Tattoos, Mug Shots, 30 Bodies in a Minivan...& its only Thursday!

Ok, now that I have your attention & before I get to the tattoos, mug shots & 30 bodies in a mini van . . . here is the update from the radiology appointment today.

They will be doing 15 radiation treatments. One every weekday for three weeks, they usually last 15 minutes with the actual radiation treatment lasting only about a minute or two. He will be getting the external type - which basically is an intensified, concentrated x-ray. (There is a link below to a fact sheet about radiation treaments) They will be targeting the entire lumbar and sacral area instead of just a localized area at L2. (you can refer to the previous diagram I posted to see where that is) They feel there is extensive deterioration of the bone and enough cancer growth that they need to try to kill some of the cancer to help relieve the pain Dad has and in hopes that the bone will regenerate. The unknown factor here is the rate at which the cancer will die compared to the rate at which the bone tissue will regenerate. If the cancer dies faster than the bone regenerates, there is a risk of fracture and/or loss of stability of the spine. They do not know how the radiation vs. cancer will effect the stability of his spine. At this point there really isn't anything to lose because the strength of his bones is already compromised by the invading cancer and will continue to weaken as the cancer grows. Today's appointment was for the radiology Dr. to get familiar with Dad and his situation (which I may add, the doctor told Dad he was thoroughly impressed that he looked so well, concidering the stage of his cancer), get his treatment area mapped out and to TATTOO him! They actually tattoo permenant dots on him to help line up the area each time - CAN ANYONE SAY DOT-TO-DOT . . . I'LL GET THE SHARPIE!! He also said to tell you that they took a mug shot - they said it is for his file, so they can recognize him. I left when they took him to get his tattos - disappointed as I wanted to watch. We could not be in the room when they did all the preliminary things because technically it is a radiation room. As for side effects, the Dr. said he wil probably get a skin reaction similar to a slight sunburn and maybe some minor fatigue. But said he could take himself and that it is all outpatient.

Some misc. notes - he lost a couple of pounds so I told him I'd spring for some Krispy Kremes if he wanted. They also talked of raising his patch dosage to help get a therapeutic level of pain killer in his system to help prevent the rollercoaster he is on right now. I will talk to him more this weekend to find out how the tattoos went, what the plan is and when it will start. I almost forgot one more possible side effect...he could be a little gassy.

Link to fact sheet:
http://www.cancer.gov/cancertopics/factsheet/Therapy/radiation

I just talked to my sister Heidi and she says there is another appointment on the 31st, she thinks to do the last "dry run" to make sure all the films they made are correct and all is good before they start.

So I think I covered everything but the 30 bodies in the minivan - my stepmom Ruth does CPR training for the Red Cross and she had to pick up the training torsos for her next class so her minivan is full of upper bodies.

That's all I have for now, there is another appointment with the Oncologist on Feb 2nd to look into a clinical trial. As of now I am planning on going to that one too. In case you haven't noticed I am a detail junkie so I like to hear all info first hand - it is my coping method.

I will post anything new after I talk to him this weekend, I know my daughter wants to go out there Sunday to visit - poor little sugar had a melt down today about missing grampa. It's hard for all of us, but I think sometimes harder for the kids because they don't yet understand that life just sucks sometimes and it isn't fair most of the time.

Well, today I want to thank you all again for the thoughts and prayers - I have to believe that they have helped him stay as well as he has for as long as he has. Please keep it up.

:)

Hello??

Awfully quiet out there lately....

Radiology

Dad has an appointment with the Radiologist on Jan. 25th, Oncologist on Feb. 2nd - I'm planning on going to both. I will probably not be posting anymore updates until that time. Hmmm, I forgot to ask him if he went to the surgeon like he was suppose to.....I better do that.

I will be out of town from Thursday pm - Sunday pm, so I will also not be able to read any emails if sent.

I hope people are still reading this and it is helpful.

Please continue to keep Dennis in your thoughts & prayers.

