Banner Day Today for me!!! Wish I could say the same for the stock market!!
Went to my first Radiation treatment today!! This Proton Radiation Center is really the Star Wars place on the Campus!! As Modern as Buck Rogers (for the older crowd on the list). Unlike most of the rest of the operations we have had experience with here at MDA, this group seems to operate nearly on time. They even apologized for being 15 min. late. The complete thing took only about 50 minutes and they say that mostly the rest will only take 30 to 40 because the machine now has memorized my position and will automatically put me in the same position from now on. (The Computer Age!!) There are three places that they are radiating. 1. the Mass in the left lung, 2. The lymph node in the left center of the chest, 3. the two lymph nodes on the right side of the middle of the chest. So therefore there are three different sets of radiation applied.
In between each radiation they have to change the "Blocks." The "Blocks" are 9" x 9" square blocks of clear glass or acrylic looking material and each are about 4" thick. These "Blocks" have been cut from behind in numerous layers to different depths (none all the way thru) and shaped to the exact shape of the tumor or node to be targeted on that application. The Proton Beam is then shot thru these "Blocks" in order to produce the correct shape. All three blocks have my name and patient # on them as they are cut out in this way to fit my exact problem shapes.
Even though the process takes about 30 to 45 minutes, the actual radiation in each application takes only 11 seconds!!
I did not feel a thing!! Only problem was that all this time I was lying on my back with my arms and hands above my head and must remain totally still. When you do that, your nose begins to itch, you need to scratch your knee, your foot goes to sleep, and all manner of things that you "NEED" to do that you must not!!
The Banner Day part is because the healing process has now started!!
Keep the Faith and thank you so much for the prayers - Stan
Monday, September 29, 2008
Sunday, September 28, 2008
September 28, 2008
Stan and Carol arrived in Houston this morning. Stan's treatment begins tomorrow. More details to follow.....
September 18, 2008
As of Wednesday (yesterday) afternoon, we have a new plan!!
They performed a PET/CT scan on me yesterday afternoon and determined that they can indeed do the Proton Radiation Treatment on me. They can avoid my heart and essentially all other vital organs with the Proton Beam. There are only 4 places in the US where this procedure exists. And MD Anderson in Houston is one of them.
All activity for me has now stopped in Houston for the moment and we are waiting now to catch a plane to ABQ tomorrow (Friday 19th) afternoon. We will be at home till Sunday Sept 28 when we return to Houston to begin the Proton Radiation treatment on Monday Sept 29. We need the time at home right now to make a lot of arrangements to take care of things while we are gone for 7 1/2 weeks. The Proton will be every weekday for 7 1/2 weeks. In addition, I will receive chemotherapy once a week during this regimen. (Goodbye Hair, Hello Nausea!!!!)
So, when we return to Houston, we will again be staying at Kenneth's house unless the regimen just becomes too strenuous to handle. In which case we would need to rent an apartment very close to MDA. We are not expecting that to happen.
There won't be any new news now until after we get back here and start the treatments. I want to thank everyone for all your recent thoughts and prayers, and ask that you continue to keep Carol and me in your prayers. - Stan
They performed a PET/CT scan on me yesterday afternoon and determined that they can indeed do the Proton Radiation Treatment on me. They can avoid my heart and essentially all other vital organs with the Proton Beam. There are only 4 places in the US where this procedure exists. And MD Anderson in Houston is one of them.
All activity for me has now stopped in Houston for the moment and we are waiting now to catch a plane to ABQ tomorrow (Friday 19th) afternoon. We will be at home till Sunday Sept 28 when we return to Houston to begin the Proton Radiation treatment on Monday Sept 29. We need the time at home right now to make a lot of arrangements to take care of things while we are gone for 7 1/2 weeks. The Proton will be every weekday for 7 1/2 weeks. In addition, I will receive chemotherapy once a week during this regimen. (Goodbye Hair, Hello Nausea!!!!)
So, when we return to Houston, we will again be staying at Kenneth's house unless the regimen just becomes too strenuous to handle. In which case we would need to rent an apartment very close to MDA. We are not expecting that to happen.
There won't be any new news now until after we get back here and start the treatments. I want to thank everyone for all your recent thoughts and prayers, and ask that you continue to keep Carol and me in your prayers. - Stan
Friday, September 12, 2008
Thursday, September 11, 2008
On Wednesday, Sept. 10, Stan and Carol used a "Patient Advocate" to be able to get in with their radiologist Dr. Mary Francis McAleer, rather than the previous one Dr. Chen. Dr. McAleer was very thorough and was able to give them a great deal of information in order to help them make some crucial decisions.
They found out that 3 of the 4 biopsies came back positive. While this is not good news, it was not entirely unexpected. Dr. McAleer was not very enthusiastic about the idea of surgery anyway because there was a chance that the cancer could cross over into the other lung, and that would not help. So the next step is a very positive one. Stan is a good candidate for the Proton Radiation which would be done here in Houston.
As they were "fleeing" from League City on Thursday, they stopped at MD Anderson to see if it would be possible to do a CT scan this morning. This scan is for the purpose of “mapping” the locations for the proton radiation. Unfortunately, the hospital was already in the process of slowing down operations in anticipation of Hurricane Ike.
