayers!
Tuesday, November 22, 2016
Challenges Ahead
Saturday morning Jay slipped while getting out of bed. He thought he jammed his neck and more than likely had a concussion. He spent most of the weekend with a slight head ache and a little dizziness. By Sunday night he was having difficulty walking straight. Monday morning his vision was extremely blurry. He called the doctor. The head MRI shows a brain lesion. This is metastatic. It's very very rare that pancreatic cancer mets to the brain but most people don't survive as long as Jay has so the cases are few and far between.
Jay started radiation yesterday and will have a total of 15 treatments in addition to chemo. He is also on steroids which will help with any swelling. His head ache is already better and he is no longer dizzy and his vision is already better.
Today he is having an MRI of his spine to check for lesion in the spinal fluid/cord. Tomorrow he will have a PET Scan. Once we have the full picture the Doctor will determine the best course of action.
As always we appreciate all the prayers!! We will update the blog as we receive news.
Tuesday, November 8, 2016
Update
I started another chemo cycle today. My last start was 3 weeks ago. My Ct scans look good and my CA 19-9 is 24. I'm on a 2 week break between treatments now. Life is good!
Friday, September 9, 2016
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
CA 19-9 in "normal" range
We are super excited to say that Jay's tumor marker is now back in normal range. Which leads to the thoughts of "remission". He keeps pressing forward and starts another round of chemo today.
Current tumor marker is 35. Praise the good Lord!
December 2013 CA 19-9 = 202,000+
January 2014 CA 19-9 =109,000
February 2014 CA 19-9 = 25,000
March 2014 CA 19-9 = 18,000
April 2014 CA 19-9 = 13,000
May 2014 CA 19-9= 5,500
June 2014 CA 19-9=1,964
August 2014 CA 19-9 = 481
September 2014 CA 19-9 = 211
October 2014 CA 19-9 = 111
November 2014 CA 19-9 = 57
December 2014 CA 19-9 = 40
January 2015 CA 19-9 = 26
February 2015 CA 19-9 = 21.7
February 2015 CA 19-9 = 20.6
March 2015 CA 19-9 = 21.2
April 2015 CA 19-9 = 19.7
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 23
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 26
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 35
June = started new chemo drugs
July 2015 CA 19-9 = 17
August 2015 CA 19-9 = 28
September 2015 CA 19-9 = 14
October 2015 CA 19-9 = 11
October 2015 CA 19-9 = 12
January 2016 CA 19-9 = 20+
March 2016 CA 19-9 = 60+
April 2016 CA 19-9 = 400+
May 2016 CA 19-9= 576
June 2016 CA 19-9 = 124
June 2016 CA 19-9 = 54
July 2016 CA 19-9 = 56
August 2016 CA 19-9 = 40
September 2016 CA 19-9 = 35
Wednesday, August 24, 2016
Tuesday, August 16, 2016
Tuesday, August 9, 2016
Wednesday, July 20, 2016
Tuesday, July 5, 2016
Monday, June 27, 2016
CA 19-9 update and chemo delay.
Jay is having another delay in chemo due to low white counts. But great news...his tumor marker dropped from 124 to 54. Feels great to be back in double digits!!
December 2013 CA 19-9 = 202,000+
January 2014 CA 19-9 =109,000
February 2014 CA 19-9 = 25,000
March 2014 CA 19-9 = 18,000
April 2014 CA 19-9 = 13,000
May 2014 CA 19-9= 5,500
June 2014 CA 19-9=1,964
August 2014 CA 19-9 = 481
September 2014 CA 19-9 = 211
October 2014 CA 19-9 = 111
November 2014 CA 19-9 = 57
December 2014 CA 19-9 = 40
January 2015 CA 19-9 = 26
February 2015 CA 19-9 = 21.7
February 2015 CA 19-9 = 20.6
March 2015 CA 19-9 = 21.2
April 2015 CA 19-9 = 19.7
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 23
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 26
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 35
June = started new chemo drugs
July 2015 CA 19-9 = 17
August 2015 CA 19-9 = 28
September 2015 CA 19-9 = 14
October 2015 CA 19-9 = 11
October 2015 CA 19-9 = 12
January 2016 CA 19-9 = 20+
March 2016 CA 19-9 = 60+
April 2016 CA 19-9 = 400+
May 2016 CA 19-9= 576
June 2016 CA 19-9 = 124
June 2016 CA 19-9 = 54
Wednesday, June 15, 2016
Chemo delay
I'm on a chemo delay this week due to low blood counts. Had to avoid crowds due to low white counts. I have another check up tommorow. Hopefully my counts will improve.
Wednesday, June 8, 2016
Latest CA-9
My tumor marker dropped from 576 to 120 as of May 31 2016. Results after first 3 treatments!
Wednesday, June 1, 2016
New Chemo Update
Jay is on his 4th round of the new chemo. It is 3 days of IV with pump followed by one week of rest. His counts seems to be rebounding very quickly. He is no longer having the pain that originated the discover of the re occurrence. We should get a new tumor market number next week. Over all he is doing really well. He had a lot of energy this past weekend and was able to enjoy a few days at the lake. His hair decided to "let go" just in time for a summer buzz. He is eating well and even gained a few pounds. We feel very blessed and thankful for all of the physicians and clinicians who have been with us on this journey.
We are on the count down to moving into the new house...8 days!
We are on the count down to moving into the new house...8 days!
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Monday, May 16, 2016
Tuesday, May 3, 2016
Monday, April 18, 2016
Tuesday, April 12, 2016
New chemo routine
Well, the pain from the pneumonia didn't improve with the antibiotics. His CA 19-9 also continued to go up. Jay had a PET scan last Friday and the results show metastasis to a lymph node near his left kidney. Today he starts on a newly approved chemo drug, on an every other week regiment. Prayers that this new drug works. Prayers for his strength and endurance.
December 2013 CA 19-9 = 202,000+
January 2014 CA 19-9 =109,000
February 2014 CA 19-9 = 25,000
March 2014 CA 19-9 = 18,000
April 2014 CA 19-9 = 13,000
May 2014 CA 19-9= 5,500
June 2014 CA 19-9=1,964
August 2014 CA 19-9 = 481
September 2014 CA 19-9 = 211
October 2014 CA 19-9 = 111
November 2014 CA 19-9 = 57
December 2014 CA 19-9 = 40
January 2015 CA 19-9 = 26
February 2015 CA 19-9 = 21.7
February 2015 CA 19-9 = 20.6
March 2015 CA 19-9 = 21.2
April 2015 CA 19-9 = 19.7
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 23
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 26
May 2015 CA 19-9 = 35
June = started new chemo drugs
July 2015 CA 19-9 = 17
August 2015 CA 19-9 = 28
September 2015 CA 19-9 = 14
October 2015 CA 19-9 = 11
October 2015 CA 19-9 = 12
January 2016 CA 19-9 = 20+
March 2016 CA 19-9 = 60+
April 2016 CA 19-9 = 400+
Saturday, April 2, 2016
Pneumonia
It turns out I have pneumonia! No signs of cancer on a CT. Praise God! I'm on antibiotics now. Feeling better already!
Thursday, March 31, 2016
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Xeloda treatment 3
I started treatment 3 today. A slight reduction in dose due to hand and foot syndrome at the end of dose 2.
Tuesday, January 26, 2016
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Xeloda started yesterday
I had my second day of Xeloda pills today. 5 more days of pills then a week off.
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