Update from Reports

I tried to illustrate basically what the MRI report says. In an elementary explaination, your spine is made from many bones and your spinal cord runs down a space in the center. Every nerve in the body stems from the spinal cord. There are 31 pairs of spinal nerves that branch from between every level of vertebrae. Every pair of spinal nerves control certain functions. This means that when there is some sort of "injury" to the spinal cord or spinal nerves, doctors can make a good estimate at what body functions will be effected. The higher up the injury, the more "vital" fuctions will be effected. For example, the spinal nerves that come off the spinal cord at the Cervical area control vital functions such as breathing where as the spinal nerves that come off at the Lumbar area control less vital functions such as your bladder. (one can still have a happy, full life without bladder control - but it will be a larger problem if your lungs won't function on their own)

The vertebrae (spinal bones) outlined in red - the cancer cells have nearly replaced all the bone tissue. (if you remember, there is some cancer in all of the spinal bones)

The red "disc bulges" and lines point to where there is bulging in the discs (they are the cushions between the vertebrae)

I also put a line in pointing to where the radiation treatments will be directed. It appears that the tumor in L2 is starting to grow into the spinal canal (where your spinal cord runs). This runs the risk of compressing the spine if it grows too much.

So, I hope this helps some of you and isn't too much information.

I will post updates as I get them.

Doctor Visit

Dad went and saw the P.A. at the Oncologists yesterday. Overall it wasnt too bad, better than I had prepared myself for. He had the CT scan and the MRI during the week. The CT scan showed he is in "stable" status. In medical terms that means he is in a holding pattern, the cancer has no significant growth but it also has not backed off any. There is some minimal increased swelling in his lymph nodes. It was pointed out too, that when the cancer starts growing again it will be more aggressive.

The MRI showed that there is bone erosion at about the L2 level of his spine. This means the cancer is eating away at the bone tissue in his spine just below waist level, at this point there is no spinal compression - the cancer has not intruded into his spinal column to push on his spinal cord. (when spinal compression occurs, it can cause sensation loss &/or paralysis) It was recommended he have radiation treatments on that area for pain management. Typically people will have 10 treatments, it can be either injected or giving externally. He will be evaluated by a radiation specialist and we will know more then. I am going to try to go to that appointment. After he has the radiation, they will figure out which clinical trial would be appropriate for him. Two were suggested at this point, but I will look into them and post what I can about them later.
He also has a really disgusting oozing infected mass on his finger that he needs to go have a surgeon drain on Monday and be on an antibiotic for 28 days. I will say it is one of the nastiest things I have ever seen.

I plan on reading the written CT scan & MRI reports on Sunday when I go out there and post anything new/different I read. We will be going Sunday to celebrate his birthday early as I will be out of town on his real birthday on the 21st. He will be the big 5-6! wOOhOO!

On the good side, he still has all his humor! He was bragging that he got a roadrunner bandaid from the blood draw, so I told him is was sexy and he would surely be fighting off all the 8 year old girls at the grocery store. I also teased him about that yucky thing on his "typing" finger, so he holds up his middle finger and says "no, THIS is my typing finger" so I said "ok, smart guy I'm posting THAT on the blog!" A few minutes later he says "well, my finger was fine until this happened" So my sister Samantha pipes up and says "sure, so is my toe before I stub it too" I know studid things, but humor helps a lot.

So keep up the prayers and good thoughts, they seem to be working!

Attitude

My sister Samantha sent this email and I thought it was a good thought for the blog today:

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.
Well," she said, "I think I'll braid my hair today."
So she did and she had a wonderful day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirrorand saw that she had only two hairs on her head.
"H-M-M," she said, "I think I'll part my hair down the middle today."
So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.
"Well," she said, "today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail."
So she did and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.
"YEA!" she exclaimed, "I don't have to fix my hair today!"

Attitude is everything.

Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle...
Live simply,
Love generously,
Care deeply,
Speak kindly.......
Leave the rest to God

Update

They have scheduled Dad for an MRI of his pelvis and lower back for tomorrow in addition to the CT scan he had today. Apparently he is having more pain and the increased meds are not helping as much as he/they would like so they are going to do the MRI to further research the situation. I will reserve most of my comments for now, but I will say I am uneasy about the results we get on Friday. More pain is not a good sign, especially with so much cancer in his bones.

As always keep him in your prayers and thoughts.

Thoughts of the blog:

Hope is the word which God has written on the brow of every man.
-Victor Hugo

My theory has always been, that if we are to dream, the flatteries of hope are as cheap, and pleasanter, than the gloom of despair.
-Thomas Jefferson

Still waiting

Dad has a CT scan on the 9th and an Oncologist appt on next Friday afternoon, the 12th. I am planning on going to that appointment, it is not his regular doctor we are seeing though.

I talked to him last night for a few minutes, he said he had a horrible "back migrane" earlier but that it was better. His pain patch dosage was increased recently. He said he still feels pretty good, except for his more frequent backaches.

I will update after the appointment Friday.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Here's to a great 2007!