So most likely, Stan will get a CT scan on Monday or Tuesday -- and then they will fly/flee to Albuquerque to get away from the HEAT, HUMIDITY, HURRICANES, Humph! Really Houston isn’t that bad...well maybe it is a little.
After a little rest and relaxation at HOME - they will fly back to Houston to begin treatment. It will probably be about 10 days before the Proton Radiation begins. Once it begins they will be in Houston for about 7 weeks - and then home again.
They found out that 3 of the 4 biopsies came back positive. While this is not good news, it was not entirely unexpected. Dr. McAleer was not very enthusiastic about the idea of surgery anyway because there was a chance that the cancer could cross over into the other lung, and that would not help. So the next step is a very positive one. Stan is a good candidate for the Proton Radiation which would be done here in Houston.
As they were "fleeing" from League City on Thursday, they stopped at MD Anderson to see if it would be possible to do a CT scan this morning. This scan is for the purpose of “mapping” the locations for the proton radiation. Unfortunately, the hospital was already in the process of slowing down operations in anticipation of Hurricane Ike.
So most likely, Stan will get a CT scan on Monday or Tuesday -- and then they will fly/flee to Albuquerque to get away from the HEAT, HUMIDITY, HURRICANES, Humph! Really Houston isn’t that bad...well maybe it is a little.
After a little rest and relaxation at HOME - they will fly back to Houston to begin treatment. It will probably be about 10 days before the Proton Radiation begins. Once it begins they will be in Houston for about 7 weeks - and then home again.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Yesterday was a Monday and it really was one! First we had to get up very early and leave the house early in order to get to MDA by 8:00 am. HA! Houston traffic. Got there at 9:00 due to traffic!! Sat in a room with +/- 200 people to get blood drawn for a pro time for I had to be off the Coumadin and have normal blood for them to do the procedure. I got lucky and the blood was drawn and they only had to wait about 10 minutes to start the procedure.
Some of you may remember us describing the room that this same procedure was done in in ABQ. There it was a rather small room like an afterthought, and they wheeled me into it in a bed that they had to shove equipment aside and move many things around in order to get me in there. There was barely room at the head of my bed for the doctor to stand!! Very impressive, but NOT in a good way. AT MDA yesterday I thought I had walked into a STAR WARS stage!!! Big double 42" Monitors on a giant arm that swung out from the far wall and over everything so that they could be positioned in the exact position that the doctor wanted. Ultra sound transmitters and receivers that come out of the ceiling and are maneuvered by a joystick controlled by the 2nd doctor.
Before starting, I was covered by a clear plastic-like blanket with 2" square "bubbles" in it. To which was attached a hose that pumped in warm air to keep me warm. Then covered with a regular blanket and belted in! I wondered when we were going to take off! Didn't take long to wonder however as the Anesthesiologist said "I'm starting the anesthesia now." and I was gone. Almost surreal that they can control a person like that.
A little over an hour later I was awakened and I was really coughing and agitated with a somewhat sore throat. About 30 minutes of that and Carol and Laura came in. I remember the doctor telling us that they got good samples from all four questionable lymph nodes. A short time later I was in a wheelchair and unceremoniously wheeled out. I was starving as no food or drink since about 10 the night before and it was now about 1:30 p.m. Carol stopped at a Sonic on the way home and I got a Cheese sandwich and a chocolate milkshake. Home to sleep about 3 hours.
We now wait for Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morn to get the results of the biopsies. These determine if they can do an operation on me or not. - Stan
Some of you may remember us describing the room that this same procedure was done in in ABQ. There it was a rather small room like an afterthought, and they wheeled me into it in a bed that they had to shove equipment aside and move many things around in order to get me in there. There was barely room at the head of my bed for the doctor to stand!! Very impressive, but NOT in a good way. AT MDA yesterday I thought I had walked into a STAR WARS stage!!! Big double 42" Monitors on a giant arm that swung out from the far wall and over everything so that they could be positioned in the exact position that the doctor wanted. Ultra sound transmitters and receivers that come out of the ceiling and are maneuvered by a joystick controlled by the 2nd doctor.
Before starting, I was covered by a clear plastic-like blanket with 2" square "bubbles" in it. To which was attached a hose that pumped in warm air to keep me warm. Then covered with a regular blanket and belted in! I wondered when we were going to take off! Didn't take long to wonder however as the Anesthesiologist said "I'm starting the anesthesia now." and I was gone. Almost surreal that they can control a person like that.
A little over an hour later I was awakened and I was really coughing and agitated with a somewhat sore throat. About 30 minutes of that and Carol and Laura came in. I remember the doctor telling us that they got good samples from all four questionable lymph nodes. A short time later I was in a wheelchair and unceremoniously wheeled out. I was starving as no food or drink since about 10 the night before and it was now about 1:30 p.m. Carol stopped at a Sonic on the way home and I got a Cheese sandwich and a chocolate milkshake. Home to sleep about 3 hours.
We now wait for Wednesday afternoon or Thursday morn to get the results of the biopsies. These determine if they can do an operation on me or not. - Stan
Monday, September 8, 2008
Monday, September 8, 2008
Today, Stan had a needle biopsy of the four lymph nodes in question. The doctor said he got a good sample from each lymph node, and so now we wait until Wednesday or Thursday to hear the results.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
HAPPY 57TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY!! Stan and Carol enjoyed a nice romantic dinner at Landry's Seafood in Kemah on the boardwalk.
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